Price reduction because of mileage?

[ddahlen]

Just looked at a 05 Phaeton with a 350 Cat. Currently has 70000 miles and my crystal ball says if I do the traveling I plan in the next 5 years or so I would have 120000 miles on it. How damaging would the total miles on the odometer be? Rig is very nice and I care for my rigs carefully so assume condition would still be very nice 5 years down the road. I know the engine and drivetrain will still be fine. Just wondering if 120K miles would scare future buyers. Thanks for any opinions! Dave

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by daveshoby

Just looked at a 05 Phaeton with a 350 Cat. Currently has 70000 miles and my crystal ball says if I do the traveling I plan in the next 5 years or so I would have 120000 miles on it. How damaging would the total miles on the odometer be? Rig is very nice and I care for my rigs carefully so assume condition would still be very nice 5 years down the road. I know the engine and drivetrain will still be fine. Just wondering if 120K miles would scare future buyers. Thanks for any opinions! Dave

As we all know over our lives, mileage on anything has a effect on its selling point and cost........
Just as the cost now reflects the 70k on it, years later and more miles will also reflect in the selling price.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Some, maybe many, potential buyers will have an uneasy feeling even at 70k, and definitely so when over 100k. The fact is that the care the rig has received (or not) is far more important than the odometer mileage, but naive buyers probably won't see it that way.

Of equal concern is the fact that it will be 17 years old by the time you get 120k on it, and a lot of people simply aren't interested in "old", or will only pay bottom dollar for it. Look at 17 YO DPs in today's NADA to see how badly the price declines.

My advice is to think about your own use and enjoyment and don't worry too much about resale value. It will be what it will be, and you know going in that an RV is a toy rather than an investment.

[Hikerdogs]

Originally Posted by daveshoby

Just looked at a 05 Phaeton with a 350 Cat. Currently has 70000 miles and my crystal ball says if I do the traveling I plan in the next 5 years or so I would have 120000 miles on it. How damaging would the total miles on the odometer be? Rig is very nice and I care for my rigs carefully so assume condition would still be very nice 5 years down the road. I know the engine and drivetrain will still be fine. Just wondering if 120K miles would scare future buyers. Thanks for any opinions! Dave

I don't think the accumulated miles should be of concern as far as the drive train is concerned. Caterpillar says the average C7 will go 15,000 to 20,000 hours before needing major service.

Based on our experience we normally average 50 mph while driving. This includes both in town and highway traveling. That means to accumulate 15,000 hours on the engine you would have to travel 750,000 miles.

I would be more concerned about the age and wear and tear on the appliances and age of the electronics than the engine and drivetrain.

We traded off our last motorhome at 12 years and 110,000 miles, not because of fear of engine and transmission problems, but rather due to the age and obsolescence of the appliances and entertainment systems.

All the electronics needed to be upgraded, and the appliances had reached their expected life spans. We didn't want to throw several thousand dollars into a 12 year old motorhome. Some may feel differently, but in 12 years we've found both the drive trains and amenities have improved substantially.