Used Diesel Pusher Dealer Pricing

[ep120794]

I have about $90,000 to spend on a used diesel pusher and am looking at mostly model years 2005-2007. I'm trying to get an idea how much dealers mark up used DP's. If I find a 2006 DP with 40,000 miles for an asking price of $90K, what would be your starting offer and what is a normal discount off of asking for a used DP?

[J-Rooster]

EP, I would browse the net for used DP's to get a gauge on prices. I would start around in your area with a high volume dealer try De MartiniRV.com if you don't like the price they request, they asked that you make a counter offer.

[mtofell1]

I've looked extensively at the price point and type coach you are talking about. To me the best value is a private party unit you find on Craigslist parked in front of a million dollar home. There are some meticulous rich guys out there who decide they want some other toy.

I'd be much more skeptical buying from a dealer. Among the reasons are that someone with a problem unit is more likely to trade it in. A private party seller who welcomes you onto their property and has a nice clean coach with service records is less likely to be hiding anything.

[wolfe10]

Yup, sales tax generally is determined by the state in which you register it.

[soren]

aguablanco wrote:
Buy from a dealer and pay sales tax and have no warranty or anybody who has actual knowledge of the RV's history. Plus you will pay more. Buy from a private party, no sales tax, in most states, owner should have all maintenance records and you can judge the previous owners attention to detail. Saving the sales tax, which on $90,000.00 in AZ is $7650.00, is reason enough for me to avoid dealers. The maintenance records would be an amazing plus.
RichH

If you define "most" as four of fifty states, you are correct. In this case we should probably go with three states, since Hawaii isn't much of a hot motorhome market. It's also important to remember that, typically, the seller has no responsibility to assure that the buyer pays the tax, but the buyer often will not be able to license, or register, the vehicle until the tax is paid.

[JimInMich]

aguablanco wrote:
Buy from a private party, no sales tax, in most states,

Michigan is one state that you have to pay sales tax on any vehicle bought ( new or used ) from dealer or private party ( actually, anything with a state issued title ).

One thing I know you can save on ( by buying private ) is those stupid " dealer paperwork " fee's they like to tack on.

[msmith1199]

Just a thought, although there are advantages of buying from a dealer, there are way better deals to be found in private party sales. I see some good deals out there all the time. Only problem is you only see the good deals when you aren't actually looking to buy. When you're ready to buy you never can find one.

[jplante4]

I'll second FerndaleFlyer's comment about looking every day with a story.

We were looking specifically for a late 90's Safari Sahara. We spent 6 months cruising RVT, RVTrader and Craigs List. We finally found one in New Hampshire and spent a few weeks trying to get the seller to schedule a look see in the daylight with no luck. We gave up for the season and figured we'd start looking again in the spring. It's tough buying in the winter because you really want to un-winterize to check systems and also to drive the rig.

We had a last trip planned for late October at a campground near New London CT. Mechanical issues with the gasser (bad fuel pump) necessitated us delaying the trip one week. During that week, a 96 Sahara came on CL, 10 minutes from the campground we were going to. I called the seller and asked if he would drive it over to the CG so we could look at it, He agreed, saying that the CG was where he got propane.

We bought White Tigers that weekend.

[ferndaleflyer]

Private party is the ticket and also go get it----I travelled to Maine for 1 and Iowa for another from NC. Price? Just this month a friend got a Monaco for less than 1/2 what a see as the going price form original owner with all records and only 32,000mi. Nice 40ft DP. You just have to look every day and don't be afraid to travel. If its not right get back on the plane!

[Mr_Mark1]

Usersmanual, to me, you can never, EVER, remove cigarette smoke from a car. I can detect it from a mile away.

That smell gets imbedded into EVERYTHING, the plastic, the filters, the ceiling fabric material, leather, venting. Might as well just torch it..... it's a goner in my book. LOL!

MM.

[usersmanual]

As noted - 'smells' are a problem and cannot usually be eliminated.

A little off topic but this just is not true.lots of chemicals and electronic devices used these days to rectify such conditions

[jwmII]

The markup is whatever the traffic will bear. There is a Kelly Blue Book on motorhomes and NADA has a pricing guide as well.

Whatever you do, donot let the dealer(s) know how much you are willing to spend or have to spend.
It's their job to get all they can out of a unit and it is your job to get it as reasonably priced as possible. Good Luck.

[aguablanco]

Buy from a dealer and pay sales tax and have no warranty or anybody who has actual knowledge of the RV's history. Plus you will pay more. Buy from a private party, no sales tax, in most states, owner should have all maintenance records and you can judge the previous owners attention to detail. Saving the sales tax, which on $90,000.00 in AZ is $7650.00, is reason enough for me to avoid dealers. The maintenance records would be an amazing plus.
RichH

[Trackrig]

Compare what the dealer is asking for it to the same models on Craig's list or RV Trader. There are several programs to search all of Craig's List for the whole US and Canada. Also, do a Google search - just type in the MH you want and add "for sale" at the end of it.

Don't expect any special service from the dealer, they're going to want to hide defect too. And don't be afraid to travel someplace to get a good deal. There was a recent forum post of lots of members who had traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to buy their MH. For my last two bought off of CL I traveled over 2,000 miles for both of them.

Bill

[Cbones]

jplante4 wrote:
Not sure what the advantage of buying a used DP from a dealer is. If they offer any kind of warranty (unlikely) it would be limited. And they usually don't do anything to a used rig they take in trade until someone buys it. Then they only do what the buyer finds wrong or broken. Just go to Craigs List. Find a prospect and look it up in RVT and RVTrader to get an idea of prices that are too high.

Exactly, and then you will have the money saved to put towards repairs/maintenance. Buying from a dealer does nothing to guarantee a better unit. I would have an inspection done by a neutral party just like buying a regular house whether or not it is from a dealer or private party.