surveyorjp
Missouri
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chuckster11 wrote:When it comes to buying a luxury item for you and your family, it is important to that you be comfortable with the purchase.
If you have reservations there is probably a legitimate reason. It has been my experience that following a conservative path in obtaining "toys" has stood me in good stead over the years.
I would not let general platitudes about "good time to buy" and "enjoying life while you can" put me in a position where a good buy actually made my life and the enjoyment of the toy a miserable experience.
There will always opportunities for the smart shopper and for the near and far future, I suspect, the fuel costs alone will leave a full market of fine used RVs available for the buyer.
Assuming you have a good track record as a consumer of big ticket items--pay attention to the caution signs that are popping up.
I have to agree with this.
If you are uncertain, then don't let others judge you for wanting to be conservative with your finances. Sure there are good deals to be had, but only you will know when you are ready. There is nothing wrong with being careful and waiting until you feel comfortable with a large purchase such as an RV. Also, if you can, I highly suggest rather than financing a new RV, finding a nice used one and paying cash. Nothing wrong with that at all.
Good luck to you!
2005 Surveyor SV-291 Tows smooth as silk!
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smkettner
Southern California
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If you believe the media we have been in a perpetual recession for 20+ years.
If you look at the actual statistics the economy is doing just fine.
People keep saying the next depression is coming but I cannot believe 20%+ unemployment and soup lines are just around the corner. If anything there is a labor shortage in this country and it is just getting tighter. Get the RV and have some fun away from the newpapers and television. The only thing to fear is fear itself.
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Mr Gone
Ma.
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There is a theory of relativity that relates to the economy, and I base this on the last two downturn cycles, and the fact that our commercial and industrial construction as well as the Development Company are going to have the best years ever. @ 60+ million, should do 90+ next year. And I watch existing buildings go vacant, while new construction in some of the most impacted industries increases, just look at all the new Car Dealerships being built, esp Toyota.
The Theory is : The Rich get Richer, The Poor get Poorer, and those in between get the chance to become one or the other. Everything is relative to where you begin, because if you have too much or too little, no matter what happens you stay in the same place.
If you are secure, and you can afford and WANT the RV, buy it and enjoy.
Chances you most likely won't, I work with a guy that seems to resemble you, he has been buying an airplane for the last 10 years, and yes he believes he is " Ready to Pull the Trigger ", everyday.
Good Luck.
" I want the smallest coffin possible, because I ain't taking anything with me. "
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RVing Al
California
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Joined: 06/25/2008
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Greetings Benntexas,
The decision not to buy is yours. I am not sure from your posting if you were interested in buying a new or used RV or wherher you were planning to finance your purchase or pay cash. Either way you have to make the decision based on your own personal situation.
I would like to echo what a lot of folks have already said here. Now is an excellent time to buy a new or used RV. There are two reasons that now is a good time. The first is because the economy is on shaky ground and RVs are not selling. This has forced both RV Dealers and private RV sellers to reduce the prices on both New and Used RVs.
If you were planning to make a cash purchase of an RV, you would get even a better deal.
The second reason is because winter is fast approaching and the sales of RVs drop dramatically during the winter months, so if you are planning on selling an RV now is the time to do it. The closer we get to the colder months the lower the prices will go.
I, like most people have no control over what is going to happen with the US economy. I only have control of my personal economic situation.
Some people classify an RV as a luxury, I have never looked at it as a luxury, I have looked at owning an RV as a lifestyle choice. I bought my first RV when I was 23 years old, I am now in my late 50s and still own an RV. The types of RVs that I have owned over the years have changed with my personal financial situation.
Has all the money I have spent over the years for RVs and the other costs of the RVing lifestyle been worth it? The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Even if I had spent twice what I have already spent on RVing it would have still been worth it.
The memories that our family have of our RVing adventures are worth every dollar we paid to have them. You cannot put a price on life-experiences. We plan to continue these adventures regardless of what happens to the US economy.
We all have a limited amount of time to experience life, nature and beauty. A bad economy is not going to make our family stop enjoying life to the best of our ability. When I am on my death bed I do not want to be going over all the things I woulda, coulda, shoulda done during my life. When I am on my death bed, I am going to be remembering all the great things I got to do.
This is not meant to sway your decision, it is only meant to provide you food for thought.
Good Luck and Happy RVing (once you finally get one)
RVing Al
"Your knowledge is an asset that should be shared with others, so pay it forward"
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dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
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smkettner wrote:If you look at the actual statistics the economy is doing just fine.
What?!!!! where have you been hiding for the last year or so. the economy has been in a consistent nose dive for awhile now!
As far as waiting to buy if you have the money. why? if you have the money to do it now is the time to buy. once the economy recovers the prices of RV`s will rise and you`ll be kicking yourself for not buying sooner. also, what if something happens to you during your "wait" time and you can`t RV now even if you wanted too.
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Vulcaneer
Northern New England
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I agree with your position to hold your decision. Things will shake out fairly soon. Then you can have better idea as to what you should do. And when that happens, if you decide to buy, you will always be able to find something that fits your situation.
Once the economy shows it is going in the right direction, there will be a window of opportunity, before RV, and housing prices fully recover.
I do have confidence the current problems will be resolved, one way or the other. And the markets will come back. But for now, it may be best to hold for awhile.
As typical of my luck, I am due to retire on Oct 1. My nest egg has reduced so it is now projected I will exhaust my funds, about 14 years before anticipated about 6 months ago. And living costs due to inflated fuel costs, groceries, and health care, have increased my needs for 401K withdrawals. But I cannot reverse my decision to retire.
So I am betting that within the next 15 years the recovery will, rebuild my accounts, so I can regenerate the extended cash needs. If I am wrong, I will sell a bunch of hard assets and get a job.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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I won't say whether or not you should buy now or wait. I will say this. I've been looking at ways to cut our monthly expenses - got rid of the housekeeper (i'm disabled but am "making do" cleaning what I can when I can), replaced broken blinds so now I can close them and keep the heat out which keeps the air conditioner off, using ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner, quit the gym/physical therapy (for disability - i've learned enough to do it at home on my own)...stuff like that. All these little monthly expenses do add up. However, I REFUSE to allow the economy dictate my vacations! Where else can 4 of us go for a weekend for less than $100.00? Not a hotel anywhere that's for sure. Even if we camp local (1 1/2 hours away) at $20.00 a night, plus the gas to get there is still WAY cheaper than anything else we could do! Food costs are kind of negated as we'd be eating at home anyway and I cook the same food that same weekend anyway.
I saved and waited 16 years to get my TT and camp with my family. NO WAY am I going to let a group of greedy bankers, the "sky is falling" media hype and some idiot gov't officials take that away from me....from us. Some of the simpler things in life are worth more - like a weekend playing games, talking, campfires and just being a family.
If $$$ is the issue, TONS of good used RV's out there that have already taken the hit of depreciation. There is a middle ground. You don't HAVE to buy the PERFECT RV right now. Find something cheaper that will do the job and camp. then follow your plan in a couple of years and buy the new one when things level out. Best of both worlds IMO.
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Gdlow
Meridian Idaho
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Vulcaneer wrote:I agree with your position to hold your decision. Things will shake out fairly soon. Then you can have better idea as to what you should do. And when that happens, if you decide to buy, you will always be able to find something that fits your situation.
Once the economy shows it is going in the right direction, there will be a window of opportunity, before RV, and housing prices fully recover.
I do have confidence the current problems will be resolved, one way or the other. And the markets will come back. But for now, it may be best to hold for awhile.
As typical of my luck, I am due to retire on Oct 1. My nest egg has reduced so it is now projected I will exhaust my funds, about 14 years before anticipated about 6 months ago. And living costs due to inflated fuel costs, groceries, and health care, have increased my needs for 401K withdrawals. But I cannot reverse my decision to retire.
So I am betting that within the next 15 years the recovery will, rebuild my accounts, so I can regenerate the extended cash needs. If I am wrong, I will sell a bunch of hard assets and get a job.
I concur with the position to carefully evaluate a persons own situation...I also agree that the economy will recover at some point...There are such things in life as needs, and such things as wants...I am not sure how a person can equate a housing market rebound with a RV market rebound..I would venture a "guess" that the housing market rebound will take place before an RV rebound and that the buyer market in RV's will remain for quite sometime...There are lots of things to do to enjoy life that can be done a lot cheaper than RV'ing, and be just as much fun...Having a good life and retirement doesn't necessitate an RV or any toy for that matter...
Good luck in whatever you decide...
Gary And Cathy
'05 Dolphin 5342
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smkettner
Southern California
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dodge guy wrote:smkettner wrote:If you look at the actual statistics the economy is doing just fine.
What?!!!! where have you been hiding for the last year or so. the economy has been in a consistent nose dive for awhile now!
Look at real GDP growth and you will have to go back to 1990 to find two consecutive quarters of negative numbers.
http://www.data360.org/dsg.aspx?Data_Set_Group_Id=354
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itsalleasy
USA
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Joined: 07/20/2007
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smkettner wrote:Look at real GDP growth and you will have to go back to 1990 to find two consecutive quarters of negative numbers.
How you can look at GDP but ignore bank failures, consumer mortgage defaults and bankruptcies, consumer debt, the real estate and the housing industry, the auto industry, unemployment up .4% in August and 1.4% over the last year, and conclude the country is doing fine????
To Benntexas, you have to do what is right for you, not buy just because someone tells you it is a deal. I have seen rvs called a lifestyle, hobby. To me it is neither, it is a convenient way to travel. I understand your reluctance to invest a large chunk of change at this time if you aren't positive it is the right thing to do.
I don't think you will enjoy the 'experience' if you wonder if you made the right decision and sacrificed your future for the short term. And FWIW I don't think this is going to be a rapid recovery, there will be plenty of great deals on slightly used from people who decide the cost of ownership is too great for the return.
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