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I got thinking about "high end". Now, I understand the expectations of entry level since that is what we chose in our 1st new RV. That was basically price in my mind and knowing what I expected/could expect for the price, something that might last 5 years which made sense versus spending 4or 5 times as much for something that would last but need appliances, tires, etc. etc. etc. replaced 2 or 3 times during its life. Now, we have had higher end used units though. Depreciation is SO great on RVs and warranties so short for the amount of money being spent that looking for value in any "end" requires some serious thought. So, "high end", what are you expecting? I figure, I can buy that "high end" unit for about 1/2 what someone did new in about 5 years with lower expectations and probably more satisfaction.
definition of High end.........anything thats out of your price range and the salesman is "adamant" that you remove your shoes and needs to see a copy of your pre-approval and your american express black onyx card!!!!.....before your allowed to even look at the coach
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1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
And an answer to your original question...(sorry I got carried away!!)
yes.....buying a used high end unit will be alot cheaper 5 yrs out....extended warranties will be available for it....and probably pay for your 1rst year on the road with the savings......Plus you wont have to deal with the salesman or take your shoes off.
I have never bought a new car..... I never plan on buying a new coach....and the way the rel-estate market looks and acts buying or building another house isnt looking to good either.
I would rather spend my hard earned money on the things that make me happy for the moment and be able to have more of just that, than to invest it into something I knew upfront I was going to lose a large chunk of it the first time the brake lights flashed as it left the place of purchase.
That being said....does anyone know where I could buy a late model corporate level double full side slide Provost for under 200k.......
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
So, I went to the Newell site and in classified they have one for $35,000, a 1984. Now, if I had the courage to drive it, that "dream" could be mine. We have never bought a new vehicle, think part of the path to becoming debt-free, and right now, we have a 1993 Ford Club Wagon in the shop getting the final work done in our series of "no way are we paying that much for something different", a muffler job, the big one which is going to cost a fortune but works for us. Now, that would look SO good pulled behind that used Newell coach too with a near color match. I would admit to loving high-end everything but shopping used and clearance items only in that venue. The 1993 van was bought in 1997 and paid cash of $14,000 after battling the dealership over what a salesman said on the phone and what the reality was when we got to the dealership.
It appears that even with high end, you'll need a good dealer that will go to bat for you and that price paid guarantees not that which you were hoping for.
Why use a dealership on a used unit.......they are just going to mark it up , if it didnt go to the dealer it would be a private sale without all the hassle.....$$$$$$
did you ever notice how the unit they gave a 6000 trade in value is all the sudden worth 12000 when it is put out front for sale the next day !!
there are units out here being sold for the balance of an unaffordable loan.......Inherited units being sold just for cash so they can get rid of them.........Repo's for a fraction of new......and as I have always said....you can buy in an off season distressed market and seize these deals.
After all....how much do you think a SnowBlower or snow mobile is worth in Florida this week!! Bring it to Maine its worth top dollar......bring them to the desert or sun belt there worth scrap weight
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1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Interesting question ... I would think the answer is probably the same as purchasing a car or house based on the US medium prices of these items. In Diesel Pushers, it's probably anything north of $300k; however, some would say the "high-end" DPs are only Newells and Prevosts which are north of $1 million.
Mike: We are in KS and there isn't a lot action on used things especially decent quality. Average household income here is about $35,000 a year so they aren't buying new Prevosts! My husband's employer is a slave driver (think right to work state) so we can't get too far until we break the "chains" that bind us which includes selling the house. What they do here is take in trades or people buy them and then ship them to the east or west coast where they get more money for them and they appear to do this with vehicles too. When I worked at Horizons in the mid-90's, if they took a trade in, there was this man that came in, paid a decent price and took them to the east coast and made a nice little profit doing it. Craiglist for both Wichita and Topeka are bleak in their offerings. In lower cost of living areas, one is limited across the board. I am not a Kansan.
I guess the definition of high-end is an individual thing.
Now you know the secret Cathy......there are other states that the market is just as depressed........think about this..
I can go into Florida in May and June on the Space coast or Tampa area.....Buy a coach or Combo..(truck&trailer) drive it north to Jersey....NY...Ma...NH ...and double my money in 1 Week because the market supports it and most people will not leave there backyard to go find a good deal...
if you are going fulltime and you are ready to buy......take a planned Vacation to a depressed area after doing a little research shopping........jump on an Amtrak go there....Rent a car Buy what you found on your list and drive it home.
This one could be had for 11000.........it took me 3 min to find it and its in a dealership........the biggest thing is budget , I know this one is far away from you but you would be amazed whats within 500 miles of you......
there is alot of high end for low money...just have to dig and be ready
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Mike: I missed your comment until this evening and it is funny because I was telling my husband at supper that we had to get ready to move on something if it comes up. I looked around the house and we still need to thin things to a minimum so I packed some stuff for the Goodwill. I've done minor digging but the "ready", I'm short on that. It takes so much energy to realize a "dream". Our "dream" has some additional challenges but I am stubbornly moving forward. My husband has started looking for jobs in warmer climates which would get us out of here with a preference for either AZ or AL, both good markets for RVs and then, put the rest of the ducks in a row for the lifestyle. Thanks for your comments.
Cathy, I'm assuming that you have already done your homework and know not only what class of RV you want but also have a budget in mind. To answer your question about what is "high end" try this. Go to the PPL website and find two or three coaches of the class you are considering and in the same price range. Look them up on NADA and note what the original MSRP was. We looked at some coaches that were a few years newer than the Foretravel we eventually bought, but new were $100,000 or more less. Unfortunately, Newell won't show up on NADA, probably because they are such a low volume company. They just recently made coach #1500. As you can see from my signature, our 1993 Foretravel has a build number nearly three times that.
I love the PPL website! We are still unsure what type of RV and are only sure it won't be a 5th wheel. It all sort of depends on when we buy and what is available. We are always very flexible and that guarantees us the best deal. Thanks!
Winter seems to be the best time to buy, but you also have to deal with winter weather. In many states whatever you own on 1 January is taxed. That's why there are so many year-end deals at the car dealerships now. Of course, what you "save" at the dealership is the tax that you will pay directly. Same thing with buying from a private party - they don't pay the tax but you do. Come spring, when everyone is thinking about a new coach, prices will go up because there is more demand.