Which motorhomes hold their value the best?
Discussion
I know nothing about motorhomes. I'm asking for a friend specifically but quite intrigued myself! He is considering a motorhome less than 3 yrs old (ideally less than 2) so still has drivetrain warranty. Something that will sleep 2 adults and 2 young kids. Not sure on budget - it's quite open so I would guess on 40-75k. It's not the main concern but he wants to be able to sell it easily if they don't use it, or get bored of it. I imagine it's the wrong time of year to be buying them!
Thanks
Thanks
Yeh good point. The market has gone nuts post COVID. Before, a high spec Frankia was £100k, now, £30k more.
I think you’d be talking £75k for anything half decent now, I haven’t looked in a while now. Another brand to look at is Butstner, may be in the price range and still offer great products.
I think you’d be talking £75k for anything half decent now, I haven’t looked in a while now. Another brand to look at is Butstner, may be in the price range and still offer great products.
I bought my Elddis CV 20 dealer special new four years ago for 42k, would have no trouble getting 50k for it now, as there is over a year waiting list and now are around 65k.
Prices are crazy at the moment, especially for VW campervans.
If considering any used caravan or motorhome, check for damp and check again.
Prices are crazy at the moment, especially for VW campervans.
If considering any used caravan or motorhome, check for damp and check again.
2 GKC said:
Have prices of these softened at all yet?
I keep an eye peeled on the market as I'm looking for one with a specific spec. I'm not seeing any softening in the prices, but there's a lot that have been for sale for a looooooong time at the higher prices ranges and the vendors are clearly not desperate for the money as they're not reducing the prices, just readvertising over and over.What I don't understand is who the f
k is paying SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS for a VW T6 camper that you can't even swing a cat in or stand up in? Have people lost their minds?It can only be a (short) matter of time until it follows the car market, surely?
You can still sell stuff, but you've got to be on the money - our village is pretty prime for the area and any property that came up was flying until mid spring, but it's shuddered to a halt, and prices are tumbling.
You can still sell stuff, but you've got to be on the money - our village is pretty prime for the area and any property that came up was flying until mid spring, but it's shuddered to a halt, and prices are tumbling.
Bonefish Blues said:
It can only be a (short) matter of time until it follows the car market, surely?
You can still sell stuff, but you've got to be on the money - our village is pretty prime for the area and any property that came up was flying until mid spring, but it's shuddered to a halt, and prices are tumbling.
I have my doubts it'll follow the car market. There's a lot of people coming to the stark realisation that they can't afford the rents being charged now, and zero chance of ever being able to afford their own place, so are buying campers and motorhomes to live in. This is what's playing a big part (imo) in keeping the prices high as there's big demand, especially at the lower price ranges. Even tatty stuff 20+ year old is going for £35k for some models.You can still sell stuff, but you've got to be on the money - our village is pretty prime for the area and any property that came up was flying until mid spring, but it's shuddered to a halt, and prices are tumbling.
r3g said:
Bonefish Blues said:
It can only be a (short) matter of time until it follows the car market, surely?
You can still sell stuff, but you've got to be on the money - our village is pretty prime for the area and any property that came up was flying until mid spring, but it's shuddered to a halt, and prices are tumbling.
I have my doubts it'll follow the car market. There's a lot of people coming to the stark realisation that they can't afford the rents being charged now, and zero chance of ever being able to afford their own place, so are buying campers and motorhomes to live in. This is what's playing a big part (imo) in keeping the prices high as there's big demand, especially at the lower price ranges. Even tatty stuff 20+ year old is going for £35k for some models.You can still sell stuff, but you've got to be on the money - our village is pretty prime for the area and any property that came up was flying until mid spring, but it's shuddered to a halt, and prices are tumbling.
r3g said:
What I don't understand is who the fk is paying SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS for a VW T6 camper that you can't even swing a cat in or stand up in? Have people lost their minds?
Yes, it’s a lot. What you have to understand is that many use these as a main vehicle also. When you consider any half decent new car is 40K plus, it doesn’t look so bad when it takes care of your holidays as well. They also depreciate very slowly compared with cars, so it stacks up for many. k is paying SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS for a VW T6 camper that you can't even swing a cat in or stand up in? Have people lost their minds?Is it wrong of me to want one of these? - https://www.hymer.com/gb/en/models/hymer-venture-s
https://www.hymer.com/gb/en/models/hymer-ml-t-cros...
https://www.hymer.com/gb/en/models/hymer-free-s_bl...
https://www.hymer.com/gb/en/models/hymer-ml-t-cros...
https://www.hymer.com/gb/en/models/hymer-free-s_bl...
I'm a motorhome dealer and the answer is, most motorhomes hold their money splendidly and its not necessarily the best motorhomes that hold their money the best!
Firstly, motorhome values used track new van prices, new ones go up, used ones don't have to drop.
With availability of new so poor and prices of new vans so high then used van prices have gone up.
The parts of the market easing slightly are middle aged to older campervans especially aftermarket conversions, the market has been swamped with people who spent £30-40k on a used VW or similar and now want to change for something a little bigger and a little easier.
Also family specific vans like bunkbed 6 berth coachbuilts , demand has dropped with the cist of living hitting younger buyers and there's plenty around so they aren't desirable stock, prices are falling.
Popular stuff tho, full sized van conversions with toilets and showers from 07 on, low profile coachbuilts with dropdown beds or fixed singles over garage or island beds, can't get enough of them, compact non fixed bed low profiles are good news too.
Certain layouts that appeal to older couples like low singles end washroom bit over 3500kg aren't so good news as the people who want them are losing their c1s, same with big end washroom 2 berths over 3500kg.
Bar that you're mustard so buy what yiu like, that's the main thing, right size and layout for you individually.
Make is less important, yeah Hymer, Carthago, Concorde , Frankia are lovely, but high end expensive vans actually are less exciting to a dealer than a mid range van conversion from Elddis or Autotrail believe it or not, we can sell them in seconds and buy two for the price of one great big used A class .
Bit like used cars in a way, what's better news , 3 Ford Fiestas or a 10 year old Merc A class?
Firstly, motorhome values used track new van prices, new ones go up, used ones don't have to drop.
With availability of new so poor and prices of new vans so high then used van prices have gone up.
The parts of the market easing slightly are middle aged to older campervans especially aftermarket conversions, the market has been swamped with people who spent £30-40k on a used VW or similar and now want to change for something a little bigger and a little easier.
Also family specific vans like bunkbed 6 berth coachbuilts , demand has dropped with the cist of living hitting younger buyers and there's plenty around so they aren't desirable stock, prices are falling.
Popular stuff tho, full sized van conversions with toilets and showers from 07 on, low profile coachbuilts with dropdown beds or fixed singles over garage or island beds, can't get enough of them, compact non fixed bed low profiles are good news too.
Certain layouts that appeal to older couples like low singles end washroom bit over 3500kg aren't so good news as the people who want them are losing their c1s, same with big end washroom 2 berths over 3500kg.
Bar that you're mustard so buy what yiu like, that's the main thing, right size and layout for you individually.
Make is less important, yeah Hymer, Carthago, Concorde , Frankia are lovely, but high end expensive vans actually are less exciting to a dealer than a mid range van conversion from Elddis or Autotrail believe it or not, we can sell them in seconds and buy two for the price of one great big used A class .
Bit like used cars in a way, what's better news , 3 Ford Fiestas or a 10 year old Merc A class?
nagsheadwarrior said:
Popular stuff tho, full sized van conversions with toilets and showers from 07 on,
Interesting, thanks. Out of interest what do you think to them Hymer camper vans - specifically the Mercedes Free / Grand Canyon? They are big money (brand new) but I could imagine the market is strong for them due to their size and flexibility. Some of them have pop up roofs (bed) so can berth 4. I’ve just traded my Grand Canyon S for a compact Carthago A Class.
GCS Pros … nice to drive .. I did 19,000 miles in mine in 16 months, including a 6,000 jaunt down to and around Morocco. Can go pretty much anywhere in them, fairly discreetly if needed, easy to get parts and spares as they are just a Merce van with stuff inside. Pop top is nice in the summer.
Cons … cramped if you are 6ft plus, poor insulation, crap ventilation of you have the pop top version. Furniture construction is poor, rattles and squeaks constantly. Ladder for the pop top gets in the way when in use.
Held it's value really well .. I sold it for 12% more than I paid for it!
My new Carthago is only 40cm longer and 10 cm wider but its feels like twice the size inside .. downside is that it's on a Fiat chassis rather than a Mercedes.
Gratuitous pic of my old GCS in Maroc back in March .....
GCS Pros … nice to drive .. I did 19,000 miles in mine in 16 months, including a 6,000 jaunt down to and around Morocco. Can go pretty much anywhere in them, fairly discreetly if needed, easy to get parts and spares as they are just a Merce van with stuff inside. Pop top is nice in the summer.
Cons … cramped if you are 6ft plus, poor insulation, crap ventilation of you have the pop top version. Furniture construction is poor, rattles and squeaks constantly. Ladder for the pop top gets in the way when in use.
Held it's value really well .. I sold it for 12% more than I paid for it!
My new Carthago is only 40cm longer and 10 cm wider but its feels like twice the size inside .. downside is that it's on a Fiat chassis rather than a Mercedes.
Gratuitous pic of my old GCS in Maroc back in March .....
Edited by AlBondigaz on Saturday 15th July 19:59
nagsheadwarrior said:
Popular stuff tho, full sized van conversions with toilets and showers from 07 on, low profile coachbuilts with dropdown beds or fixed singles over garage or island beds, can't get enough of them, compact non fixed bed low profiles are good news too.
What do you class a "full sized van conversions" ? I've seen a few Sprinter and Relay mid and high roof MWB/LWB conversions and the majority of them don't have a bog or shower in them because there simply isn't the space. A few have managed to squeeze them into LWB high roofs but even with a fixed bed sideways at the back there is no room for more than 1 person in the front half of the van as there's virtually no space for storage, work top area.I guess if you're only going to spend 7 hours of the day in it to sleep, and the rest of the time you're out and about, it could work, but people there's plenty who actually live in these full-time and I don't understand how they do it! Even the high roofs I can't stand up straight in at 6'2 tall and that's before your panelling and insulation.
I'm on the look-out for something to live in 6 months of the year I'm in the UK rather than paying 12 months rent on a place, but I'm wanting something already fully kitted out with solar, min 500W, Victron MPPT and a bunch of LiFePO4s as that's £10k I won't have to spend to get installed myself. Quite a number of van conversions already have this done but I'd want a bog and shower too and I just can't see how this can work in a van conversion without getting pissed off with the lack of space in about 5 seconds.
The other thing that puzzles me is how they fetch the prices they do when a coachbult with twice as much space and maybe only a couple of years older is about the same price. Maybe it's a licensing thing as the mid size vans are over 3.5t? It's not a concern for me as I'm an artic licence holder already so can drive anything but while I could have all the space I wanted by buying a converted race truck on a 7.5t or even 18t chassis, when I come to eventually sell it my potential market would be about 2 people, so my business head is telling me to stick with the common stuff that everyone can drive.
Edited by r3g on Saturday 15th July 20:07
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