Any financial advantages of buying new RV vs used?

Best lesson I was taught when buying a used vehicle.
Always ask for paperwork.
If they can't provide a paper trail of work or maintenance, walk away.

Let say I want to buy a 55K Class C, NEW and I finance it
In perfect world - no money down, at 5% apr. for 15 years

Pros/Cons as I see them...


PROS
-zero miles on the odo
-new warranty (usually a year on the couch, 3 years on chassis)
-everything is new and has never been used or abused
-resale value???

CONS
-Depreciation hit the first year and the following years, at 5 years
-Interest on the loan
-Sales Tax (Virginia)


What am I missing?

I am trying to look for BENEFITS of buying new.
Are there any?
I am not trying to start heated discussion, just trying to figure it all out for the first time.

Thank you.

Since you are asking about the financial advantages or disadvantages of buying new, here is my take on that issue. Go new if you plan to keep it a long time, you know exactly what you want, and you have the money. If you don't know exactly what you want then there is merit in the previous comment about perhaps getting a higher value RV used for the same money. Sometimes you can get a good deal on used if it was little used or well taken care of. And sometimes going new you know everything that has happened to it over the RV's life. For some that is a comfort.

TXiceman wrote:
For the same $$$$ you will be money ahead to buy a used higher end RV than a new entry level RV.

Kne

Ah, true.

here I am comparing apples to apples, while I should be comparing apples to truffles :)

For the same $$$$ you will be money ahead to buy a used higher end RV than a new entry level RV.

Kne

As non smokers we looked at a lot of used MHs. Many of them reeked of smoke. Some tried to correct the odor. That was only one issue I encountered. Mods. Some RVers have a lot of mechanical ability. Some not so much. Some used MHs have good mods. Some have haphazard attempts to make mods to MHs and basically have to be torn out and re done. Buying used be careful and inspect closely.

Pricing new or used sometimes depends on what a previous owner paid. If someone bought a MH in good times and selling in bad times there may not be a lot of difference if you are shopping for new in a bad economy.

There are lots of new electronics on newer units. Do I need them or just want them?

I don't think anyone can really answer buy new or used. You have to shop for yourself. What you can afford and what you can locate that is acceptable to you and your family.

that's what ive experienced...I have repair records from the previous owner.....and mine was kept in amazing shape

Higher personal property tax on the new one?

probably a cheaper %% loan.

you won't be driving something unloaded by a previous owner.
bumpy

sc300turbo wrote:
im a handy guy that can fix most things.....so I went with a 2010 class a for the reason of depreciation....and cost savings....im a newbie and still learning but that was my rationale....and it seems the new warranty's are so limited.....

So in a 2010, we can assume that prev. owner took care of alot of things that usually go wrong with NEW rv...?

im a handy guy that can fix most things.....so I went with a 2010 class a for the reason of depreciation....and cost savings....im a newbie and still learning but that was my rationale....and it seems the new warranty's are so limited.....