We're getting ready to buy our first RV (a Roadtrek)and wondered if you wise and experienced souls have any advice. Is it the same kind of bargaining as when you buy a new car? What kind of markdown from the list price can be expected?
I bought mine used, so I can't give any first hand advice on buying new. However, we saved over $35,000 on buying a 3 year used RT with only 7,000 kms. Good luck on your purchase, I know you'll love it.
I got a 4 year old Leisure Travel LSS (Deluxe Model) , 20,000 miles with a 5 cyl Mercedes Deisel for $40,000. It looks and runs like brand new. That's over $60,000 less than new. Like almost everything you buy, I'm sure that there's some wiggle room in the price of a new one. You just need to decide what you want and then contact as many dealers as it takes.
There isn't as much mark down on B's and small high end C's as there is in the cheaper and larger units. With the emphasis on using less gas, we are into supply and demand here. It also depends on the model - some are more common than others. Most people end up getting 12-15%. (to show the difference, with a Winnebago View or Era, the usual discount is from 25-30% - but for higher quality, you pay a higher price)
The best deals are on those that have been sitting on a lot for a year or two, but you may need to travel to find these.
You can always go up but you can't go down. Make an offer of 33% off MSRP, if it's a left over 2011 try an even lower offer but let them know you are serious. Also, if it's a 2011 see if RT is offering any rebates in addition the chassis manufacturer might have rebates. I got an additional $1,500.00 off my final price on a 2007 Pleasureway as Ford was offering rebates at the time but I had to ask for it. The most recent unit I purchased was a leftover from the prior year and I ended up with exactly 1/3 off MSRP and no addition for prep, fees, stuff like that, only sales tax was added, the MSRP included freight. They refused my first offer which was about 35% off and let us walk out, two days later I received a call and we ended up getting it for 33.5% off. Also, don't forget about Van City in St. Louis, they'll negotiate over the phone and fly you there to pick it up. They sponsor the RV.net Class B Rallies, tell them you saw their logo and link on the Rally sponsor tab.
Buy locally, unless you are saving a lot of money, and figure it's worth driving to that dealer for service. RV dealerships are not like auto dealerships, they are independently owned, and do not have to service your RV. I know, not great PR for the manufactures, but it happens a lot. Dealerships are going to service their customers first, and since they often don't make much on warranty work, don't be surprised if they refuse to do the work for you, or make you wait several months.
If you buy from an online discounter it may be very difficult for you to find a local dealer that will do warranty work. I would check with the local dealer to find out what their policy is regarding this. Some will, some won't.
Also, sticker price, is not like a car sticker price. RV''s sticker prices can vary a lot for the exact same unit. You may save 25% at one dealer, and 15% at another dealer, and have the final price be the same.
You will find 2012's built on 2010, 2011, and 2012 chassis, and this can also affect the price, as well as resale value.
Best advice I can give is, don't be in a hurry, shop around, and do a lot or research.
One note I would like to make on Warranty service, a little off topic but a continuation. I purchased a Pleasure-way new in 2004 from a dealer in Buffalo, New York and I live in Cleveland, Ohio, they beat the best deal I could get locally. I had two warranty problems with that particular unit and Pleasureway told me to take it to any local RV dealer and have them call Pleasure-way for repair authorization and payment, did not have to be a PW dealer. I went to our Local Tiffin class A dealer that did not handle any brand of class Bs and the repairs were made. I also had a re-call on my 2007 Pleasureway for a headliner problem and again they sent the parts to the Tiffin dealer for me and repairs were made even though I purchased that unit from an existing PW dealer about 40 miles from home. Can't comment on Roadtrek as I never owned one but PW has awesome serivce. You can also get a true MSRP directly from Pleasure-way the same as you can from most of the larger RV manufacturers. There aren't many options on these units so it's pretty easy to figure out what the sticker should be although delivery is a factor as Pleasure-way ships them on flat beds rather than driving them to their various dealers. Based on what I have been told from friends that own Roadtreks and read on here they are great units and hopefully you will get what you consider to be a fair price and enjoy it for many years. As Roger stated, shop around, it's part of the fun.
Welcome to the forum.
Nick
2010 Explorer XSE conversion
Formerly 2001, 2004, and 2007 Pleasure-ways
I think all manufactures will try and find a facility to do warranty work, but a lot of places will refuse to do warranty work because they often don't make much on it, so you may still have to drive a considerable distance to get the work done. It will usually depend on the time of year, and how busy they are. The other plus is Pw, Rt, etc. dealers are trained to work on the products they sell.
Not sure buying an RV locally really gets you anything. RT warranty work has to be authorized by RT and can be done by any repair shop that RT authorizes. They will want you to go to an RT dealer though if there's one within 100 miles. As for out-of-warranty service, you're paying so it doesn't make any difference who does the work if you're happy with them. Most RV dealers are even worse that auto dealers about after-sales service. Once you've signed on the dotted line they know they're probably not going to sell you anything for 5 years or more, so why waste time catering to you? I once bought a new RV from a local dealer and within a year the manufacturer went out of business. I thought I'd still be able to get some service and support from the dealer, but their position was "the manufacturer went out of business, you're on your own".
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