Help pricing a used RV?

I don't understand why dealer took a deposit on it if you hadn't yet decided to buy it at their asking price. Usually when I have taken a deposit on a vehicle, the buyer gives me a deposit so I won't sell while he is getting the rest of the money to buy it. Anyway, 'twas nice you got the deposit back without a hassle.

We paid $14,000 for our 1998 Four Winds 23rk with 36,000 miles on a Ford E-350 chassis with a V10. It was in excellent shape with new tires. It did not have any maintenance records. So I dropped another 5K into it replacing all the hoses, engine flush, radiator flush, leaky rear pinion seal, cleaned and replaced 15 year old rear end oil. Replaced tie rod ends, changed caster to +5 with new caster sleeves, front break line hoses, mass air flow sensor cleaned, Safe-T-plus steering stabilizer, extended hardline tire air valves, new ADA ceramic toilet 22 inches high, replaced all the interior lights with LED's, new do everything radio in dash, Amp-L-Charge under the hood. Transmission oil was fine, changed engine oil to synthetic. Next is to install simulated rims to make airing up easier now that the valves are all extended. Took a 2500 mile trip this summer and averaged 13 mpg.

So, if you are buying a used unit, understand there can be things wrong you don't know about, and be prepared to spend more money. Other than a steering problem I knew about before I bought our MH, and understood how to fix it, every thing worked fine. I just decided to invest the money, I will most likely, never get back out of it, but also will not be sitting on the side of the road because of a hose, tire, or some other maintenance not fully taken care of. I went on a 300 mile trip before I did the maintenance and it work then also, but a 70, I am not going to be crawling under it on the side of the road. Some of the maintenance I did, a lot of it I had done by a reputable garage. I also changed out the converter to a three stage from a single stage converter. I can now leave the MH plugged in all winter long in the garage, and the Amp-L-chager will keep the chassis battery charged, while the house battery is kept up by the new three stage converter.

I don't blame you for not calling back, you seem uncomfortable with the price haggling. HOWEVER, and Ron Dittmer mentioned, you now have the leverage. You are no longer in their office gnawing your leg off trying to get out of the trap. If you like the unit, make the call. Offer them a number you would be truly enthused to get accepted. $9000? If yes, then offer it. They say no, then thank them and hang up. They will eventually come down to their bottom line. It might be uncomfortable, but as long as you keep it going over the phone instead of their office, you are in a good place.

They are not expecting to get 14k for it. In fact, pretty soon, many of the dealers in colder winter areas are going to be wholesaling off their older units. If you give them an honest 10K, I bet they take it. Not that they won't try to worm you back up higher, but if you hold your ground, I bet you can get it for 10K.

Ya, I am not reopening the discussion.

If you've moved on, don't call. It will just get you sucked back in.

If you haven't moved on, then decide what you're willing to pay before you call back. Then be straightforward with them and say "this is what I'm willing to pay". If they don't agree, say goodbye.

Well, they did call me back...the question is, should I return their call...I almost feel like I should out of courtesy and curiosity :)

BigCanoe wrote:
Baiscally because I am 2 hours away, and I had to have them tow my RV down there. And I didnt want to go through all that to find the RV I wanted was sold. It was refundable, I have my money back already.

They made a token counter offer and called me asking me what it would take but i have already moved on in my mind.

Good for you that your deposit is returned and you have moved on.

BUT.....

Understand the "potential" that the dealer may call you back with an offer that you would consider. Don't wait for a call. Don't expect a call. But such a call might have you in a unique position to get that rig for multiple thousands less.

That old of a unit I would only purchase from a private party. This coach could have been sitting unused someplace then brought out and cleaned up .Unused coaches are at a higher risk for potential problems than used ones, buying from a dealer you

can't be sure. So many coaches out there, so many great bargains. I live in Ca. and purchased used from a private party in Minnesota. Also the extended warranties? I received an offer in the mail last week. Reading the fine print I could not figure out

after the exclusions, what exactly they would cover on the engine, suspension or electrical. What a waste of money. 600 a year and 500 deductible? And a coach the age you are looking at? Good luck with that. Also hire and experienced mechanic to

completely and thoroughly check out the unit, best money you will ever spend.

Baiscally because I am 2 hours away, and I had to have them tow my RV down there. And I didnt want to go through all that to find the RV I wanted was sold. It was refundable, I have my money back already.

They made a token counter offer and called me asking me what it would take but i have already moved on in my mind.

That is what I was trying to figure out also. Why the #500 deposit????? I would never put any money down till I had a deal and it was locked in. No way before you have a firm price and a deal you want are ok with. With them having some of your money they are in the drivers seat and not you. You just gave them then advantage over you.

I have been to a couple of places and they requested a deposit to show I was serious about buying. Guess what my reaction was, I not only walked from the place I ran. At one of the places the salesman followed my all the way to my vehicle and he had changed his story and now he was willing to try and deal without any deposit money. There is still no way I would ever deal with a slime ball place like that and told him so as I got into my vehicle and drove away.