bobmac
West Wareham, MA 02576
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Nice Job Johnny. I wish this was available when I bought my coach earlier this year. It is an excellent reference.
2004 Beaver Patriot Thunder 40'
99 Jeep GCL
Bob, Marcia, Shane & Liam
Shadow the Shelty and Sydney the Shepherd from down under.
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"Do what you love - Love what you do"
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mondessi
Agua Dulce Ca.
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Joined: 12/03/2004
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Pretty much everyon agrees that JT article is a must for even the repeted buyer, however my question is. what is the power plant that I need to move such a large coach (diesel) I see that a lot of manufactures are moving into 7 foot ceilings and 400 hp engines, and what about the chasi, there has got to be at least half dozen choices, what to do.
please help.
Juan & Carmen Gomez
1998 National Tropical 36
2001 Toyota Tundra 6 cyl.
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Bob&AnnaMarie
Southern CA - for now
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Joined: 12/02/2004
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JohnnyT
Fabulous post! I have printed this off and review it often. In retrospect, I have followed your suggestions, although not in order. Your order would have shortened the “adventure”, but heck, the adventure is part of the fun.
The recent price hikes in the 2005 models have moved us from the new to the “experienced” market, since I do believe in your first step. But, I do believe one point we experienced still belongs in the “new buyers” guidebook. That is: Look at a used coach representative of the new one you want to buy new.
Based on several people’s input on this site and others we had a working shortlist even before we went “coach hunting”. Then we happened across 3 2003 models of one of the coaches that was the top of our list. In all three of the coaches we found mid-coach torque damage that was clearly unacceptable to us. The torque damage showed up as shower doors that would not open and close, toilet doors that no longer hit the door stop molding or did not align with the latching mechanism. In one coach the trim on the rear end closet had been ripped loose from twisting in the coach. In another the wood trim had already scuffed some of the wallpaper and was working on digging a hole in the wall. Seeing the same cheap shower stall configuration on the 2005 models at a local RV show, confirmed for us that this coach would be excluded from consideration.
From what I have seen, most manufacturers do not make substantial changes from year to year. So looking at a coach about 2 to 3 years older than the one you want to buy will give you some idea of how your coach might look in 2 years. It certainly had an impact on us even though my wife really likes one of the 2005 models.
Thanks again for your wonderful post. It has helped immensely.
03 Beaver Patriot
14 Honda CRV
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B&B 2 GO
Hampton, VA
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Don & Boots,
I looked for, but didn't see, the answer to your query. It's exactly the question I've been wrestling with -- how the heck do I know when I've found the "real" price?
What'd you find out?
Thanks! Al Smith
Bed and Breakfast 2 Go
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Gotom
North Dakota
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Joined: 12/12/2004
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JohnnyT - Thank you for this article. We have spent almost a month trying to decide if a Class A motor home is right for us. After reading all of the comments regarding heat, maintenance, windshields, ride height, parking, etc., I am leery of my ability to keep up with it all. I built and raced cars in my teenage years and do all the maintenance on 3 boats and 2 snowmobiles now but it seems that there is so much to consider to properly maintain all the equipment on an RV that I'm not sure I want to sign up for it all.
I started the same way you outline in your article trying to decide how we will use it. We want to spend two months in Arizona in the winter and will take trips during the summer throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Could someone please put the maintenance in perspective for me. We own a home in town and another at the lake and it seems to me that this would be a third home to maintain. We'd love traveling with our two dogs and I really like to drive but I don't want the RV to be something we have to worry about constantly.
Thanks to anyone who can help make this decision easier.
Gotom and Nancy
Maizy and Molly (Our two Shih Tzus) and Lucky the rescue wonder
'05 40' Dynasty Quad
GMC Yukon Toad
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CountryCoachrv
Niceville, Fl
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Joined: 10/20/2003
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I have one small suggestion for anyone enamoured by the shiny, new models with all the glitzy look.....and a corresponding outrageous price tag. Walk away and go take a look at the used rigs...you'll save a ton of drive off the lot depreciation....your rig has lost about 30% of it's value when you drive it off the lot. And, the dealer you bought it from would not even give you anywhere close to 70% of what you paid for it the day after you buy it. You will many great 1,2,3 year old rigs for sale on the net at great prices relative to dealers asking price. I go to Lazy Days site and I see a rig the age of my rig with an asking price of $40k more than I can find the same rig for sell at www.rvsearch.com...sure Lazy Days will make repairs on everything you find wrong with it but you could make a heck of a lot of repairs for that difference.
I bought new but I would never do that again even though I bought a great mh and I love it, the new price was just too high compared to what I could have gotten a year old model for from an individual.
As far as what is a fair price for a new rig, depends on the rig but you should start at 30% off MSRP with a target price of around 26% as your best and final offer. If a particular dealer isn't interested in taking your money at 26% off walk til you find one that will....you will find one that will.
Country Coach Owner
2000 40 foot Intrigue
CC Coach RVer
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JanBCarter
Northern CAlifornia
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Joined: 12/16/2004
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What a great post Johnny; particularly to one like me who is about to venture into the RV world, and barely knows the questions to ask! Right now, the question of the day seems to be whether to buy a new class B (or big C) or a used Class A. We originally thought we wanted to stay as small as was consistent with at least a queen bed and a moderate budget. That puts us into a new 28' or larger gas E450 (like a Minnie Winnie) which at some $85K well equipped isn't far off the mark of some of the used 34'+ class A's I'm seeing on ebay which are generally better powered with "real" diesels (Cat & Cummins 250-300hp and great torque), Allison's and very well equipped on truck (read 400,000+ miles expected life) chassis.
Just pure conjecture, but the E450 would just seem more user friendly and easier to drive than a class A Freightliner or such, but I'm not sure. Any comments along these lines.
Again thanks for the post and your willingness to share this information....to the fellow that said: "too long for me", here's a suggestion....don't read it 'cause you obviously don't need it.
JB
"> Happy 2B newbie RV'ers
J. B. & B. J. Carter & Raleigh (Cavalier "navigator" ">)
'03 Winnebago 39WD Journey DL
'05 Jeep Liberty Renegade
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JanBCarter
Northern CAlifornia
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Gotom: Boy I agree the maintenance issue is an important one.Many years back, we bought a used mid '60's Dodge class C when our two girls were teens. The "womenfolk" just loved it, while it seemed like Dad spent all the time they were out exploring fixing "stuff" with which he just wasn't familar. I just do not want to go through that experience now. Like you, I spend a lot of my youth hot rodding and working on my cars when you could actually work on them. Todays class A's are a marvel of engineering and computers, all of which would seem to necessitate a trip to the shop at the slightest hiccup. That really gives me cause for concern. I'll be interested in the replies you receive. Happy holidays
JB
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FirstSgt111
FullTime RVer
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In the industry of RV sales, you will find many dealerships with a range of prices for the same coach. There is no magic % a dealersip will deal to or for. Most people hate the negotiation part of the deal. Then there are others that lock themselves to a % off and will walk away from a great deal.
Here's the key. INTEREST RATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are dealerships running rates as low as 2.99%. Some on only one coach. That's the Car ad, (One at this price) Hook. Some dealerships are running it on all their coaches. Here's your choice, pay the bank or get a great rate and pay the dealer. I saved $80K by getting a 10% discount, (Free/Clear) trade, and a 2.99% rate.
Even with a 25% discount, if you are at a 6% or 7% rate, you just lost your discount, and gave it to the bank.
RATE RATE RATE. It can buy you more coach than you thought you could afford.
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B&B 2 GO
Hampton, VA
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The question for me is how do you find out the RV dealer's cost for that shiny new coach? For CAR buying, there are many sources of pricing info to help the savvy buyer find out what dealers pay for the vehicles on their lot and what the manufacturers dealer incentives and holdbacks are (so you can offer X dollars over invoice). Is there a similar source for RVs? If so, where is it?
Thanks from someone who's going to be a first-time Class A buyer in 2005 and is "antsy" about the process!
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