Your thoughts on; Keep, Buy Used, or New

[Gagakev]

I know its 12 months away but this time next year I will be in a position to change the van---Do I Want too?
Currently have a 1995 van which I have had for three years, I have nurtured, coaxed, repaired, restored, treated major damp problems, washed and polished and generaly fell in love with it !!! Its now a clean and tidy respectable van in good condition,
(actually tidier and cleaner than some of the newer vans that arrive on some sites)

Or do I, buy a newer second hand one and hope I get a good one, and if I dont, go through all the above problems again ?

Or lastly, purchase a brand new one and know at some stage it will go back to the dealer for warranty work and when thats fixed take it back again and again, and of course you have the depreciation (I would never buy a brand new car due to the depreciation).

Sorry if it's long winded but any thoughts would be appreciated.

Kev

 

[drsorento]

Kev, if you are happy with the van that you have got and it suits your needs then why change it ? I think if you read your own post again you have answered your own question.
All the best.

 

[Gagakev]

drsorento, thanks for the response, think I'm proberbly worried about the age of the van more than anything else.
May be keep it a few more years and it'll turn into a classic!!!!
Kev

 

[forestgump]

take in to account the vat it is a good idea to stay put unless you buy my van cash.lol

 

[Dustydog]

Kev
3 years ago we were able to afford the caravan of our dreams. It still ticks all the boxes and we have no foreseeable intention of changing it. Same goes for the car.
The money we save now goes on more holidays!
However if your baby no longer ticks all the boxes change it.
I've had both new and used. If you can afford new go for it just for the water ingress warranties now available, eg Bailey 10 years. However I believe some of the warranties may be transferable so perhaps used will also be a good bet too. A matter of personal choice and also used is likely to attract less depreciation than new.

 

[Gagakev]

Dustydog, interesting comment on the warranties possibly being transferable, will look into that nearer the time if I decide to change. Will say that the only box possibly not being ticked is a fixed bed. But then again I cant miss what I never had. Can I ?

Forest, can't really pay you cash just yet, please wait untill all the further tax demands from the revenue have arrived then I'll see what cash is left over. He He

 

[MichaelE]

I only change if my requirements change ie we had a six birth when the kids were young then changed to a fixed bed when they no longer came away with us.
I would never change for just a fabric change , i like the van to be different otherwise why bother?
Do you think the vat rise will make a difference as its an extra £500 on a 20k van,i would be more concerned about how much the price of tourers have increased in the last couple of years? 2- 3k .
The warranty is only valid if the owners has had his yearly service, i know quite a few people who dont even bother in the first 3 years.

 

[trevor123]

Hi Kev know how you feel, big step to take, we been looking for a nice 2 berth we seen so many how do people let them get into the state they are now , just for a 2/3 year old van,
We wax all the wood inside the van twice ayear and the table and surounding every time we use it, few people said to us wish our was like that, service every year wash+polish,
Can't moan really it ten years old and the damp reading is 12 to 14%, We know that the right van will show up got to be in the right place and time, we carry on enjoying our van while it in good faith,
Trevor123

 

[Gagakev]

Micheal E wrote
The warranty is only valid if the owners has had his yearly service, i know quite a few people who dont even bother in the first 3 years.
With this in mind Micheal I suppose there wont be many around which will actually be on a dealers forecourt. But think I have ruled out going for brand new so only two choices left, nearly new or keep.
Trevor 123
Couldnt agree more about some of the states of the vans, looked in at one dealer in Dorset when we were away earlier in the year and none of the vans had been cleaned inside, not a good first impression. Yet went to another the next day and all the vans were spotless.
Regards the age of our van its 15 years old now but as said earlier it is in good condition.
Thanks for all your replies folks
Kev

 

[jerry4]

Hi

We changed our ageing 1992 van for a brand new one last year. We didn't actually set out to buy new, we were looking for a good quality family van about 5 or so years old but we found the prices for these were very nearly as much as buying new and there was little or no warranty. Buying new meant that we could get a design that suited our needs (fixed bunks for the kids and a seperate bedroom area for them) and have a decent warranty and hopefully better re-sale value in 10 or so years time when we may be able to downsize a bit.

 

[Gagakev]

Jerry thanks for your reply, thought I'd made up my mind but your response gives a differant veiw on the whole thing. Thats the wonderful thing about this forum many people have differing veiws and it gives us many angles to look into. What decision is actually taken right or wrong obviously depends on the individuals circumstances.
Whats the betting I make the wrong one!!

 

[whitetop]

We are on our second caravan. The first was a 4 berth, side dinette model (1997)and our current van is a 5 berth (2001) with the L- shaped lounge area at the back with the bunk overhead (never used yet).
The only reason we changed was for the layout, which suited us better, as my daughter was getting older and needed her own "bedroom".....
The van and bits are all paid for and although we have considered a fixed bed option, it doesn't really give us what we need.
If you van is fulfilling your needs, then why change. You know it and it's history so to speak....
If you must change, forget a new one, IMHO.......you will take an immediate hit on the VAT part of the cost.....
Just to confuse the issue even more.......used prices seem to be on the up.....especially private sales.....must be the recession.....people doing the "staycation" bit.....
Remember, it's not just the van, but the other things that add up.....awning etc etc.
If selling private, you will get a better price if you include all the normal stuff......battery, water / waste, electric cable etc ec....maybe even awning........
Decisions, decisions.......
Cheers..............

 

[Gagakev]

Whitetop, thanks for the reply.
more interesting thoughts thrown in to confuse me!! Like yourself all the bits and van paid for but I just want to spend the kids inheritance whilst I have the chance

If I were to change think it would be with a dealer to at least have a bit of warrenty/piece of mind
I did buy this one privately and all the bits (and problems) came with it. But as said earlier she's in good nick now, safe sound and dry, think it will actually be quite emotional if I actually let her go

as you said...........
Decisions, decisions.......
Cheers..............
Kev

Cheers

 

[whitetop]

We bought our current van from a dealer who offered a stupid trade-in......don't they always.
I sold our old van on Fleabay...starting at dealer value and got nearly £800 more for cash......then £1000 off the newer van...
Just another thing to confuse the issue............

Why has my post font changed........

 

[bribes]

Hi Kev Just a word of advice ..If you consider changing your van for a more modern one,Post.2003 vans tend to wiegh more..Make sure your tug is up to the job. I have recently changed.from my motorthome back to a caravan and after being away from carav aning for 15 years ,Iam supprised at the wieghts of even the smallest vans..As for choice , Its a question of whatever suits you..
ps best buys seem to be 5 year old vans good luck

 

[Gagakev]

Hi Bribes,
welcome back to the caravanning world, tug at the moment is no problem and may even downsize that nearer the time (Obviously doing the calculations to match up).
Kev