When is the best time to buy, new or used?

[david_374371161]

Hi all.

Right let me start by saying that I am brand new to this and have never owned a caravan before.

What I would like to know is when is the best time to purchase a caravan?

Would I be better of waiting for the new 09 caravans to come into stock, so I can get a cheap discounted brand new 08 model of a dealer? As I imagine they would like to get rid of old stock to make room for the new?

Or if I was to buy second hand, would there be a greater increase of 1year old models hitting the classifides, so that the seller could then purchase a new(09) caravan, rather than take a low px price for it?

If so, what time of year does this occur? Is it in late Nov/Dec, or is it into the new year Jan/Feb time if any of them???

Caravans I have in mind are the "Pageant Burgundy" and the "Senator Indiana".

But in reading the Bailey 60th anniversary brochure it states that they are to bring out a "ranger s6 520/4" which is exactly the same layout as the above mentioned with a fixed nearside bed.

Would this van, in your opinions cost the same as say a used Indiana(1yr old) when launched, as I undestand that the Rangers are the cheaper models?

And when are they likely to hit the showrooms?

Sorry to waffle on, and hope you can help with my queries??

Dave

 

[david_374371161]

Bump.....please help?

 

[Chaps]

Sorry that you've not had any response to your question David. We're not experts on caravan buying as we are relatively new to this (but already hooked!) but this link may help you

http://www.rangerseries6.co.uk/
Prices for all of the Bailey ranges can be located through the link and you can download or order a brochure.

Think that most manufacturers bring out their new ranges about now and quite a lot of the time a new 'series' means only a few changes that are often mainly cosmetic. We bought a 2006 model new last October (2007) and saved around

 

[mark_374368910]

David, firstly welcome and appologies for both the delay and lack of repsonses on here - unusual!

I cannot directly answer your question, although I will say that for several reasons, we are coming into what is probably the best time to buy.

However, I have a bigger concern. is it really wise to go out a spend so much on your very first van? I wouldn't. What happens if you or your partner don't like 'vanning? it's a LOT of markdown to lose on a new van if you try to resell it 12 months on. No different then a new car. My neighbour has just struck lucky for this very reason. He has just bought a fabulous 2 year old Bailey Pageant for FAR less then the original owner paid for it. They went out and bought thier first van new costing nearly 11,500 and sold it just over a year later after two outings for just

 

[david_374371161]

Thank you for your reply Woody, however myself and my partner have experienced Vanning and have now decided we would like to get our own van to enjoy even more caravanning breaks.

Just like in your neighbour, we would very much like to find a deal like they did, which is why we are keen to find out what time of year is best to grab a good deal.

 

[mark_374368910]

HI David, I'm pleased to know you're not just jumping straight in.

The consensus of opinion (This has been asked several times here and elsewhere) is that Autumn is generally thought to be the best time to buy.

People wishing to upgrade will be buying new at the various shows, dealers wanting to get rid of old stock, people not wanting to store their van over winter for various reasons, etc. Al this normally leads to some good deals around.

I was totally shocked this weekend. I went along to a dealer here in West Wales. The amount of vans in stock was staggering, we reckon about 200 used! We had no sooner walked thru the gate and a lady came upto us (actually very nice and not pushy) and asked what were were looking for. I explained an older van so my g/f could exeprience vanning before I got another newer van. She replied, " Go down along the back where the older vans are and we'll guarentee you the best deal you'll ever gonna get right now! We havn't sold a van for 3 weeks."

Unfortunetly, having just had 3 unexpected bills totalling

 

[Zafiral]

The flip side is to buy a new (more basic) van. We had never towed before, but bought an ex demo (still new) Ranger Series 5 2.5 years ago.

Storage (for us anyway), insuarance and servicing are fixed costs that we would still have to pay along with the costs of getting a towbar fitted if you do not have one.

A new van is more likely to be reliable and therfore less likely to tarnish your experience.

Mark up on used vans at dealers mean that if you do change your mind then the losses will be similar to a new van. Vans upto 3/4 years old when we were looking were not vastly different in price to what deal we got on our new van.

 

[david_374371161]

Thanks guys.

I got my tickets for the show up the nec, so I will probably talk to some dealers about new vans and possibly 1yr old vans which they have in stock or are to be exchanged with them in the near future?

I dont think I can buy one right now, as I have to replace my car first, arrange for storage get my finances in place.

But hopefully if I find a bargain I can secure a deposit on it, and purchase it over xmas/new year at the earliest. As that is the earliest time I can change my car as I am tied into it for 9 months. I just hope that the deals will be still around then if I cant find one in the meantime?

P.S Mark. Wha was ther dealers name in Wales, as I only live in Swansea so dont mind travelling when trying to find a bargain.

Cheers all.

 

[John_374224558]

David,

If you are going to the NEC, a couple of things to bear in mind.

As a buyer with no P/X the dealers will be biting your hands off to do business with you so forget the window price for a start and haggle hard, also play one off against the other.

However it may make sense to try to deal with someone who at least has a branch of their dealership not too far from you.

If you ever need to make a warranty claim you may not get much joy from your local dealer if he didn't supply the van, and you dont really want to have to tow it for perhaps hundreds of miles to get a warranty claim sorted.

If you were going to look at nearly new ones be careful of one thing-watch for the caravans supplied by insurance companies last year to house flood victims. I think some of these vans have hit the market and while their towing mileage may be virtually nil, the interiors may have had a hammering, and servicing may be out of date.

Good luck with whatever you choose....and enjoy.

 

[Zafiral]

re: Not buying from your local dealer. We bought our Bailey from a dealer many miles from home, but have had no problems with two warranty claims from our local dealer as Bailey have a transient warranty scheme so non supplying dealers can sort out warranty issues direct with Bailey.

 

[david_374371161]

Thanks John and Civical.

I'm glad to hear that warranty will be covered by bailey dealerships. As there are 2 down by me.

But will def try and get the best deal from all dealers.

Do you think I would be asking a bit much though to think I could get a brand new S6 ranger 520/4 for

 

[Zafiral]

David

re the warranty, check the dealers near you on Bailey's website and if it says they do Transiant Warranty, you are laughing.

Re the price you are angling for, I think you are being a bit hopeful especially with an awning as well, but until you try, you'll never know!!

 

[John_374224558]

David,

As Civical said, you never know until you try,so a few phone calls may be in order. As I suggested before once dealers know that you have no P/X you are king,so have some fun and play one off against the other,even perhaps get some prices for alternative makes as well as this may also keep them on their toes.