A husband wants to buy a used motorhome for ¥3m. For a family of four (two adults, a junior high school pupil and a primary school pupil), a two-night trip costs about ¥150,000 in accommodation. If only hotel savings are counted, it would take a very large number of trips to recover the purchase price.
Savings on transport
A motorhome replaces the hotel and also cuts transport costs. A return trip from Tokyo to Nagano by bullet train for four people costs about ¥60,000. By motorhome, fuel and motorway tolls come to about ¥15,000. Counting the ¥45,000 difference, each trip saves about ¥200,000. On that basis, 15 trips would recover the ¥3m. At two trips a year, that takes about 7 to 8 years.
Running costs
Beyond the vehicle price, the owner pays annual car tax, inspection fees and parking. Regular washing and maintenance of the interior also cost money. Before buying, it is worth calculating not only the purchase price but also the ongoing costs.