Where to sell the bus

[jelmore]

Jim, as I read your question, I thought that the price is pretty high.

Yes, I think the price is high also. It fairly reflects, though, the effort and expense we've put into getting it right. I know some that have sold have gone for much less, but I guess we're holding out (it's all negotiable!!) until desperate or until the buyer comes along that want's the latest and greatest that Prevost and Liberty had to offer in a rivet Classic.

With regard to the price, are people are shy about making an offer? We've had only one serious offer and that was for $245. Couldn't do it.

[Petervs]

Hi Jim and Linda.

Sorry to report, but in today's market $245k is actually a very good price, Maybe high even. I would seriously think a realistic value would be $199k.

Prices have dropped at least 30% in the last 3 months. They will never go back up either. Well, maybe in 75 years when we have had a pile of inflation and your coach becomes a collectors item with historical merit ( those were the days of opulence and cheap diesel available at every freeway offramp). You can not go by historical sales prices, because almost nothing has sold recently.

Like Jon said, nobody with cash is spending it because everybody thinks they can get the same coach even cheaper next month. Most can not get financing because lenders have no cash and are gunshy. And most people's houses have tanked in value so they can no longer get a home equity loan to buy a bus with, and which they never really expected to pay back because the house was supposed to keep rising in value.

Don't take this personally, the prices of all RV's , boats, vacation homes, airplanes, used cars, etc have all done the same. It is time for a reality check. And you can also see that new vehicles are not selling either. New ones are not cheaper yet because the cost of manufacture has not gone down, so all the factories are laying off people, cutting back on production, or closing down. Many people who might have bought a new one say 'gee whiz, for half the cost of new I can buy one a year or two old'. And a coach like yours, now 9 years old, well, it just took a giant depreciation.

The value of our coaches is in the use and enjoyment of them, not in the resale value. If you buy it, it only makes sense to own it for a very long time and derive the value from it's use.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this is the real world today.

[Steve Bennett]

Jim & Linda, we have had a lot of activity on our busses for sale. We just sold a 99 Marathon XLV w/165K miles for $265k. We have a buyer on our 00 Marathon XLV @ $290K, waiting for funding. Nice coaches are still bringing reasonable $'s. The key is condition, colors, and $'s. The 99 Marathon had 3 buyer's all @ once, it was a very clean coach w/good neutral colors. Financing is still available for coaches 1994 & newer. We have sold 4 coaches with a 18 coach inventory in the last 10 days. I do agree it is a buyers market, but there are still a lot of buyers out there.

[jelmore]

Jim & Linda, we have had a lot of activity on our busses for sale.

Steve -- bring me a buyer! I can't seem to find one. We'll deliver, even. Linda REALLY wants to go back to the desert but I'm curious about Florida. The bus is ready to go and I'd welcome a Prevost PDI. Just got back from Ft. Worth and the guys under the bus had rave reviews on it.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Jim and Linda,

I want to tag onto Peter's comments a little. He and I share the opinion these things are depreciating assets to be enjoyed to their fullest. As such you get the most bang for the buck by retaining a coach for as long a time as possible.

I cringe (and often remark) everytime someone on this forum uses the term "investment" in any discussion regarding a coach purchase.

Your coach represents the epitome of the rivet coaches. Liberty and Prevost had the absolute maximum experience producing your coach. The design was fine tuned by both, and that year represents the most years of experience by both in a long produced design.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that because it looks like every other XL built since the 45 foot coaches were introduced what you see as its worth, the market cannot see. You make a comment about improvements you have made. It is sad fact that you could do a $25,000 new paint job, spend twice as much changing the fabrics and flooring and upholstery, upgrade the sound system and add all new flat screen TVs and not a buyer in the market will give you 5 cents on the dollar for those expenses. Your coach is going to bring what the market says a coach of that vintage is worth modified by its condition to a small extent.

The same holds true whether you are selling a yacht, a plane or a high end car.

If you need to sell, get a lowball price. Otherwise plan on owning it, enjoying it and wearing it out yourself. The prices will never climb, but as the economy strengthens, and lenders loosen up their money the rate of depreciation will slow down dramatically. It is likely whatever it is worth today is what it may be worth in two or three years.

Steve works very hard to bring value to both buyers and sellers. I would respect his opinions and if you want to get as much as this market is willing to spend you and he should talk.

[Ray Davis]

Jim,

I cannot recommend Steve Bennett highly enough. He has sold my previous coach, and a number of coaches for POG members. Unlike other sites which simply put up an advertisement, Steve works hard to sell and support the vehicles.

If you're coming west possibly, please contact Steve, and consider the possibility of selling your bus through his company. Ultimately Steve advertises on a number of RV sites, including P-stuff, so you will get a lot of exposure.

Ray