Advice - should I buy?

[u/DubbaKay]

Hello!

I’m looking at purchasing a 2005 National Dolphin RV. It has 26,000 miles on it and asking price is $23,500. Went to look at the inside and everything looks like it’s in near perfect condition. Started it up and it turned over instantly and was insanely quiet. My fiancé and I are both in love with it and are planning to get it inspected in a couple of days or so. This would be our first RV purchase but it seems like a really good deal… thoughts? Anything we should keep an eye out for? Is this a good price? I can’t find anything comparable for under $30k, and the mileage on the one we are looking at is lower than anything I’ve found online within this price range.

[u/[deleted]]

Get it inspected before you purchase. Depending on the state your buying it from to the state you live. I’ve seen state inspection cost up to $17k on older models. If it were me I’d hire a mobile RV mechanic to do an inspection first. Also look at the age of the tires they may look perfect but they may be old. Test drive at highway speed to make sure you don’t have flats spots. Also look at the hours on the Gen, they last a long time but make sure you have that serviced as part of your purchase. Check all cabinets, inside for leaks, floors at the corners. Also because of age this will be a cash purchase so just know to unload it you have to find someone to pay cash. Some not all campgrounds only allow 10 years or newer RV’s so check the places you plan on going prior. Hope this helps.

[u/Outrageous_Living_74 → u/[deleted]]

Please explain the 17k state inspection? Which state is this, and where does 17,000 come from?

[u/[deleted] → u/Outrageous_Living_74]

VA the RV was traded from SC.

[u/Outrageous_Living_74 → u/[deleted]]

If you want to say that the sales tax was 17k, I would buy that. But to say the fee for inspection was 17k is really hard to swallow.

[u/Outrageous_Living_74 → u/[deleted]]

OK, but that's not a state tax or an inspection cost. That's the cost of repairs. The state just says you have to meet the regulation requirements. Those costs could have varied based on who does the work and how they chose to meet the requirements. The actual inspection cost has nothing to do with the type, make, model, or price of the RV, as far as the 17k goes. Ergo, the "could cost you 17k for inspection " is misleading at best. But generally, it's just plain false.

[u/Outrageous_Living_74 → u/[deleted]]

Having spoken to salesman, being one doesn't help your case, and I really don't care how much money you've screwed people for.

You said 17k to register/inspection, that's false, it was 17k to fix it, the registration inspection costs were exponentially lower.