Almost bought a 171

We (wife and I) came really close yesterday to buying a 2009 R-Pod 171. We went to a dealer to do some walk-throughs of a 178 and 179. We found out they had a 171 that was in as a trade in. Turns out that we really liked the storage in the 171 and could sacrifice the few more square feet in the 177 for the storage in the 171.

The salesperson said it was a recent trade and it was $6800 so we were pretty close to go for it. We made a trip to a Starbucks to talk it through and decided to go for it. We drove back to the dealer and the salesperson met us at the door saying she had bad news: the price was a "filler" in their system and the real price was $9999.

My question in long form: I suspect that the $6800 number was really what they paid for it and it just hadn't made it into the system. They were doing the usual dealer checklist and they said it generally takes 3-4 hours to do that. So my guess is that they are into the unit for $7300 (figuring $130 an hour since that's what they said they charge).

What would be a fair counter offer knowing that it is 5 years old, has peeling graphics, and we have been given offers for $12,500 for new units with full warranty (one year) and no inherited issues? Our thought was to offer $8700 and hope to get it around $9300.

Thoughts?

I don't know your financial situation, but I would buy the new one for whatever you can get the lowest price. It is the year 2014, and that R-Pod may be 6 years old, it certainly isn't worth as much as the dealer is asking for it, and likely the trade was used to get a more expensive travel trailer that they made a larger profit on despite paying the $6800 for the used R-Pod. It works exactly like new cars and trade ins. They will try to get you one way or the other, they have to make a profit.

With the new one, you get a warranty.

   We sold our 2009 171 very good condition for $7,000 about 6 months ago. If you be patient and keep checking the internet you can find some very good buys. Our 2012 Vibe we bought new which sat on the dealers lot for about two years sold for $10,000. Since it was new we have a one year warranty on the trailer and two year warranty on the appliances and awning. Dealers do not like to keep campers a long time on there lot when new models start arriving the old ones have big discounts. We shopped over a year, and if you need travel a long distance it can at times be worth it. The buyer that bought our r-pod arrived from New Jersey we live in S W Florida. 

  We like our Vibe the interior is much larger than the r-pod 171. The interior is 1 1/2 " wider and about 3 1/2 ' longer the V front gives you about 1 1/2 ' extra length. The r-pod with it's sloped back and front does not have the height as the Vibe does in the front and back that gives extra interior room. Besides the extra room it has a full bath the kitchen size is about the same. It has more interior and exterior storage. The negatives would be room for one propane tank, more tongue weight but not a lot. The battery is stored inside I don't know if that is a positive or a negative. The construction there is good and bad, with ours everything I would say was well constructed except the dinette seats I completely rebuilt them and the table. I also replaced the counter top ( I do not like particle board ) I did the same with the r-pod. The walls may be stronger with the Vibe they are vacuum bonded they feel like they are more rigid. It could be the new r-pod walls are vacuum bonded now too. It's more comfortable with the extra room towing its not much different than our r-pod 171. The new r-pods I have looked at construction has changed from our 2009 r-pod. Ours was built with knot free hard woods the new ones I have seen are using white soft woods with knots. The Vibes are built with same wood soft pine with knots. I think anyone buying a camper should inspect the construction under and inside cabinets you might be surprised. I complained to the manufacturer of the Vibe and the production manager told me they were building them better. They did ask for pictures and they agreed the dinette was poorly constructed. I think they are worth looking at I personally prefer a camper without a slide that leaves the Vibe 6501 as my only choice. We have a 6503 which was discontinued, which I was told the floor plan did not sell well. It works well for us I like the long dinette seat on one side its about six feet long I can lay down on it and take a nap like a couch. I hope I answered your questions.