Community Forums

rvingboo · 04-05-2008, 02:21 PM

Been looking for four months and think I've found the deal too good to pass up. New '06 Newmar Ventana 3631. Options include king dome sat, sirius radio, chrome mirrors, power sun visors, tank heat pad, weather pro & oasis power awning.

Last offer was 125k (list is 192k), 100% finan, 5.99% interest. Hardest thing we did was to walk away and give it a night to think about it.

Any input on this coach, the deal or newmar is appreciated. We camp 50- 60 days a year and plan to full time in 8.5 years.

rvingboo · 04-05-2008, 02:21 PM

Been looking for four months and think I've found the deal too good to pass up. New '06 Newmar Ventana 3631. Options include king dome sat, sirius radio, chrome mirrors, power sun visors, tank heat pad, weather pro & oasis power awning.

Last offer was 125k (list is 192k), 100% finan, 5.99% interest. Hardest thing we did was to walk away and give it a night to think about it.

Any input on this coach, the deal or newmar is appreciated. We camp 50- 60 days a year and plan to full time in 8.5 years.

Nathan Focht · 04-05-2008, 04:25 PM

I am not sure about the asking price but I think the rate is good. The only issue you have here is the 100% financing. These things drop like rocks as you can see with the 70K drop in two model years. If you finance 100% and only make the minimum payment, you will go upside dramatically. This could paint you into a corner fast.

As for Newmar, as long as Newmar is making coaches that fit me family, we will be a customer. They are a great company.

rvingboo · 04-05-2008, 04:39 PM

NADA is 128 - 154 on this rig used, I'm worried about what my insurance is going to run, any idea?

footdoc · 04-05-2008, 06:13 PM

Dealer cost was about 137K without any factory incentives/perks..but the coach will be 2 yrs old as soon as you own it..

CSX4350 · 04-05-2008, 06:34 PM

I may be wrong, and if I am someone will point it out, but it also has a 3 year warranty compared to 1 year on a new Ventana.

Norm Payne · 04-05-2008, 06:35 PM

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

The Good - You found a motorhome you love and since it is new it comes with a one year Newmar warranty and up to five years on the engine, trnasmission and chassis.

The Bad - It is nearly three years old and it will have lot-rot. The tires are half shot, the batteries will be nearly shot from not being kept fully charged, and the fluids and filters are over due being replaced. Try to get the dealer to replace all fuilds and filters in the engine, transmission, chassis and generator. Also have them replace the engine and house batteries.

The Ugly - Once you drive it off the lot it will be three model years old and the Low Retail is $128,490 and the wholesale or trade-in value will be $102,792. If you finance no more than $100,000 you stand a chance of not getting too far upside down (oweing more than its worth).

Good luck and think this over a few days before buying.

Norm Payne · 04-05-2008, 06:37 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CSX4350:
I may be wrong, and if I am someone will point it out, but it also has a 3 year warranty compared to 1 year on a new Ventana. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Newmar went to a one year warranty in 2006.

CSX4350 · 04-05-2008, 06:42 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Norm Payne:
Newmar went to a one year warranty in 2006. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Norm, I thought it was 2007 they shortened the warranty. I knew someone would correct me if I was wrong, it took all of 3 minutes!

RVDude · 04-05-2008, 06:44 PM

The Ventana is a great rig and it sounds like you found one that meets your needs... All indications are that Newmar will weather the current RV sales gloom, unlike several competitors already filing bankruptcy... So that is very very good.

I hate to cast a negative glow in your time of excitement. But here's some other thoughts from the pragmatic dude... Please take them as just things to consider...

At 100% financing you'll be upside down for around half the loan term (that means many many years)... Probably worthy of some thought... That's exactly what is going on with the mortgage meltdown today... Can you take a $30-50k cash loss right out of the gate if you had to unload it for unforeseen reasons?

Insurance depends on state/you/company/driving intent/etc. You'll need to call and get a couple quotes... Give a couple insurance firms a call first. Can you get enough insurance (full replacement value or sufficient negotiated rate) to cover the upside-down-ness and protect your investment?

At $125k from a list of $192k that is about 35% off of what is now a 3 year old "though new" coach. Just because it is new does not make it current. You can get 25+% off of a "current" 2009 brand spanking new one (though the msrp will be a little higher). The difference is some $15-25k more for a current year coach. Is this one really worth it?

A 3 year old rig, even though still new, is probably already due for a battery replacement - all of them... 4-6 batteries at some $100ea.

With 3 year old tires they are already well into their RVIA suggested 5-7odd year age life cycle... 6 tires at some $200-300ea.

I'll bet it still has the 3 year old engine oil in it too... Full of nasties created by time and the no doubt frequent starts to move it over the years without getting it up to running temp... Big diesels definitely do not like to be run like that...

In 8.5 years you stand a good chance of being in another coach to FT in., hence, is this really the coach you want (for now and for future)? Does your now use (the 50-60 camping days) suggest a different coach and different floorplan than your future FT use?

Used RV pricing is nothing short of hocus pocus and NADA provides really very little insight. You need to look at actual sales in your area and that's always hard data to get, especially looking for apples to apples. I doubt a used 06 would bring anywhere near the NADA $140+k in today's market.

Do you want to debug this "new" coach? A used one can be less initial hassle as someone else debugged it for you... And probably a lot cheaper still..

Diesel, already at $4.00++/gal will likely see closer to $5/gal this summer when the summer fuel demand hits, than less than $4. That puts a tank of fuel at $400+. I can't even look at the pump these days.... It also puts the fuel cost per mile well north of 50cents/mile...

Does anyone know the engine history on this year/model? Were there a few ISB issues back then?

Man-o-man, I can tell you are really excited about this rig, so taking the night to think about it seems like the right thing to do... Good luck in your thought process.

Again, I don't want to sound negative - just trying to be thoughtful! Buying a rig is a really exciting (and stressful) time!

cromag · 04-07-2008, 03:34 PM

We did it in October for exactly the same rig. Quite a coincidence! Anyway, we were already upside down, so this purchase actually helped us (don't ask - gas class A that we couldn't keep on the road when an 18-wheeler passed, then too much for a Monaco Cayman - the Ventana, though entry level, is already so very upscale over the entry level Cayman). I actually appreciated the responses you got. They were very thoughtful. That's why I like this website so much. Anyway, we debugged ours from December to now and go get it in a couple of days. We've taken it out once as soon as we got it and will again when we get it again to be sure everything is taken care of within the warranty period.

We required fluid changes as someone suggested. But if it floats your boat, you'll enjoy it as much as we have. Good luck. Honk if you see us.

Spikester · 04-07-2008, 03:46 PM

You cannot go wrong with the Ventana, we own an 08 3330 and are pleased as punch with it. We found in our search that even though a Ventana is an "entry level" coach, we could not find any other "entry level" coach that would come close to comparing. We found it was impossible to option up other manufactures entry level coaches to the standard level Ventana, you could come close but can not quite get there. Then when you compared the prices the Ventana was a far better price point than any of the other "entry level" coaches.

Good luck in your quest!

Spike

KarenEK · 04-09-2008, 04:05 PM

We totally agree with Spike. We love ours, spent 5 1/2 months in it this winter and can't wait to get on the road again! Good luck and safe travels!

Dav5942 · 04-09-2008, 04:28 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CSX4350:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Norm Payne:
Newmar went to a one year warranty in 2006. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Norm, I thought it was 2007 they shortened the warranty. I knew someone would correct me if I was wrong, it took all of 3 minutes!

It was '07!

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>