Buying used Interstate, need advice

[weirdstuff]

Thinking of buying a 2013 Interstate extended lounge, with 13,000 miles on it. This would be our first RV and we are clueless about them.

If we buy the same RV new, we will pay about $20,000 more for it.

Owner said the RV is in "Perfect Condition" and is still under all warranties.

We would be flying out of state to pick it up and then driving about 1500 miles home in her.

Feedback...advice....warnings...all comments welcome! Thank you.

[DKB_SATX]

When buying a complex vehicle in that price range, I'd arrange to have at least the major systems checked out by a neutral 3rd party, in this case a Sprinter dealer/authorized service facility. I'd also want to see evidence that the maintenance schedule has been followed since new.

Best of luck!

[Protagonist]

Go for it!

I've had my Interstate for close to two years, and I'm quite pleased with it.

But fair warning, "perfect condition" is a rather vague concept. There will always be things to fix, or modify, or add, or remove. All part of the wondrous process of changing it from an Interstate to your Interstate.

And more fair warning, not all warranties on different items are of the same duration (batteries may only be for one year, for example), and not all warranties are necessarily transferrable. If warranties are a selling point for you, be sure to contact an Airstream dealer and a Sprinter dealer to get the lowdown on warranty transfer.

[c21]

How are you calculating the cost of the brand new unit. Many dealers are willing to deal on these. For example, I purchased mine for around $5,000 over invoice. BTW, the markup on Airstream Interstates is approx 30% unlike many rv's which are closer to 40%.

[weirdstuff]

How do you know what invoice is??

It's a 2013 dealer demo with 1500 miles on it. $118,000. They won't budge from there.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

It's a 2013 dealer demo with 1500 miles on it.

In that case, my advice on warranties just got thrown out the window. Buying a dealer demo, you should get full warranties on everything. I thought at first you were buying secondhand.

But in your original post, you said it had 13,000 miles on it, now it's only 1500 miles? Weird stuff, indeed!

[weirdstuff]

haha...yes...weird stuff!!!!

You read correctly. I'm comparing a new 2013 w/ 1500 miles (from dealer) to a used 2013 w/ 15,000 miles (private seller).

[David M]

Actually, the warranty on a demo usually starts when it goes into service, so you won't have full warranty even on the dealer unit.
David

[c21]

From your post, sounds like the dealer demo is $118,000 and the used unit is ~$98,000. If this is correct, both units are priced very fairly. The used unit should have plenty of warranty remaining which takes away a lot of the risk, if everything is in good shape. To roughly calculate invoice (which dealers are reluctant to share), subtract the delivery cost (around $1,000) from the MSRP then divide the results by 1.3. Add the delivery back in and you will be very close to invoice.

[PSchw]

I looked for as used one too beginning of this year and ended up with a 2013 demo from the dealer only because the dealer was 40 miles form my house.
I would go with the used one gives you $20k more to ad what you want and need.
Peter

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by David M

Actually, the warranty on a demo usually starts when it goes into service, so you won't have full warranty even on the dealer unit.
David

Ours was a year old with 1,000 miles on it when we bought it from the dealer, and our warranty started with purchase.

The gently used one with 13,000 miles on it sounds like a good deal, according to others who know more about such things, but look it over very carefully before putting down your hard-earned $$.

Yeaaaayyy, Interstates!


Maggie

[weirdstuff]

Dealer is 15 minute drive from my house.

Used one is 1500 miles away, private seller.

I'll check into warranty dates on dealer demo.

Need a crack negotiator to help out!!!

[73shark]

FWIW, I gave $90K for a 2011 Interstate w/4K mi in Aug 2011.

[c21]

As far as negotions Weirdstuff, go in on Thursday (last day of the month), offer him a couple thousand under the price he quoted you, if he says no, write your offer down on a business card or piece of paper with your phone number on it then leave. Odds are he will call you. If he takes your offer you will be buying at about 4K over invoice which is a shining deal! Good luck!

[PSchw]

Your Sprinter warranty is on both the same through MB Sprinter. On the coach stuff it could be not too bad and if there is anything wrong you still have warranty on it too and you service is only 15 minutes away.
Driving it back 1500 miles gives you a good idea about all the functions. If you buy form the dealer as I did some stuff did not show up until month later. $20k can get you lots of stuff for your Interstate. A good chance is that the batteries maybe bad from low discharge but you can now research and upgrade with some good stuff.
Good Luck.
Peter

[wayneskid]

FWIW, in 2010 I paid $89,500 total for a brand new 2010 Interstate that had an MSRP of $116,580.

Good luck with your deal!

[UKDUDE]

Also FWIW, I bought mine in April this year and managed to get 18% off the MSRP. And I wasn't expecting it but I ended up with a 2014 model.
So play around with the figures before you make a move.
And good luck!
Peter

[weirdstuff]

Thank you all for your info and advice! This is all great info to know to help us make a decision. And I love the advice on negotiating...name your price, and if they say no, write it down and tell them to call you if they change their minds. Simple and brilliant!

I'll let you know how this turns out.

[Airtandem]

On the used unit that is 1500 miles away, don't forget to add the cost of going to get the unit and the return trip.

[SteSpot]

Also, is the one out of state smogged for CA?