Dutch_12078 wrote:
NADA pricing is based on actual auction and retail sales data, and the listed values are averages, meaning vehicles sell both above and below those values. Keep in mind that the online price guides are not regionalized, but the printed guides supplied to dealers, lenders, etc., are regionalized with suitable pricing adjustments. Also remember that these are only price guides, not absolutes, since it would be impossible to include adjustments for all possible vehicle conditions or local economy differences. As for options, you should include any extra cost items that were not included by the manufacturer as standard equipment or "mandatory options" for a given model. I do expect that NADA RV and boat pricing is less accurate than their car and truck pricing though, due to the much lower sales volume generating the data.
NADA does not use auction results or recent sales for their valuations of RVs. For RVs, they use a depreciation schedule. There simply are not enough sales of all of the various RVs to establish values for each make and model.
As for added equipment, most added equipment does not add resale value. Think about a Television for example. In 2010, a 42 inch flat screen probably cost $4000. Today, they are $400 new at Walmart. A used one is virtually worthless. Same with different cabinetry, interiors, and a multitude of other options.
As for a two year old trailer being worth only 54 percent of the original MSRP, don't forget nobody pays MSRP to start with. So something like a 75 percent NADA valuation would be the actual selling price of a new rig. A new rig qualifies for better financing, the buyer of a new rig gets a warranty and many other things that a used vehicle does not offer.
Finally, a dealer is going to need to make money on that trade. They aren't a charity. To make that profit they have to obtain that used rig at a cost that will allow them to do any repairs, pay commissions, pay towards the overhead of the business in general and still make a profit.
Nobody ever said buying a new RV was a great financial investment.