Looking for Coach Purchasing Advice

[D.Weber]

I'm looking to purchase a "new to me" 38 foot Beaver Contessa or Patriot All coaches I'm looking at are 1993's. This year seems best suited to mt budget.

How do you know if the asking price is inflated or fair? It seems like the Patriot Lexingtons are priced around $40,000 but they Nada average retail is approximately $25,000.
The Contessa's average retail is about $34,000 and that seems to be about the asking price on them.

All but one of the coaches I have located have had upgrades to either the interior, painted exterior or both.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Don

[distaff]

Don,

There are no easy answers, but you need to do a lot of research before you put down your money. In the end it is all about condition, because with any used vehicle you are buying what is left.

In most cases the powertrain will never have enough miles on it to wear out, so how it was stored and maintained are important. Most of this information is lost when you buy from a dealer, so the next most reliable measure is to drive some of them, and I mean really drive them. Put 50 to 100 miles on it before you buy it, get it hot, run it up hills, start it and restart it. And get a good service center to do a full inspection. Get an oil analysis if you can (not much help if the oil is fresh). Tires, brakes and steering are very expensive on these rigs.

For the house part, try everything. Run it on batteries for a few hours to see how long they last. Look closely at the exterior for seams that are opening, and at the interior for evidence of leaks. The A/C units don't last forever, and often can't be repaired because the vendors don't make parts available.

Last, make sure you have a contingency of $5,000 for post purchase repairs. Remember that any oral agreement is worth the paper it is printed on, so a seller's assurance that they will take care of any problems is only meaningful when written, and even then only if you can compel compliance.

[Batman_777]

Dewd... Those are ancient. Think of buying a 1993 Buick... Same thing. It's almost 20 years old. Motorhomes are vehicles just like your car or truck only bigger. I think 20 yrs in some states qualifies a car for Classic Plates. Everything in it is outdated. Brake linnings, electrical, plumbing, sidewalls, suspension, air, heat, tires, safety, breakdowns, replacement parts, etc...

Think about getting something a little newer like a 5th wheel or TT. I know someone who just bought a very nice 5th wheel for $10k. I'm still thinking they meant 30k.

$40k 5'ver or TT can get you a really nice outfit. Actually, you could pick up a 5th wheel and a truck to haul it for that much.

[ahicks]

I would toss the NADA values. It's not easy, but you can get much more reliable info doing some homework - looking for/at completed sale data.

I would totally disagree a coach this age is not being worthy of consideration. They can represent a fantastic value to somebody capable of a good inspection and then doing the majority of any repair work required (which is the case with most class A owners I believe?). The trick is in the proper inspection and ability to go into the deal knowing about what your total costs will be to get it to the point where you trust it. The 5,000. reserve plan is a good one....

Without knowing more about your background, or your ability/willingness to do your own work, it's hard to predict how a deal like this might turn out...

[distaff]

I had intended to avoid discussing prices, but it is what I meant by do your research. I agree Batman_777 that it seems a lot to pay for a 20 year old coach, but I also agree with ahicks that there are some good coaches to be found in that age group, but it is condition, condition, condition, and not everyone can judge condition.

[SteveLevin]

I'll chime in that it's ALL about condition. And proper maintenance. While we all talk about diesel engines lasting forever, the sad truth is that if you spend much time looking at used coaches you'll see more than I'd like with engine and transmission rebuilds in them.

Steve

[JimM68]

$30-40k is a tough area to try to get a good diesel coach.
While I wouldn't doubt the drivetrain at that age, all the house stuff is gonna be worn out or outdated, or possibly even "poorly updated."

You gotta keep your eyes open wide, know your stuff, and be able to judge condition and to fix any problems.
Just like with a car, you gotta be able to do your own work with anything this old.

[jimkate]

You can find a five year old coach that's a piece of junk, just like you can find a thirty year old coach that's a real diamond. You've got to look with your eyes wide open, and your heart closed.

I'm not familiar with the models you're talking about. I believe in 1993 that Monaco was still using 4 speed automatic transmissions. I've heard that the 4 speed transmission is to be avoided.

Also, what size engine is in these coaches?

[D.Weber]

Thanks to all of you for your opinions and advice. Feel free to keep it coming.

A little bit about me, I have more than 35 years experience as a mechanic and I currently manage a municipal fleet. I have an expansive and diverse knowledge when it come to maintaining and repairing most small and large equipment as well as small to large vehicles.

I have owned previous RV's such as overhead campers, Class A's and most recently a 2006, 40 foot toy hauler that I transported my Land Cruiser in.

I do not claim to know it all but I am comfortable purchasing an older coach. New would be my preference but my budget is suggesting the older previously owned route.

Please keep the information rolling in.

Thanks again!
Don

[ahicks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Weber Thanks to all of you for your opinions and advice. Feel free to keep it coming. A little bit about me, I have more than 35 years experience as a mechanic and I currently manage a municipal fleet. I have an expansive and diverse knowledge when it come to maintaining and repairing most small and large equipment as well as small to large vehicles. I have owned previous RV's such as overhead campers, Class A's and most recently a 2006, 40 foot toy hauler that I transported my Land Cruiser in. I do not claim to know it all but I am comfortable purchasing an older coach. New would be my preference but my budget is suggesting the older previously owned route. Please keep the information rolling in. Thanks again! Don

IMHO, you're the perfect candidate for an older coach (like you're talking about in your OP) as long as you're comfortable and patient enough to find one worth your time and trouble. Your hunt will involve finding something that hasn't yet started in that death spiral entered into with the presence of rot or corrosion. Delams are a very big deal. Avoid them, period.

[dlovitt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batman_777 Dewd... Those are ancient. Think of buying a 1993 Buick... Same thing. It's almost 20 years old. Motorhomes are vehicles just like your car or truck only bigger. I think 20 yrs in some states qualifies a car for Classic Plates. Everything in it is outdated. Brake linnings, electrical, plumbing, sidewalls, suspension, air, heat, tires, safety, breakdowns, replacement parts, etc... Think about getting something a little newer like a 5th wheel or TT. I know someone who just bought a very nice 5th wheel for $10k. I'm still thinking they meant 30k. $40k 5'ver or TT can get you a really nice outfit. Actually, you could pick up a 5th wheel and a truck to haul it for that much.

I second this motion. We just traded our class A for a fiver and are not looking back!

[boaterok]

Don't do it!!!! Just take the money and buy a nice used late model 5er and truck. There are plenty of them out there where someone bought it and then health wise couldn't use it. Besides you want to use it not work on it you do that already 5 days a week. Plus just imagine 40k spent then you need another 4k in tires, 1k in batteries, 2k in generator work, 1k on invertor. Then the windshield breaks and where are you going to get one of those for less 1k. The TV's are outdated, the microwave is toast, none of the tank sensors work. The lights comeon sometimes sometime not. PLUS then you have the WIFE telling you I told you so. That alone is not worth 40k

[D.Weber]

The mystery to me right now is not knowing much about either the older Gillig or Spartan Chassis. I read a thread where rebuild kits alone for the brake calipers on the Spartan ran $400 ea.

And yes, I, at the age where I want to play and not work but being a mechanic is in my blood. I just love taking things apart......Heck, sometimes I'll even put them back together again. Lol

My 5th wheel delaminated on me before it was a year old. I'm sure that's one of the reasons the company went out of business.

[distaff]

I think a coach of that age that has been well cared for can be a good buy. Depends on condition, and you seem to have the skills to judge condition but don't be shy about driving it for more than 10 minutes, and what you have to pay. I'd suggest you ignore NADA and offer what you think a coach of that age is worth to you. Right now there are not a lot of buyers.

Can't help you with specifics of the older chassis types, but $400 for parts for a MH is pretty typical. These things are ungodly expensive.