Community Forums

ie2special · 01-30-2014, 07:36 AM

The magic number for used purchases With depreciation. If I was to buy a used coach that I plan on trading up from in 5 years what is too old to start with?

Example: $62,000, 2011, Gas class A with low miles versus a $130K Diesel Pusher under 15K miles. The diesel is much nicer inside and has bunks etc.

If the coach is under 70K I may not live in it. If it is closer to 150K we will more than likely.

**pasdad1** · 01-30-2014, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ie2special

The magic number for used purchases With depreciation. If I was to buy a used coach that I plan on trading up from in 5 years what is too old to start with? Example: $62,000, 2011, Gas class A with low miles versus a $130K Diesel Pusher under 15K miles. The diesel is much nicer inside and has bunks etc. If the coach is under 70K I may not live in it. If it is closer to 150K we will more than likely.

I think the advice I remember best from folks here was, buy around 3-5 years old and sell or trade by year 10.

Selah · 01-30-2014, 08:01 AM

If your planning on keeping it for 4-5 years you need to go with which ever one you like now and not what's going to give you the best ROI. These are not investments, you get them to enjoy the experience and make memories. So get one that you'll enjoy and still stay within a budget.
It's all relative, if you spend more now you will get more for trade later, spend less now and get less for trade later. I am not sure if there is percent depreciation is difference between a gas unit and a DP, my guess is not. Others with more experience may have a different opinion.

Clayobx · 01-30-2014, 08:03 AM

Are you financing? If so coaches older than 7 to 8 years are extremely, if not impossible to arrange terms. IMO, buy the highest end coach you can afford, have a third party, competent third party, evaluate condition, and proceed using extreme due diligence.

StevenNSteph · 01-30-2014, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasdad1

I think the advice I remember best from folks here was, buy around 3-5 years old and sell or trade by year 10.

As far as gas vs DP, I look at it this way, if you drive a lot go DP if you sit more go gas. I am full-timing in a gasser that we specifically purchased for full-timing. In 365 days we drive about 1% of the time full-timing. Before we went full-timing we used our coach for several 1 to 3 week trip at a time. These were whirlwind tours, putting on lots of miles in a relatively short amount of time, so our driving ratio was about 10% of the time while we used the coach. During this era we owned a DP and would not have been happy with a gasser (especially with the western mountain ranges we were traversing on a regular basis). To put the mileage in perspective, we currently drive about 5,000 miles a year full-timing and with the DP we put on about 7,500 a year over 2-3 months of use.

Hope this helps.

ie2special · 01-30-2014, 11:47 AM

Thank you, exactly the advice we needed.

ie2special · 01-30-2014, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clayobx

Are you financing? If so coaches older than 7 to 8 years are extremely, if not impossible to arrange terms. IMO, buy the highest end coach you can afford, have a third party, competent third party, evaluate condition, and proceed using extreme due diligence.

We weren't going to go older than 2010

ie2special · 01-31-2014, 06:23 AM

Is there a discount from a dealer that is worth it to buy new? Some of these large TX/LA dealers sell new less than others sell used

wnytaxman · 01-31-2014, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ie2special

Is there a discount from a dealer that is worth it to buy new? Some of these large TX/LA dealers sell new less than others sell used

Discounts run all over the board. If you are looking at a new unit, lay out what you want, see who handles that rig, and ask for a quote. When we bought ours that is exactly what we did. Talked to dealers all over the US and got our best deal six miles from home at Buffalo RV which is part of RVOne.

Superslif · 01-31-2014, 06:51 AM

I'll disagree with "buying the most RV you can afford"...I think for the most you part you need to find a new or lightly used unit with a layout & quality level that you both want. One persons ideal floorplan might be totally different from others.

vsheetz · 01-31-2014, 08:02 AM

Difficult to put a hard number to age. When we did extensive looking year before last we viewed two year old coaches that were in horrible condition and 10 year old coaches that were in great condition. We bought the 10 year old in great condition, low miles, with all service records, etc. And kept a lot of money in our pocket.

vincee · 01-31-2014, 09:11 AM

I agree with wnytaxman. DW and I were looking used 2005 to 2010 and landed up buying a one year old unit, exact to the day of first sold, with 4000 miles on it. People used it to try out the waters of the lifestyle, liked it, and traded it in to go DP at 275K. Our's too came from Buffalo RV, which was one of the last dealers we visited.

Smitty77 · 01-31-2014, 10:18 AM

I know three owners of 10 year old plus RV's at the time they bought them. They bought nice classics - for the love of the rig. They maintain them in Bristol condition, and enjoy them greatly. One is a CC Concept, and the owner has had multiple offers to buy it - all for more then he paid for it.

IMO, buy the rig that is what you want. I also always recommend buying the best quality rig that you can, while staying within budget. Quality lasts. Finally, never buy a rig based upon resale - as was just seen over the last 5 years or so, no one can tell you when a down cycle will hit. Buy it to use it.

Best to all,
Smitty

Superslif · 02-01-2014, 06:17 AM

I remember a year or two back, one of the large RV dealers had a big sale going on for all their used RV's. There must have been 400+ RV's...I couldn't believe all the 2-5 year old units that were just beat, abused and filthy. They said "make your deal and we'll clean & fix it up". Then I saw a few high end 5ers that were 10 years old that if I was in the market were priced very cheap.