Depreciation rates for caravans

[RayS]

Is there any authoritive indication of depreciation rates to be expected on new caravans.

Given that the dealer window price ofr a new van is generally recognised to be only the starting point for the haggle, and I have yet to meet anyone who has paid it, and that used van prices are similarly vague, it is a bit difficult to establish a datum.

Perhaps because cars are sold in much greater numbers, with a bit of work you can establish the sort depreciation to be expected from a particular model and thus see when (and if) the depreciation curve flattens out. In some cases, if the car is old enough , the curve actually starts to climb again, exhibiting the classic "bathtub" profile, but I have never seen anything like this for 'vans.

My own feeling is that the curve will start to flatten around 4 to 5 years old, assuming there are no major damp or accident problems, and therefore around 5 years may be a good time to consider a change for a van which gets fairly well used (100+ night/year).

Any comments much appreciated.

 

[mcghee]

It used to be the case that a caravan would lose 20% in the first year, and then about 8% a year after that. Obviously it gets to the point where condition is more of a consideration than age. Dampness steals all the value from a 'van, dampness which has started to rot wallboard, or started to swell the framework can reduce a 'van's value to 25-30% of what it otherwise would be. As for when to change a 'van, if the 'van is what you still need and it has no problems why change it?