This was in Tech issues - maybe more exposure here.
I am thinking of buying a 2004 with 1 slide (I know, 1 year before the newer Ford transmission) Winnie 24F on a 12-2003 E450 chassis. No corner bed which is ok with me.
The consignment lot wants mid $30's, but says that a low $30's offer would probably fly. Owner has all manuals. From his handwriting it's an older guy. (This is really close to Sun City in Surprise, AZ)
Condition - 57,000 miles with 2 year old Michelin tires. Spare (new) in back storage. Genny (Onan 4000) has 98 hours on it. It fired right up and "loped" up and down for a couple minutes - salesman said that's normal (?) I thought it would just idle steady, never had a genset before so I don't know. Someone said maybe the carb is gummed up.
Trans fluid was pink and didn't smell. Engine compartment very clean, interior of coach somewhat dirty (carpet), owner must not have detailed before he brought it in. A couple minor glitches (shower head holder out of wall, ripple/bubble in lino under dinette) but otherwise everything worked. Slide worked fine. Roof looked clean. No delam on the sides. A stain in bathroom ceiling where vent is, must have left it open once.
It drove well. Had newer looking Bilstein shocks under it, a thick rear sway bar and a steering stabilizer. Frame looked very clean. All switches/water pump worked. OH air ran ok. Cab air cold. I idled it 15 minutes, no leaks/ No body damage. I didn't get it on the highway but could next drive. Up to 45mph it drove straight, didn't wander or pull at all. Braked fine.
The consignment lot wants $600(!) for a PDI of just the rv systems. That sounds pretty high to me. I think I could get an independent rv tech for a lot less than that. I didn't check the propane but can. The coach batteries looked about 2 years old, chassis battery same. Everything else looked/worked ok. I was impressed with Winnebago quality compared to other lower level units on their lot.
My last "C" 15 years ago was a cheapo leaker GMC, 1982, overloaded 23' that was a fixer-upper but did the job for 3 years, so I know what cheap cr%p is like... no more.
Anyway, what do you all think of the price and the 8 year old Winnie coach? Anything big to look out for? Can I get a good pdi for say $300? I'm sure I could take it off the lot as long as I paid for the inspection. A search for other 2003-2004 Winnies of that size only turned up three within 250 miles of Phoenix.
Just my opinion .....way to much, $ 600.00 for PDI the dealer is padding his profit (which is next to "0" cost on consignment). Make a offer "Out The Door" price (including PDI, Tax, Tag etc.) make them work from YOUR budget and not their profit margin.
If I was interested, I would offer 20% BELOW low retail and start from there. Keep in mind to deduct any cost for fixing or replacing items.
Hi all who replied. Update: Both were consignment lots so they
had their floor price from the owners. The advice from
you members was to pay between low and average
NADA, I couldn't even get them below high NADA
and that was with work still needing done.
Other issue was fuel costs for the V10. I just can't live
with .50 per mile driven, especially when it is 800 and 1100 miles
respectively to see family.
So, sadly, economics rules (head over heart).
Again, thanks for the input. If I find $30K lying on
the sidewalk, maybe then I'll change my mind.
Very smart choice in my opinion. 800 and 1100 miles is not very far. And would not be a really great reason to buy and RV.
Paid 33k for ours 7 years sgo, But we use the heck out of it. Long road trips and lots of close stuff. So for us,it has been great. 30k will buy a lot of motel rooms, on your way to see the family
That's low hours on the genset and the loping suggests it is on its way to needing a new carb or at least a cleaning, which sometimes work. Been there.
The genset can't really idle, has to maintain full running speed at no load, 3600 rpm for the 60 Hz AC, a tricky problem for a small engine carb and governor. When the governor can't find a throttle position that works for this fast "idle" it is a pretty good sign things are starting to gum up. Mine progressed from loping to being able to start, and run under heavy load, but not at no load. Service can be a few hundred bucks, knock that off your offer.
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