but a friend used to buy for the summer hol and sell in september
Wow! expensive hols!
I doubt we would ever buy new (cars as well)- too much money to lose - I have better things to do with our hard earned cash for it to go down the swannie! (life time supply of handbags maybe?!!)
We bought our first van last August and Abbey GTS 2007 and so far its the right van for us with and with out the kids so hopefully we shall be keeping it for a long time.
We tend to trade ours in before the manufacturers warranty runs out . Having previously bought an eight year old van privately & then later found damp & ending up spending over a grand to repair it we now opt to buy new rather than suffer the heart-ache again . Most modern vans now have 5 year guarrantee's against water ingress which gives me some peace of mind . I have had a new van that had damp in it at 9 months old but it was exchanged by the dealer
We returned to caravanning in 1998, bought a new van with 5 year warranty, intending to change it after 5 years, but in fact we kept it 9 1/2 years as it was a very good van. We sold it privately and got a good discount on our present van.
We only changed it after we retired as we wanted a fixed bed, big fridge, Alde heating, and air con as we now go away for 3-4 months at a time.
We tend to keep our cars for ages too if they are good. The one our present car replaced we had for 14 years.
We're working our way up! So the tent lasted a year, the Dandy a year, the Esterel a year and 'Agrid? hmm maybe he's lasted a year but I can't tell yet!
We have had two vans, both Swifts and both bought from new. We kept the first one 12 years and the second one is now 8 years old and still going strong so we wont be changing it any time soon.
------------- The Chinster
Some people are just all show. I don't mind that if the show is worth watching, but .....
We've been camping now for 6 years and in that time had three tents, a trailer tent and now a caravan. I do however suspect that we'll keep the caravan longer than our other outfits have lasted as with children at home and growing like string beans, money is tight and caravans are expensive.
We're nearly new buyers too. Just dont think I could stomach the depreciation hit, although I guess if you buy new and then keep it for years it matters not.
First van we bought in 2008 which was a 2005 Swift. Soon realised we had the wrong layout but persevered and used it for that year. The following spring (2009) we traded in for a 2006 van with the right layout. At the moment it is perfect for us so we wont be changing. Not least because she has just had some damp work done under warranty so I know that she's now dry bless her. I think our next one will maybe be near year as my son will be 15/16 then and I doubt he'll want to come with us (he's making noises now about it being 'uncool' etc). Quite what Im going to do with him when we're away Im not sure. Do they do kennels for teenagers? Now there's a business opportunity for someone!
Anyway, maybe in 12 months there will be some of this years new Swifts or Orions back on the market, and Ill feel I got a bargain!
We bought our first van ,a 4 berth, new for £5000 in 1990 and sold it last year for £1500 so not a bad investment over 20 years. Bought a new small 2 berth van last year and intend to keep it for a similar length of time!
I agree with Tentz, many decisions seem to be driven by what people can afford. In our case, financially a new caravan would be no problem, but we would never buy one. We tend to get one two or three years old.
We have had our current caravan for five years, and it will stay with us until the first discovery of damp at the annual service. Anything else can be fixed.
We will then get another one, maybe about three years old once again. It does everything we need, and I can't see a reason for a new one.
I've had 8 new caravans in the last 24 years, circumstances change as the years go on and different sizes and layouts are required. Now we ralley without the kids and we have the largest van we have ever had, but we do spend more time in it.
Bought a 1997 Crown Regent in 2006 and changed it for a 2004 Sterling Elite Searcher in Nov 2009. We had 4 great seasons with the Crown Regent but as we store the van on a site we wanted something bigger. It never gave us any trouble at all.
I agree with tentz, it is a lot to do with disposable cash.
We camped for many years then had a 1993 swift yo try out caravanning and loved it. Unfortunately the van was rotten so we swapped for a 2004 Bailey ranger in 2009. We still compare this to tenting and for us feel that we have real luxury which is all paid for and we are able to use it regularly. Like many people, we go window shopping and would fancy a new caravan and could just about afford one, but when we think of paying an extra £7000 or more, what more are we getting? Maybe nicer upholstery an extra vent and nicer coloured cupboards, but in real terms "for us" we are still grateful for the luxury we have over camping and would rather spend the extra money on more trips and days out etc. If we had a lot more cash then we would probably feel different but until this one wears out or the kids get much bigger it suits us just fine. ( also, since 2009 similar vans do not seem to gave dropped in value, eBay prices anyway, there must be good demand still )