Community Forums

edgray · 11-12-2008, 05:14 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I wonder if Winnebago or Fleetwood will offer 0% for 15 years so someone can afford to buy them. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
MAX49: I doubt you will these large OEMs doing any "in house" financing (like GM does thru GMAC) because they have got their own cash needs to worry about. Winnie has begun to borrow, Monaco just announced an $80 million line of credit arrangement, and Fleetwood is trying to exchange common stock, rather than use cash, to pay off a bond debt comming due. HOWEVER, I did see the following on RV Business, which seems to answer your question:

FROM RV BUSINESS:
Thor Industries Inc. announced today (Nov. 10) that it is re-launching Thor Credit to provide retail financing to its dealer body.

The Jackson Center, Ohio-based firm said that Thor Credit will finance new Thor RV products and used products of its dealers.

"Thor's RV customers and dealers need to have retail credit and Thor is working to fill this need," said Wade F. B. Thompson, Thor chairman.

Previously Thor had a joint venture arrangement with GE Money. That relationship ended when GE Money pulled out of the RV consumer lending arena in May.

The new business will be led by former Thor Credit employees Ed Arienti Margaret Gandolfo, and Nancy Hartmann. Thor said it will launch the financing program in the coming weeks. END OF ARTICLE.

ED

max49 · 11-12-2008, 05:45 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Previously Thor had a joint venture arrangement with GE Money. That relationship ended when GE Money pulled out of the RV consumer lending arena in May. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
That's interesting. I just bought 2 new Polaris ATVs , offered @ 3.9% financing thru GE Money

edgray · 11-12-2008, 05:52 PM

GE also HAD a unit providing financing for the "franchise" industry. They froze the lines of credit already approved and exited that business as well.

We are getting WAY OFF TOPIC. I'm sorry, and will cease doing so. ED

CoolJudy · 11-12-2008, 08:13 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I just got off the phone with Chris the tech in Oregon and he informed me that Monaco is no longer producing the Vacationer or the LaPalma, or any gas class A. They are making only the higher end coaches starting with the Neptune DP. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Was Chris referring only to the Oregon plant? On July 7, 2008 the Monaco press release (available on the Monaco Company website) states that they would be moving two of the Class A lines (later noted as the gas Monarchs and Admirals) to their Warsaw, Indiana facility when they shut down the Elkhart assembly line.

Maybe someone can verify this information through other sources.

BTW, I think all of the LaPalmas are now diesel.

- CoolJudy

-Gramps- · 11-13-2008, 06:06 AM

I think Chris was referring to all production. I said you still have LaPalmas, Admirals, Augustas and Vacationers on your web site. He informed that because there are some 09 units still "out there" that the web site still shows the units but eventually they will be gone from the site as well. It sure looks like they are going back to their roots and making only upper end coaches.

Richard 34A · 11-13-2008, 06:42 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by edgray:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I wonder if Winnebago or Fleetwood will offer 0% for 15 years so someone can afford to buy them. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

MAX49: I doubt you will these large OEMs doing any "in house" financing (like GM does thru GMAC) because they have got their own cash needs to worry about. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Also, manufacturers know all too well how badly RV's depreciate; they want to build them and sell them, but no way do they want to actually finance them directly. Unless they can get the federal government to back those loans too... if I add up all my losses on stocks, mutual funds and deferred comp over the last 6 months, (and it isn't pretty) it's still less than what my motorhome has done! Manufacturers would want a minimum of 50% down, plus tax and license, to minimize their exposure to defaulting loans.

edgray · 11-13-2008, 06:46 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">We are getting WAY OFF TOPIC. I'm sorry, and I will cease doing so. ED </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Lets respect the OP's topic by starting a new one to discuss any more financial issues, Please. ED

cb5300 · 11-13-2008, 11:53 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by -Gramps-:
I just got off the phone with Chris the tech in Oregon and he informed me that Monaco is no longer producing the Vacationer or the LaPalma, or any gas class A. They are making only the higher end coaches starting with the Neptune DP. They are still making some class C gassers but that is it. They have had to drop certain coach lines since consolidating operations in Oregon. Too bad. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not sure that this is correct info...I just got off of the phone with Monaco and they are taking two gas class A units to the Louisville, KY RV show, and I understand that this is the show to showcase their new up coming units.

FrontRangeRVer · 11-13-2008, 12:13 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by cb5300:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by -Gramps-:
I just got off the phone with Chris the tech in Oregon and he informed me that Monaco is no longer producing the Vacationer or the LaPalma, or any gas class A. They are making only the higher end coaches starting with the Neptune DP. They are still making some class C gassers but that is it. They have had to drop certain coach lines since consolidating operations in Oregon. Too bad. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not sure that this is correct info...I just got off of the phone with Monaco and they are taking two gas class A units to the Louisville, KY RV show, and I understand that this is the show to showcase their new up coming units. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Charles, there is no press release on this news, and I tend to believe that Monoco is continuing to produce gas chassis motorhomes.....Just not on the UFO (which doesn't surprise me in the least).

We should wait to see if there is anything official from Monoco....not that we don't believe "Chris the Tech".

DriVer · 11-13-2008, 01:09 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by cb5300:
I just got off of the phone with Monaco and they are taking two gas class A units to the Louisville, KY RV show, and I understand that this is the show to showcase their new up coming units. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I will make sure to stop by the Monaco/HR displays and check out our for you guys. I hope to be able to write a number of photo essays about what's going on in Louisville for the upcoming year.

Stay tuned!

edgray · 11-13-2008, 01:18 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">We should wait to see if there is anything official from Monoco....not that we don't believe "Chris the Tech". </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
While I cannot quote you his name, a high ranking official at Monaco has replied as follows:
"Mistake by Oregon tech..we are still building gas units.. we did discontinue the La Palma and Vacationer diesels.."

Someone else posted they thought the gas production had been moved to Warsaw, IN after the Wakarusa plant was shuttered. That would make some sense, as both gas chassis suppliers are closer to IN than they are to OR.

I hope MNC will continue to offer both gas & diesel powered rigs. ED

-Gramps- · 11-13-2008, 02:21 PM

So the info I recieved was half right or half wrong? The La Palma and Vacationer used to be gas then went diesel only for 09 and now they are no more. Well I guess the Monarch and the Admiral and others will still be around for awhile yet and that is a good thing. I sure wish they would bring back the UFO.

Explore America · 11-13-2008, 05:29 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by edgray:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">We should wait to see if there is anything official from Monoco....not that we don't believe "Chris the Tech". </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
While I cannot quote you his name, a high ranking official at Monaco has replied as follows:
"Mistake by Oregon tech..we are still building gas units.. we did discontinue the La Palma and Vacationer diesels.." </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
It did seem a little odd since Monaco also manufactures the former Trail-Lite Class A, now the HR Arista, and the recently introduced Riptide Class A gas, which was a new model by National RV just before they went under.

DriVer · 11-13-2008, 06:18 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Explore America:
It did seem a little odd since Monaco also manufactures the former Trail-Lite Class A, now the HR Arista, and the recently introduced Riptide Class A gas, which was a new model by National RV just before they went under. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>There are a lot of loyal National owners out there and given the current climate in the RV business I can't blame the powers that be for allowing the company to completely fail. I do think that if they were to re-emerge as a Monaco company there would be a lot of folks that would want to get back into a National if only in name.