Should You Buy a New or Used Motorhome?

[Jim]

Do you always buy New? Or do you prefer pre-loved

 

[Northernraider]

Ill buy used but everyone else buy new so i have a good supply Tia

 

[James-Alex]

Used for me!! Can’t afford new and used one means others have had to sort the problems out from poor manufacturing for me

 

[Bailey58]

Our second motorhome was new but I have never been in the habit of buying new cars preferring to buy low mileage 2/3 years old at a decent price.

 

[funflair]

It really depends if you are not sure what you want layout wise or god forbid motorhome or caravan? then used makes a lot of sense, when you know what you want it is nice to be the first owner and to be able to spec a van to be built exactly as you want it and you might even be lucky enough to be able to go to the factory and see it on the production line.

We have done both and can see the argument for both but value for money used wins hands down

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Gaston aires]

We have had 5 Motorhomes, 4 used and 1 new. Never had any real trouble with any of them, luckily because there are lots of things to go wrong. Once we have identified the right sort of layout I have bought them if I trust the owners, some Funsters. It has been a successful way for us.
Phil

 

[bobnick]

Bought used to use and assess what suits us if we were to buy new,
We did buy new 1 year later with most of the features we wanted.
Like
Wider beds
Bigger fridge
No dinette
Bigger engine
Others
But still not 100%, still looking for that one.

 

[rosalan]

I think I may be too old to buy new, waiting times now being so long for delivery.

 

[Mikey RV]

If I had money and was to keep it for a good few years I would buy new.

 

[63720]

I've heard before that the third is the ideal one, on this basis that's probably the one to buy new.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Solwaybuggier]

Definitely used for us - had 2 used, 1 new, and far more problems with the new one. The only reason we bought new was a new model not readily available used at the time, plus a lengthy manufacturers warranty and advantages of more efficient engine.
We’re quite happy to leave the delights of manufacturers options lists and prices to others.
(Unless we win the lottery of course!)

 

[JJ]

For various reasons I had to wait three and half weeks to collect the used van I had set my heart on.

I found the delay quite difficult to handle.

I would go completely crazy if I had to wait months and sometimes over a year to get my hands on the dream van especially when the delivery time is pushed back just as you were getting ready for your first trip.

If there was a brand new van that fitted my needs available to buy right away I would still worry about teething problems.

I buy used vans... this one should last for the rest of my time down here.

JJ

 

[claude et maude]

Maude likes the retro’ish look of the Hymer we have so even if we could have afforded new at the time we would still have bought our used Hymer.

I think something that I don’t recall seeing in the article is the importance of how a motorhome looks and feels to you once you are in it, maybe it’s just us but that was the first factor when we bought ours.

 

[ManTheVan]

On warranty: we bought ours 10 years old, from a dealer (Highbridge), which came with a full 1-year warranty on both mechanicals and habitation. Literally anything that went wrong was dealt with by them and we couldn’t have asked for more.

I’m not sure that a new MH would have had a better warranty.

 

[Podney]

I bought used,and would do so again,due to:

price,build quality often better on older vans,value for money. I dont crave a van with the latest high tech gizmos.

But each to their own.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Northernraider]

I bought used,and would do so again,due to:

price,build quality often better on older vans,value for money. I dont crave a van with the latest high tech gizmos.

But each to their own.

Mange tout podney mange tout

Even if this time next year i was a millionaire id still buy used. Ive never bought a brand new vehicle, i don't think i ever would.

 

[Lenny HB]

On our 3rd van which we are now thinking of changing, always bought new. We are not rich, it really eats into our savings but why buy someone else's cast off if you can afford new. The vans are about the only thing we do spend money on, the car was bought new but it's 10 years old now & won't be getting changed any time soon, 90% of our miles are done in the van.

 

[mitzimad]

I think even if i had the money i would buy used i see so many problems on here with new vans and bad warranty service
But that could just be the internet effect, no one posts three pages of praise

 

[bobnick]

In this present market if i were looking for a 1 2 or 3 year old used van i would probably be paying more than if i were to order new. If you are running one now and don't mind the wait it would suit some.

 

[Simon Select]

I am not precious if you buy new or used from me!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[scotzsue]

Our first was new when the VAT was reduced. We had set out to buy a used PVC the converter was so obnoxious we went elsewhere. Had seen the escape at the NEC and had loved it. The VAT drop brought it just into what we were willing to pay andd John managed to negotiate extras, solar extra battery and bike rack still within our budget. We were very happy with it only changed to get a van with a garage to take the motorbike. Next 2 were used, happy with both.

 

[rod_vw]

Never bought a new camper, couldn't afford such things in 1977 when the kids were little. But since 2004 I've always bought new base vehicles to selfbiuld on. Now waiting for a LWB MAN TGE to be delivered to have converted to our specification. Time will tell how that tunns out but if it ain't right I will have to modify it!
I can say that after five selfbuilds it takes at least four to get to the design and layout that really suits you.

 

[busby]

Bought a new one in 2008,,never again, BUSBY.

 

[StitchUp]

Used for me as I could never afford a new one!

 

[Miggs]

If i'd had the benefit of foresight a couple of years ago, I would have bought half a dozen new ones LOL!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tonks]

Both mine were used and both were still big financial stretches. My current one’s last owner had it less than a year so I did wonder if I was buying a lemon, but happily not!
Last year I considered buying new, but I couldn’t justify the huge cost to change given the big price increases and the fact that my current van is still serving me well.

 

[Northernraider]

I would also always buy a used older higher quality van than a newer budget brand. When a Morelo gets to my price range and is cheaper than a new swift thats when ill pounce.


Unfortunately most of you on here will be dead by then but your grandkids might see it

 

[nicholsong]

I think that quality comes into this discussion. Buying a second-hand quality MH still has many years left in it, but some marques at 6-8 years old may be deteriorating rapidly.

I am surprised how much the quality marques depreciate, almost as much as cheaper ones.

Another reason for buying used these days is to get quality without the gizmos which can cause problems - complicated ECUs and emissions equipment, electric mirrors, beds, tables etc. The only electrically operated item on our 2003 N&B Arto is the steps. Equally with the engines themselves: our Fiat 2.8Jtd has proved its worth in many vehicles over its lifetime and can be serviced by any well-trained mechanic.

There are several members on here who are running 20+ year-old quality vehicles such as Concordes, and some have bought them not long ago. I observe that those members have along history with MHs so are able to judge.

Whether one is buying new or used it is important to have drawn up a specification of what one wants and does not want. I took 2 years defining what I wanted and I think it paid off because my then 6 year-old Arto is still serving us well after near 14 years.

I fear for those who have decided to buy a MH and 2 months later have shelled out tens of thousands on new one. They are probably the ones to only find their 'right' one on the third MH, having spent more in swapping them than I spent in total(half new price). People who swap for changes of circumstance are excluded from that comment.

As has been said the reason for new is to get one's near-exact specification. Martin@funflair is an example, but he spent months/years on factory visits and delving into specifications and options(ex-factory and after-market). Again, it is the point of getting one's specification correct.

Of course there will be some compromise between one's specification and what is available on either the new or used market, but they should only be compromises that one can live with.

[EDIT Just seen Tam's post#27 above, which supports my view about used quality vs. new cheaper]

 

[bobnick]

Somebody has to buy new so you lot who want used has somthing to buy

 

[Northernraider]

Somebody has to buy new so you lot who want used has somthing to buy

Thats what i said in my first reply.

So cmon all you folk buying new , leave the swifts and Eldiss alone and get buying the quality vans will ya so there's a good supply of second hand.


That said if i change again it will definitely be to a self build when i can plan the right vehicle.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}