Community Forums

anthonynalli · 09-29-2018, 09:09 AM

Hi all. We're working on getting a Hymer Aktiv 2.0 and have negotiated ourselves into a couple of possible deals. I'm curious which you'd take if it were you.

Both vehicles are equipped exactly the same. The only difference is the year, mileage, and price, however for pricing I'll only refer to the difference.

1) 2019, new, 208 km on the odometer. In service date would be Oct. 2018 (when we would pick it up). Chassis manufactured Sept. 2017.

2) 2018, "used" (though seats and cushions are still wrapped), 6500 km on the odometer. In service date Jan. 2018. Chassis manufactured Apr. 2017. Price is $6,000 less than #1.

Hymer says there's no difference between the two aside from the '17 vs. '18 chassis. So it becomes 2018 vs 2019 for $6,000. What say you?

Outlaw

Isaac-1 · 09-29-2018, 11:33 AM

I would save the money and go with the cheaper one

Luv2go · 09-29-2018, 03:39 PM

My vote would be for the cheaper one also. Hymer's warranty is 6 years on the coach, 3 to 5 years on the RAM vehicle. So you're left with about 4 1/2 years and 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years which IMHO is plenty to iron out any issues that the older coach may have. You may be able to negotiate and get the full 2 years of roadside assistance they offer on new ones.

One thing that would change my mind is if the coach has the Ecotrek battery. It is covered by the 6 year warranty, and though I really like lithium battery technology and have installed it in our Roadtrek (and the Newmar before that), it is fairly new technology and very expensive to repair or replace.

604eholston · 09-29-2018, 09:07 PM

Since you do not give the prices, I'll use percentages to make my point. A new coach depreciates 25% the minute you drive it thru the dealers gate then another 20% the first year.apply these numbers to your prices to establish the real difference in price. When considering an RV purchase, I shop for used vehicles and use these numbers to negotiate.
This is the reason for all those markdowns on one year old "new" vehicles on dealers lots.

Mr_D · 09-29-2018, 09:13 PM

Check the warranty, some are only good for the first owner and do not transfer to the new owner.

anthonynalli · 09-30-2018, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Check the warranty, some are only good for the first owner and do not transfer to the new owner.

Hymer warranties are fully transferrable an unlimited number of times.

anthonynalli · 09-30-2018, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 604eholston

Since you do not give the prices, I'll use percentages to make my point. A new coach depreciates 25% the minute you drive it thru the dealers gate then another 20% the first year.apply these numbers to your prices to establish the real difference in price. When considering an RV purchase, I shop for used vehicles and use these numbers to negotiate.
This is the reason for all those markdowns on one year old "new" vehicles on dealers lots.

Just to help clarify the numbers, I'd already negotiated a 24% discount off retail for the 2019 (about $30,000!). The 2018 would be a savings of an ADDITIONAL $6000.

anthonynalli · 09-30-2018, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luv2go

My vote would be for the cheaper one also. Hymer's warranty is 6 years on the coach, 3 to 5 years on the RAM vehicle. So you're left with about 4 1/2 years and 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years which IMHO is plenty to iron out any issues that the older coach may have. You may be able to negotiate and get the full 2 years of roadside assistance they offer on new ones.

One thing that would change my mind is if the coach has the Ecotrek battery. It is covered by the 6 year warranty, and though I really like lithium battery technology and have installed it in our Roadtrek (and the Newmar before that), it is fairly new technology and very expensive to repair or replace.

Both units DO have the EcoTrek 400 battery system. A little extra time on the warranty for that certainly isn't a bad thing!

anthonynalli · 09-30-2018, 02:13 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone. DW was insistent (understatement!) on the 2019 despite at first being on board with the 2018. But that was before the dealer for the 2019 further increased the discount to the point where it is now.

I was of two minds on the thing, and I'm one who regularly buys vehicles as demos for the extra savings. But considering things a little more and the wife no longer being okay with the 2018, we decided to sign for the 2019!

Thanks again for the help. Looking forward to getting to know you all a bit better now that we're in the "B" club! We take delivery on the 17th!

alpha99 · 09-30-2018, 07:57 PM

It's a 2017, not a 2018. Book values will reflect that, especially at resale.

anthonynalli · 09-30-2018, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpha99

It's a 2017, not a 2018. Book values will reflect that, especially at resale.

True that the RAM chassis model year lags 1 year behind the Hymer house model year.

Arch Hoagland · 09-30-2018, 10:54 PM

6 year warranty on the coach?

Holy cow that's a long time. Does it cover everything...Refrigerator, air conditioner, water heater, etc?

96 Wideglide · 09-30-2018, 11:01 PM

Chassis being a year (or more) older than the coach is normal in all RV's.

It will be registered as the coach build model year.

anthonynalli · 10-01-2018, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

6 year warranty on the coach?

Holy cow that's a long time. Does it cover everything...Refrigerator, air conditioner, water heater, etc?

I'm told by the dealer that it covers "everything touched by Hymer." So the build of the coach obviously, but he specified fridge, microwave, etc. Personally, I think if I called in a claim on the microwave 5.5 years from now I'd have a tough time. But that's certainly peace of mind when it comes to overall construction.