My mother in law is seriously considering buying one to live in.
She's single, very smart, very handy and capable, and not home very often and living in DC.

I've played with a few early 80's or older models years ago with my father, bought them rough and fixed em up, spent a few good summers on the road with them but the newer stuff is way different.

Thoughts? She's thinking under $200K.
I'm thinking a couple years old with low miles will get a LOT more RV for the money after looking on-line a bit.

I'm not even sure where to start.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

Just sold my Wanderlodge last week. I've owned a number of class A motorhomes. I'd never spend $200k on one. You'd take a huge loss when it came time to sell it. Older Wanderlodge's are super high quality. Vintage Birds has a number on sale. There was a nice diesel pusher for sale in NY a few weeks ago.

It's the second one down on the list. First one was mine.

http://www.vintagebirds.com/

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Have her rent one for a couple of weeks to see if she really likes the notion of living in one year-round.

$200k for an RV? Absurd.

Cost per square-foot is a bargain compared to a Manhattan apartment.

Touche. And no real-estate taxes, I'd assume.

And very little registration tax if you 'live' in Montana. $200k for a new diesel Class A is at the low end of the spectrum. A 9 yr old Prevost is running $470k at Parliament Coach right now.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

What is the depreciation curve like compared to the average automobile?

Very dependent on the make/model.


Also check out older Beavers... Like the Wanderlodge, they are very well built, a are usually very well appointed.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

If you are planning a lot of traveling like an entertainer might, the high end ones are built on rugged commercial chassis for lots of use.

The less expensive ones are built on light truck chassis, less expensive, less durable, less quality all around.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have also heard that if regIstered in South Dakota and have your mail sent to a PO Box there you can take take advantage of some of the lowest tax rates in the country. There are services that collect your mail and forward it to wherever you are staying. You can have it forwarded daily, or let it pile up and then sent whenever you want.

Looking for a used RV is almost as much fun and interesting as looking for a an old MB you'll see similar C/L ads, 20 years old 20k miles, will get 25 mpgs, go a million miles etc. etc.

Beavers, Foretravel, Prevost, Wanderlodge.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

If she'll be living in it full-time make sure it has large tanks-fresh, black and grey water and fuel. A larger hot water tank is a plus also. And if the generator and the central heater use separate fuel sources take that into account.
On the higher end RVs they are probably all cold-weather rated (The ones I'm experienced with have never been that high-end) but make sure it is or there'll be freeze-ups when she gets into the cold stuff.
It's all about comfort, convenience and flexibility. And for one person I would be very tempted to get a shorter one for ease of maneuvering.

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1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

Thanks for the input guys.

It occurred to me that she lives in a cold winter climate, and will be leaving for a week at a time fairly often for work. I need to read up on winterizing and cjlipps mentioned cold-weather rated too.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K