Any financial advantages of buying new RV vs used?

I have never felt so strongly about it to always purchase new OR always purchase used. To me, the choice of new or used is particular to the specific vehicle.

If a new vehicle can't provide me with the items on my must have list, but a used vehicle can, then I will happily buy used. If a used vehicle can't provide me with the items on my must have list, but a new vehicle can, I will happily buy new.

For me, I don't spend a lot of time worrying about re-sale, etc. - because I plan on having whatever I buy until it dies. I spend only what I consider an acceptable amount for what I want/need. Sometimes that means buying new, sometimes that means buying used. The one thing it guarantees me is that I never feel like I over-spent or sacrificed wants/needs.

Financially speaking, to me, buying new means you don't get someone else's problems - which could cost someone buying used a ton of money. Especially something within 1-3 years old or low mileage in a MH. We've heard on this forum many times of people having problems with new units and getting ridding of them while still under warranty or one about to expire.

Not everyhing gets fixed by the original owners in many cases. They just off them to rid themselves of future problems and costs. Those costs can be pushed onto the people buying it thinking its a deal they don't pay the depreciation. Not saying there aren't good used ones around, but it's like a box of chocolates.

So to me buying new is a piece of mind knowing you have somewhat of a warranty to back you up, thus no money from your pocket in the few years ahead. You get new technology and design and exactly what you want to buy. Buying used its a******shoot. You just pray it wasnt someone else's nightmare.

Having a conversation with our sales person ( been selling MH's his whole career) he said a large porportion of people with MH who can buy new will after about 4-5 years. The reason is engine & drivetrain warranty is expiring and they want newer technology.

If the cards play out as hoped, we'll buy another new after owning our current MH for 5 years. That'll get us our final MH before retirement. That will put our MH at the end of its warranty period, and probably some things needing attention that could be put off.

My motivation to buy new was to get exactly the RV I wanted in the exact color I wanted with the exact features and options I wanted.
Getting exactly what I wanted was more important to me than getting a unit that was a bargain but wasn't quite what I wanted.
I do think If buying new you should plan on keeping rig a long time. If you like to trade in regularly buying new can be more costly.

Hi, I'm in the exact same boat as you at the moment and leaning towards new.

Here is the way I see it. I can get brand new for 55k. I had been looking at 10 year old class C's for half that. If I keep the new one ten years it will be worth 25k in ten years. Cost me 2500 a year to own it.

If I buy a used one for 25k and keep it ten years. Its now 20 years old and worth about 5k It cost me 2k a year to own it. Plus whatever maintenance it needs. But for the sake of argument I'll say maintenance on a used it equal to taxes and such on a new. Plus I have the cash to buy new, but I always invest it because I can make more investing it, than the loan percentage so I make out a little on this end as well. I avg 10-12% a year in the market vs 3-5% loan rate.

all the two to three year old Class Cs I look at are the same price as a new one so why not just buy new? Plus a used one is 300 a month and new is 500. extra few hundred a month not going to hurt me. I've always bought new vehicles as soon as I could afford to do so and will never buy used again. Again, if you buy new vehicles right, and wait for killer deals from the manufacturer new ends up costing the same as one a few years old.

Bumpyroad wrote:

Jbrowland wrote:
There are no financial benefits in buying new. None. Especially on a luxury item. Buy used and then use the hell out of it. :)

there are some financial benefits in buying new. a lower % rate if you have a loan. any insurance company will insure a new RV, not a used one if too old.
Now if you want to say that there is no overall saving in buying new, you may be right, but I don't want to buy somebodies hand me down.

bumpy

I hear you and understand your opinion on hand me downs. I certainly hope I don't come off as judging any one's choices. I am only answering in the context of the original question for the OP. Like I said before, the real benefit is in the amazing time we all have in our RV's and that is what counts.

There are certain items I would never buy used either. I like to shop at the Salvation Army and Good Will so hand me downs don't bother me much. I hate to see perfectly good stuff in the trash. My RV is a former rental and goes way beyond the concept of a hand me down for sure but it was also refurbished with too many new things to count inside and out. Most people think it is brand new as it also has new paint. They are shocked when I tell them it was a rental with 125k miles on it. Still, this option is not a good choice for everyone and that's cool. Especially full timers who want a bit more "home."

I have never personally encountered a problem with insuring old RV's and guessing from the many ancient and beat to death RV's I see on the roads here in SoCal, not many have issues. Also, if you buy used enough, you won't have to have a loan for long, if at all.

I think that one can say no overall financial savings is the same as no financial benefit at the end of the day. I respectfully stick to my original statement, as bold and unintentionally annoying as it may have read. There is no FINANCIAL benefit to buying new assuming a modecum of research on the purchase has been done.

Jbrowland wrote:
There are no financial benefits in buying new. None. Especially on a luxury item. Buy used and then use the hell out of it. :)

there are some financial benefits in buying new. a lower % rate if you have a loan. any insurance company will insure a new RV, not a used one if too old.
Now if you want to say that there is no overall saving in buying new, you may be right, but I don't want to buy somebodies hand me down.

bumpy

The OP asked about financial benefits only. Generally, if a person even has to ask this question then my answer is to buy used. I also asked this question as well so I am not judging in any way.

There are no financial benefits in buying new. None. FACT. Numbers are not debatable or swayed by opinion. Especially on a luxury item. If you want to maximize your financial benefit then buy VERY used and then use the hell out of it :) This is assuming a modicum of research into your used purchase prior to handing over the cash to make sure it isn't trashed of course.

That said, there may be many benefits that aren't financially related like lack of odors, time to search for a good deal, lack of warranty, and the list goes on and on and on. But the OP didn't ask about those benefits. They asked about financial benefits.

Still, this is a personal matter for each person to decide what is best. In my case, why would I want to owe money to someone for 15 years on something that I only use a few times a month at most? I paid in cash what many people put down on a new RV for a perfectly wonderful used RV with everything working on it and in amazing shape. I think most people confuse NEED and WANT. IMHO, need and want don't get closer together until you are talking about living in an RV full time or if you are buying an RV with a specific purpose in mind.

Of course, we all do slightly different things with our RV's so YMMV.

That said, good luck with whatever you do buy! You are going to love it and have a blast. That is the real benefit! ;)

Banks often wont loan money on a used vehicle for the same APR or length if loan: This is what my credit union is currently doing:
New
4.50 x 84 mths min $10K
6.75 x 85-120 mths $15K +
7.75 x 121-144 mths $25K +

Used:
2007-2013 models only
5.5 x 84 mths

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that new or used you can write the interest off as a second home. As long as you itemize and the RV is the security for the loan, Maybe not a big write off but for me it makes writing that monthly check a little easier, or at least in my mind.

Just posted this to another thread and realized it pertains here too.

This comes with buying a new Ford F53 chassis:

5-years or 60,000 miles roadside Assistance**
This 24 hour, seven-days-a-week Hotline is a standard feature on all Ford Motorhome Chassis. By dialing 1-800- 444-3311, Ford Motorhome Chassis Customers also have access to:
• Flat Tire Changes (No Charge with Ford)
• Jump Start For A Dead Battery (No Charge with Ford) • Gasoline, If Out of Fuel (No Charge with Ford)
• Vehicle Lock-Out Service (No Charge with Ford)
• Towing To The Closest Dealer (No Charge with Ford)

** 5-years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first. See your Ford dealer for details.

I am not sure if transferable if you buy used during the mileage/age limits, but most likely is. Of course, you won't have this coverage as long as if you bought new.

You can get that for a used coach older than 5 years, but you have to pay.