Barrie,
I just went through the process you are going through. I studied asking prices in all the class b used rv's on the internet, and after a while got a good feel for what they were worth depending upon manufacture, model and size, age, mileage, condition, and geographical location.(You don't want to purchase it without seeing it.) Also during my search, the question of price, age, model, and mileage came up in a discussion on Yahoo Roadtrek Blog before it went over to Facebook.
The general used prices were between $5,000.00 and $10,000.00 for anything older than 1999 and 100,000 miles. Other than that prices went up according to mileage and age.
Roadtrek seems to be the best of the class b's, though you might find a good Pleasureway or an older Coach House that was a real class b van.
The Roadtrek 190's are about the best for most of us. I felt that the 170 was a little small for me. As for the Popular vs the Versatile,
I was hoping to buy a Popular and went to a Roadtrek Rally with the express purpose of trading our Versatile for a Popular. When we got there, we talked with people with Versatile's and realized that it didn't make to much of a difference because the rear seat is usually made up into a full sized bed. We have ours that way. Also the Versatile is a real second car with two back seats.
Why we purchased a Versatile was we found one in New Hampshire at a very good price, and felt that if we did not grab it, it would be gone in a day or two. We knew it was a good price because we had been doing our research, and we could also inspect it because it was so close.
It is a 2002 Roadtrek 190v built on a Chev 3500 Van.
We are very happy with our choice.
Good luck.
Heapie.
