A Line in the Sand

AJ,

Congratulations. Don't be a stranger. I'll wager within a year, you'll be itchin for another bus!

Ray

AJ, show him how much you value him. Pay for his membership and just don't tell him about the inmates that occupy this asylum.

AJ I know you are happy and I know you are very confused.

We will pray for you.

Glad you sold the bus, sorry we didn't get to meet!

Glad you guys sold the bus, AJ, but we will miss seeing the Red Storm from time to time. Drop by now and then and we'll put you up if you get back to Texas. Jan says HI and she will keep you in her prayers. What's that all about?? Oh wait, I think I know. :)

We have taken deposits on 2 coaches in the last 3 days with strong back-up deals. Nice busses are still selling, if priced well. We still have financing back 15 years, and have private money for even older coaches for the right buyer. These coaches are starting to really represent a bargain. Condition becomes more critical the older a coach is, as it does not cost any less to maintain an older bus, than a new one. In some cases it may even cost more.

Buses, Boats, Planes and all other exotic toys are priced by the market, but lets never forget that we are mostly,in large part anyway, in charge of what the price and values should be in the bus marketplace. Unfortunately when times require that an owner must sell, and sell quickly for less than we should, a converter who needs to raise cash, a dealer who places pressure on a seller to act, and act now, an estate etc, when enough of these deals goes down then the market will float to the new level.

It is somewhat of a shame that our buses are being driven down by market pressures at this time. Our buses only represent a few 100 of the total purchase choices out there and its now time to readjust the prices again.

One would think that our buses were part of the Sub Prime housing crisis. I think it is time to relax a little about the need to sell at or below the real market values and make an effort to treat these buses like the rare commodity they are, not like a Winnebago that cranks out 40K units a year (used to anyway).

I have been shopping for a late model bus and have found some interesting things, the newer the bus, the better condition it is in, the better financial condition the seller is the less likely he is to give it away. If this is true, then these people will hold up their end of the used bus market.

We should learn from this and hold up our end. If financing is available for older buses, if those buses are well maintained then the owners should expect to get a reasonable price.

There are fraction of the number of buses for sale then the higher end boat market, the higher end plane market, why do we then panic when we actually have a rare extremely well constructed piece of history.

If everyone who has a bus for sale added $50K to the selling price than guess what that would be the new number. I have never been in a place where someone has not been interested in my bus, really wanted to learn more, maybe even take a look. each says they saw the story on TV about the fancy buses. I have never had anyone give a dam about my Porsche, Mercedes or any other automobile in the same way as they do about a well cared for bus, none.

Fuel prices are dropping the world stock market is finding its natural bottom ,the worlds banking and governments have moved as a team to reduce the cost of funds and I believe we will see a concerted effort now to stabilize the economy over the coming year.

There is nobody stealing fine art, exotic cars or anything that is rare, limited extraordinary and special.

There is only a finite number of older buses in the market, Rivet coaches and older H models, it is a shame to run the values down and on these wonderful pieces of art and craftsmanship.

Bruce, Thank you! I think you are spot on and the good news is I have no need or desire to sell at this time. I just sold 4 race bike for the highest price per bike than ever before, these are race bikes that people have to spend lots of money every time they use them, kind of like a bus. We need to hold the line and not give our Championship bus away!

Bruce,

I'm afraid your emotionally attached. There's an ass for every saddle and when the price is right, buyers and sellers will do their deals. Those deals will be dictated by current market conditions and there is nothing we can do to influence that market.

Byers and sellers can wait until the stars and planets line up if they want, while the jerkoff's in Washington continue to steal our tax money, but when the bug bites, there is only one cure!;)

We buy a bus costing lots of money, it depreciates at outlandish rates, it sucks huge amounts of fuel at 4.00 + per gallon, the parts and maintenance are outrageous, the insurance is costly and we have to build a garage to park it. ARE WE STUPID OR WHAT!:eek:

Can we justify our buses...... SURE

I wonder what the folks at Opec or Exxon Mobile would say in response to your comments.

I am not suggesting that we should all sit around a table and decide what the new price for each model year bus should be, but if we did then I bet there would be a very different price point and I bet all of the converters, and dealers would fall in line as well.

I am struck by the very few numbers of buses that are actually on the road today, and the very few that are actually for sale compared to other toys.

It is very important to consider who buys these big boy toys. For the most part its people who do not want to be part of the herd, who consider themselves more adventurous, willing to travel down a different path as long as its fun and interesting.

Lets face it, like my real estate broker friend once told me, 5% of a smaller deal is still a deal, even if the seller drops his price by $100K.

I find myself running into more bus owners who also are pilots, boaters, entrepreneurs, own exotic cars have lived on the edge a little, in general special people, looking for a specialized toys. This is a small group, and so is the available inventory. We should not be forced to compete with Plastic motorhomes for customers.