Veebyes wrote:
"I know who's slept in my bed, who's used the kitchen and appliances, and for the most part who's put what down the toilet." I love excuses like that for paying tens of thousands more for a new unit.
I guess these buyers have never slept in a hotel, never used a public restroom & never been to a restaurant. They must be relations of Howard Hughes.
Nice! Many would say that anyone who can afford ANY new or used RV, especially for "recreational" purpsoes, must be rich. I'm definitely not related to any wealthy benefactors and the wife and I work hard for every dime that comes in and goes out. What you call an excuse, I call a reason. You may not agree, but there DEFINITELY is a difference between a new and a used RV. For many, the depreciation, especially the first few years, is not worth the difference, for others it is. Have I slept in hotels? Yes. Is it my preference? NO!!! That's one BIG reason I have an RV. Have I used a public restroom? Obviously, although most of them, especially on the road, I would prefer not to.
As for tens of thousands of dollars, my TT only cost a few 10's of thousands and a five year old "equivalent" unit still costs a couple of 10's of thousands. I use quotes around equivalent because, despite what some may say, there are differences. The same floor plan was available, but that's about the only thing that's the same. The decor is different, the refrigerator was a gas absorption RV refrigerator vs the residential compressor refrigerator in my TT, the cabinetry design was different/less functional, etc... Mine also had zero wear and tear on it when I bought it.
Some might find that garage kept, constantly cared for, used just enough to keep everything in perfect working order RV, just 1 or 2 years old being sold by a little old lady from Pasadena for 10% of the price of a new unit. I never seem to find that deal. I did pretty well with the repossessed class C we owned, but it wasn't that great a deal.
Buy what you want. My advice is to buy within your means. There are advantages to new, if you can afford it and if those advantages are important to you. There can be advantages to buying used, if you're careful. Cost can be one of the big advantages, again if you're careful. Not unlike the automobile market, the used market value is at least partially driven by the average amount remaining on loans on similar units. Unlike the auto market, the majority of RVs are finance for 15 years, not 5-7. There is also a two edged sword in the used market. If you're buying from a conscientious, caring, previous owner, as with houses they will likely have worked out any fit and finish issues from the manufacturing process and may have installed some nice and possibly expensive upgrades. Most upgrades don't add any significant value to the selling price. However, the other side of that sword is that if you are buying from a less scrupulous or even well meaning but less conscientious seller, they may be intentionally concealing or unwittingly passing on significant defects. There are lots of reasons people sell RVs. Some sell because they fall on hard times financially or just aren't getting enough use to justify the cost. Others sell because of poor health or their spouse or other family passed away and they no longer want to or are able to travel. But just like in the used car market, there are those who try to conceal defects to increase profit/avoid losing money. Everyone's heard fables of saw dust in the transmission. I once bought a used car from a dealer that had more stop leak in the radiator than water or antifreeze. What can I say I was younger and stupider.
A used unit will have wear and tear. It will have however many miles of rattling down the road with all the screw loosening vibrations and twisting and flexing that comes with those miles. It will have however many nights of firing the heater and/or running the air conditioner. It will have however many years of sitting, usually in the open unprotected and usually neglected for months at time. It may have that child's wallet, or worse, stuck in the black tank drain (did I mention, 18+ years later, I still really don't want to relive that day...). It may need tires and batteries and other maintenance. Those are the negatives. Those are the reason it's less expensive than a new unit.
Some times that wear and tear is very light and the previous owner has been good about maintenance and proper storage. Some times, as previously stated, they've added worthwhile updates. Some times you get a true bargain.
A used RV is better than no RV in my opinion. The right RV for the purchaser, at the time they want to purchase it, is the best RV. If you have specific preference with regard to layout, brand, size, etc. It may be difficult to find your preference in a used RV. If you do, that's great. If not, I would rather spend a few thousand more for the RV I want than a few thousand less for one I'd be settling for.
