Hi Folks:
Things are heating up as we head in to the RV buying season and we’re starting to see some trends that we think are worth pointing out.
One, we’re getting lots of report requests for gas powered motorhomes. There’s nothing wrong with that. Today’s gas engines (usually Ford or Chevy) are pretty reliable and much more economical to operate than ten years ago. They’re also considerably less expensive to buy compared to a diesel and let’s face it, gas itself is pretty cheap right now compared to what we’ve seen in years past. While we understand that these are all reasons our customers consider gas, we’d like to raise a couple points that you may want to consider.
- Will you be a Snowbird or Full-Time user or travelling in excess of 25,000 miles annually? A diesel may be worth the upcharge for high-mile campers. Better MPG, longer engine life with less maintenance, and better power can pay off in spades once you start racking up the miles.
- How long do you plan on keeping your RV? Have you considered re-sale value? A gas motorhome will depreciate much faster than its diesel brethren. Selling a gas motorhome with 100,000 miles on the clock will be tough sledding whereas the same unit with diesel power (if properly maintained) will be good for another 100,000 miles (at least) of reliable, problem free service. Smooth running diesels with 500,000 miles of service under their belt are not uncommon.
- Gas is relatively cheap right now, but where will it be a year from now? Two years? Nobody knows, but do you want to make a long term and expensive decision based on the price of oil today? Gas definitely has its advantages for many buyers, but we suggest not letting the current price of a commodity sway you on your decision. Determine if gas or diesel is best for you based on your needs and budget, not because gas is cheap today.
Two, we’re also getting lots of report requests for 2015 models. This applies to motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, lightweights and truck campers. Everyone wants the latest and greatest and we certainly understand that but we’d like to see more people at least considering the 2014 models. Why? Because there are still lots of brand new 2014 RVs available on dealer lots and they’re usually heavily discounted. Why pay an extra $2,000 to $5,000 for a 2015 when you can save a real chunk of money on a 2014? Sometimes the newest model has some features that make the extra expense worthwhile but most of the time the differences between model years is insignificant.
When you stroll through a busy campground can you identify a Keystone Montana or an Airstream Flying Cloud? We can. Can you identify what year it is? We can’t and neither can most people. The real difference between purchasing a 2014 and a 2015 this year is only in the size of the check written to get it. How many trips could you take with the $2,500 you save?
If you need an Extended RV Warranty and are getting a quote from WholesaleWarranties.com, make sure and mention coupon code “RV Reviews.net”. They offer an additional discount for our customers. Give us some feedback on their service and prices if you can. So far customers are very happy.
That’s it for this week. Drop us a note if you have any other tips you think we should pass on to the community, and if you’re in the market for an RV, make sure and check us out at RVReviews.net. Thousands of past buyers have trusted us for 20 years to help them find the best RV for them and save money.
Happy Travels,
John Toffler (Editor)