Why is the resale value of Class A's so low compared to Class C's?

[Bucket Boy]

-A 2002-2004 isnt cheap they are worth about 8-12K.<br />-They get good milage because they are light(5K empty) AND because they use a little 2.7L diesel. But to get 28-30mpg you must drive 55-60 MPH with out stop and go,&nbsp;etc,&nbsp;etc.&nbsp;

 

[Guest]

The Sprinter van, at one point or another, is and was a cargo, or passenger, van marketed by Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and International. It uses a thrifty&nbsp;European&nbsp;diesel engine to get such a high mpg rating, and is considered possibly the best (though fairly expensive up front) full size van on the market right now.&nbsp;<br /><br />There are older generation models in England that have more then 500k miles on them without even a rebuild. Just oil and fuel pretty much.

 

[Bucket Boy]

Just a word of&nbsp;caution, I wouldn't own one if I wasnt a mechanic. The drivetrain is rock solid for 300-400K. BUT little things happen all the time that take a couple hours to fix or make a little piece better that hasn't cost me more then $10. <br />If you cant fix it your looking at $1,000 at the dealership to fix it. It's kind of like owning a plane in Alaska(or a Jeep). I wouldnt trade it for any other rig but if your not a mechanicly inclined, stay away. &nbsp;

 

[Salida Scarlett]

Ya, well, I'm a woman and definitely not a mechanic so that lets me out. Happy for you tho. But I know God loves me too and he don't play no favorites so I bet I'll eventually come across just the right thing. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />Scarlett

 

[Bucket Boy]

Yep- Anything with a chevy motor in it will work. Every drunk here and Mexico can work on it for CHEAP.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[howardsells2000]

Armadillo, how did you figure $3500.00 a year. Im new at this and unless.the motor or transmission blew I cant imagine that much, especially every year.

 

[Guest]

Armadillo, how did you figure $3500.00 a year. Im new at this and unless.the motor or transmission blew I cant imagine that much, especially every year.

<br /><br />It's more then just an engine and transmission. There are holding tanks, hoses, electrical wiring, circuits, fuses, PVC piping, windows, generators, fans, air conditioners, awnings, caulking, roofing, framing, counters, carpet, dry wall, sockets, outlets...<br /><br />We are talking about a lot of stuff that can go wrong, because it's basically a creaky house on wheels. There is a pretty high upkeep and most people forget it, which is why they fall apart so fast when someone buys one to use as a home.&nbsp;<br /><br />The exterior caulking alone is often times listed as a twice a year item on the big RVs. Bouncing down the road has a&nbsp;tendency&nbsp;to find the weak points in anything.

 

[StarEcho]

I have a 27' Class C (2007 Ford) which is nice but it's too much for me. &nbsp;I don't have a problem driving it or anything....but I don't LIKE driving it if you know what I mean. &nbsp;It's just too dang big. &nbsp;I do like the room though! &nbsp;LOL &nbsp;Gas mileage is abysmal...the best I can do is 10mpg if going flat or downhill most of the way and only going 60mph. &nbsp;If going uphill or more than 60mph, then all bets are off and I've gotten as low as 7mpg. &nbsp;Ouch. &nbsp;And I make it a practice to get gas BEFORE I hit half a tank...not for any "thinking ahead" scenarios but simply because gas is so expensive and if I leave it too late, I end up having to swipe the dang debit card twice because it cuts off at $75 or $100 depending on the station! &nbsp;LOLOL &nbsp;Double ouch...<br /><br />Re maintenance...the other posters have nailed it...We have had ours for about 1 1/2 years and had to get a new tire, reseal the roof (no problems, just routine maintenance), re-do the caulking (again just maintenance), fix a gas line leak, a new fridge hose, a new awning (hail damage) -- insurance paid for the awning, except for the $250 deductible and the fact that my rv mechanic charges more than they would pay, so that's on me. &nbsp;Others in town would do it for the insurance quote....next year! &nbsp;ok, maybe not next year, but only when they got around to it...months from now. &nbsp;So because I'd rather get it done right the first time and also in a timely manner, I'm going to pay $750 out of pocket to get the awning fixed...and the part that has me gnashing my teeth is that I hardly ever use the dang thing! &nbsp;It's pretty much too windy all the time. &nbsp;But I gotta pay and keep it up if I ever hope to sell it for anything close to what I owe the bank! (and the insurance company reminds me that I need to protect the "owner's" investment...meaning the bank to them) We also spent a pretty penny to get an inverter/charger put in and new batteries which we changed to AGMs since I didn't want to deal with having to remember to check them. &nbsp;The charger that was stock with the RV was really cheap and took forever to charge the batteries. &nbsp;The new charger is great and the monitor is priceless in knowing how much power I have left and what is drawing power. &nbsp;The inverter lets me use all the many 110 plugs in the rv off the battery whereas before we had to be plugged into power to use the plugs... I'd have thought an inverter would be a no brainer type of thing that ANY rv would have, but apparently they don't really expect you to boondock and the batteries of most RVs start out only being used to work the lights. &nbsp;Then there are the little things that add up...those little "improvements" that you might think are important and another might not. &nbsp;Backup monitor? &nbsp;Vent covers? &nbsp;Sewer vent cover? &nbsp;TV tie downs, Sewer hoses, Sewer flushing kit, fresh water hoses, extension cords, water pressure monitor, surge protector...the list goes on and on....<br /><br />So it is a money pit in a lot of respects. &nbsp;You just need to know that and plan for it. &nbsp;I'd say the $3500 is a reasonable guestimate of maintenance costs per year. &nbsp;Seriously.<br /><br />A few weeks ago I looked at a Class B - Pleasureway Excel - awesome vehicle...front seats turn around..both of them and a table between them...bench seat in the back turns to a queen bed. &nbsp;Permanent bathroom/shower...by permanent I mean, no blocking the hallway to use like a roadtrek. &nbsp;Anyway, I sat in the drivers seat and I could see out the back window! &nbsp;It just felt right. &nbsp;So I know what vehicle I'm getting whenever I can get out from underneath the class C we have. &nbsp;Hopefully next spring when people are looking for RVs...I figure I'll winterize it and use it during the winter anyway. I can probably get at least 3 or 4 more weekends in the mountains before it snows.&nbsp;<br /><br />One thing you need to consider, especially if thinking of using your rv/van/whatever to live in... With a larger RV, you need to either tow a vehicle behind you or you're stuck driving a large vehicle around town just to get from point A to B to get groceries or whatnot. &nbsp;Not the most convenient. &nbsp;If you're doing it yourself, YOU have to be the one to hook/unhook any tow vehicle. &nbsp;And the tow vehicle route adds an extra expense...you either have to have the right car already that you can tow with all four wheels down (basically a manual transmission or a certain few automatics) or you have to have a tow dolly and those are not cheap! &nbsp;I just looked for myself and I couldn't justify spending that extra money. Even with all four wheels down you need a tow bar and stabilizer and braking system...so the tow vehicle route is another investment you need to make if you decide you need that.<br /><br />I just finished a 10 day trip around NM to attend a "star party" or conference for astronomy geeks. &nbsp;It was nice, but not geared for me and my situation...by myself with no tow vehicle. &nbsp;I had to drag that big monstrosity (and I say that with the utmost love) everywhere, down little tiny small town streets, and up narrow mountain roads. &nbsp;Talk about conspicuous! &nbsp;I felt like I should have been leading the circus..LOLOL &nbsp;Eh, it was what it was and I still enjoyed myself, but I swear I'm not doing anything like that again with a big vehicle like that. &nbsp;It's going to be a Class B or I'll drive my little minivan and give up and stay in a motel much as I'd hate that.<br /><br />If I remember correctly, the OP was asking why the Class As were selling for much less than the class Cs? &nbsp;I don't see that at all actually. &nbsp;They seem to be pretty even around here. &nbsp;Anything smaller is going for a premium price whereas the larger class A's and Class C's you can get for really good prices...well below book...Which tells me people are trying to get out from underneath the gas guzzlers and either forgo the RV or downsize to a class B that will get a more reasonable gas mileage. Heck, I'm right there with them! &nbsp;I'm only PRAYING that I can sell mine for enough to pay the loan off. No way I can trade it in. &nbsp;The dealers won't pay anything CLOSE to what we owe, which wasn't really surprising to me, but it's very inconvenient for me to have to try to sell it myself. &lt;stamps foot&gt; &nbsp;LOL<br /><br />Scarlett, If you can possibly find one at a dealers I'd go and "window shop" (just don't tell THEM that!) and look at some Class B's and C's and A's and sit in the drivers seats try to imagine yourself in them. &nbsp;It might help give you and idea of whether you can live with a smaller, more gas efficient vehicle or whether you might need to go the trailer route to get the size you need/want and still get half way decent gas mileage. &nbsp;Or you might decide that the larger Class C or A is worth it for the roominess and ability for more storage.

 

[Salida Scarlett]

Oh my! Thank you, StarEcho, for being brutally and truthfully honest. This is NOT what one would get at a dealers. Frankly, I am already "downsizing" my idea of buying a Class A, partially for the reasons you mentioned, plus a bunch of others I've accumulated in my research. <br /><br />One biggy....the bigger it is, the more there will to go wrong and have to fix. The more to fix, the more monetary outlay. Oh, I wish my old Chevy Greenbriar was rigged out. I would make it do, until I had some experience under my belt. It's starting to look like I should start at the lower end and then work my way up if I want to. Instead of buying a humongous RV too big for my britches....or bank acct. which is already stretched to the limit. &gt;sigh&gt;<br /><br />The Class B I had back in the day was cumbersome enough to drive. I'm glad you mentioned that aspect of the <em>joys of RV ownership. It reminds me of what one guy said about buying his boat, that the day he bought it w</em>as <em>the happiest day of his life, and the day he sold it was the second most happy day.</em> <br />I hope it doesn't come to that type of scenario. <br /><br />Good luck to you in re-cooping your money or at least not getting skinned alive. <br /><br />Cheers, <br /><br />Scarlett

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; I have fulltimed in everything available, starting in 1972 with a Ford E100 six cyl, 3spd stick. Never in any year have I spent $300 a month on upkeep, which is what $3500 a year amounts to. One thing to keep in mind as to miles. Five digit odometers were the norm until the late 80's early 90's. An odo could have turned over and still show 30,000&nbsp;miles. A good mechanic check will always be the best dollars you ever spend. Some folks can live in smaller spaces than others, can enjoy an RV park etc. The key is you!<br />Gas mileage is relative, depends if you are motoring everyday or every six months. Park it and get a bike or tow a small econo vehicle. Plans have a way of changing, plan on it.

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Not trying to upset here, but the bigger it is more to go wrong isn't realistic. A class C has, often the exact same components that a class A contains. That is same amenities, frig, heater,ac,hot water tank etc. You might even be surprised that the running gear is often the same. What is differen't is the size, but the cost to maintain isn't all that differen't until you get into pushers, triple axles etc. Not trying to inflame just hoping to help. Michael

 

[Salida Scarlett]

<br /><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Owl, you give me hope to hold onto my dream! I'm not going to make any fast moves, but some of this maintenance stuff</span> sounds over my head. Maybe not after I get into this a bit, just saying, as a lady, and an older one at that, new at this game, it sounds more complicated by far and more of a challenge than I'd expected. But, that's why I'm asking questions and researching, so there won't be any surprises. <br /><br />StarEcho, I peeked at the Pleasure Ways...ggorgeous rigs. Who wouldn't love to cruise the hiways and byways in an outfit like that?? Drool city. But from $60,000 to $100,000 that's way out of my league. More power to you if that's what you want to trade out for and can swing it. <br /><br />Let us know how it goes,<br /><br />Scarlett

 

[StarEcho]

Hi Scarlett, I've pretty much given up on the idea of a pleasureway, although if one happens to fall in my lap I won't cry. &nbsp;They are just too few and far between for the more reasonably priced units (read older) and as you say there's no way I'm paying $60,000 or more....maybe less than $30,000...maybe....but after reading more and more here, I think I'm just inclined to go more with a high top conversion van to start...an older one...less than $5000...and go from there.<br /><br />Re the maintenance costs owl...yeah, I can imagine that if one knows how to fix up things on their own, then they can save a considerable amount of money. &nbsp;When you pay someone else to diagnose and fix things for you then you are pretty much at their mercy as far as what you pay. &nbsp;I have done my research though and I do know that if you want to keep up an RV, you should re-calk and re-seal your rubber roof each year. &nbsp;When I was looking for an RV, I did see a bunch that looked like their owner spent less than $300 per year on upkeep. &nbsp;That does show over time. &nbsp;I wouldn't buy one like that and I know that I won't be able to sell this one unless I do the upkeep, which means spending at least $2,000 per year. &nbsp;Or at least budgeting for $2,000 per year and if it ends up being less so much the better. &nbsp;Now if your RV (A, B, or C) is older and you plan to be the last owner, then you don't have to worry about upkeep costs to keep resell price up. &nbsp;You can just save maybe $100 per month for incidental costs like tire blowouts and leaks and such.<br /><br />Now my whole introduction into RVs was because I'm an amateur astronomer and most of the places that you'd be able to see any decent number of stars are far away from cities...so I started with my little (and that's a relative term since my daughter refuses to drive my BIG minivan) Windstar and took the back seats out of it and set up a bed and blacked out the windows with fleece covered poster board that I velcroed over the windows...both for insulation (it gets COLD in the mountains at night) and to black out light because astronomers are pretty fussy about light sources when they are trying to look through telescopes or image. &nbsp;Got a little mini luggable loo and 5 day coolers and whatnot and while I couldn't and would never have full timed in it, it served well for overnights and weekends in the mountains where I would set up a little ezup canopy next to the sliding door. &nbsp;Used a catalytic propane heater, made myself a pressurized shower set up. &nbsp;All just fine for me. &nbsp;But then I made a mistake and thought my husband would want to participate and he being the sweetheart he is tried to, but he wanted satellite football games and a full stand up shower and a real fridge, etc, etc, etc and hence we got the class C. &nbsp;And he has gone with me around 10 times since we got it! &nbsp;LOLOL &nbsp;So finally got him to admit that he has no desire to go stargazing with me and he has no problems with me going on my own. &nbsp;So there you have it. &nbsp;While I may not be an expert in full timing in a van, I spend a lot of my summer and a small amount of the winter in an RV and I've had to pay for upkeep myself -- admittedly on a newer RV. And after 30 years&nbsp;marriage&nbsp;learned that there is still room for improvement in communications! &nbsp;LOLOL<br /><br />The cool thing is that I do know that I'd love living in a small space. &nbsp;I do feel more secure and happy with everything pretty much at hands reach. &nbsp;I've also figured out that I would be just as happy in a hi-top conversion van if I can possibly swing it. &nbsp;It would be, I think, just the right size for me....bigger than a Windstar but smaller than the Class C. &nbsp;Able to set up a shower if I want, stand up to change, etc. &nbsp;I could start with coolers and move up to a DC fridge...get some AGM batteries and solar panel &amp; charger...and the best thing is I could keep all my many telescopes and imaging&nbsp;paraphernalia&nbsp;all in the van for everyday and if it's a nice night I can just pack some food and take off. &nbsp;<br /><br />