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We've just been to a local dealer (North Western Caravans in Cheadle) to buy some bits and, as you do, decided to have a look around the vans he had for sale.

We've seen a lovely 2005 Sterling Vitesse 5 Berth up at £8500.

Only problem is, he'd only give us £2800 for our 1999 Elddis Firestorm 500/5 - we paid £5000 for it back in February.

Am I right in thinking that if we sold ours privately we'd probably get a better price?  Where would be best to advrtise it - Ebay, Caravanfinder?

Does anyone have any experience/opinions with Sterlings?  Are they good?  Is the price he's asking a fair one (seems cheap?)

He's said if we put £1000 deposit down he'll keep the van for us til we've sold ours & if paying cash we can have it for £8250.

Decisions, decisions...

Do you need it?

Can you afford it?

What is wrong with yours that can't wait a bit longer?

Wait till winter and go back and offer him tupence hape penny and a shiling

Look on all the selling sites and see what the two vans are selling for.

Is it realy worth losing so much money?

Do you still want it?

Sorry to be blunt

Niall

Niall - the voice of reason eh? Lol

No, we don't need it.  Yes, we can afford it & being the kind of people where money burns big holes in our pockets we were kind of thinking do it while we have the money as we can't trust ourselves to still have it if we wait.

Having said that, we don't need to jump at the 1st van we see.  We just want to upgrade whilst we have the money & get something that will last us longer - the one we've seen today is 6 years younger than our Elddis.

We were originally thinking we'd wait til Nov/Dec to buy a newer van then store both the new one & the old one over the winter & sell the old one next spring.  It'd cost us £200 to store an extra van for 6 mths but we thought we'd gain more on the price we get by waiting.  Just didn't expect to see such a lovely van at a good price just yet!

So much like me i dont have pockets anymore she has sewn them up and took all my money off me before the shops do:)

Buying a new van in winter is a top idea a friend a got a very good deal last november on a new van and if it is a bailey there could even be an 8 week wait before delivery thus saving even more money.

The dealers may even offer you a good deal on your PX  (go on a tuesday always a slow day)

The van place near me in Radcliffe likes giving vans away. ( JR )

Almost jumped at a new Dethleffs van earlier this year, my van is old and was starting to see better days. The money was really burning a hole but the voice of reason said no. Spent a little tarting up the old van and now looks a million dollars. Have fitted new stereo, gas point outside, repaired the delam floor, fixed the windows etc etc. Was offered £2k for it before as a trade in. Have seen similar on dealer forecourts for £3500 - £4000, we are now planning to keep it for another year. See how the burning is going next year.

we bought a new to us van in april and the dealer offered £300 for our 1992 abbey. he was quite up front with us and told us we would get more on ebay. we put it on and coulnt believe the amount of interest in it......bidding started within minutes. it went for £1800.  i was back there yesterday to get a few odds and ends and was talking to one of the maintenence guys and he said they were actually running out of stock, such was the demand for caravans.

i would try to sell your van privately, either through the classifieds or ebay (cash only!), but in the current climate i wouldnt expect too much discount from the dealer even with a cash sale.

go on, buy it ..... you know you want to!!

regards,

simon.

Can't do anything for a few days as we're away in the van this weekend.  It'll give us time to cool off & think it thru properly instead of being impulsive & jumping in feet 1st like we usually do!

Thanks for all your opinions - definately some food for thought...

If you do decide to buy then as well as the £250 knocked off get as many extra's thrown in as you can.  If you ask they will include them.  Will your old awning fit the new van?  If not get that included in the price.

Last year we fell in love with the Bailey Ranger 540/6 and nearly bought it but as we didn't have the money then i resisted temptation.  Saw the GT60 version this year and was so glad we didn't buy last year because it is so much better.   We went to a dealer an hours drive away because he had the 540/6 on show and he was offering a starter pack which included awning, water barrels, groundsheet and other stuff.  We didn't have the money then so couldn't buy just yet.  A dealer 30 mins drive away had the GT60 version in stock so went to have a look there and asked if he would include the starter pack and he said he would.  When it came to ordering we went to our local dealer and even though he doesn't offer a starter pack dh asked for one plus some more extra's. 

Moral of the story - ask

hth

I would def recommend selling private, we had been looking for a 4 berth, and really loved a dealers special version of the Sterling Europa. They were going to offer us 4900 for our 2004 Swift Charisma 2 berth with no movement on their van. Price was holding us back as top end of budget.

We chanced it and listed ours on a classified ad on ebay at 5k for 12.99 for 30 days and we had an offer the following day and it was collected that weekend.

We then went back to the dealer 100.00 up already and we were given a further 700.00 off their van, so basically 800.00 better off in our pocket. Now awaiting delivery date for the new van.....its worth a go.