Forum Discussion

MetalGator's avatar
MetalGator
Nomad
Apr 08, 2016

Used but almost new price opinion

The wife and I have been casually looking at Class A motor homes. Since we are mainly weekend warriors due to both of our work schedules, we are looking at used models. We have been going to RV shows the last several years and have pretty much figured out what floor plans we like. We both fell in love with the Newmar Baystar 3401. As far as I know, Newmar has only made this model since 2015 and I don't believe they are going to make this model in 2017. That leaves only 2 years for the used market.

I finally saw a used 2015 at a local dealer that has 4900 miles. I have checked the website for over a week and they still haven't posted a price or listed any of the options. I have searched and found several new 2015 models (leftovers) for around $106,000 +/-. The MSRP of the 3401 ranges from $140,000 to $150,000. I am curious what the forum thinks would be a good price on this used model. I am usually pretty good about researching models and prices but for this model the used sample size is really small (only found one used so far). I am going to call or email the dealer but I was wondering what would be a good % off MRSP for a slightly used model. If it's not a significant discount, I'd rather pay more the New model.

Burch
Class A
  • golfknut's avatar
    golfknut
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2016
    Still there MetalGator?

    I see Newmar kept the 3401 in their 2017 lineup so I was curious if you ended up buying that used rig or if you purchased a new one?
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    Apr 08, 2016
    Thanks for the replies. I guess I will wait and see if I hear back from the dealer. 80K-90K I would be interested but if they come back with a price that is almost "NEW" price, I won't probably won't bother following up. I just know once you drive a new car off the lot, it looses thousands of dollars of value since it can't be sold again as "NEW".
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    Apr 08, 2016
    gonesouth wrote:
    Two points: 1. When you said that you would buy it if it's less that a new one, you answered thequestion about the price for yourself.


    I said I would buy it if I could get a good price on it. It would have to be significantly lower than a new one. If not, there would be no reason to not buy a new one.

    Of course no one but the dealer knows how much the dealer has invested in the MH. I know my father in law bought a new class C a few years ago. He purchased it for 90K and only took one long trip in it. He didn't like the way it drove and wanted to get back into a Class A. He took it back to the dealer he purchased it from (just a couple of months later) and they only offered him 40K for it! I think he only put about 2000 miles on it. Just knowing that, there would have been a very large markup in price on that used (almost new) Class C. I figured there would be room to bargain but who knows.

    We'll see if I hear back from the dealer.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Apr 08, 2016
    MaverickBBD wrote:
    Remember it is only worth that much if they can find someone who will pay that much. The manufacturer and the dealer have already made a profit on that coach otherwise they wouldn't have sold it. Now from here on out it is all gravy to them.


    Only if they got it for free on a trade - which they didn't. They had to "pay" the customer that traded it in. Obviously less than what they will sell for but it's not all gravy. By the time they prep it, store it, advertise it, spend time on it for sale, the profit margin on a used coach is not nearly as much a new one. And it really comes down to the deal that was made with the guy trading it in. They may have given him more on his trade if he bought a high dollar coach, so they could be very tight on a trade. No one but the dealer really knows what their margin is and you can bet they will price it based on competition and more than what they have in it. As far as "only worth what someone will pay" they won't fire sale it to get it out the door. They'll hold it until they get what they want. My guess is, it won't sit for long. Supply vs demand. Apparently supply is low according to the OP's search and now is RV season.
  • MaverickBBD's avatar
    MaverickBBD
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2016
    Remember it is only worth that much if they can find someone who will pay that much. The manufacturer and the dealer have already made a profit on that coach otherwise they wouldn't have sold it. Now from here on out it is all gravy to them.
  • gonesouth's avatar
    gonesouth
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2016
    Two points: 1. When you said that you would buy it if it's less that a new one, you answered thequestion about the price for yourself. So, finish it off by detailing what options you are willing to order and faxing a price request to half a dozen Newmar dealers. That nails down the price of a new one and only you can tell what "new car smell" is worth to you.

    2. You can assume that the dealer knows now that you are interested in that model....you just announced it ti the world.
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    Apr 08, 2016
    Effy wrote:


    You likely won't get a straight answer on price unless they thought you were serious. They'll give you a number North of $100k and expect you to come to the dance, with trade, cash etc and once it's written up and negations are over you'll have the price. But tire kicking won't get you a straight answer. And remember, the early bird gets the worm. But the second mouse gets the cheese. If this is the unit you want and you already know you are confined to trying to find that model within that timeframe, that's a small corner you've painted yourself in. When one comes up, you should get serious. Hard to tell when/if another comes along.


    There are other models that we like so I'm not sure I have painted myself in a corner. This just happens to be our favorite model but the dealer doesn't know this. I purchased my current TT as a tire kicker. I told the dealer that I wasn't quite ready to purchase yet (Lazy Days) but they had a model that I liked and wanted to look at. They made me a deal I couldn't refuse (much less than I thought I could get) and I ended up purchasing the unit. I was wanting to save up another year for a larger down payment but the price was right. If a dealer gives a high price right off the bat, they will more than likely not get my business. The only experience I have had is with Lazy Days and they gave me a good price with my initial inquiry even though I told them I probably wasn't ready to purchase yet (tire kicker).

    Burch
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Apr 08, 2016
    MetalGator wrote:
    I inquired about the RV via email. I am really not ready yet to purchase but if the price is right, I would consider it. Currently have a 30' TT that suits our needs but I would really like to move up to a Class A. I will wait and see if the dealer responds.


    You likely won't get a straight answer on price unless they thought you were serious. They'll give you a number North of $100k and expect you to come to the dance, with trade, cash etc and once it's written up and negations are over you'll have the price. But tire kicking won't get you a straight answer. And remember, the early bird gets the worm. But the second mouse gets the cheese. If this is the unit you want and you already know you are confined to trying to find that model within that timeframe, that's a small corner you've painted yourself in. When one comes up, you should get serious. Hard to tell when/if another comes along.
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    Apr 08, 2016
    I inquired about the RV via email. I am really not ready yet to purchase but if the price is right, I would consider it. Currently have a 30' TT that suits our needs but I would really like to move up to a Class A. I will wait and see if the dealer responds.

About Motorhome Group

38,708 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 05, 2025