Discounts on new motorhomes

[Lucky]

I know the topic of negotiating discounts on new motorhomes comes up periodically on the forum, and I know the much reported boost in popularity of staycations makes this a sellers market (at least in the UK) but how and where can you get the best price?

Like I said, the subject comes up but I I don't think people have been as direct as I want in asking how it's best achieved.

Most people seem happy with 5% or so (if anything at all) but others say up to 20% is possible! So guess what, I'd like to know how and where the best prices might be found?

Are discounts mostly on undesireable/old stock, or factory orders, or from foreign dealers, and what if you prefer left hand drive (or vice versa)? Not all of these are obstacles for me.

Lots of questions, admittedly, but what success have you had and how/where did you find it?

 

[grumps147]

It might be worth a look through this thread, discounts, especially big ones, might be harder to achieve on vehicles of all ages ... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...van-pull-your-finger-out.236255/#post-4375015

 

[Lenny HB]

Best discounts are normally on factory orders next best is dealer stock that's been sitting around for a year or more.
We have alway bought from factory orders and had good discounts but we always buy abroad not from UK dealers.

 

[Lucky]

I was really hoping you would reply Lenny as I've seen your posts before on the subject.

Are there particular countries that are best, eg say Holland because they all speak English or say France if want a French brand mh?

And do certain dealers specialise in export sales and how do you find them?

Thanks

 

[peterc10]

Well, in the old days .........

Converters produce new models each year. The new year models start hitting the forecourts in the autumn of the previous year That is when the dealer starts reducing that year's stock in order to clear a way for the new stock. Traditionally that is when you used to get bargains as long as you were not too fussy as the what exact model and extras you want.

We bought our 2015 year model Hymer, which had been built in late 2014 in November 2015. It had lots of extras on it and had been used as a demonstrator and driven around to a couple of the shows, all on trade plates, so had 500 miles on the clock. We ended up getting almost 20% off list price and were registered as the first owners. We were lucky in that it was almost exactly the model we were looking for, so we realised that we would be kicking ourselves forever after if we did not buy it.

Whether and when that will happen again I don't know. But I think it will be at least a couple of years away.

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[Rob Hammond]

Does the extra hassle of buying abroad etc equate to a significant saving? And would they be all LHD , not trying to hi jack the op’s thread but gain more info

 

[TheBig1]

that is the salesmen at the dealers when you ask at the moment. Don't let the door hit you on the way out as the next customer walks in to sign on the dotted line with a 12-18 month lead time on some vans. Just not enough new base vehicles being delivered to the factory and lists are getting longer

Buy in the EU and the tax issues are a real pain at the moment

 

[Lucky]

I take your point about lack of base vehicles but I can wait. Also I'm applying for residency in France so buying 'abroad' isnt an issue for me.

 

[Lenny HB]

I was really hoping you would reply Lenny as I've seen your posts before on the subject.

Are there particular countries that are best, eg say Holland because they all speak English or say France if want a French brand mh?

And do certain dealers specialise in export sales and how do you find them?

Thanks

I have bought 3 Hymers from a Belgium dealer other Funsters have bought from German dealers. A French van is still lightly to be cheaper in Belgium or Germany and the dealers are more used to exporting.
When you know what you want myself and others can point you in the right direction.

 

[Lenny HB]

Buy in the EU and the tax issues are a real pain at the moment

No change if buying new but if buying second hand you now get clobbered for 20% vat.

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[Lenny HB]

Does the extra hassle of buying abroad etc equate to a significant saving? And would they be all LHD , not trying to hi jack the op’s thread but gain more info

Depends what you call a significant saving we saved £25k on our current van, got a 20% discount and got £12k more on our trade in.

You can order Hymer's in RHD cost €1500 more and delivery goes out by several months.

The first Hymer we imported was RHD a big mistake, having to sell it in the UK when the next one was due for delivery.
Last two have been LHD, I prefer driving a LHD and you can sell or part exchange in any country in Europe, makes much more sense.

 

[Blue Knight]

I've made a couple of enquiries about a new German van conversion today and not only are the waiting lists long but any reduction in the RRP is negligible.

The dealers just aren't getting the quantity of stock to fill the current demand - or so it seems.

Also, be prepared to endure a significant delay for any German van you may order. I'm on one German van forum and some of the delays are huge.

 

[Lenny HB]

Unless you have money to burn probably best to sit tight for a year or so until things settle down.

 

[Hagstrom]

In 2020, Covid meant that FIAT couldn't produce enough vans for converters to build on and dealers still can't get enough used vans at the moment to meet the stay-in-UK demand. I believe 5% might be the best you can expect off UK list prices which have already jumped for model year 2021. Brexit taxes on new imports post 1 Jan 2021 may be squeezing dealer margins, too.

 

[Parrot Face]

The van we bought new in April 2019 has gone up in price from 70k to 80k. Is that a genuine price rise or dealer profiteering. If the latter haggling might be worth trying.

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[Lenny HB]

The van we bought new in April 2019 has gone up in price from 70k to 80k. Is that a genuine price rise or dealer profiteering. If the latter haggling might be worth trying.ook at the manufacturers price list you will probably manufacturers price has only gone up by 3%.

 

[VXman]

Don't know if you have seen this thread.

Haggling for a discount on a new MH

Looking at a new Burstner. It is already in stock but unregistered. Is it normal to try and negotiate a discount? - and if so what sort of amount on a £60K MH. I get the feeling this is not the best time to to being buying so not sure if getting the price down is going to be doable. Thoughts?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I got about 5% if you include the cost of the couple of things I asked them to add to the MH before purchase.

It was a brand new vehicle but already on the forecourt. There are quite a few out there.

I think maybe there was more discount to be had but I'm not very good at this type of thing.!

 

[Silver-Fox]

that is the salesmen at the dealers when you ask at the moment. Don't let the door hit you on the way out as the next customer walks in to sign on the dotted line with a 12-18 month lead time on some vans. Just not enough new base vehicles being delivered to the factory and lists are getting longer

Buy in the EU and the tax issues are a real pain at the moment

Here’s a thought.

Could you buy in mainland Europe and take it to Eire and get around tax/time issues that way

 

[Silver-Fox]

There’s a very nice van for sale on here if you have the wedge to buy it

 

[Lucky]

Looking at French dealers for Pilote and Rapido mhs, the prices are very good. For example a £60k vehicle in the UK is 'retailed' in France for nearer £50k.

The sting in the tail is the french have a polution tax payable on first registration (although they dont charge road fund licence). The cost appears frightening but I confess I might have misunderstood. Check out the screen grab below. I'm unsure of the co2 emissions of a Fiat Ducato but one could be looking at a €20,000 pollution charge on first registration. Gulp.

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[Simon Select]

What van are you looking at?

 

[Lucky]

I'm flirting with a few but the top of my wish list is the Itineo (ie budget Rapido) MC700;
a 7m A class with a fixed bed in the rear, a drop down bed in front and a front lounge with facing sofas. In particular the 140bhp version and I think 183 gm/km co2, but elsewhere I've read it might be 200 gm/km.

BTW, anybody that digs deeper into my history will see I collected a new Sunlight PVC about 4 months ago and might question what's going on. The truth is we are using it far more than expected but as a consequence want more space...

Alan, can we pm about selling on commission?

 

[beachwomble]

Looking at French dealers for Pilote and Rapido mhs, the prices are very good. For example a £60k vehicle in the UK is 'retailed' in France for nearer £50k.

The sting in the tail is the french have a polution tax payable on first registration (although they dont charge road fund licence). The cost appears frightening but I confess I might have misunderstood. Check out the screen grab below. I'm unsure of the co2 emissions of a Fiat Ducato but one could be looking at a €20,000 pollution charge on first registration. Gulp.

Motorhomes are exempt from this tax.

 

[Lucky]

Ooh, that's very interesting, thank you. It suggests there's a substantial saving to be had on a French registered mh.

 

[aistream]

Hi. Looking to get into a new Hymer and have found the target model. The UK stock level appears zero and not sure I want to wait another year for factory order. I have seen the target model on forecourts in France and Germany. I am up to speed on the importing process thanks to some great write ups.

Does anyone know of some English friendly retailers in the EU? Who are familiar with sales/exporting to UK customers?

Also is the time of year / month relevant to any discounts given?

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[Blue Knight]

Also is the time of year / month relevant to any discounts given?

It's likely to take a further 12-24 months before dealers think about giving any form of discount because their van stock is flying off the shelves.

.......and if you don't buy the van then the next guy will - or that's how it appears these days so there's no incentive or requirement for a dealer to reduce his price.

That said, if/when the motorhome bubble bursts then more stock will hit the market place but, without the aid of a crystal ball, you'll probably need to plan on paying full price for the foreseeable future (and with a significant waiting time too).

Welcome to the forum BTW,

Andrew