New or 2nd Hand

Main issue to consider is warranty. How much do personally place on the value of having the warranty that you get with a new Jayco?

Having looked seriously at jayco we would not buy one because of the quality control.

it depends on what you want and what you want to pay I guess.

I would expect a 2002 Swan to be at least $4500 cheaper in 2002.

I wish my campers appreciated with age

The 2002 Swan would have cost less than what they are asking now for second hand.
$4,500 is better as full warranty on all appliances and two years on Dometic fridge. Jayco will have in 8 years sorted out problems with better water proof material and other niggles. Resale value on 2010 Swan will be substantially more than a Swan already 8 years old.
A 2010 Jayco is better quality than 2002. Jayco quality in 2002 was not the best.

If you are going to go second hand I would go no older than a 2007 model which is when the shape changed from what you have seen in the 2002 to what the 2010 model is. Jayco's warranty used to be lifetime for the windup system but is now only 12 months so that is not a big issue anymore. They hold their value very well, I have just sold my 2007 Swan and got what we paid for it so although you might pay less than what you would for a new one the seller is usually getting a good deal too if it is well looked after.

i have a 2007 jayco destiny pop top and have had jayco dealers wanting to buy it back for about 5k more than i paid for it new so resale is good ATM. i would buy new not S/H on a swan. if things continue the way they are it will still be worth at least what you paid for it in 3 or so years.