Cost of ownership

[John Suter]

Hi Gardner,

> Would it be reasonable to estimate $700/year for
> routine
> maintenance and $1000/year for unplanned maintenance
> averaged over a
> ten year time span? (assuming I don't need an engine
> rebuild)

Perhaps we can first mention the routine maintenance
costs of virtually any model coach or age, total OVER
A FIVE YEAR SPAN, then divide by 5 for annual cost.
Virtually all of the following will be
touched/replaced in that 5 yr span.

Annual engine, transmission, generator: air, fuel,
filters and fluids (oils and coolants) change, belts,
approx $4,000, if done by a reputable shop.

New tires every 4-5 years - How many tires does
coach have, what load range and model do you want? -
2,000 to 4,000.

Batteries approx every 5 years - how many and what
type?? - 1,000 to 2,000

Our motorhome ownership experience began in 1966,
and we've had Bluebirds since 1986. Anyway we have
tried to hold the costs, these 3 very basic
necessities have always been 1,400 to 2,000 per year,
but they hit in about 5 year chunks of $7-$10,000.

As for your hope/prayer of "unplanned maintenance"
of $10,000 for each 10 years? We've never been close
to that lucky or even several times that lucky. Go in
with your eyes wide open (and your wallet). Every
coach is an expensive toy to own, operate, and
maintain; but the enjoyment is well worth it. Just
count on something always needing to be fixed,
replaced, and/or upgraded.

John Suter
2000 LXi (prior 86PT40 91PT40 and many other brands)


--- gcyeaw wrote:

> I have asked other questions on this forum and I
> do appreciate the
> responses I have received. I have been building a
> spreadsheet to try
> to estimate the real cost of owning a vintage
> Bluebird. I love the
> look and would enjoy repairing/restoring the systems
> at my leisure
> prior to retirement.
> The price range I am looking at is under $30,000
> for a 1984 or
> older FC 33 TO 35. Given that price range I would
> expect to have
> lots of small things to fix. Also given the age, I
> would expect
> higher incidence of failure in in basic
> engine/transmit ion/chassis
> systems over say, a 10 year time span..
>
>
> I am really trying to determine the value as the
> clock ticks on
> 20 to 25 year old coaches. They may be well built,
> but so was I 40
> years ago!
>
> Gardner
>
>
>
>
>


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