The local RV Dealer in the area where I live won't even take a coach on consignment! He told me there buying from Banks and Credit Unions at really reduced prices. John
I would suggest to start looking and learning and educating yourself on what you like or don't like - how they drive - what they cost - The first one we found by accident - the second one took us about a year to find and this one took us about a year to find....start driving them and looking. My other advice is to buy used and save a bundle.
2003 Newmar DSDP 4005 dual slide king bed Spartan 350 Cummins 2004 Jeep Liberty 4X4 tow, SeaEagle boat in basement
Our situation 3 years ago was similar to yours. I had retired but the wife had to wait until the beginning of this year to retire. While we have no plans on ever fulltiming, we knew we would travel much more after she retired. We wanted to do this with a DP and had thought we would wait. The problem was we kept looking after we bought our gas unit a couple of years earlier. She found what she wanted in floorplan, colors, etc. and it met my requirements on the mechanical end. Put the gasser up for sale, sold it the first day, and bought the DP.
Of course, as we all know those were much better times economically speaking and the rv industry was cooking. Now it is totally different circumstances which is in your favor, if you don't have one you need to sell or trade.
Am I sorry I bought early? No way, as we have enjoyed the coach very much, got all the bugs worked out in the first year and have used it probably more than we thought we would. We have an 05 Ambassador pretty well loaded with washer/dryer, etc and it has been a good one. Prices have continued to rise and while the newer ones have some different looks the basics are the same at least through the 08 models. I understand the 09 Ambassador/Endeavors and Knight/Diplomats no longer have the Alumaframe superstructure. Not sure what Monaco is using now but I understand the change was made to cut costs.
A 2009 Foretravel similar to my 2007 is almost $200,000 more at MSRP. Yet no doubt it is a buyers market. These might be reasons to buy early...
but I would wait.
I'd rather buy when the market is on the way up not down. Who knows what way cool technology or features will be standard in 2010. AND most important who knows what might change in your life in the next 12-24 months. You may end up with very good reason(s) to NOT want a motorhome next year and that would be an expensive mistake.
BUT I sure would get my future choice tightly defined. If you go for a 1-3 year old high quality brand the 2008 that sells new this week might be a steal for you in 18 months. If you end up with a brand like Foretravel on your list and you realize they only build about 3 units per month well you can imagine that finding the right unit involves time and patience.
Don't rush the search... half the fun is getting there. Once you own it you have real work to do.
Good Luck
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
2007 Foretravel Nimbus
Cummins ISM 500HP
Allison MH4000w/Retarder
Boondock,
You just look like a man itching to buy. What do you mean "get realistic" about the price? The price you quoted on that vehicle was already way below market, did you mean like $50,000 realistic?
If you buy now, license & insure it for two years, or have to pay interest on a loan and don't use it, then it's not a good deal. Better to save more money, buy it when YOUR ready and pay cash.
I decided not to wait. In the high end coach market, there are some deals. I found them to be rare and even rarer were "deal" coaches that I would lay out money for.
I spent a year researching and adjusting plans. I found about a half dozen coaches and invested the time and money on a 4500 mile, 11 day shopping expedition.
I reached as high as I could both in the coach and the budget. I have up to a year before I can full time and I know that I will use every spare moment making additional adjustments to the coach and drilling to really know how to use all of the systems and do the safety checks and do all the maintenance I can.
I strongly support buying a few years old, with all maintenance records and I have a preference for dealer/manufacturer support.
Read all the pre-delivery inspection checklists and procedures you can lay your hands on.
Look at every rig that you can get too. Drive them, pretend to spend a whole day in it, go through all your routines. Take lot's of pictures and notes.
If you can narrow it down to a couple of brands, you will find that you can keep comparisions in order.
Don't let price be the primary influence. If you get a good (price) deal on a rig that doesn't meet your needs, how good was it.
Here is the best piece of advise I was given early on in the process. Apparently, a lot of people go through many different RV's before the get to the one that they like. The number that was put out there for me was five. So, bottom line, buy your fifth RV first.
Good Luck and keep reading this forum. Lot's of very good discussions here.
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