Caravan

CHOOSING outandaboutlive.co.uk 26 BUYING YOUR FIRST CARAVAN Buying used or new −the pros and cons BUYING USED THE PROS ✔ More caravan for your money ✔ Wider choice of layouts ✔ Greater choice of brands and dealers ✔ Often have aftermarket extras fitted Buying used means you can get more caravan for your money and you also get a greater choice of layouts as many are no longer available in new ranges. Many nearly new caravans are in sparkling condition, almost indistinguishable from the day they left the factory, yet are significantly cheaper than a new equivalent. Just like with new cars, new caravans depreciate quicker the newer they are – and then depreciation slows. Which means, if you buy used, your investment in leisure retains more of its value for longer. If you're buying your first caravan, you may be unsure of all of your requirements and how well a particular layout will suit you, until you begin to use it. If you later decide that a different layout would suit you better, it’s a less costly mistake if you have bought used, simply because of the depreciation. You can trade in your first purchase and choose another used caravan without breaking the bank. Although it’s better not to make a layout mistake at all, it does happen and some people do part-exchange their first caravan quickly for one with a different layout. THE CONS ✖ No, or limited, warranty cover ✖ The layout might be right but the interior may not be to your taste ✖ Someone has used the toilet, slept in the bed and used the cooking facilities ✖ May require more maintenance ✖ Dated look and equipment When buying a used caravan, you may have to compromise on your ideal fabric colour or furniture finish to get a model at the right price with the right layout. Used caravans typically come with a shorter warranty (three months to three years) compared to new caravans. With used models, make sure the documents match the vehicle and that the caravan is free from finance. Buying from a dealer in this respect is less risky than buying privately, and you get the warranty cover that is absent from private sales. You should always have a full damp check carried out as well as a habitation service and safety check. The National Caravan Council (NCC) operates a series of schemes to help – find out more here thencc.org.uk There’s a caravan out there for you, whatever your budget! Just like buying a car, there are advantages and disadvantages to buying new and secondhand. There is far more to this decision than simply how much money you want to spend. Warranties are one factor, depreciation is another. And there are many more…