Community Forums

bamabrian · 05-03-2011, 02:05 PM

Hey everyone,
I am looking at buying a 2000 Sea Breeze from a local dealer. It is in great shape. It has the body paint, a tracvision on the roof, fiberglass roof, newish tires, new batteries, nothing but a few rock picks on the outside and no issues on the inside. They are asking $29900 for it, and from looking at the coach, I think thats pretty fair. Here is my issue: When i look up the NADA value on it, they have it at $17000 on average retail. I googled "2000 National Sea Breeze for sale" and checked the prices which averaged out to about $31000. When I asked the dealer about it, he called the big boss and they said it was not listed because it was a mid year model. I am afraid of getting it and a few years down the road its value is $8000 or something crazy. It is the 34 ft ford V-10, model 1340...Do any of you guys know where to find a more accurate loan value on this one? Or should I avoid it like the plague. I really like it.
thanks
brian

Richard S. · 05-03-2011, 04:26 PM

I don't think in 2000 National RV made a mid year model.

Link below
http://www.pacnats.com/linked%20page...ure%202000.htm

sgtjoe · 05-03-2011, 05:57 PM

I looked it up on the NADA and without the mileage or accessories (which the dealer won't add on a trade if you had one) it books out in my area for just under 16,000, I think it is on the high side and yes you are right about being worth less then you paid for it the min you sign for it. Take your time and look around, there are plenty of good deals out there with some dealers and especially private parties. No matter who you buy from find someone you TRUST to inspect it. That dealer is IMHO is trying to make a 100% profit. Check your local Banks and Credit Unions for repos, lots of good buys that way. On the internet you can google Cranky Ape who is all over the country and they have RV's they offer up to the highet bidder from Bank Repos.

Good luck

sgtjoe · 05-03-2011, 06:04 PM

Here's their website, if you look at the end of their list it will show you what recent RV's sold for, ie, a 2006 Georgetown went for a little over 28,000.

Crankyape.com Bank repo rvs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, atvs, boats, trucks, trailers, go karts, jet skis, sleds, fourwheelers, trailers, motorhomes, rvs.

If you read their description on the RV's they show shape it is in.

bamabrian · 05-03-2011, 07:28 PM

thanks for the input. i thought i was mistaken when i looked it up but maybe not. i know its going to lose value as its driven off the lot, i just meant that its going to KILL value if it books at 17000. The 2001 model, however does average retail at 28600. I have a 99 tiffin allegro now, it has been a great starter but i think we are ready to move up a little so we have been checking out the deals all over.

bamabrian · 05-04-2011, 07:04 PM

another question, another dealer told me that National is out of business and some parts would be impossible to get for it....I thought I had heard that but did not know if it is true. If so, what would be hard to replace? I thought most everything on an rv was interchangeable now. By the way, if you look up the NADA on the 2001 Sea Breeze, it is about 28000

Richard S. · 05-04-2011, 07:48 PM

Parts are not a problem. The molds for the body parts were purchased by Ortega MFG. all the other parts are just RV parts, you just don't have factory support.
National RV closed shop in DEC. 07

sgtjoe · 05-05-2011, 06:47 PM

There is also A place called The Gambler who opens in Quartzsite Nov--April each year. Their home is around Victorville, CA where there are 10 acres of RV parts including a lot of National stuff.

sgtjoe · 05-05-2011, 06:52 PM

OH, BTW, Theberrys just replaced their whole back cap on their National Tradewinds. Ordered and shipped from Ortega, so they do have the molds. Just because National was one of the first to go doesn't mean that you can't get parts or that there was a Quality problem. Just check out how many Nationals are sitting on Dealer lots compared to others, not many.

Theberrys · 05-06-2011, 07:30 AM

I haven't had any problems getting parts. I did have to get a strip of molding from a RV Salvage Yard but everything else was new from the OEM. Here are before and after pictures. If National had still been in business the parts would have cost more from them. This way it was less costly but more leg work.

Dick

sgtjoe · 05-07-2011, 10:47 AM

OK Dick, I've got to ask Is that a totally new paint job or just the way the pics came out? Because on my computer the two pics show different colors. They look gray and tan.

Theberrys · 05-08-2011, 04:03 PM

Joe

They just repainted the rear cap and the rear drivers side bay door. My camera didn't get the colors correct. The match is near perfect, you have to know it was redone to see any differance at all. What's really wierd the White is the most off color the Silver abd Gold and Dark Gray are spot on.

Dick

Wanabee FTer · 05-08-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtjoe

Crankyape.com Bank repo rvs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, atvs, boats, trucks, trailers, go karts, jet skis, sleds, fourwheelers, trailers, motorhomes, rvs.

If you read their description on the RV's they show shape it is in.

Be very careful buying a bank repo unit. They are not reconditioned or safety checked before sale. Read the small print on their page. All sales are where is, as is. I would not buy anything from crankyape without seeing the unit in person and doing a thorough pre-bid inspection.

bamabrian · 05-09-2011, 04:16 PM

wow, thats quite a repair job! looks good...Ok, I am down to 2 finalists. #1 is a 2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor diesel pusher for 38000 if I can manage to sell mine to a couple that is looking at it now or #2 is a Holiday Rambler Vacationer v10 ford for 32000 (before trade in) if I dont get it sold. I am doing ok on the trade value, it is within $1500 of what I paid on it about two and a half years ago.....any opinions on those two?
thanks
brian