Soft Market?????

[Jon Wehrenberg]

In case anybody is of the opinion the market is not in the dumper Phil Cooper's site has an 03 H3 DOUBLE SLIDE for under $400,000.

Also listed is a 2001 Liberty non slide for under $400,000.

I wonder if it's still going lower or if these two coaches are being dumped because the owners really need the cash.

I'm glad I don't have an inventory of coaches that I own that I have to sell the prices seem to be going down faster than oil is going up.

[Ray Davis]

I'm missing something. I don't see any 03 H3 double slide anywhere near 400. I see the Liberty, though.

[sawdust_128]

I'm missing something. I don't see any 03 H3 double slide anywhere near 400. I see the Liberty, though.

Look under the What's new from the main page

[Ray Davis]

Ahh, thanks. It wasn't listed on the front inventory page!

[Ray Davis]

OK, just so we're clear. It is a 1999 coach, with new front and back cap in 2003. It's NOT a 2003 coach.

Ray

[dalej]

Ray! does this mean what I think it means???

PS..Jon it is a 1999 H345. it looks as if it were an 03 because it's the stock ID number.

[Ray Davis]

I'm not sure what you think it means? :rolleyes:

Am I buying? No, not yet. Am I looking? I'm keeping my eyes open ...

ray

[Jon Wehrenberg]

My bad.....but at that price with a double slide it will still have a big impact on the market.

A double slide coach at one time carried a substantial premium over a non slide coach, often as much as $75,000 per slide. At one time.

It was very recent when a non slide H3 of that vintage was near that price.

I realize there are a huge number of factors that go into the pricing of a coach and more importantly for a purchaser to decide what to pay. In today's market the buyer is clearly in control. The unsophisticated buyer however will be guided by numbers such as these and use them to established what he will pay for a comparable coach regardless of converter, equipment and if there will be future support.

[Ray Davis]

It's a bit unfortunate (for us buyers), that there are naive buyers out there who are paying more than top dollar for a coach.

I had been looking at a 2000 XL, which looked very much like my last coach. It was a 40 ft non-slide Marathon. Nothing really "special" about it, however it was impecably maintained, and the owner was an owner of a classic car business.

So, he priced the coach at $460k. In phone conversation with me, he indicated $375k cash would do the deal.

I checked back a month later, and $375 was still bottom line. In fact the owner was a bit arrogant in that I would suggest less. However, the coach seems to have sold about a week later. I'm not sure what he got for it, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't gonna discount beyond the price he quoted to me. He knew I was a buyer, with cash (assuming I eventually get paid by my insurance), and didn't need to worrry about trade-in etc.

Speaking with Steve Bennett and others, they valued the coach at $280k (great deal) up to maybe $325k (ok price)

So, unfortunately, there are still some uninformed buyers out there paying more than they need.

Ray

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I know I am entering old geezerdom but I went back to see how I missed the age of that H3.

It is because Phil has its listing number to reflect an 03 and under his what's new it treats it as an 03 that looks like an 04. Sneaky. He is fooling senile folks like me.

[Ray Davis]

I've never seen Phil do anything like that in the past. His "ID" was always based upon the year of the coach in the past. I'm not sure why he would use 03, for a 99, even if it had some upgrades in 03.

That's why I didn't see it in the inventory page, as it was down with the 99 models.

Ray

[Alek&Lucia]

Ray,

How about: TO TAKE OVER THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS, sounds good !?:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/COUNTRY-COACH-PREVOST-IMMACULATE-LOW-MILES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50056QQihZ016QQit emZ260252702169QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Alek

[flyu2there]

Not to be the cheap Charlie in the bunch......but Desert West has a decent 88 Marathon that he wants 75k for....60 grand cash will take it!!

Market is REALLY SOFT, hang on folks thing will get better:D

John

[Ray Davis]

Hey Alek,

Thanks for the post. But, after the issues I had with Country Coach with my previous coach, I won't even consider another CC.

They pissed me off enough to lose me as a customer for life!

[jack14r]

The converters have too much inventory also,new and used.I have heard that nothing is moving between 300-700K.If you assume certain annual production numbers almost all the converters have much more inventory than they are comfortable with.The 3 new dealers for Featherlite have a combined total of 30 new units,Liberty has 9,Marathon has 14and the two country coach dealers have 7.If Featherlite has cut back production to 25-30 units it appears that they could close their manufacturing plant for the rest of 08 and they would still have inventory.Marathon seems to have about the right amount with Liberty and CC not too far off in their inventory.Even though Legendary and Amadas are cheaper,I would bet that they are the hardest to sell in this economy.Used buyers have a great opportunity because of the number of coaches and no salesman or individual wants to loose a sale.This is a great time to buy,but my wife still doesn't believe me.

[garyde]

The 'take over payments' ad is a hook. Lender's don't transfer loans. No equity. Jack is correct about the slow market. Liberty has about 28 Coaches on their used Web site. I'd like to 'take over payments ' on one of their new ones!

[rfoster]

Careful Gary, they may be listening.:cool:

[Alek&Lucia]

Ray,

Phil just listed this one, great price :

http://www.philcooper.com/details.php?v_id=391

[MangoMike]

You can still buy a nice '97 Liberty for about $40k cheaper.

mm

[jasperjr]

My wife and I bought a 2003 XLII below 450K (newbies, so I apologize if I inadvertently raised sellers hopes) but trying to do a post deal autopsy. Only learning curve issues with the coach and it has low mileage-and its in great shape. Comments???

[Joe Cannarozzi]

You have come to the right place for answers.

Welcome. Looks like you got yourself a camper.

[MangoMike]

Welcome friendly ghost.

Nice bus.

Can you provide more details and perhaps some pixs? We always enjoy a good drool.

Mike

[Sid Tuls]

Hey Nice coach just get in and start enjoying it just think with fuel dropping like a rock and at that price you got that coach for It's all down hill from here. Enjoy the best is yet to come.

[bonhall41]

Not just buses that aren't selling. We have a 2006 Haulmark 32'box on a Columbia Freightliner chassis that isn't selling. Has a 32' stacker trailer to haul up to 4 cars. No takers. Think we finally have a buyer for the offshore racer. Trying to get rid of some toys. Cobra, anyone?

[Alek&Lucia]

Jasperjr,

Welcome to the neighborhood, we are only 2 hr SW from Chicago.
On the road now, but should be home in 2-3 days.
Don't be a stranger :)

Alek

[rmboies]

My wife and I bought a 2003 XLII below 450K (newbies, so I apologize if I inadvertently raised sellers hopes) but trying to do a post deal autopsy. Only learning curve issues with the coach and it has low mileage-and its in great shape. Comments???

Beautiful coach and another Millennium owner is now in POG, congrats! Our best advice would be to get Brian's cell phone number and log it into your cell phone. You never know when you may need to call him with a little question or two....We are on our 2nd Millennium and he has been great at answering all of our questions for us, no matter how simple they may seem:rolleyes: Personally, it has been our experience that he is the only one there, other then Nelson perhaps, who will follow through, answer your questions and get back with you if necessary. You can always call Bob as well or the Loc man for answers...just ask for Loc if Winston the wonderbeagle answers the phone:D

[Loc]

Jasper,

Congratulations on the new bus. Welcome to the Millennium family. Sounds like a great price on the bus. Did you purchase from Nelson or from a private seller? Does the bus have the PowerTech or Fisher Panda generator?

Loc

[jasperjr]

We cant thank everyone enough for the warm welcome. We heard great things about the sincerity of this group and we are very excited to become friends with as many of you as possible. We will post additional pictures of the coach.

Much like the engineer that I am Nelson is truly a gifted man. Brian is in the address book, fortunately it hasn't become a speed dial. :D

Kuba (Briard) we look forward to hanging with you. We do enjoy mischievous play. Although, we (she,-my wife) may seem strange, we won't be strangers. Somehow, that comment is going to haunt me for along time. Oh well, she is use ti it.

We are going to Petoskey for Labor Day.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Welcome Jasper....

"We heard great things about the sincerity of this group and we are very excited to become friends with as many of you as possible. "

Apparently we've been able to suck you into the big lie. We lie, we abuse each other, and we are split into factions which bestow WMDs on fellow POG members. Good luck on your new ride. It looks like a good one. Just be very careful about who you hang with. The Acme Company is working overtime and several of the folks in the asylum have no limit credit cards.

[jasperjr]

Thanks for your honesty. We have always found ourselves hanging with people that are liars, dishonest, mischievous and like to abuse people. :D Now I understand why POG members consider themselves to be family. :rolleyes: Hopefully, we can keep up with you guys.


We have enjoyed the coach so far. Still learning how to pack the stacker efficiently. We like to travel with a motorcycle or two and a car. I guess I'll figure it out someday.

[jasperjr]

Here are some more pics of our coach.

[dale farley]

Beautiful coach. Welcome to this family of nuts.

[garyde]

A very nice Coach. Congradulations and I hope to see you at a POG Rally soon.

[rfoster]

Beautiful Bus and welcome to the Asylum. Glad to have you.

[merle&louise]

Check out this 1992 Country Coach on Ebay. Somebody did a really nice interior update. It's worth taking a closer look. Does anybody know this coach?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_RVs-Campers__Prevost-1992_W0QQitemZ170254182488QQadnZRVsQ20Q26Q20Camper sQQadiZ2799QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170254182488&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

[Jerry Winchester]

Nice coach for sure. Nice balance on the colors and the style. Kinda like a Liberty.........

Oh wait, I forgot; they do that casino / whorehouse chic look. Never mind.

Don't pay any attention to the ACME wannabe folks. They usually eat dinner about 4:30, are in bed by 9 and don't have all their own teeth, so they are not much of a threat.

[tdelorme]

JDUB said:

"Oh wait, I forgot; they do that casino / whorehouse chic look."

Pardon me, but where do you think Marathon got the idea for those neon lights in the ceiling of your bus that fade from one garish color to another at the flick of a switch??

Exactly, The Chicken Ranch.

Loc told me about that and said he was speaking from experience.

[Coloradobus]

Soft market, eh? Maybe Volvo Credit isn't listening to the rumors. They have "repo'd 2 Marathon 40 footers. The '97, they want $289,5K and '99, $299.5K. Neither are being plugged in, so they are both dying a slow death. The '99 needs more TLC with 42K miles than the '97 with 2 Rogue Conversion slides and 110K miles. Both will obviously need batteries.
We made 2 admittedly loooowwww offers, with repairs in mind, to start the dialogue, but no counter offer.:( Its the above price, period! Oh well, we have others to contemplate.
In the end, we might just keep ours. :D

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I just spotted this one. Chalupka here is your Liberty. Toy Box tell your friend about this one.

http://www.heartlandbus.com/VehicleDetail.cfm?StockNo=1329

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Unusual coach. Did anybody notice the LR / Dining configuration? The twin beds (that's rare)? The GAS (propane) refrigerator (look at the roof vent and the grille on the driver's side)?.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Plus it is a 40. The paint job and stainless look perfect.

[Steve Bennett]

We had one of our customers go check out this coach. They indicated it is in OK condition, pre IFS, but it was a very unusual custom floor plan. They indicated there is only 9.5' between the front seat, and the rear of the salon, pass. side. It is a great price for someone that can live with the floor plan. We were also told the color palette is unusual with purple/blue leather on the f/seats & dash. It is also a propane coach which is not typical on something this new.