Has anyone got any tips on buying a new van from the International Caravan and Motorhome Show 2007 at the NEC. I am taking the plunge and ordering a new van and wonered if anyone has any tips on what bargains / lead time I can expect.
Really excited
Jan
------------- Having a Party, based near Cheshire, book us for your free function photography - check website www.partytimephotos.co.uk
Jan & Jamie
Do you know exactly which 'van you want? We knew what layout we wanted, and were pretty sure on the actual 'van, when we went to a big show to buy ours (actually at Earls Court, but NEC would be the same!). But to be sure, we spent a few very enjoyable hours wandering round the various manufacturers' stands checking out their models, armed with a pile of 'tick lists' we had made - we listed our 'must have', 'would be nice', and 'waste of space' features and created a check-list which we filled in for each 'van we looked at. We then retreated for a coffee and looked over the lists to narrow our search down to just 2 or 3 'vans to go and look at again. After all that, we ended up with the 'van we thought was going to be our favourite, but when you're spending that much money, you can't be too careful!
Show deals tend to be 'extras packs' thrown in for little or no extra cost (like alloy wheels, wheel locks, better TV/radio aeriels, alarm systems, etc), dealer specials and other 'freebies' like TVs. Swot up on the 'usual' price of the models you like so that you can see what you are getting at the show.
Word of warning - the stands are actually run by various dealers, so try to get one that is a reasonable travelling distance from home - remember that any warranty work is done at your supplying dealer. Think carefully about whether the extra £300 off, or free flat-screen TV, is worth the treck to Dorset (or wherever) if your 'van needs a warranty repair!
It's worth noting that should a problem develop with a Bailey caravan, you don't have to take it back to the supplying dealer. I don't know about other manufacturers policies.
Regarding lead times, we ordered a Bailey Pageant Bretagne a few weeks ago which will be built in week 48. I suspect that most caravans ordered at the show would be built in the new year.
(Hopefully 'Bessie' will edit the post above, to get rid of the very long link which is streeetching the thread out wide!!!)
It is standard practice for the manufacturers to invite reps from dealerships up and down the country to all man the stand together. Check that you are talking to reps from dealers in your own geography. Because of this, the price list that they all work off is pretty 'fixed' so to get a good deal you should work hard on trade-in pricing and optional extras that you might want - such as a motor mover for example.
The geography can be very important, because although in theory you can get your van serviced elsewhere, in practice almost all dealerships prioritise customers who have bought from them and it can be nigh impossible to obtain service and warranty work if you haven't bought from them.
If you can get more than one dealership in your area to quote you for the same van, get them to write down their quotes on paper - then you can show them to the opposition to play them off against eachother a little
Present yourself well and possibly take along some photos of any van you have to trade-in - especially if you can demonstrate that it is in above average condition. We bought a van last year and the dealer later said he was confident our van would be in a well looked after state from our own appearance!
I have heard of dealers who have later ducked out of the trade-in price agreed at a show, once they have actually inspected the trade-in van (often on the day that the new one is due to be collected) - so be very wary of this.
Make sure you go around the dealers getting different price trade-in values for your van, we ordered ours at the show in Feb. Were offered 4 different prices abvout trading in for the same van! One dealer offered us £250, one offered us £850, one offered £1000 and the fourth offered £2000, (Guess which one we chose?)
We also got loads of free extras on top, upgraded fabric, Gas point, Outside electric point, Extra light in gas locker and Microwave all thrown in for free. Do research before you go, then when you see one you like, go back at different times throughout the day to make sure its the right one for you.Don't let them pressure you into something your unsure of and tell the other dealers what you have been offered, We live in the midlands, ordered van from Blackpool and we can still take it anywhere for servicing/warranty work!
Good luck!
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
I agree with what John says - get it in writing. When we bought our van - we negotiated on waste and water barrel, battery. "Yes - we can supply that " doesn't mean "We'll throw that in for free". It means he has an accessory shop that'll give you 10% off if you're lucky. If we hadn't been waiting for 3 months for delivery and getting more excited all the time - we would have walked. As I'm not in the business of cutting my nose off to spite my face I took his 10% and used it. Added over £150 to the price of the van and left a sour taste on the deal. Never went back again though - used a more local dealer for the servicing.
We always wait until the end of the year and then buy the previous year's model thus saving more than you ever would at the NEC plus having all the hassles.
We brought ours direct from a showroom in March this year at a good discount. We were on holiday in May and a man came over to us asking us when we'd got ours as he was still waiting for his to come. He'd ordered it in October at the NEC for full price and was still waiting. He wasn't very happy!
So if you can hold your nerve, wait till spring and hit the dealers to see if you can get a good deal.
Can one buy tickets for the NEC show on line and in advance? What time does the show open on Saturday and Sunday as that is the only time we can go unless it is open to late in the evening?
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Buying New Van at NEC Show - Any Tips?
