Any financial advantages of buying new RV vs used?

No one can answer this questionj but you. Many on here would rather try and get a baragain and get something used. To us, we prefer new. One reason we RV is to have our own stuff that others don't use or have not used (at least not for an extended period of time). Buyign used, we would of been buying somoeone elses personal hotel room. Yes we could change the mattress out and give it a good scrubbing, but there are still noramlly fabric material inside them (carbet, upholestry, curtains, valances, etc that can trap all the heebie jeebies...lol

Another reason we never bought used was because of smells. We never stepped into a used unit and it not reak.We also prefer to camp and not spend timing repairing thigns if we don't have to. The odds are in our favor (new units have issues also) normally. We don't care about saving a little money when it comes to this. But many do. We prefer not to spend money in other places.

I bought Used. A 2004 Gulfstream Innsbruck (a very well built trailer) I found this trailer in Chicago at a dealer. I drove there and did an inspection that lasted all day until well after dark. Nothing big wrong, every system worked and the dealer fixed all of the minor stuff we found.

The trailer was owned by only one couple who bought it new and even the original bill of sale was with the paperwork I found in the trailer including every manual of every system. (This was like finding Gold)

If the USA map on the door can be believed they hauled this trailer to every state east of the Mississippi and then some.

It was like new inside though of course "dated" in it's color scheme and fabrics. I beleive they had put a new refer and stove/oven and Microwave in it at some point soon before selling it. They were all virtually unused. It had a brand new awning.

I have hauled it about 6000 miles since I have had it and it has operated perfectly.

I paid $8300 for the 31 footer and couldnt be happier.

So the moral of this story is you can get great deals out there on really good trailers if you are willing to look long and hard and travel out of your area, do an absolutely thorough inspection and bargain. In this case any small problems that may have existed early on were taken care of already by a couple that maintained their trailer very well.

One additional positive is that with it being used I am not hesitant about making some changes or redoing flooring as an example.

With the money I saved by buying a used trailer I instead put into a brand new Dodge Ram 4x4 2500 crew cab truck to pull it with.

No, none. I buy used only. The depreciation will financially slaughter you buying new.

My coach was 9-months old with 5K miles on it when I bought it used. I saved 25% under what the new buyer paid. I saved tens of thousands of dollars buying used.

DSDP Don wrote:
"Desert Captain"......What if I said.....You bought used because of the poor life choices you made and are now stuck buying used second hand stuff. You'd be offended...right? It works both ways. I can afford to buy new and will continue to do so, but it doesn't make either one of us smarter and I don't criticize or give little digs about your choices to buy used as many used buyers routinely do.

Most buy used, because that's what they can afford, yet SOME spend their time telling everyone how smart they are for doing so rather than just say.....I bought what I could afford!!!

Some say they could buy new, but they decided to buy five years older and get a bigger more luxurious coach. I could have bought a used Prevost, but I wanted a new coach with current electronics and equipment, along with a five year engine warranty (more in my comfort zone).

If buying used works for you great, but it gets old being criticized by used buyers while the new buyers bite their tongue. Adding digs at the end of statements, like "money in my pocket", gets old.

DSDP Don,

Your post (that I responded to), contained false statements and carried more than a little attitude. You seem to be seeking things to be offended by and ignoring the rest. This thread is a discussion of the potential advantages of buying new vs used. These discussions typically consist of opinions, everybody has one. A smattering of facts usually creeps in as well. I guess you don't think that there are (as I pointed out), pro's and cons to either scenario. If you want to believe that it is OK with me.

I also stated to buy what works best for you. So what here offends you? The OP is seeking information to include dissenting opinions and then when they are given you cry foul? :h

As I have noted before in other discussions you have a big, beautiful motorhome with one of the biggest toad's on the road. After buying it you probably had a lot more money in your pocket than I did to begin with but who cares?

I was an eyelash away from buying the exact same coach that I have, new (yes, like you I can afford to buy new). By an amazing stroke of luck and a great deal of internet searching I discovered my dream coach with 6,205 miles had popped up right here in Tucson. Buying it did not make me smarter but letting it get away would have been a poor decision. You bought and got exactly what you wanted, guess what? So did I.

Lastly, I've said it before and will say it again....

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

"Desert Captain"......What if I said.....You bought used because of the poor life choices you made and are now stuck buying used second hand stuff. You'd be offended...right? It works both ways. I can afford to buy new and will continue to do so, but it doesn't make either one of us smarter and I don't criticize or give little digs about your choices to buy used as many used buyers routinely do.

Most buy used, because that's what they can afford, yet SOME spend their time telling everyone how smart they are for doing so rather than just say.....I bought what I could afford!!!

Some say they could buy new, but they decided to buy five years older and get a bigger more luxurious coach. I could have bought a used Prevost, but I wanted a new coach with current electronics and equipment, along with a five year engine warranty (more in my comfort zone).

If buying used works for you great, but it gets old being criticized by used buyers while the new buyers bite their tongue. Adding digs at the end of statements, like "money in my pocket", gets old.

DSDP Don wrote:
The people who buy used always fall back on..... "oh the depreciation of 30% - 50% just isn't worth it". It's an old worn out story. I bought my coach new and the NADA value is still more than what I paid.

The other ridiculous statement...."I don't want to deal with all the new coach bugs and repairs". Really, you'd rather buy something used that literally has bugs, maybe hiding a huge defect so the owner is dumping it....or is it the worn out and outdated equipment you like!

If you buy new great. If you want to buy used, that's great too, but the new buyers really don't want to hear a bunch of stories about how savvy you are buying used.....who cares!

A lot of it depends on how you're going to use it. If you're an occasional user, a used coach may be your best bet. If you really enjoy RVing and look at a new coach as part of that enjoyment.....that's fine too.

The instant depreciation when you drive off the lot is not an old worn out story, it is a fact. Add in the higher registration and sales tax costs (no sales tax in some states on private party sales), and that number can easily be 30% or more.

Yep, most new coaches will have a few bugs but the minor stuff is the first thing folks usually deal with and subsequent owners won't have to. Anything major should be glaringly apparent to a knowledgable buyer and cause to buy something else. If a used coach has worn out and outdated equipment the upgrade and replacement of that gear just figures into the cost of purchase. Mostly lightly used coaches do not suffer from this issue.

NADA pricing is a bigger joke than "Dry" weights. So you bought new and because NADA says so think your coach is worth more than you paid for it.... seriously? :h

Buy new or used, whatever works for you. There are pros and cons to either scenario but having repeated bought lightly used (RV's, Cars, boats etc), over the years with nothing but excellent results and lots of money left in my pocket I will continue to do so.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

The people who buy used always fall back on..... "oh the depreciation of 30% - 50% just isn't worth it". It's an old worn out story. I bought my coach new and the NADA value is still more than what I paid.

The other ridiculous statement...."I don't want to deal with all the new coach bugs and repairs". Really, you'd rather buy something used that literally has bugs, maybe hiding a huge defect so the owner is dumping it....or is it the worn out and outdated equipment you like!

If you buy new great. If you want to buy used, that's great too, but the new buyers really don't want to hear a bunch of stories about how savvy you are buying used.....who cares!

A lot of it depends on how you're going to use it. If you're an occasional user, a used coach may be your best bet. If you really enjoy RVing and look at a new coach as part of that enjoyment.....that's fine too.

bobcat66 wrote:

Of the four "issues", three have been addressed by Dodge.
The other one appears to be one-off item so far.

Every RV should be this good!!!

I would not hesitate to own one.

I would. It's a Dodge which means bottom of the barrel durability, which it seems that the ProMaster is having in spades. Add to that a FWD based platform and you have a recipe for expensive repairs when the transmission grenades itself.

Then you have the parent company staring to shop around for a merger, casting doubts on their future (what, this the 4th owner for Chrysler and heading for the 3rd bailout of them).

You are better off with something built on the proven Sprinter or Ford chassises.

Advantage to buying new is there will be one more used one for sale in the future for those of us that only buy used!
IMO, a RV warranty gets mostly used for getting the bugs out and then it's pretty dependable, but you'll pay a lot if you're not able to fix stuff on your own.

I may have missed it but did not see any assumptions on the used unit. Hard to compare two competing scenarios with only one identified. So the only advantages I see would be better warranty and potentially cheaper interest rate on a new unit.