Would you buy a Motorhome without seeing it ?

[Googlebot]

I don't think they want you to buy without seeing it. They have been getting excellent results from their own marketing and virtual exhibitions that they feel they don't need to spend all that money on a show. You can see good representations of the vans online before you visit their premises. Hymer are doing the same. Many of the big dealers are also binning the showground. .

In the days when the only way to see motorhomes was the exchange and mart or adverts in MMM, the show was king. There was a waiting list for traders to get places at shows. As for campers, they couldn't fit them all in, and when they did some were so far away from the showground they needed busses to get them in. Times change, makers do not need to be exhibiting as much. This is why you are much more likely to buy a candle or some garden furniture at a show these days rather than a motorhome. The trade are finding out that they can build an audience without the show.

I used to do casual work for a Canoe shop who had a small stand at the NEC for the show, the costs for 2m by 2m stand were eye watering and that was before we even got the stock there and staffed it.

You had to sell a lot of stuff to cover the costs, then there were the people who demanded discounts as in, all of them! The Boss can’t have broke even, he never did it again after that year.

 

[Downsie]

I bought my Wildax Pulsar last year without seeing it first and love it. I had sufficient experience to know the layout would work for me but the most important factor was the opinions and support there was on here. Other owners were incredibly helpful. So ask for opinions on here re the model you are considering? Wouldn’t do it for a second hand one though!

 

[SpeedyDux]

No, I wouldn't buy a MH without first seeing it in the flesh. An online walk-through isn't enough.

The biggest leap of faith for me was buying a MH (ordered at the NEC, having viewed the same model on the stand) without test driving one first. I had no idea what the Ducato X290 would be like to drive, especially with the optional ComfortMatic automated manual gearbox.

In the past I have crossed various cars off my list after a test drive. Let's face it - there are some cars that are much nicer to drive than others. Mercs and Beemers can be disappointing. Jeeps - urrgh, no thanks. And so on.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

No.

 

[LesW]

We found that when looking at various vans we needed to 'try on' the different ones we looked at.

So we would just sit around inside the vehicle for a while as if we were away, go in the toilet/shower (but not use them of course ) and just get a feel of the space.

I couldn't imagine buying 'blind'..

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[joe and sue]

Sadly that's the way buying everything is going, in a few years won't have to go out for anything,
(or won't be allowed out without a permit !!)
Social media / mobile phones to converse with people
And they call this progress.
Personally i prefer going out, browsing, meeting people, etc
Joe

 

[Clipgate]

I believe we heading for quite a different retail world, I have bought sight unseen from people I knew, probably not from an unknown source.
However for the next generation it may become a norm to buy online.
Working hours are getting longer, rising interest rates potentially, may cause great disposable time constraints.
Add in online shopping becoming the norm.
In addition making a judgement about build quality may become a challenge, as many now do not have a practical skill base to work from.
Yes I can see it moving in that direction.

 

[Tony50]

I think in some ways you are right , I also think , ( it might take a year or two, ) people who are not dedicated Motorhomes, might fly off to warmer climes, sell their Motorhomes, forecourts will be full of bargains, discounts will come back, some companies will wish they never expanded ,and jobs will go, luckily in Suffolk we now have a Freeport, massive import free tariff businesses are springing , downside for us houses are popping up everywhere , as we will need workers

 

[MartinandBev]

You’re braver than me if you do!

As for CAZOO, they have somewhere between 40 - 50% of their cars returned to them within 7 days.

Iv bought a bike from the beach in St Lucia

 

[Yorick]

You’re braver than me if you do!

As for CAZOO, they have somewhere between 40 - 50% of their cars returned to them within 7 days.

Free hire car

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[Rob Turner]

I would if it was the right spec, obviously new not s/h.

Never road tested either, if there was something wrong it’d be under warranty.

 

[Tony50]

I have been on the Swift website looking at new Motorhomes probably me, but, I think walking through a minefield may be easier than researching different models, has anybody tried looking at their website ? .

 

[Tonks68]

I have been on the Swift website looking at new Motorhomes probably me, but, I think walking through a minefield may be easier than researching different models, has anybody tried looking at their website ? .

Yeah I have. Not great and not enough pics of the specific model

 

[Barclaybasher]

I hate buying vehicles but 4 years ago I saw a Mobilvetta A class on Ebay £16,500 'Buy it Now', hit the button because I knew it would sell straight away to a local buyer - I was 200 miles away, paid £500 deposit straight away and a further £5k before seeing it - why ?
I read the sellers description (sounded genuine), checked the MOT history, HPI checked. Picked the van up a week later, smiling all the way home.

This year I fancied a Saab 9-3 convertible as a 2nd car, drove 60 miles to see it. Was asked if I wanted a test drive - no - just show me the power hood works. Paid in full for the car and £90 for delivery - fabulous car! drives like new.

I have only ever bought 2 brand new vehicles (1971 and 1984) and have never seen the sense since then to buy new.

Someone has to though otherwise I couldn't own my 2003 Jag V8 S-type, 2001 Mobilvetta A class, 1991 Eriba 545 or 2006 Saab - all on the road taxed and insured, all with less than 100k miles and cost in total less than £27k...............

Please keep buying new for us tight wads............

 

[suavecarve]

I hate buying vehicles but 4 years ago I saw a Mobilvetta A class on Ebay £16,500 'Buy it Now', hit the button because I knew it would sell straight away to a local buyer - I was 200 miles away, paid £500 deposit straight away and a further £5k before seeing it - why ?
I read the sellers description (sounded genuine), checked the MOT history, HPI checked. Picked the van up a week later, smiling all the way home.

This year I fancied a Saab 9-3 convertible as a 2nd car, drove 60 miles to see it. Was asked if I wanted a test drive - no - just show me the power hood works. Paid in full for the car and £90 for delivery - fabulous car! drives like new.

I have only ever bought 2 brand new vehicles (1971 and 1984) and have never seen the sense since then to buy new.

Someone has to though otherwise I couldn't own my 2003 Jag V8 S-type, 2001 Mobilvetta A class, 1991 Eriba 545 or 2006 Saab - all on the road taxed and insured, all with less than 100k miles and cost in total less than £27k...............

Please keep buying new for us tight wads............

12 years ago, when they did the £2,000 scrappage deal, we didnt see the brand new motor we wanted to buy. I put £500 deposit down on the phone and paid the other £4,000 when we picked up our Hyundai i10 (in red cos I wasnt paying for enhanced colour) which is still on the drive and our only car.
I see loads of red Hyundai i10s on a 59 plate still running around and I always think the owner is a TFG
I reckon that is good value for money and the wife wants it upgraded. No chance, theres a good few years left in her yet.

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[Snowflakes]

No, some purchases need visiting prior to payment, in this day and age its a brave person that parts with monies without having a little play with what they may be paying many 10s of thousands for.
That is if they are not buying from the hands of scammers, or like so many businesses nowadays closing down.

 

[bobnick]

Never bought without seeing but have bought bikes and cars many times without test riding or driving.

 

[eddie]

I have ordered many motorhomes from dealers over the years from brochures and never had issues.

Try having a boat built! Stage payment, with the final payment made to the factory before it’s launched and sailed from France for delivery

 

[Gromett]

IF and ONLY IF, it was from a manufacturer direct and I was familiar with the model.

Under the distance selling regulations a company has to accept a return with no reason given for 14 days. (Don't order any custom stuff).

So you can get the van delivered, check it out and if it is not up to snuff then you can return it...

This is actually better than than buying in person in some respects as there is no cooling off period if you buy in person as far as I am aware.

Online and distance selling

Rules for online and distance selling for businesses

www.gov.uk

 

[MR. FUSION]

no certainly not secondhand
When I used to buy older second hand vehicles in my younger mechanicing days, I often thought I must be on a different planet to some sellers.
Examples include:
FSH = service history a box of unidentifiable receipts
1st to see will buy= 100's have seen it & not bought it
Looked after regardless of cost= cost of looking after looks like £100
Good runner= you need to be to be able to bump start it regularly
Owner/driver = lost the V5
Tidy but needs some TLC = total wreck
Spares or repairs = everything worn out
Cherished vehicle, reluctant sale = major expensive fault, getting shot of it.
Careful older lady driver= never got out of 2nd gear.

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[KiwiKampers]

Initially I was going to say “no”, I wouldn’t buy a motorhome without seeing it, but then I remembered that I bought one of my favourite and most reliable vans from British Car Auctions who only gave potential buyers 10-15 minutes (if you were lucky) to view vehicles before bidding began. There were about a dozen burly dealers all scrambling inside the motorhome while others lifted the bonnet to check the engine. I took my chances and bid for it. It was a gamble that paid off.
I’m looking forward to doing it again in a few years time when all these motorhomes bought on HP are snatched back by the finance companies and put through the auctions.

 

[maison]

It wouldn’t bother me that I could only see a video initially as I would do as I have done several times already. Carry out extensive research on line, watching Manufacture’s and Dealer’s videos on-line, drawing up a “preferred list” then visiting Dealers to see those ones in the flesh/metal/glass fibre etc.

 

[KimSteve]

I understand Swift is not having a Stand at the Nec. in February 2022, instead I understand they are having a Online Virtual Event for Motorhomes , we would not buy a Motorhome this way , how on earth can you see the design / build quality , even looking down to seeing access to services etc.
What do others Members think ?

No, I want to see, put hands on what my money is buying. But that's me

 

[Linus]

Well, I did in 2020. Still very happy with it. Was it risky? No doubt about it. Life is a risk in itself....

 

[Skitt]

I sold my inos caravan for £42000 last year and the man who bought it did not come to view it and paid someone to pick it up

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[VXman]

We would never buy a vehicle without sitting in it and driving it

I agree with experiencing one, especially if you haven't experiences that particularly marque before. As for driving though. - We never test drove our brand new MH. Couldn't see the point. Its a Fiat Ducato, what on earth would I learn from driving it. It's a van!