One of my biggest purchase stories since RV'ing is one time in 2009 we were at an RV dealership. They had an Itasca class C, built on a Mercedes diesel. They had it for $53k NEW. It was a one time one deal special, with absolutely no haggling allowed.
We almost bought it, but I hesitated, and somebody else did. Oh well, I guess it wasn't meant to be.
So anyway, we went back to the dealership, and I kicked around for a bit with a dealer and they said they could offer me the same deal again, but the rig would have a washer dryer combo, They also offered with a bit larger generator.
Well they came back and said the price was 58k. Of course, easy Math, it was a 5k difference.
The hard fact about it, was that the original 53k was our absolute top budget on the last one. Well then they started with the "well its only 5k, you can take a note..." blah blah.
When we left the dealership, the manager, owner, and salesman were all scratching their heads. They could not figure out why I would not take this upgraded coach, that was just 5k more when I was about to buy the one at 53k.
There is 1 single reason.
This was $5,000 more.
In retrospect, this is not a lot of money when buying a new Class C or Class A, but in reality, to us, $5,000 is a lot of money.
I would NEVER EVER advise ANYBODY to ever increase their budget for a special deal, special sale, or anything. If you have a budget, you created it because you wanted to "stick to your guns", and not to break the budget. Otherwise what is the point of a budget if you are just going to increase it?
Usually a budget is planned out before hand. "Honey we have 25k to buy an RV with - is that good by you". "Well no sweetie, we should only spend 20k because of this, that, and the other". "Okay honey 20k it is". Then you turn around and are like "hey honey this 35k coach is all new, shiny, and pretty" and in the excitement you end up spending 35k after you "increased (broke) the budget".
It gets tempting while you are out there looking at RV's to go a bit more. Trust me I know. But stick to your guns and NEVER break a budget.
Some people say "you only live once" - "buy it and have no regrets" - while this is true, its not logical. It's an easy excuse based on a philosophy of "well you could die tomorrow so why not". However, we probably won't die tomorrow and even if you did, you won't be using your RV that you just broke a budget on either.
You do only live once, but often when you make budgets its so your money can work in other areas of your life. You will have regrets when there is not money for something else you wanted to do.
I would not break your original budget, and I would keep my eyes out for good deals in the amount that you were planning on spending.
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.
when looking at rv direct make absolutely sure u get a spec sheet and are comparing apples to apples. when I looked at them , I got a great price, but upon closer look found that their unit didnt have everything I wanted.
I can relate to your story very well. Not specifically with our motor home purchase, but with many other things in our life. For some things we decide that our budget is a target goal. For other things, a budget is a limit. We went over our target goal with our motor home purchase to get it right as it is/was our last motor home purchase in life. So having it "Just Right" was more important to us than hitting the target goal. We just spent more saved funds, not gone in debt over the matter. For the record, we went 20% over our original target goal.
In your case that $5000 would have broken your bank. Good for you that you stuck to your budget, even so that it meant you are still with your old rig.
If everyone in our country was fiscally responsible, this country would be in much better shape.
As for budgets, one lesson I learned is that there are a lot of additional things that will need to go with a new rig, so having cash set aside for those is important.
For example, bedding in the right colors and fabrics, covers for the furniture, spare keys, new hitch stinger (if using a toad and the previous one won't adjust), etc.
I have to smile at some of the posts...
Here I sit, with a Tioga 29H rear bedroom Class C that sleeps six, on a Ford E350 chassis with the 460 V8 engine, a 1995 model.
I have put new tires on it since I bought it, and replaced the engine driven A/C compressor clutch.
It cost me $17K a couple years ago.
Now, I'm looking for something with more power and more room, a V10 or diesel, with one slide (2 would be OK), either a C or an A, that sleeps 2 or 4.
This time, I will keep looking until I find what I want.
Oh, yeah, it has to be 10 years old, so I can put permanent registration on it!
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
If you are shopping for length, models, features, etc. PPL does a good job of showing floor plans, mileage, and photos. It will give you an idea of what you can get for your budget.
Prices for their sold units are also listed which is a great service I think! Not as much information but if you track these over time you will see the units that sell.
I also like craigslist in high sales areas like phoenix where there is always SOMETHING for sale. Since you are closer to Canada, you might find a used Triple E which seem to be in the same ballpark as Born Free I think. Also sales on ebay have a ton of photos to compare number of sleeping spaces, kitchens, seating, etc. You want to travel a long way each year so gas prices might lead you to consider one of the smaller diesels that seem to be in your price range for the older 2007 models; View, Vista, and Navions.
I really appreciate the great advice everyone has given so far.
The search still continues, and we are comfortable in the fact that it may take a while to find what we want for what we want to spend. We have begun to expand our search and utilize the great many resources out there.
I think we will continue to be firm on our price range as well. A newer-to-brand new unit would be great but we know our means and feel we would be better served to stay within them. I honestly feel we should be able to find a very nice MH for what we want to spend.
A smaller diesel do better on fuel, but maintenance and upkeep would be a higher cost as well I think. And of course, the wife is nearly insistant on maximum sleeping arrangements.
mowermech wrote: I have to smile at some of the posts...
Here I sit, with a Tioga 29H rear bedroom Class C that sleeps six, on a Ford E350 chassis with the 460 V8 engine, a 1995 model.
I have put new tires on it since I bought it, and replaced the engine driven A/C compressor clutch.
It cost me $17K a couple years ago.
Now, I'm looking for something with more power and more room, a V10 or diesel, with one slide (2 would be OK), either a C or an A, that sleeps 2 or 4.
This time, I will keep looking until I find what I want.
Oh, yeah, it has to be 10 years old, so I can put permanent registration on it!
We have owned our /93 classC since 2000.
Paid twenty two thousand, could get ten or twelve tomorrow!
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