Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Caravan
Caravans Melbourne
Pro: The Price
When compared to current caravan models, the older versions were already much cheaper when bought new. This reduces the prices even further when you buy one of these vans used. Caravans do hold their value better, and for longer, than other second-hand vehicles, but even vans are affected by depreciation, again bringing their prices down further when bought used.
Con: Older Technology
As most people will keep their vans for 4 or 5 years before starting to think about upgrading, finding a fairly recent model as a used caravan is a hard thing to do. Some older caravans are not fitted with equipment, like television connectivity, that comes as standard in newer models as well.
Pro: Reliability
It may sound odd to hear this applied to a used caravan, but quite often these vans are more ‘user-ready’ than a brand new one. In a newer model, it may be necessary for you to tweak a few things before the expiry of the warranty. A used caravan that has been well looked after, on the other hand, is generally in perfect working order.
Con: The History is Hidden
At the same time, you may find yourself getting caught out by breakdowns and equipment failure due to not being able to find out the history of your caravans. If it has had more than one previous owner, it is likely that the records and service log book will be long gone, and you can’t always count on the honesty of a used dealer or seller.
Pro: Availability of Opinions
As the older caravan models have been tried and tested over the years, when buying one used it is very easy to jump online and see what other people have to say about them. Online forums specializing in used caravans are the best way to do this, and you can even ask for feedback on what type of caravan they are.
Con: Wear and Tear
A used caravan, even if the owner has cared for it in the best manner possible, will never look like a new caravan or have the same feel. As there are continuous improvements in the material used to make a caravan, newer vans have much longer lives than used ones.
When compared to current caravan models, the older versions were already much cheaper when bought new. This reduces the prices even further when you buy one of these vans used. Caravans do hold their value better, and for longer, than other second-hand vehicles, but even vans are affected by depreciation, again bringing their prices down further when bought used.
Con: Older Technology
As most people will keep their vans for 4 or 5 years before starting to think about upgrading, finding a fairly recent model as a used caravan is a hard thing to do. Some older caravans are not fitted with equipment, like television connectivity, that comes as standard in newer models as well.
Pro: Reliability
It may sound odd to hear this applied to a used caravan, but quite often these vans are more ‘user-ready’ than a brand new one. In a newer model, it may be necessary for you to tweak a few things before the expiry of the warranty. A used caravan that has been well looked after, on the other hand, is generally in perfect working order.
Con: The History is Hidden
At the same time, you may find yourself getting caught out by breakdowns and equipment failure due to not being able to find out the history of your caravans. If it has had more than one previous owner, it is likely that the records and service log book will be long gone, and you can’t always count on the honesty of a used dealer or seller.
Pro: Availability of Opinions
As the older caravan models have been tried and tested over the years, when buying one used it is very easy to jump online and see what other people have to say about them. Online forums specializing in used caravans are the best way to do this, and you can even ask for feedback on what type of caravan they are.
Con: Wear and Tear
A used caravan, even if the owner has cared for it in the best manner possible, will never look like a new caravan or have the same feel. As there are continuous improvements in the material used to make a caravan, newer vans have much longer lives than used ones.