Hey Everyone!So I know this topic has been discussed like crazy and have been reading non-stop. I'm looking to purchase our first motorhome and am just looking for any advice from the more experienced here.We have are deciding between 2 identical Georgetown units - 1 new and 1 used with 28,000 miles on it. everything else is the same including the 2016 model year. MSRP is 146k on this unit but are able to purchase this for 95k brand new and 85k used.I get the depreciation and warranty thing but at what point (in your opinion) but where do you draw the line? Is 10k price difference enough to offset the 28,000 miles and spent warranty? What would you do? What am I not thinking about? TIA

If I understand correctly, the difference is $10K? For that I would buy the new one.

I would imagine you can get the used one much cheaper than the advertised price. Units depreciate heavily once driven off the lot and it's pretty dramatic for the first few years until it starts to level off. In the case where it's a year old you can make huge savings. That said 28k miles is a LOT of miles for one year of use. Was it a rental? That's 500 miles a week! It's out of warranty and it's almost out of the factory Ford warranty of 3/36. If the mileage were half that (what I would consider the high side of normal) this would be a no brainer but that's a lot of miles for one year. Not that the Chassis and drive train can't offer another 100k trouble free miles, but it's an indication that it was used heavily in a very short time.

Sounds pretty high for the used one !Check NADA.

I totally agree with Effy! The used one has been driven a lot for having that many miles on it. I would try to negotiate the new one down a bit more and go that route for a $10 grand difference. If the used one had 10K on it I think the used one may be fine but it's not.....

I like new and I also agree with Effy. That's a lot of miles in one year although it was probably bought in 2015 so two years of use.The warranty and "the delivery miles" on the new one seem more attractive to me compared to the used one as it is not that much different.Good luck,MM.

The old NEW vs USED debate | Good Sam Community

Rwake901
Explorer
Feb 21, 2017
Because the price between new and used is so close I would think it would be a no brainer to buy the new one. Full warranty on both the chassis and house. Like someone said the Ford warranty will run out at 36000 miles on the used unit with 28000 miles on it. I think you will be sorry down the road if you buy the used one just to save a few bucks..
T18skyguy
Explorer
Feb 18, 2017
Here's an RV depreciation schedule for your interest. At 6 years it's worth 50% of it's new value. Year 1-18% 2-10% 3-7% 4-6% 5-6% 6-5% 7-5% 8-4% 9-4% 10-3% 11-3% 12-2% 13-2% For the age of any RV your looking at, just add up the percentages and go from there.
John_S_
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2017
people always talk used vs new but here is a way to think on it. Everything wears out at some time and the cost to fix or replace is mostly the cost of the new one you would have purchased in the original purchase. So, the costs of ownership goes up as the unit ages. That is whether or not you purchased it new or not. If it was purchased new then you have a small window where you do not have much in the way of costs but you will still need to replace batteries and tires and belts and hoses and other stuff as it wears out.
jlud
Explorer
Feb 18, 2017
Look at the corners of the roof. You can find pictures I posted on the forest river forums. Basically the edges of the room where they meet the sides are different colors and they react to sun differently...assume because of temps or maybe just way made. Either way they twist or warp and you can see flat spots toward the front of the unit mostly. Instead of a smooth curve you will see flat spots.
PatrickJM
Explorer
Feb 18, 2017
Bill.Satellite wrote:
That' WAY too much money for a used RV. For the 10,000 difference I would buy new. However, I would never buy new! You need to get the seller of the used unit to come down to reality or move on and pass on both choices.

But...what if the price of the new coach was low enough that it was similar to what 2 year old coaches are selling for of the exact same model?? Part of the problem is that I think people overpay in the first place. Right now I'm just under 40% off msrp. New they seem to be selling around 110-115k. 2 year old units are going around 90k

I do agree the sweet spot is about 3 years old overall.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2017
That' WAY too much money for a used RV. For the 10,000 difference I would buy new. However, I would never buy new! You need to get the seller of the used unit to come down to reality or move on and pass on both choices.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Feb 17, 2017
for a large family you can always tow a bunk room trailer, we did when the kids were living at home . :)
Lots of ways to skin this cat with quality products.
I'd never ever suffer first year depreciation. even at a dealer discount.

find a 2 to 3 year old coach like you wan, see what they are selling for.
PatrickJM
Explorer
Feb 17, 2017
jlud wrote:
I bought a 364TS 2016 for about that price loaded up with washer/dryer combo and about all but paint for 95k, same as OP. I would get the new one unless rear bed slide has been fixed as they bounce and check radius caps for warping. They upgraded ours to their diesel unit radius caps for warranty. Think most are going to warp like that.

We love our 364....awesome for a family. Can't find anything similar for a layout with 2 full baths. RV direct does have some leftover Vista 35Bs for 95k.

It's such a unique layout! I'm glad you are having a good experience with it. Can you tell me what you mean by "check the radius" and "cap warping"? Thanks
jlud
Explorer
Feb 17, 2017
I bought a 364TS 2016 for about that price loaded up with washer/dryer combo and about all but paint for 95k, same as OP. I would get the new one unless rear bed slide has been fixed as they bounce and check radius caps for warping. They upgraded ours to their diesel unit radius caps for warranty. Think most are going to warp like that.

We love our 364....awesome for a family. Can't find anything similar for a layout with 2 full baths. RV direct does have some leftover Vista 35Bs for 95k.
ChuckV1
Explorer
Feb 17, 2017
Isaac-1 wrote:
I suspect the couple that traded it in got a MUCH lower price than the dealer is asking for it now.

When we traded in our 5th wheel thy gave us 8k, relisted it on the web page for 14k, even if the were talked down a few thousand they still make a profit of 4k on a used unit......

BTW the DW said we could not turn our used one in without cleaning front to back inside and out, so the dealer in this case didn't even have to do anything to the unit just put it in the lot with a for sale sign on it an call it good, now thats service LOL

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