Bobetpine
Active member
Hi all,
We're 2 ladies in our fifties, soon retired. We've been dreaming about buying an RV when we retire.
The plan is to travel across America from November to April.
We spent 3 weeks in a rented VW Westfalia in California a few years ago and although we had fun, we discovered that it was way to small to our taste, contrary to what we expected.
No so long ago we went with friends for a weekend in their Winnebago View (23 feet I think). We loved it.
We began looking at 24 feet motorhomes.
The Leisure Vans Unity is our dream.
But at 150 000+$, that's out of reach. So we're looking for a used van.
Here in Quebec, Canada, we can find a used (8 years old or so) motorhome like a Winnebago View for 50k (USD).
On the other hand, for example (lets say that all other things being equal) a 15 years Winnebago Vista sells for 20k.
When I look at the difference in price tag, I can't help but think that you have to be really unlucky to have to spend 30k in repairs if we choose the older one.
Am I wrong?
Does it make sense to buy the cheaper one? My reasoning is that we'll be retired so we should not be in a hurry, If something goes wrong with the van, we settle in town for a few days until it's fixed.
Is that a bad idea? We're not mechanics and we know nothing (yet) about motorhomes.
Of course, especially for an older van, it would be mandatory to have it professionally inspected before buying.
I guess the older models are tougher on gas but with a price tag 30k lower, we could explore America quite a bit before "being under," right?
Something else.
Winnebagos are expensive.
Some RVs seem less expensive. I guess it has to do with the engine not being a Mercedes?
When buying used is it better to buy a Mercedes vs a Ford engine, even if it's a lot more expensive? Does it makes sense, money wise? Is it especially true if you buy a really old VR (like 15 years +)?
I was also concerned that it could be much more difficult to find spare parts for a Mercedes than for an american made engine in the middle of nowhere.
Sorry if this post seems confused. It's because we are!
Thanks for any tip.
Pascale
We're 2 ladies in our fifties, soon retired. We've been dreaming about buying an RV when we retire.
The plan is to travel across America from November to April.
We spent 3 weeks in a rented VW Westfalia in California a few years ago and although we had fun, we discovered that it was way to small to our taste, contrary to what we expected.
No so long ago we went with friends for a weekend in their Winnebago View (23 feet I think). We loved it.
We began looking at 24 feet motorhomes.
The Leisure Vans Unity is our dream.
But at 150 000+$, that's out of reach. So we're looking for a used van.
Here in Quebec, Canada, we can find a used (8 years old or so) motorhome like a Winnebago View for 50k (USD).
On the other hand, for example (lets say that all other things being equal) a 15 years Winnebago Vista sells for 20k.
When I look at the difference in price tag, I can't help but think that you have to be really unlucky to have to spend 30k in repairs if we choose the older one.
Am I wrong?
Does it make sense to buy the cheaper one? My reasoning is that we'll be retired so we should not be in a hurry, If something goes wrong with the van, we settle in town for a few days until it's fixed.
Is that a bad idea? We're not mechanics and we know nothing (yet) about motorhomes.
Of course, especially for an older van, it would be mandatory to have it professionally inspected before buying.
I guess the older models are tougher on gas but with a price tag 30k lower, we could explore America quite a bit before "being under," right?
Something else.
Winnebagos are expensive.
Some RVs seem less expensive. I guess it has to do with the engine not being a Mercedes?
When buying used is it better to buy a Mercedes vs a Ford engine, even if it's a lot more expensive? Does it makes sense, money wise? Is it especially true if you buy a really old VR (like 15 years +)?
I was also concerned that it could be much more difficult to find spare parts for a Mercedes than for an american made engine in the middle of nowhere.
Sorry if this post seems confused. It's because we are!
Thanks for any tip.
Pascale