Hello Everyone
I would like to know if puchasing a new DP RV that has been sitting on the lot for 2 1/2 years is worth looking at It is a Forest River Charelston 410 DST in Lakeland FL.My concernes are the tires and fluids on the unit being that old just sitting there not being used anything else i should be aware of to steer me away from this unit.I looked at it last year when down in FL.The MSRP is around $251000 and is now down to $180000,seem high for an 2008
Thanks Greg
The batteries, wipers and the tires would be the major components that age poorly when parked for extended periods. Make sure the unit was winterized and that there is no freeze damage to the water lines, check for roof leaks. Wasp or insect nests in vent pipes and refrig/water heaters need to be checked, and rat/mouse intrusion to the interior may or not have been an issue, as there was no food for the vermin, but they may have nested. Other than that, try to drill down the price or have another A/C for example thrown into the deal! Good luck!
The "rule of thumb" I used when I purchased our last dpmh was that you should be able to negotiate 30% off the msrp. That means the 2008 FR you're looking at with the msrp of $251,000 should have sold new for around $175,000. Now two years older, that mh should be worth less than their $180,000 asking price. If you want it, you could make a lower offer, but you need to know what is still covered under warranty and whether the dealer will stand behind the unit. You can use the "blue book" value for a used 2008 FR to get an idea what it is really worth.
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I would ask about a delayed warranty where the warranty period actually begins when you take delivery. I would also be a little concerned about the environment that the units has endured. We have some pretty intense heat as well as some very wet rainy periods. This coach has sat out thru all of that. Hard to say what affect it can have on a unit that may have been shut up for a few years. The fuel tank could have some internal rust that formed. Diesel fuel can also develop some problems when it just sits. Any fabric awnings may not have been extended and may have retained some moisture which could have turned to mold. The tires may have developed some flat spots which may have to be shaved to correct. Insects and rodents could have set up residence as well as eaten some of the electrical wiring.
I don't think there is anything that could not be discovered by a very very thorough pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic. I don't think I would be to confident with an inspection by the selling dealer's mechanic. I would also try to get some kind of an extra, non-deductible warranty to cover anything that may come up in the near future.
This may be one of those situations where it is best to use the coach and travel around the surrounding area for several hundred miles rather than just buying it and heading back to Michigan. Some dealers can be difficult to deal with once you are out of their immediate area. Best of luck with whatever you decide.
You would be better off buying a used 2008 with miles on it than one that sat around for 2 years.
The price will be 30 -50 K less, the Rv will have been used, problems fixed, and maintained.
With a 2 yr old rv that sat, all the fluids should be replaced, engine and generator, tires are at least 3 years old or older, may even hit the magical 5 yr point and need to be replaced.
Do not let others, although they all have made a good point, influence you too much. However, the coach is worth at least the whole sale price of a used one of the same age. You could be amazed at what that value is going to be. It is no Nada but the value that dealer will pay another dealer. It would not surprise me but that would be in the $130,000 range. The trick is to find what that figure really it. One way to do that is call one of those people with adds in the back of the RV magazines where they advertise to call them and they will make an offer on your coach. You might have to pretend you have a coach and go from there. Go back with that figure to let them know what you think it is really worth. It cost nothing to ask. Or if you do not want to do the research on the wholesale price, just go back with $130,000 and you could be surprised. Not everything is going to be bad on the unit and $50,000 will fix lots of things. Good luck.
* This post was
edited 11/11/09 03:19pm by targaboat *
plootsa wrote: The MSRP is around $251000 and is now down to $180000,
IF that is the correct MSRP..dealer cost was about $180000....he's just trying to not lose any money on it, especially after holding it for 2 1/2 yrs...
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