New or pre owned van?

Decker

Decker

Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Posts
235
Likes collected
125
Location
uk
Funster No
41,572
MH
A class
Exp
10 years
The benefits of new include its new .....under warrantee .....not driven or abused etc
Negatives include dealer repairs sometimes take ages and you lose a lump of money in the first year

Pre owned can be a good deal or can be the problem vans that people have off loaded and are back on the forecourt for the next sucker
What do members think ?
TIA
 
Mh is an expensive biz for everyone 😂
 
Hi, depends on price 👍 I have seen year old vans only about 4 k less than new. Warranty? Only as good as the dealer.If it's your first van I would do homework and buy something 3/4 years old at right money so that you can sell without loosing a ton of money and go new later
 
We went looking for a moho with potentially £50,000, we ended up spending half that on a 2004 model simply because we liked the layout and the looks (!), plus it already had the extras we would have liked.

We were not at all concerned with resale value either... we were buying for us, not the next owner.

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We bought new last time and might again although I quite fancy used but not through a dealer. Don't think I'd buy secondhand through a dealer unless I had friends I knew who were dealt with very well after if there was an issue.
 
When we were looking in 2014 the second hand ones were over priced in our opinion. We bought just before the new model price increases kicked in. I don't think the van is worth a lot less now if you look at dealer prices. New ones are up by about 10k now.

I'd buy new again 👌
 
Richard and Ann said:
When we were looking in 2014 the second hand ones were over priced in our opinion. We bought just before the new model price increases kicked in. I don't think the van is worth a lot less now if you look at dealer prices. New ones are up by about 10k now.

I'd buy new again 👌
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We're similar although I don't think we could sell for anywhere near dealer prices so there is some depreciation. I don't see how the prices can keep on increasing like they are its way above wage inflation sooner or later I think there will be a drop. It's like buying a house really you should buy it to use it if the value goes the right way it's a bonus.
 
Decker said:
The benefits of new include its new .....under warrantee .....not driven or abused etc
Negatives include dealer repairs sometimes take ages and you lose a lump of money in the first year

Pre owned can be a good deal or can be the problem vans that people have off loaded and are back on the forecourt for the next sucker
What do members think ?
TIA
Click to expand...
You have probably summed up the positives and negatives, as with all my vehicles, regularly serviced and if anything needs fixing I get it fixed, when part exchanging or selling I make sure it has new tyres and in the case of a MoHo new batteries. I want to sell a vehicle in the way I want to buy one eg no known faults or issues and if someone is buying 2nd hand its still a shed load they are paying out.
 
If you are sure that you're buying the right motorhome for you from a good dealer, then I reckon nothing beats brand spanking new (cost of depreciation doesn't take into account your enjoyment, it's only money & you can't take it with you)

If you are not sure about layout, etc. then maybe a check out used - just be very careful and check both the dealer and the van very carefully

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I favour used, especially if you go for a good quality European one.

I personally would steer clear of dealers for used, but unfortunately one cannot for new. I think their warranties are not worth influencing a decision, especially since they write-in checks that have to be done by them at your cost, just to keep the warranty. I think it would be preferable if the warranties came from the manufacturers.

If you can find a good quality one to buy privately, go for it. The savings on the price will more than cover any small repairs needed. We went that route and got a good MH which we have had now for 11 years and no repairs that you would not expect after some years e.g. a new radiator when it was 15 years old. The rest has been consumables, or something I broke e.g. a window by falling on it.

When you look at new prices just check what the extras you really need cost, although many can be fitted after market for much less than manufacturers' prices.

Geoff
 
PRE OWNED ;)
 
Bought used from dealer (Wilmoths Southampton) - excellent throughout and an A+ van. Looked at new but would have been £40k more for a slightly more modern interior but compromises with engine (dpf required) and chassis (non Al-ko). Also came with high end extras such as satellite, bike racks etc which would bump up the cost if new.

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Buying second hand may allow you to buy a better quality van from a more dependable brand, depending on your budget. I noticed the finish on new vans from certain manufacturers was quite poor, and the perceived benefit of it being brand new would have quickly diminished with use.
 
Never had a new one, of anything vehicle wise really. Remember my dad saying, when he bought his first new one. Lost 20% just driving it off the forecourt. SWMBO' is a lease car. But she gets the benefit of full service and recovery and changed on a regular basis. I buy bangers, and keep them until they fall over, often scrap or just sell on for peanuts. My real pride and joy is under long term refurb being as it is 50 years old next year.

Motorhomes, had a good relationship with a dealer over the last one. But this one had some issues, and the dealer was a right shark.

Company cars excepted. But they got thrashed, 100k miles or 3 years. Never made 3 years ever.
 
Just bought 2 year old - 9500 miles [so used] but about £10k cheaper than new and came with extras [Fiamma, Gaslow etc]
 
Always buy New with a factory fitted extra ,then I know it's not sat in a field. I would consider pre -loved as they say if I knew the current owner .

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Additionally, I once bought a much-discounted caravan, “new” “demo”, that must have been to multiple shows

Never again...always insist on “straight from the factory”
 
Even if some people do want to buy new next year then I reckon they'll be hard pushed to get the exact van they want in a reasonable timeframe.

I'm on one of the big German PVC forums and some models are now taking an age to be delivered - over 12 to 14 months after the punters were promised a delivery time of just 6.

It may be a case of choosing what's available than what you want.
 
Pre owned for me.. But I do buy with the expectation VERYTHING is wrong with it.. Things that are ok are a bonus...
But......I suspect if I did not have the ability with 'things spanner' I would be tempted to buy new
 
Blue Knight said:
Even if some people do want to buy new next year then I reckon they'll be hard pushed to get the exact van they want in a reasonable timeframe.

I'm on one of the big German PVC forums and some models are now taking an age to be delivered - over 12 to 14 months after the punters were promised a delivery time of just 6.

It may be a case of choosing what's available than what you want.
Click to expand...

I was promised 6 months for a factory build and waited 11 months until it arrived at the dealer, only for the ball to land in DVLAs court. Who knows when I'll take delivery. My vote would be buy a van in a dealer's stock if possible. 😩
 
We started with used just to make sure we knew what we wanted, that ended up lasting us nearly 8 years by which time “yep” we knew what we wanted and we wanted the new van experience, head says used heart says new, take your pick.

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Never bought new, never had problems not doing so. My thoughts are: set budget-ish, see what you can get for the money. Invariably something much better than you thought a few years old that includes any toys added by the first owner. My last was the best: £115K new, bought by me 2018 with 3500 miles on, 2012 registered. £40K off new price. Came with 160W solar panel, auto satellite, awning, two inverters (one not installed) and looked like it had never been lived in (toilet / oven unused & over-cab bed still poly wrapped).
 
And as a juxta-position, my brand new one just picked up had £5000 off list with everything on it, so I paid £45500 with 2 years Phantom subs

There are 5 year old ones advertised everywhere at £7000 less, but I would rather give the £7k and not have the 5 years worth of other peoples farts,nose-pickings , cigarette butts and dog-hairs.

Now , I’m not saying I’m right and you’re wrong, far from it, but having money is all about choices.
I happen to choose the new route, that’s all
OP was looking for opinions
 
As my old dad used to say,
'Buy cheap, buy twice'
So whatever you decide , buy quality, and not on what extra toys it may have, those can be added later if you decide that you want them.
I've only ever bought used, and only ever bought Hymer, current van 20 years old,no damp or rattles,suits me perfectly.
Also no depreciation.
 

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