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Old 12-16-2012, 09:20 AM   #1
dalehandsome
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New 2014 Model Year

Up to 2009, I believe that DRV model years pretty much followed the calendar year. We purchased our unit in December of 2009 and picked it up March of 2010 and it was a 2010. However, In April or May of 2010 they started delivering 2011 units which I think was the start of the new model year trend of producing units that appeared to be newer than they actually were. Now magically, you can order a DRV in November or December of 2012 and three months later receive a 2014. WOW! what happened to 2013. I’m sure that this is a marketing scheme to help boost the bottom line of DRV and its dealers but I wonder what it does to the value of the units of 6000+ owners whose units just aged 1+ additional year in terms of model years. Our 2010 is not yet 3 years old, however, in model years, it is now over 4 years old. Probably not a good thing when it comes to depreciation!! I also find it fascinating that on the DRV web site they still show a 2012 brochure. Not only has this move prematurely aged our units it has also aged their web site. Just decided to do a little ranting this morning. Life goes on and is still beautiful. The silver lining is that my DRV is aging faster than I am.
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Old 12-16-2012, 09:52 AM   #2
Mike2338
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Dale,

I completely agree with our evaluation on the impact to the perceived age of our units. Mine is a 2011.

This change by DRV is the same as in the automotive industry. The law allows the manufacturer to sell the product under a model year as long as it is not more than one calendar from manufacture. I.e. as long as it it built in 2013 you can market it as a 2014. If it is built in December of 2012, it can be sold as a 2012 or 2013.

When I was working in automotive we would review this timing and make the decision based on the competitive conditions. There are pros and cons to selecting the timing of model year changeover.

M
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Old 12-16-2012, 10:29 AM   #3
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Normally, after the 4th of July holiday, DRV would retool the factory while production was slow. Then all of the upcoming years models, would have changes. But in July of 2008, we went to the factory and saw new some major changes. But a few weeks later at a dealer, we saw some 2009 units with the old carpet or countertops. So am sure the options were not available when some of those early ones were built.

Maybe they finally realized that they need to have the new models finishes consistant.

The website has always been slow to update. We've been following Suites since the fall of 2005 and went to an RV Show in Jan 2006 & discovered they had other models besides the Mobile Suite.
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Old 12-21-2012, 10:10 PM   #4
travlingman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike2338
Dale,

I completely agree with our evaluation on the impact to the perceived age of our units. Mine is a 2011.

This change by DRV is the same as in the automotive industry. The law allows the manufacturer to sell the product under a model year as long as it is not more than one calendar from manufacture. I.e. as long as it it built in 2013 you can market it as a 2014. If it is built in December of 2012, it can be sold as a 2012 or 2013.

When I was working in automotive we would review this timing and make the decision based on the competitive conditions. There are pros and cons to selecting the timing of model year changeover.

M
I guess DRV is breaking the law because the 2014's are on the dealers lot and it is 2012. Here is a dealer that has 12's, 13's and 14's. http://www.americachoicerv.com/inven...FromGrid=clear
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Old 12-22-2012, 09:22 AM   #5
terry and jo
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Well, it wouldn't just be DRV breaking the law if that was the case. When I first heard about the new ones being 2014's, I asked Alicia at Rolling Retreats about it.

In our conversation, she informed me that a lot of manufacturers were showing 2014 models at the Louisville show.

Terry
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Old 12-23-2012, 09:28 AM   #6
wingnut60
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Taking a wild guess--federal law probably doesn't affect trailers as seriously as it does the auto industry.
I would also be interested in just where the year designation is mentioned in the federal law--I would not know how to find it myself.
Joe
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Old 01-02-2013, 06:16 AM   #7
George D
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All very interesting.

Does anyone know if DRV has stepped up their quality control??

George
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Old 01-02-2013, 10:15 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by George D
All very interesting.

Does anyone know if DRV has stepped up their quality control??

George
Won't happen as long as people are willing to continue to toss them money for substandard construction.
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