In the way some people might put their own name into google, at Emm-Bee motorhomes we sometimes put motorhome into Google to see what the results show us.
One result that pops up is ‘why are motorhomes so expensive’, clearly a lot of people are asking that very question.
As one of the Uk’s leading motorhome dealers, we are in a great position to answer that question and also to fight motorhomes’ corner – to explain why they are great value for money even if they do often have a sizeable price tag.
Before we answer why motorhomes cost a fair bit, we need to look at how much they actually cost.
We wrote a blog post on this recently, so you can head this way for more information.
While you can find motorhomes on eBay for £5,000 to £10,000, they are likely to be vehicles that perhaps might not be in peak condition. Typically, you need to be getting closer to £20,000 to be buying a used motorhome which is in great condition and ready to go on holiday.
At the time of writing, and just as an example, we have a 2005 Chausson, four-berth motorhome for just over £20,000 with only 33,000 miles on the clock. It has parking cameras, swivel seats and air conditioning. It’s a great vehicle and it’s almost certainly been taken by the time you read this!
As you go up in price, you can get higher spec, newer vehicles and few miles on the clock. For a brand new, top of the range model from a top brand you can be looking at a six-figure price tag.
The range, therefore, is from around £20,000 for a vehicle that will be great for family holidays up to – the sky’s the limit.
Perhaps you could ask this for anything – why does a car cost so much, why are houses so expensive?
If a new motorhome costs £50,000 (as an example), what goes towards this cost?
You are getting a truly superb engine, an engine designed to take the weight of the motorhome, yet deliver performance and reliability.
You are getting a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom area (or two). On top of that there’s a lounge area, complete perhaps with entertainment equipment (and don’t forget all the appliances in the kitchen, or the space-saving design).
You are getting a high level of finish. This isn’t just a mode of transport, it is a holiday residence and so it has to look great and also be built to last.
There are also driver aids – parking cameras as standard on most makes and models nowadays, also swivel cabin chairs, perhaps cruise control.
If a car typically costs £15,000 and upwards, it is very easy to see why motorhomes have the price tags they do. They have everything a car has (and better versions of those things) and then a whole lot more besides.
When you look at second hand motorhomes, if a used motorhome might cost £25,000 then this seems great value – typically the mileage won’t be huge and if the vehicle has been well looked after it will still have many decades of potential holidays in it.
We believe motorhomes are good value for money and certainly justify their price tag. That is not to say they are affordable to all, but it does mean the prices are more than fair.
What might be of more interest to any prospective owner is that motorhomes can be a great long term investment.
Using a motorhome leads to cheaper holidays, often much cheaper, and also cheaper weekends away and city breaks. Going somewhere is cheaper when you have a motorhome and can use it in place of hotels – and ferry crossings are a lot cheaper than flights too.
On holiday, the fact you have a superb kitchen means meals are far cheaper – and you can choose your own setting, perhaps complete with amazing view, rather than being stuck two metres from others in a restaurant.
With a motorhome you can also be impulsive and take a lot more holidays and breaks. Have a Bank Holiday weekend with nothing planned? If you have a motorhome you can just decide to head off somewhere and have a great break. If you don’t, you still can head off, but good luck finding a decent hotel at a price that doesn’t require a second mortgage.
A final tip – motorhomes can be rented out when not in use, there are even sites that help out with the whole process, matching owners with those looking to rent a vehicle for a week or two.
Are motorhomes guaranteed to save you money in the long run? Of course not, but, if you use it regularly and in place of other holidays (for instance, going on motorhome summer holidays rather than a package holiday), then they can be a superb long-term investment.
Then, after maybe 10 years of great holidays, you still have an asset that can be traded in or sold, as well as all those memories.
To go back to the start
Why are motorhomes so expensive? If they are expensive, it is because you get so much for your money. They’re not expensive though, they might not be cheap, but they are money well spent – just so long as it you can afford the initial expense and also that you plan on using the motorhome a lot.
About Emm-Bee Motorhomes
Emm-Bee is a leading UK family-run motorhome dealership based in Bury, Greater Manchester.
As well as stocking the latest models from leading makes such as Burstner, Chausson, Bailey and Laika, we also have an unrivalled stock of used motorhomes for sale.
We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and offering unmatched levels of service – we have been in business for 25 years and have flourished on word-of-mouth recommendations.
Please have a look round the site to check our range of used motorhomes and do get in touch with any queries, or just to pick our brains.
