Greetings one and all,I’m trying to get straight in my mind when looking at a used motorhome, what is best to look for from a age to value standpoint. That and also maintenance issues 10 to 15 years down the road?Category I… You can buy a coach with an MSRP of $360,00 today and 3 to 4 years later can be purchased used for $170/$200,000 such as shown below. Obviously other coaches fit into this category I’m just using the two below as examples. 45’ Thor Tuscany (top offering)42’ Entrega Aspire (bottom offering)Category II… The following coaches are at the top or next to the top, as in American Eagle, for each manufacturers “best coach”. They are all 44/45 footers with an MSRP around $470/$510,000 and according to *NADA have a (low retail) sell price around $200,000. 2006 American Eagle M-45H Caterpillar (525hp)...2009 Entegra Cornerstone M-45SL 500hp Cummin...2007 Zephyr Series M-45QSZ Spartan 500h... The Category II coaches are the same $200,000 to purchase but they are 6 to 8 years old while the Category I coaches are 3 to 4 years old. Based on the above and the thought of keeping the coach for another 10 to 15 years. Would you choose a coach from Category I… Or Category II…Thanks for you help, I’ll be very interested in your reply.Harry*I know that NADA is not the “be all” of used values because coaches can have dramatically different values for a host of reasons. Bust it gives us something to look at.

IMHO - II - without any defense or justification.

This topic comes up quite a bit and as always, it's all about opinions. It really comes down to specific coaches, how they were treated etc rather than a blanket - which is better - newer or older and "nicer". The crux of the issue is defining "nicer" or better and that has so many variables you can't possibly get a definitive answer without scrutinizing each coach. You could find a good deal on a used Prevost or Foretravel that was really mis-treated or already has failing or ready to fail components. But based on facts there is this; Age is the enemy of anything, and I don't care what folks say about owning a high end coach, at 8-10 years old stuff is not only becoming obsolete and out-dated, things will start to fail. The true answer is this - no one can tell you what to buy. You need to examine each coach and find what YOU like about them. Once you narrow it down I am sure specific questions about components etc can be addressed but all you are doing at this point is asking for a bunch of opinions. And you'll get them. If it were me, and I knew I would keep it for 15 more years, I would opt for the nicest, newer coach I could. In 15 years that 3 yr old coach will be 18 and the 8 year old one will be 23. You think about what a 23 yr old MH looks like today vs an 18 yr old one and think about the condition. 5-10 years difference in MH's is a lot of use, abuse, weathering and time for things to fail and become obsolete. You think about any big purchase you make. Houses, cars etc and you tell me what needs addressed in that 8-10 year mark. What the components are like, finishes etc. Time is the enemy. And cars and houses are typically built better than RV's and subject to less abuse.On edit: BTW I would avoid the Thor ;)

Quality over age always wins out in my book and would rather buy tried and proven engineering, cuz if it doesn't have it when built, then it never will and if it does, it'll be good for a very long time to come. Now with our old relic, it still looks a lot newer than it actually is and couldn't ask for better in a gas puller, while, other coaches we've seen, that were much newer, are falling apart already.Ahhhhh, lets see and for example. Cabinets are coming loose from the walls, due to rough roads. Say what????

What I would be asking myself is what improvements if any are in the newer MH's that I would want. If everything else is equal over all condition drive train, chassis the same, I would go for the older coach. It is passed the knee of the depreciation curve so you will loose less each year. The problems are well known trailing arms, etc in the older MH's and are probably already fixed.

Gjac wrote:What I would be asking myself is what improvements if any are in the newer MH's that I would want. If everything else is equal over all condition drive train, chassis the same, I would go for the older coach. It is passed the knee of the depreciation curve so you will loose less each year. The problems are well known trailing arms, etc in the older MH's and are probably already fixed.When you get a good buy on older quality, you can afford and don't mind fixing and/or modifying things for the better and can treat it more like a house. This is an ongoing thing with me, no matter and couldn't help myself, even if I wanted to, but do hate wasting my time with junk... :D

Which DP would you choose? | Good Sam Community

Effy
Explorer II
Jun 02, 2014
et2 wrote:
What in the world is a II ? :h

OP put the 2 types of MH's they reviewing into categories. One and 2 (I and II). It's nothing technical.
et2
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
What in the world is a II ? :h
okgc
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
IMHO - Buy the "Category II…" MH that your wife likes the floor plan of the best.
Effy
Explorer II
Jun 02, 2014
Foodsman wrote:
I guess what you're saying is "Good Bones" right? If its a highly rated manufacturer and a top of the line model that's in great shape it may be a very good choice. Even with 6 to 8 years old its worth some clean up - paint up - fix up, because it has "Good Bones"!

When a given coach has an MSRP $200,000.00 more than another there's got to be a good reason for it. Is there anyplace you can think of on line where you can punch in the manufacturer, model, year and style and get specific lowdown?

I know there are times when a given manufacturer can have trouble. I've been reading that Tiffin has had some problems for example. It would be great to know of a website where you can find problems, recalls etc for given brands...

Thanks again,

Harry

These, and other forums are about as good as it gets for getting real customer feedback. There is no consumer reports or Edmunds for Rv's that I am aware of. Search brands here, you'll see a common theme to some. Thor seems to be regarded as the worst. Newmar seems to come in pretty high as far as production coaches. FR, FW, Winnie, Tiffin all seem to run in the middle with their share of issues respectively. BTW - some of the brands you mention fall under those manufacturers. Once you step up to Newell, Foretravel, Prevost etc, those are high dollar custom rigs. You can find those within the date ranges you mentioned although you'll spend a pretty penny more than $200k. But if good bones is what you are after, that's where you find the best. Just saw a 2003 Foretravel Nimbus at a local dealer for a little over $200k. It was on consignment and before they could sell it the bank took it. It was pretty nice - dated but decent. Thing was filthy though. How in the world people let their stuff get so dirty (inside I mean) is beyond me. Dentist owns a high end rig and treats it like a pig sty.
Foodsman
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
I guess what you're saying is "Good Bones" right? If its a highly rated manufacturer and a top of the line model that's in great shape it may be a very good choice. Even with 6 to 8 years old its worth some clean up - paint up - fix up, because it has "Good Bones"!

When a given coach has an MSRP $200,000.00 more than another there's got to be a good reason for it. Is there anyplace you can think of on line where you can punch in the manufacturer, model, year and style and get specific lowdown?

I know there are times when a given manufacturer can have trouble. I've been reading that Tiffin has had some problems for example. It would be great to know of a website where you can find problems, recalls etc for given brands...

Thanks again,

Harry
Executive45
Explorer III
Jun 02, 2014
X2 on the II....better value coaches.....just my opinion....Dennis
tropical36
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Foodsman wrote:
I don't want to stop the conversation on the coaches because I think its great information. But what about financing, is it harder to finance a 7 year old coach than a 3 year old coach?

Thanks for your comments,

Harry

If you're going to need financing, then you might find another way to borrow the money, rather than putting a lien on the coach and another good reason to fall back some and hopefully get a better buy, cuz the depreciation per mile on a three year old coach is obviously going to be much greater than a six year old unit. Not like buying a new one that will knock your socks off, but still some considerable depreciation and especially with every minute that it sits in your driveway or other.
LVJ58
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
1st choice Entegra 2nd Choice Zephyr
Foodsman
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
I don't want to stop the conversation on the coaches because I think its great information. But what about financing, is it harder to finance a 7 year old coach than a 3 year old coach?

Thanks for your comments,

Harry
wallynm
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Effy wrote:

On edit: BTW I would avoid the Thor ;)

The reason I chose II