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12-16-2012, 09:20 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 49
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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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12-16-2012, 09:52 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 57
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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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12-16-2012, 10:29 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Currently: working on the road
Posts: 770
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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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2014 Mobile Suite Estates 38RSB - custom home
2014 F450 KR CC 4x4 ...... his office
2015 Lance 1172 - traveling Motel (solar and generator)
Working Fulltimers since 3/2005
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12-21-2012, 10:10 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 14
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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
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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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2017 F-350 DRW King Ranch
2022 DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4
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12-22-2012, 09:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Retired Okie now in Colorado
Posts: 532
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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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Terry and Jo
2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3 #5332 - 2008 Ford F450
Terry's Smugmug Site
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12-23-2012, 09:28 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
Posts: 2,838
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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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2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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01-02-2013, 06:16 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 14
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All very interesting.
Does anyone know if DRV has stepped up their quality control??
George
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01-02-2013, 10:15 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by George D
All very interesting.
Does anyone know if DRV has stepped up their quality control??
George
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Won't happen as long as people are willing to continue to toss them money for substandard construction.
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Mike Nancy and the fuzzies
Fulltiming since June 2004
Volvo 660 MH tow vehicle
2005 MS 38RL
2007 Saturn Ion "toad"
2010 Gold Wing "piggyback"
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