We had the luxury of being retired and picking up our tt from the least expensive source. We saved about $5000 picking up the trailer down the street from the factory in Middlebury and it cost us about $1300 to travel back East to pick it up (gas, camping, food, entertainment).
Our 29bhs Gs Jay Flight cost us $16,900 with all options short of the grill and foil siding. The least expensive local to us (within the Southwest) would have been $21,900 (plus taxes/fees/etc). Keep in mind the MSRP anywhere for that same rv would have been $24,472. We used the $16,9 as a negotiating point. We bought through a Calif dealer at the negotiated price as long as we could take delivery in Indiana. We have the ability of being able to use our “local” dealer for warranty issues, which through horror stories online, I can say is a plus.
As for best price…. Some use different ways to figure it…
1) Go to NADA.com figure out what the unit will cost if you sold it tomorrow *used*. If the dealer can come within the “high book” range for a new rv, than you are doing well.
2) –Comparison- if with a new car, if you can buy it at 21% + off MSRP (which is below dealer invoice!) this would be the same as if you bought the new car for the current “private party” high book. You would be getting the best opportunity.
-RV if you can buy the new rv at 30% + off MSRP you are doing well….. Basically if you could sell that same unit for ‘high book’ –private party- “tomorrow” (not including fees or taxes).
As for how to figure the above percentage…… Take the MSRP (for us it was $24,472), subtract what you pay and for us this was $16,900 (this does not include the taxes/fees). For us this is $7,572. Then divide the difference you will pay from the MSRP. Ie: 7,572 divided by 24,472 = 31%.
Anyhow, hopes this helps…… Hmmmm this looks like it could actually be its own “thread”… how to buy an rv and save $$$ !!!!
BTW the closer to Indiana that you can purchase your Jayco, the less it may cost due to astronomical fees for transportation!