Why Panic

[Kent and Sharon]

So, WRV has closed their doors. For you with new or nearly new coachs this is bad news because you will loose your warranty service. I feel for all of you. But, for those of us who are out of warranty what is the big concern. We are still driving, and in our case full-timing, in one of the best coaches ever built dollar for dollar. The RV industry is in real trouble, not just WRV. People don't have expendable income and recreation always takes a big hit in an economy like this.

What you don't want to do is panic and listen to dealers trying to steal your coach for the lowest price possible. Dealers always try to lowball tradein value and WRV's closure just gives them another excuse to lowball you even further. Right now they aren't selling anything whether the manufacturer is in business or not.

Give it six months and there will probably be more companies out of business and in MHO when the economy turns around you won't be able to buy a class A motorhome for pennies on the dollar whether the MFG is still in business or not.

Just my opinion, but enjoy one of the best driving and riding coach on the road, don't panic, and watch dealer after dealer go out of business because they aren't as business savy as they would like you to believe they are.

[Kent and Sharon]

So, WRV has closed their doors. For you with new or nearly new coachs this is bad news because you will loose your warranty service. I feel for all of you. But, for those of us who are out of warranty what is the big concern. We are still driving, and in our case full-timing, in one of the best coaches ever built dollar for dollar. The RV industry is in real trouble, not just WRV. People don't have expendable income and recreation always takes a big hit in an economy like this.

What you don't want to do is panic and listen to dealers trying to steal your coach for the lowest price possible. Dealers always try to lowball tradein value and WRV's closure just gives them another excuse to lowball you even further. Right now they aren't selling anything whether the manufacturer is in business or not.

Give it six months and there will probably be more companies out of business and in MHO when the economy turns around you won't be able to buy a class A motorhome for pennies on the dollar whether the MFG is still in business or not.

Just my opinion, but enjoy one of the best driving and riding coach on the road, don't panic, and watch dealer after dealer go out of business because they aren't as business savy as they would like you to believe they are.

[rmmpe]

I have an oder Alpine and am very happy with it. After installing Koni FSDs this past week, I suspect it rides as good as a new Coach, of any brand (well, except maybe a Prevost).

Although I feel bad for the employees and will miss the outstanding cooperation I've gotten from Mark Harrah, WRV going turtle doesn't upset me too much. It was only a corporation having the personality given it by it's employees.

Having retired from Corporate America and surviving "Downsizing" and "Re-structuring" more than a few times, the facts are the Corporation's loyalty to it's employees is out of proportion to the employee's loyalty to the Corporation.

As I've said before, theses beasts are a collection of myriad parts form myriad suppliers. Fortunately, there are alternatives to almost any part, even if I have to do it myself. It might not be as pretty, but it'll still be mine.

Take heart folks, we now have "Collectibles" (yeah, right!).

[big jimbo]

I sure wish I still had the 97 Prevost/Marathon that I traded in to buy this Apex.

[rmmpe]

As much as I like the Alpine, I wish I had the 97 Prevost/Marathon you traded in to buy your Apex.

[Barbaraok]

Not panic, but it is unsettling to realize that there is no place to get information. And if you aren't in Washington or Oregon, finding someone to do a repair gets harder and harder.

Barb