Community Forums

marjoa · 09-10-2016, 08:28 AM

Ok so, over the past few months of reading here I have made a custom check list of of everything to check when performing a good pre-purchase PDI. Have even downloaded a couple of PDF's you all have provided here.

My wife & I were discussing this, this morning, and she said, "so if we find the NEW unit we want and are able to strike a deal with the dealer, you're saying that the guys on iRV2 said that a proper PDI is to stay in the dealers campsite for at least 1 full day & night and testing everything thoroughly". I said yes. Then she continues, "so we're going to shower, use the toilet, sleep in it and use everything we would when we go out on a trip" BEFORE we sign any papers? I said yep, that's what they said. Because once we sign papers it's ours and the dealer has no incentive to fix anything right away. We'll just get in line for warranty service like anyone else. Which totally makes sense to me.

So she finally said, "honey do you really think they're going to let us—live it—for a day or two BEFORE we sign papers? Shower in it, poop in it, sleep on the mattress etc.? It would no longer be a new MH to them. Now it's used. I don't think they're going to let us do that. What if we found enough things wrong where we said, you know what, theres to much factory stuff wrong, we not chancing it on this new MH. We want out. OR, the dealer says, "we can fix some of this stuff now but some of this other stuff we can't fix right now because of XYZ.

Oh, one other thing, one other dealer that we had our eyes on doesn't even have a campsite to do this. He said they automatically do a 200 point inspection before delivery. I then told him yeah I know you do your own PDI, but I want to perform my own extensive PDI also and it's not going to take an hour or two. I want to really put it through the riggers. I want to hook up elec., water etc., etc., He said you can do in our lot but we don't have a campsite where you can stay overnight.

What do you all say about all this and my wife's comments?

**CLIFFTALL** · 09-10-2016, 08:36 AM

I doubt you'll find a dealer willing to let you camp in their unit before you buy it. I bought two MH's from Lazy Days and they gave a 30 warranty on used units. They let you camp in their delivery section and fixed any items that came up . I suggest you but from a similar dealer.

vsheetz · 09-10-2016, 08:41 AM

Agree, typically you can't camp in it before signing. But you can and should go through everything you can while it's on their lot and before signing. Last I bought from a dealer they wanted me to take my time checking everything, brought a tech over and resolved a couple things on the spot, then all was good and we finalized the paperwork.

DebbieMH · 09-10-2016, 08:42 AM

I have purchased three new units from three different dealers. None of them would let us stay in it overnight without having signed on the dotted line and money exchanged hands. However, do try to purchase from a dealer that will put you either on one of their lots (if they have one); or at a nearby campground so you can review things with them once you find them ... or you can at least ask questions about how something will work. And, that will happen. Enjoy the purchasing journey, and don't sweat it too much.

RRR · 09-10-2016, 10:02 AM

Well trying to get the dealer to let you camp in a new unit is a novel idea. How would you feel if the transporter that brought the unit to the dealer used it like you propose?

mtofell · 09-10-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRR

Well trying to get the dealer to let you camp in a new unit is a novel idea. How would you feel if the transporter that brought the unit to the dealer used it like you propose?

I always just assumed they did this

If/when I buy a class A I'd be pretty tempted to fly back to Indiana (or wherever it's made) and drive it home myself.

As to the OP, I agree with the others - there's no way they are going to let you use it before you buy it.

MRUSA14 · 09-10-2016, 10:22 AM

We did this at Lazydays. Lived in the new unit for several days before signing the new purchase papers. However, we had turned in our trade and signed the title over to them so they had what you would consider a substantial deposit.

Another camper who was taking delivery of a coach at the same time was not satisfied with it after staying in it for several days, and Lazydays allowed him to switch out into a different brand of new coach. I don't recall whether his first coach was new or used.

Stripe34 · 09-10-2016, 10:29 AM

I think that you could fully test it out at the dealers lot before signing without destroying or polluting things. You can test the toilets by flushing clear water, for example. You can test the microwave by boiling water.

I think that many people stay at the dealer's for a couple days in their new units (after signing) to uncover as many warranty items as possible, before they drive away. That'll be my intent.

HTH

WyoFree · 09-10-2016, 11:05 AM

I didn't realize the PDI is done prior to purchase? I've recently read where folks picked up their coach from Motorhome Specialists and spent two or three days doing the PDI.

I know you don't know anyone like this, but I've known some that that you can't please for nothin! Or maybe that's just a family trait? But I could see them spend two nights in a coach and they say "I don't want it you keep it"!

marjoa, good post and something I've not read about before, thanks!

Mike and Cha · 09-10-2016, 11:31 AM

I think you are confusing it with a factory pick up where you can stay in the factory CG and use your MH, after signing/paying for it. As you find things that may need attention the factory mechanics come and check it out and either fix the problem or show you how to use it correctly.

I wouldn't buy a new MH from any dealership that allowed you to sleep in the MH and use all the facilities prior to making the actual purchase. If they did this and you did not go through with the purchase, they would have to make some type of disclaimer that it had been used this way. That is one of the big reasons you buy new, so that nobody has slept, ate, or used the facilities. I really think that is expecting way too much before making the actual purchase. When buying new, buy a quality MH from a reputable dealer and you would not even consider doing this as you will have the confidence that everything is working as it should, as demonstrated during the pre delivery walkthrough. You will also have confidence that they will take care of anything else that comes up during the warranty period.

MisterT · 09-10-2016, 12:23 PM

at MHSRV there is no 'pdi' per se BEFORE purchase, only afterwards, though they are VERY accomodating and assign a special technician that gets things done ...

we've done this twice with them

twogypsies · 09-10-2016, 12:54 PM

As others stated, you buy the motorhome first and THEN stay on their lot or even in a nearby campground and test everything before you drive off for hundreds of miles and then find something of major importance wrong.

Buying new, you will most likely find some small things wrong and you can have them fixed under warranty at a later date. However, you don't want to find something major wrong your first night or two. That's why you stay nearby.

So...your wife was right - as always.

The dealer won't let you test things and live in it if you didn't pay for it first.

rsn48 · 09-10-2016, 12:55 PM

My question, assuming you could stay in the unit a few days testing everything, how many could do this with the same unit before it truly becomes used?

WyoFree · 09-10-2016, 01:12 PM

Let's use Motorhome Specialists for example. As I understand it you buy your new coach from them and spend a couple days making sure everything is as it should be.

Do you then spend a couple weeks in Texas to more fully check things out? Or do you drive off to points beyond? The reason I ask is you read about dealers who will not work on a coach not purchases from them or put you at the back of a very long line.

So, do you stick around for a couple week so you can take the coach back to MHS for service? Or can you get good service elsewhere because your coach is under warranty?