Are new vans a good idea?

[Barclaybasher]

Apart from the cost my sons van (1991 Eribacar) - was mine - and my own van 2001 Mobilvetta there seems to be little advance. Both vans have Truma blown air heating, showers, Thetford toilets, fridges, cookers. No complicated electronics, no adblu, no limp modes and both are better built than current offerings. So why buy new?

 

[Landy Andy]

Most people don't do anything to their cars except get an oil change maybe once per year. Cars often get to 5 years old before they need preventative maintenance done. Look at the huge number of 15 old cars driving round.

Far more posts of warning lights, no gears, limp home, warranty required, . Not that many older vehicles breaking down on their travels. They have their issues but tend to be able to get them sorted far easier.

 

[Old Gibber]

Far more posts of warning lights, no gears, limp home, warranty required, . Not that many older vehicles breaking down on their travels. They have their issues but tend to be able to get them sorted far easier.

Maybe its just that people with older vehicles are not surprised when they break down and don't comment on it.

 

[TheMachMan]

My new PVC has appreciated 40% in just 18 months. Where else can you get interest rates to match that?

Which is fine if you intend selling up and not buying another. However we would struggle to justify buying ours at todays price.

 

[Guigsy]

Maybe its just that people with older vehicles are not surprised when they break down and don't comment on it.

People don't know how to fix their vehicles anymore because they need to do so very rarely.

It's the same as computers, things are orders of magnitude more complex than Windows95, but your computer doesn't need to be rebooted twice daily and completely reinstalled every year because reliability has improved even faster.

Except for printers. They're still trash.

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[Kups]

My new PVC has appreciated 40% in just 18 months. Where else can you get interest rates to match that?

Ours has too but of course you need to sell it to get the money and then....

 

[The Wino]

I'm just thinking if it's the same with cars. They were simpler to repair in the past although if they had serious tinworm it usually was terminal. Not as fuel efficient though and if you did need to guarantee to get somewhere not on average as reliable or comfortable as a new car today. The old ones though do have a certain charm!

 

[TheMachMan]

Surely older coach built vans bodywork and water tightness deteriorate overnight? My brother‘s old van is always needing a damp fix somewhere.

 

[nicholsong]

Surely older coach built vans bodywork and water tightness deteriorate overnight? My brother‘s old van is always needing a damp fix somewhere.

Maybe so but bonded aluminium sandwich on A Class does not.

Just have to look after seals.

 

[the1andonly]

These are unusual times in terms of second hand values increasing faster than depreciation add in the environment bull and relability youve got a difficult decision. For me 5 years ago buying new was a no brainer get a euro 6 and keep for the 10 to 15yrs i may be able to drive. The price differential didnt move as quick as i expected but new prices have also moved. It was the fisrt vehicle id bought new cant imagine any/ many more. The cost of unreliability (twinegr ducato) even at £10k is more than offset by increase in value, now just part of cost of ownership. The question euro6 or not is a different bag of fish

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[herald_400rl]

Ours is older and I suppose the mechanics are easier to maintain but everything else is affected by age rather than use/mileage as that has been limited. Rust as mentioned is a concern as that can end up a constant chase.

Would I like a new motrohome... Well yeah of course, am I willing to spend 80k (even if i could afford it) to get a 6th gear and a quieter drive... no. Ours "does" everything I would expect, it's just the thought in the back of your mind that a fridge is 1.2k, heater 2k, lithium upgrade and solar another 1k, etc.

 

[mikebeaches]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with 'used' vans, or any other vehicle for that matter.

In the case of cars, I've always plumped for nearly-new.

But for a motorhome I do prefer the idea of new (out of 3 vans owned, only the first was 'used', the other two were purchased new)

However, I have to admit the current price of new vans is eye-watering!

 

[herald_400rl]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with 'used' vans, or any other vehicle for that matter.

In the case of cars, I've always plumped for nearly-new.

But for a motorhome I do prefer the idea of new (out of 3 vans owned, only the first was 'used', the other two were purchased new)

However, I have to admit the current price of new vans is absolutely eye-watering!

Our car is 4 years old, 3 months out of warranty it needed a new cylinder head, 10k. Luckily they covered cost as a known fault. Other than that (design/manufacturing flaws) I think with new you are less likely to have issues than old as stuff is... newer.

 

[Barclaybasher]

There are big differences between new cars and new motorhomes - mileage

Modern vehicles are full of electronics - cars don't 'sit around' - most motorhomes do

Check the mileages on vehicles for sale - cars - many 5 year old cars over 150k - regularly used and serviced

5 year old motorhomes are likely to range from 5 - 30k (a very few exceptions over)

Older motorhomes are more reliable because there is less to go wrong if left unused..........

 

[Old Gibber]

Which is fine if you intend selling up and not buying another. However we would struggle to justify buying ours at todays price.

Its fine if you are buying another van too, which people will eventually have to do. Your last sentence clearly justifies that approach.