All consuming looking for our first motorhome

[DMC65]

I seem to spend all my spare time trawling the internet for a suitable motorhome, it's taking over my life!!

Anyway, I'll get to the point. In you guys experience how much are dealers willing to bend on average? I've already upped my budget and I'm keen to get something before the spring to get full use this year (hopefully)
I'm talking 2 berth and 6m any layout that doesn't have a fixed bed.
Is there such a thing as an average dealers would go?

 

[Swifter]

It was never that easy before Covid but bargaining is even harder now . If you don’t mind me asking , what’s your budget ? The older vans like mine (2006) are still going for silly money at the moment . Probably more likely to get discount on a newer model .

 

[DMC65]

Absolute max. £35k
I'm willing to travel as the dealers in Scotland are, quite frankly ripping the p**s with prices.

 

[Swifter]

Absolute max. £35k
I'm willing to travel as the dealers in Scotland are, quite frankly ripping the p**s with prices.

That’s a good budget. I would be looking for 2-3k off the price at this time of year . Make a few offers and see what happens . If they don’t give you any discount then walk away .

 

[Phill D]

Look up the forum resources on van purchases / haggling with the dealers.

We have a member who is a sales executive

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[Grumpyfrog]

We are still looking and delayed buying until we can see some ending of Covid.
I am hoping that there will be some that rushed into buying last year, then may have regretted it, and will put their little used M/H for sale at a bargain price.
Until then its online research and Motorhomefun!

 

[DMC65]

We are still looking and delayed buying until we can see some ending of Covid.
I am hoping that there will be some that rushed into buying last year, then may have regretted it, and will put their little used M/H for sale at a bargain price.
Until then its online research and Motorhomefun!

That was my initial plan but we've been planning a purchase for a couple of years and I don't see enough of an end to COVID that will allow flights and holidays abroad this year.

 

[Swifter]

That was my initial plan but we've been planning a purchase for a couple of years and I don't see enough of an end to COVID that will allow flights and holidays abroad this year.

I agree . Prices will only go up each month from now on.

 

[Spriddler]

I am hoping that there will be some that rushed into buying last year, then may have regretted it, and will put their little used M/H for sale at a bargain price.

That has occurred to me. Especially those who have sadly lost their employment and if bought for cash or on credit expecting the virus issue to be over quickly who now find themselves with a very expensive garden ornament.
(I'm not aware of any bubble that didn't burst).

 

[The Old Man]

This was my decision making process;

Choosing the correct van is a difficult question to answer as we all have different wants, priorities.

I came up through the campervan, small caravan, route.

The thing that most bothered me was the non-stop shuffling of items to do the next task, so I decided that I wanted a motorhome where everything was in its place and ready to use. No more having to get the dining table out of the shower so as to eat, or have a shower! No having to disassemble the table to make the bed base before getting to bed.

I visited many dealers, I was looking for a used motorhome, for me as a solo traveller and I had a fixed and limited budget.

Although I didn't buy from them I found;

https://www.3asleisure.co.uk/used/motorhomes/

The best of the dealers I visited, simply because, at the time, they were the only sales site where the vehicles were all left unlocked and you could wander about, and view inside, at your leisure.

It was this and my previous experiences meant that I could look into a vehicle, often rejecting it instantly, if it had possibilities, I could climb in, nose about and then settle down to visualise how the van would work for me?

So in the front seat I could role play things like;

I've parked up, I want a coffee, before a shower and then cook and eat dinner before bed! What do I need to do and how will it all work?

I've finished a dirty, dusty bike ride and arived back hot and sweaty, so I need a shower, food, drinks, clear away, tidy and bed! How will that work?

And that's how I worked out what I needed. It took a lot of time, expenses to travel to 3A's but I eventually worked out what I needed. I didn't find it at 3A's but at South Hereford Motorhomes, near Ross on Wye.

I've made a few minor modifications internally and after three years I have found a few shortcomings that I hadn't foreseen or knew were possible to have, but mostly me research worked well for me.

Hope this helps.

Of course if your van of choice is a newer model, you may find somewhere you can hire it and get a good feel for it.

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[Swifter]

That has occurred to me. Especially those who have sadly lost their employment and if bought for cash or on credit expecting the virus issue to be over quickly who now find themselves with a very expensive garden ornament.
(I'm not aware of any bubble that didn't burst).

But yet the prices seem even higher than last year ?Lack of stock at the dealers ?

 

[The Old Man]

But yet the prices seem even higher than last year ?Lack of stock at the dealers ?

Higher demand if some media reports are to be believed?

 

[stevewagner]

BCA at Nottingham have quite a few motorhomes in their next auction.

 

[Spriddler]

But yet the prices seem even higher than last year ?Lack of stock at the dealers ?

Quite possibly. There's nothing as effective as a real or perceived scarcity to drive up demand and prices.
I don't look at ads for m/h's very often but there still appears to be a lot on eBay (even if you ignore the dozens in scammers' adverts).

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

That was my initial plan but we've been planning a purchase for a couple of years and I don't see enough of an end to COVID that will allow flights and holidays abroad this year.

May I politely ask, are you thinking of holidays abroad via flights, or do you mean that due to restrictions, a lot of people have turned to motorhomes and caravans for the foreseeable and until they can resume their holidaying method of preference of fly and flop beach type holidays, they have thus helped to reduce stock levels on the dealers forecourt and privately.
Genuine question and not looking for any level of conflict.

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[DMC65]

May I politely ask, are you thinking of holidays abroad via flights, or do you mean that due to restrictions, a lot of people have turned to motorhomes and caravans for the foreseeable and until they can resume their holidaying method of preference of fly and flop beach type holidays, they have thus helped to reduce stock levels on the dealers forecourt and privately.
Genuine question and not looking for any level of conflict.

I mean people that would usually go abroad on a package type holiday buying motorhomes for s short term fix, therefore reducing stock and driving up prices.

 

[Usually confused.]

I got not one penny off when I bought mine in November.

to be fair to the dealer, they had just reduced it (I was watching it for a while and could confirm this) and the price was the price. I did manage to get a load of extras I wanted for half price so saved a grand or two there.

if you were like me before I bought, I was checking daily for vans to come up and you soon get a feel for what things go for and as you’ve seen, what’s overpriced.

The right van will come up but don’t let it slip through your fingers because the dealer won’t budge especially if it’s well priced to begin with.

 

[DMC65]

I got not one penny off when I bought mine in November.

to be fair to the dealer, they had just reduced it (I was watching it for a while and could confirm this) and the price was the price. I did manage to get a load of extras I wanted for half price so saved a grand or two there.

if you were like me before I bought, I was checking daily for vans to come up and you soon get a feel for what things go for and as you’ve seen, what’s overpriced.

The right van will come up but don’t let it slip through your fingers because the dealer won’t budge especially if it’s well priced to begin with.

Thanks. That is good advice. It seems to be controlling my life at the moment. I guess I just have to be a bit more patient.

 

[Phill D]

Thanks. That is good advice. It seems to be controlling my life at the moment. I guess I just have to be a bit more patient.

you have hit the nail there, patience.... and a clear view of what you want.

this is not meant to be a lecture,, just a reminder as we have been there . you already know if what you want comes up you will be after it like the proverbial rat up a drain pipe!! thats when calm and clear thinking is your best friend.

good luck you will get there.

 

[Swifter]

Thanks. That is good advice. It seems to be controlling my life at the moment. I guess I just have to be a bit more patient.

I know the feeling . I was obsessed before I finally found our van . It’s a unique situation . Nobody can use their Motorhomes at the moment but the longer this goes on ,the more people will be buying again the moment the weather starts to get better .

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[Simon Select]

Send me a PM with what van you are looking at and I will find one for you.

Simon

 

[nicholsong]

Thanks. That is good advice. It seems to be controlling my life at the moment. I guess I just have to be a bit more patient.

Don't resent the time spent researching and looking around the market.

I was totally new to MHs 11+ years ago. I spent quite some time refining my specification. I had got down the the facts that I wanted an 'A' Class, double aluminium skin construction, winterised, garage, fixed bed. So had more or less focused on a Hymer B644 or maybe B649(Tax axle version). Called in at a dealer to ask for these, none in stock, but this N&B is same spec. As soon as I walked in it felt better than the Hymer equivalent. Left deposit , for inspection next week, shitty dealer sold it over w/e.

By then my focus was on a N&B Arto 69GL. Took a while, but I found one privately at £6K less than the dealer(£27.5K)

Because of my research and patience I got the right one first time and still have it.

Write your specification down and stick to it. Show it to dealers so they know you are serious and won't waste their and your time trying to sell you whatever they have in stock.

When you know the makes/models you might buy, join their online clubs and look for models for sale privately.

Your time will not be wasted.

Geoff

 

[Bailey 15]

Hi, you say up to 6m but not a fixed bed, can I ask why not?
what about a pull down one? You can’t beat a full mattress for comfort compared to made up bed with cushions

 

[DMC65]

Hi, you say up to 6m but not a fixed bed, can I ask why not?
what about a pull down one? You can’t beat a full mattress for comfort compared to made up bed with cushions

We definitely want the larger living space. Summers are about 2 weeks long in Scotland and we'd be spending the first year or two predominantly in Scotland, particularly with COVID.

 

[wigster]

I hope prices are going up as i have a Hymer b680 Starline for sale when i can get it serviced and an mot .
Its an older van year 2000 but they built them well in them days.

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[reckless]

DMC65 we were in that obsessed state late last year! Its important not to get desperate, its a major purchase and you don't want to regret it.

Compared to our previous buying experiences this is a very different market for used motorhomes. Prices are silly and decent ones seem to be snapped up within hours. We did eventually find the MH we wanted although a bit older and more expensive than if we'd bought a year previously. Our bottom line was solid chassis and no damp. Our budget was less than yours. The dealer we bought from said they'd had huge problems buying in second hand stock and were travelling all over the country to get them.

We were unable to negotiate any discount other than as a result of a small issue we pointed out.

Good luck with your search. That's a good offer you've had from Simon-Alan Kerr.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Before the start of this latest lockdown my local dealer had sold nearly all his stock. I drove past today to wave hello to my locked down MH and his yard was jammed pack full of new stock.! He’s ready!

 

[rob0114]

Unfortunately buying a motorhome will not stop it taking over your life.....you then have to decide what accessories, gadgets & must haves you need to put in it!

We've all been there, enjoy your search

 

[DMC65]

Took the plunge everyone!!! Thanks for all the advice and good wishes. We finally decided on a 2011 Swift Bolero 600 EK. Perfect size for our drive and under 23k on the clock. Deposit down and secured pending viewing of course.
Now when's this lockdown over!!!

 

[78978]

I seem to spend all my spare time trawling the internet for a suitable motorhome, it's taking over my life!!

This was my decision making process;

Choosing the correct van is a difficult question to answer as we all have different wants, priorities.

I came up through the campervan, small caravan, route.

The thing that most bothered me was the non-stop shuffling of items to do the next task, so I decided that I wanted a motorhome where everything was in its place and ready to use. No more having to get the dining table out of the shower so as to eat, or have a shower! No having to disassemble the table to make the bed base before getting to bed.

I visited many dealers, I was looking for a used motorhome, for me as a solo traveller and I had a fixed and limited budget.

Although I didn't buy from them I found;

https://www.3asleisure.co.uk/used/motorhomes/

The best of the dealers I visited, simply because, at the time, they were the only sales site where the vehicles were all left unlocked and you could wander about, and view inside, at your leisure.

It was this and my previous experiences meant that I could look into a vehicle, often rejecting it instantly, if it had possibilities, I could climb in, nose about and then settle down to visualise how the van would work for me?

So in the front seat I could role play things like;

I've parked up, I want a coffee, before a shower and then cook and eat dinner before bed! What do I need to do and how will it all work?

I've finished a dirty, dusty bike ride and arived back hot and sweaty, so I need a shower, food, drinks, clear away, tidy and bed! How will that work?

And that's how I worked out what I needed. It took a lot of time, expenses to travel to 3A's but I eventually worked out what I needed. I didn't find it at 3A's but at South Hereford Motorhomes, near Ross on Wye.

I've made a few minor modifications internally and after three years I have found a few shortcomings that I hadn't foreseen or knew were possible to have, but mostly me research worked well for me.

Hope this helps.

Of course if your van of choice is a newer model, you may find somewhere you can hire it and get a good feel for it.

DMC65
This is the perfect way in my opinion to deciding your layout requirements.
You have decided on the length you want, and the figure you will go up to.
Its layout next , then that will lead you to manufacture and base model.

For me its about touch , feel and sight.

Personally i would look at private sales too, but once you decide on "The one or two" you like join one of the multiple groups out there, they can be a wealth of information on what to look out for (both good and bad)