original price to what sells for used 10 years later?

[rb71]

Let's say I bought a 2006 whatever class A diesel for 100000 in 2006. What would be the value of it now? I'm thinking 50000 miles on it (5k a year) stored under cover used but not abused.

I'm wondering if since inflation has gone up so much that you wouldnt/didn't lose so much money?

Just curious on everyones thoughts

I'm thinking you would lose 25000 to 35000. So it would be 2500 to 3500 a year.

[Ivylog]

Bill Davis, it's good to see you on here. I remember your post and knew it had to be 10+ years ago. Your link above does not work, maybe this one will.

Seems like I remember you doing a spreed sheet with various % for various years????

This is on the back of my DP and it pretty much sums up my MH purchase.

Anyone can just spend it.

[John_Joey]

FWIW, when I bought my Class A I used a different type of logic. I figured I would use it for 5 years during the winters driving around looking for a snowbird place to winter fulltime at. I would then buy a S&B once I found it.

At the end of 5 years I would sell the Class A for half of my initial investment (using the 50% rule of thumb.) I then decided on how much money I was willing to throw away on that project. I doubled that price and that was my buy in point for a Class A. Turns out I had the rig for about 6 years and got back 60% of my investment (not counting repairs and updates.)

So part of me always want to say how much money are you willing to throw away? My Uncle Donnie didn't think like that and drained his pension to buy a Class A in 1985 to snowbird in. Less then 20 years later it was pure junk, and he was forced into staying north and eating a lot of soup. During those 20 years he saw some great deals on condos that would have appreciated but didn't have the money for the buy in.

[cwdavis]

Several years ago I analyzed the used Class A diesel market and filed a series of posts, which, working with Johnny T, were then summarized in a sticky at the top of the forum. It's still there, tho a little hard to find so here's the link:

Evaluating Used Class A Motorcoaches: Summary Version

And, here is a statement that pertains to the question at hand:

"... The NADA RV Appraisal Guide was examined for wholesale values, by year, for a variety of different MHs with gasoline and diesel engines. Retained Values were calculated as the NADA Wholesale Values of each coach for each year vs. the Manufacturer’s Suggested List price for the year of manufacturer (e.g., for a 2000 motorcoach, the Retained Value is the current 2005 wholesale value vs. the 2000 original list price). When expressed in this manner, motorcoaches were observed to depreciate at essentially the same rate over time, regardless of manufacturer, model, type of power plant, or MSRP. According to the essential NADA schedule, a motorcoach is worth about 60% of MSRP at age 1 year, and this declines to about 25% at 10 years."

Folks interested in this topic would be well advised to read Johnny T's stickies, 1st Time Buyers, and Frequently Asked Questions, where there this is a ton of information summarized from years of posts on this forum. Good stuff!

[rb71]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm not looking to buy an older class a. Just wondering if I bought a new 1 what the value would be down the road.

A friend of mine bought a 10 year old dp for 45000 and he loves it. So in my head I was wondering what the original owner really paid or lost.

10 years ago a top of the line pick up was under 50k now they are in the 80s.

Cars have gotten crazy money anymore so I thinking campers followed suite.

Been camping most of my younger life but now I'm paying the bills. Lol

[Stormy_Eyes]

rb71 wrote:
Let's say I bought a 2006 whatever class A diesel for 100000 in 2006. What would be the value of it now? I'm thinking 50000 miles on it (5k a year) stored under cover used but not abused.

I'm wondering if since inflation has gone up so much that you wouldnt/didn't lose so much money?

Just curious on everyones thoughts

I'm thinking you would lose 25000 to 35000. So it would be 2500 to 3500 a year.

I'm thinking you should forget about inflation and expect it would have depreciated more than 25-or 35 k. Sorry to say, but I'd think 55- 65 K or more in depreciation (from fair purchase price, not msrp) at 10 years if you are able to sell it yourself. Less in your pocket if you trade it in at a dealer. All that depreciation despite the fact that you maintained it and even upgraded some things.

[Ivylog]

I bought my current rig slightly used at nine months old and 4000 miles as that was the only way to get a rig with four slides and for what I knew was a good price of $250,000... original owner took a $40K hit and not from the MSRP of $370K as he had gotten 23 % off. At 10 years I insured it for $100,000 agreed value as that was what it would take to replace it. Four months ago or approximately at 13 years I cannot ensure it for more than $70,000 agreed value.

The easy math is $15,000 a year for 10 years and then $10,000 a year for the last three years depreciation. The better answer is $20K the first year of my ownership and then $1,000 less each year... $19, 18,17..... approximately 8 to 9% a year. Not a cheap sport if you only use it a couple months a year. Heck, not a cheap sport as half timers.

The good news is the next 10 years will be much cheaper to own it... even with possible repairs. Today if I was starting out I'd buy a 10 year old upper level DP... a lot of bank for the buck.

*OP, using my numbers and converting to $100,000 for the Bounder PLUS not including the first year hit the Bounder is worth less than $40,000. Even the real inflation rate is not going to change this reality.

[John_Joey]

An unscientific rule of thumb is you lose 50% every 5 years on a MH. YMMV

[westernrvparkow]

BB_TX wrote:
I went to nada.com and arbitrarily picked a 2006 38' Bounder. Has a "suggested list price" new of $178k and a current "average retail" price of $70k. Obviously the "suggested list price" is considerably higher than the actual new sale price, but the 10 yr old current value is probably around half the original new sale price.

I highly doubt you could actually get $70,000 for a 10 year old bounder, even if it was never used. Depreciation on a Motorhome is probably very similar to depreciation of an auto. 10 years old, you can maybe get 20 to 25 percent of the original purchase price on the sale of a normal auto (10 year old GMC Arcadia was around $36,000 new, no way it sells for more than $9,0000 if it has 100K miles, which is low usage of 10,000 miles per year). My guess is that Bounder probably sold new for around $130K and $25K to $30K would come pretty close to buying to today in a realistic sale . (normal miles no owner financing, not traded in retail to retail. Hasn't been completely gutted and redone with new electronics, flooring, fabrics etc.)

[Mr_Mark1]

We bought our new '08 coach in March of 2007. Sold it on consignment in November of 2014. It was a 6.5 yr. old coach (by model year) that we had for 7.5 yrs.

We received 49% of the retail amount that we actually paid (real money) before we paid the commission.

I'm thinking if we waited to sell at 10 yrs., it might have been around 35-38% return before commission. But, who knows? There are a lot of factors that can affect price at the time of sale.


MM.

[usersmanual]

BB_TX wrote:
I went to nada.com and arbitrarily picked a 2006 38' Bounder. Has a "suggested list price" new of $178k and a current "average retail" price of $70k. Obviously the "suggested list price" is considerably higher than the actual new sale price, but the 10 yr old current value is probably around half the original new sale price.

yes but the OP was asking about Class A diesels

[BB_TX]

I went to nada.com and arbitrarily picked a 2006 38' Bounder. Has a "suggested list price" new of $178k and a current "average retail" price of $70k. Obviously the "suggested list price" is considerably higher than the actual new sale price, but the 10 yr old current value is probably around half the original new sale price.

[time2roll]

Is 100,000 MSRP or 30% off?

[AZAmmochief]

You might check NADA RV values. It allows you to select you rig and configuration, mileage. It provides you estimated values.

[flagstickfrank]

One major problem I have found is that several repair shops, Freight-liner, La Mesa RV, etc. have stopped working on ten year
old coaches. I bought two year old DP for $120K, now worth $20K.(and that's trade in value)
And it's in very good condition. Motor homes don't hold their value
very well, and older ones are almost worthless compared to original cost. I don't feel they are good investments except for the pleasure they give you.

[usersmanual]

rb71 wrote:
Let's say I bought a 2006 whatever class A diesel for 100000 in 2006. What would be the value of it now? I'm thinking 50000 miles on it (5k a year) stored under cover used but not abused.

I'm wondering if since inflation has gone up so much that you wouldnt/didn't lose so much money?

Just curious on everyones thoughts

I'm thinking you would lose 25000 to 35000. So it would be 2500 to 3500 a year.

what model 2006 diesel pusher sold for 100K in 2006? they were 200K and some(lots) were 250-350K and some 500K
so really depends on the model and how far up the food chain the unit was example a signature sold new for say 450K in 2006
they sell for 200 K today so 25K per year depreciation
just a example MH vary in great degrees depends on motor size length mileage floor plans etc

my 2008 bus sold new for about 325K I paid 185 it worth 150 area today
that's 22K depreciation from new