Touring Caravan and PCP finance
Discussion
We're debating as a family to dip into the caravan world by buying a touring new and looking at the options to fund the purchase. Probably something of £25-£30k in value.
I'm well versed in PCP from the car side of things so it's not the education of the product but more the application in the caravan world.
Google doesn't provide many examples of the APR rates on offer. Before I go and enquire with a dealer what is everyone's real world experience ?
I'm well versed in PCP from the car side of things so it's not the education of the product but more the application in the caravan world.
Google doesn't provide many examples of the APR rates on offer. Before I go and enquire with a dealer what is everyone's real world experience ?
Edited by CSK423 on Friday 15th August 14:00
Have you been caravanning before? My view as a caravanner of 45yrs standing is that people either love it or hate it.
As a first-timer I would run a million miles from tying myself into a PCP deal on a van for X years unless you have tried it a few times. A friend of mine has a golfing pal whose wife nagged him to buy a brand new rig as a retirement gift to them. They went away in it once, he absolutely loathed it, they had massive rows, sold it on their return at a huge loss!
Each to their own but I think it is absolutely crazy to sink so much into something/tie yourself into a lengthy PCP without trying it out first.
Most people's gateway into caravanning is buying a used van first to see if you like it. If not, you can trade it on at hopefully minimal loss if it's not for you.
As a family you need to experience putting up an awning in the rain and emptying the toilet cassette at midnight (OK, I exaggerate, you need to plan for these things) to determine if caravanning is for you.
The 'travelling everywhere at max 60mph' bit also needs a bit of a mental reset if you are not used to it.
Good luck!
As a first-timer I would run a million miles from tying myself into a PCP deal on a van for X years unless you have tried it a few times. A friend of mine has a golfing pal whose wife nagged him to buy a brand new rig as a retirement gift to them. They went away in it once, he absolutely loathed it, they had massive rows, sold it on their return at a huge loss!
Each to their own but I think it is absolutely crazy to sink so much into something/tie yourself into a lengthy PCP without trying it out first.
Most people's gateway into caravanning is buying a used van first to see if you like it. If not, you can trade it on at hopefully minimal loss if it's not for you.
As a family you need to experience putting up an awning in the rain and emptying the toilet cassette at midnight (OK, I exaggerate, you need to plan for these things) to determine if caravanning is for you.
The 'travelling everywhere at max 60mph' bit also needs a bit of a mental reset if you are not used to it.
Good luck!
Thanks for the reply. I know what I'm getting into after spending many many years as a youngster......
Experiencing the toilet emptying/wash down, being sent off to find the water point with the aqua roll, awning install when the frigging rail keeps snagging on the bead because it's too wet/full of crap from being stored, lifting bikes on and off a roof rack, trying to dry a ground sheet at home after it rained all weekend etc.
Bringing my family on that journey is something they're still keen to do despite my stories.
I probably need more than that to align though to see if we have the time and get the financials to stack up.
Experiencing the toilet emptying/wash down, being sent off to find the water point with the aqua roll, awning install when the frigging rail keeps snagging on the bead because it's too wet/full of crap from being stored, lifting bikes on and off a roof rack, trying to dry a ground sheet at home after it rained all weekend etc.
Bringing my family on that journey is something they're still keen to do despite my stories.
I probably need more than that to align though to see if we have the time and get the financials to stack up.
Caravan pcp is usually higher rates than a car but the period can be longer, ultimately that means more interest.
We purchased brand new having never had a van before and paid 19k for it, at the moment the same van is now 25k new, because of that our losses haven’t been as bad as they could have been.
Budget £1000 a year to store, insure, service it when you buy all of the bits to go with it budget another £2000, but you can always go used for awnings but batteries cost if going lithium
Before you buy, make sure your car can tow it comfortably and budget on extra maintenance for things such as tyres and suspension and personally I would have the intervals on any servicing costs
But the main thing, go and visit dealers, get a feel for what layout works for you, you may find it’s not what you set out with in mind.
We went with a swift basecamp2, it does everything we want. We are looking at others now but would still stay with a 2 berth, all we want is a slightly larger bathroom.
We purchased brand new having never had a van before and paid 19k for it, at the moment the same van is now 25k new, because of that our losses haven’t been as bad as they could have been.
Budget £1000 a year to store, insure, service it when you buy all of the bits to go with it budget another £2000, but you can always go used for awnings but batteries cost if going lithium
Before you buy, make sure your car can tow it comfortably and budget on extra maintenance for things such as tyres and suspension and personally I would have the intervals on any servicing costs
But the main thing, go and visit dealers, get a feel for what layout works for you, you may find it’s not what you set out with in mind.
We went with a swift basecamp2, it does everything we want. We are looking at others now but would still stay with a 2 berth, all we want is a slightly larger bathroom.
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