Community Forums

Mr. M · 11-12-2012, 05:06 PM

They are beautiful, shiny, state of the art machines, and New. However my financial advisor keeps telling me, there is absolutely no worse investment than buying a new RV.

But there is more to life than money right? (Well, maybe not if you're a financial advisor.)

Anyway, if you signed the paper and drove off the lot in your shiny new dream RV, while your net worth took a plunge, please let us know whether, looking back at it:

Was buying the new RV worth the depreciation, and why?

James

toneumanns · 11-12-2012, 05:17 PM

I look at it this way, as long as the appreciation of my RV is greater than the depreciation I'm good.

jzick · 11-12-2012, 05:18 PM

For me it was. If I were going to invest, the last thing I would buy is a depreciating asset, like an rv. RV purchase money is, to us, spending money - we never expect it back. We also decided a few years ago that we would buy only new stuff whenever possible. We were frugal all our lives and for DW and I it is now time to reap the rewards of that frugality.

burfurd · 11-12-2012, 05:24 PM

For us, we did look at some used units but they were priced almost as high as a new unit plus we did get the full factory warranty

and did not have to get a unit with smoke or on that had pets inside it! This was important to us!

Heck, after all, its only money!

We felt like we deserved a new motor home once in our lives!

burfurd

Peacekeeper6 · 11-12-2012, 06:02 PM

My philosophy:

You can't line your coffin with hundred dollar bills.

;-)

TXiceman · 11-12-2012, 06:09 PM

The depreciation on a new RV is not worth it when there are a lot of hardly used 3 and 4 year old units on the market. But it is your money and make yourself happy.

Ken

fredaevans · 11-12-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

The depreciation on a new RV is not worth it when there are a lot of hardly used 3 and 4 year old units on the market. But it is your money and make yourself happy.

Ken

+1.

Like a new car, you drive it off the lot and you're down ....

Where you get it back is use, actual use, and time in grade behind the wheel. Either/both are going to be 'low,' just rent one and be done with it.

fae

autofish · 11-12-2012, 06:42 PM

Well worth it and it was not about the investment. Did not want to deal with some ones elses problems or dirt so worth it to me.

scoutmstr · 11-12-2012, 07:09 PM

Absolutely. They didn't make a RV like I wanted so Rexhall took a 30' coach designed for a Ford 18K Gvw chassis and put it on a 22K Workhorse chassis lowered the roof 6" so OAH was 11'9 to fit in my garage, put a fuel injected Onan generator in and some other changes I wanted. Total cost was less than off a dealers lot. Still had teething problems with a new coach but they fix it all.

CampDaven · 11-12-2012, 07:16 PM

Hey, it's a lifestyle. Just happens to cost money.

I was a financial manager. Depreciation, yes. Fun, satisfaction, sanity....big time!

Have fun now. You'll be dead a long time

danf7 · 11-12-2012, 07:21 PM

An Rv is NOT AN INVESMENT! If you can find a used one that has the floorplan colors etc. that matches what you want and what the owner is asking is far below new cost then go for it!. Anyway you look at it an RV is an invesment in your happiness. You are spending YOUR MONEY ON YOURSELF! I never saw a hearse with a luggage rack so go for it and enjoy!

Dan

mavric65 · 11-12-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peacekeeper6

My philosophy:

You can't line your coffin with hundred dollar bills.

;-)

Well i guess one could if wanted LOL

LVJ58 · 11-12-2012, 07:44 PM

The way I see it, you don't buy an RV as an investment, your financial advisor is absolutely correct in his/her assessment that's it a poor investment.

Back in 2000 we traded our 1st used coach in on a new one that we've now had for 12 years. We bought it to travel in and enjoy, not giving any consideration whatsoever to depreciation.

And yes, we've enjoyed it immensly and have never looked back and/or had any regrets in our decision to buy it.

If one has reservations or concerns about the depreciation of an RV then it's not wise to buy one.

Best regards,

Mr_D · 11-12-2012, 07:48 PM

Hard to buy a used MH the way my wife wanted it, new was the only way and Newmar was the only maker that could do the changes within our price range. Even then the upcharge for the upgrades and modification was $38,000 in 2002 $$.