Cost of ownership

[Leroy Eckert]

Well Gardner:

Come on man, jump on in with the rest of us. You will be happy you purchased the
ol school bus. Just look for the best physical specimen before you buy.

Side note----the wife wanted a Prevost. She said the Bluebird looked like a
school bus. I said, you have traveled many a mile in a school bus and you are
still here. Now---I cannot get her out of the thing.

You will love a Bird. It is a lifestyle.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40
Niceville, FL





----- Original Message -----
From: gcyeaw
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 7:47 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership


Mike, Leroy, I can't disagree that if all I wanted was an RV, then
buying a new or slightly used motorhome would be the way to go. When
I saw an older Bluebird, it just looked so great. It was a true
classic with character and that is the attraction. It certainly
isn't the wisest investment if all you look at is the dollars. There
has to be a return in the enjoyment and satisfaction of caring for
and reviving such a machine.

The reason I ask questions is to make sure I am going in with my
eyes wide open. The more I learn the better I will be able to make a
wise choice when purchasing. And along the way I am meeting new
poeple on the forum, so it's already showing some reward.

Gardner

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
>
>
> Mike:
>
> I agree with you. When we purchased our bird we planned for
deferred maintenance. I guess if we knew the costs of owning these
beautiful machines up front we could become consultants and charge
$200.00/hr. Then we could be sued for misrepresentation. It's a
crazy world.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mike Hohnstein
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 12:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
>
>
> Uh, you sure a new class C wouldn't be a better choice? Trying
to see the future with an antique vehicle is very irrational.
> MH
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: gcyeaw
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 11:54 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
>
> James,
> Thanks for your data. There seems to be some controversy over
the
> level 2 maintenance cost, but based on an average speed of say
30
> mph, that's 60,000 miles in 2000 hours. So if it's $800 or $1200
> it's not much different spread out over that mileage/time. Not
> knowing the cost of adding a swing radiator, it would seem to
pay
> for itself on the first broken belt or hose. I imagine that
removing
> the dog house and putting down a protective runner before
heading in
> for service might also save some labor and probably please the
> service tech as well.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> wrote:
> >
> > Gardner, here are some actual maintence costs for the model
> of 'Bird
> > that you are looking for.
> >
> > If you take the 'Bird to an authorized Cat Center for oil and
> filter
> > changes it will cost $280.00 -- This will include all of your
oil
> > and fuel filters, a complete chassie lube and Cat brand motor
> oil.
> > Of course they do all the work, you watch them and start the
bus
> > when needed.
> >
> > Here are the parts cost:
> >
> > 16 Qts. 15/40 Cat -- $34.40
> >
> > 2 - 1R-0713 -------- $11.20
> >
> > 1 - 1P-0808 -------- $2.46
> >
> > 1 - 1R-0750 -------- $11.88
> >
> > 1 - 8N9803 --------- $20.10
> >
> > Total parts cost is $80.04 -- so, you can save two hundered
bucks
> > here if you do it yourself. This is a once a year task for
most
> > folks.
> >
> > Tires, every five years between $2200 and $3000 depending on
Tire
> > Brand.
> >
> > Cat PM level 2 Maintainence -- every 2000 hours or 10.000
gallons
> of
> > fuel -- Costs $790 at a certified Cat Center and includes
> > everything. This service also includes the above listed oil,
> filter
> > and lube service.
> >
> > 1) All new hoses and belts
> >
> > 2) Performance Analysis report
> >
> > 3) Steam clean engine
> >
> > 4) Valve lash adjustment
> >
> > 5) cooling system service (flush and clean)
> >
> > That is pretty much your ongoing maintenience stuff. You can
also
> > figure on a transmission service every thirty thousand miles
with
> a
> > new filter and fluid for about $175.00 including labor.
> >
> > That's the stuff you can count on doing and what it actually
> costs.
> >
> > Hope this helps.
> >
> >
> > James
> > 78FC33SB "Old School"
> > Orange Lake, FL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello, Gardner.
> > >
> > > The biggest factor in the cost of ownership of a 25 year
old, or
> > > older 'Bird, lies in the condition of the bus that you buy.
> > >
> > > Remember we are talking about older buses here and no two
are
> the
> > > same. You will find "project buses" on the market that may
need
> > > everything replaced on them from the motor and electronics
to
> the
> > > fridge and carpet ect. However, from time to time, a very
nice
> > > highly updated example will be offered for sale that will
need
> > next
> > > to nothing.
> > >
> > > Obviously the cost of ownership will be much higher on
> a "project
> > > bus" than on a Cheery example with newer motor and
everything
> else
> > > in the bus having been already updated and in good working
order.
> > >
> > > I guess my point is to buy your bus wisely! The project bus
at
> a
> > > rock bottom price that needs everying replaced will not be
your
> > best
> > > value. Rather, find a bus that has had on-going care by
folks
> who
> > > were enthusiastic owners.
> > >
> > > Take my bus for example ... the motor is about 4 years old
with
> > > 15,000 miles on it. At the time the motor was replaced so
were
> > all
> > > pumps, fan assembly even the main started motor. All belts
and
> > > hoses are two years old. Trojan batteries less than a year
> old.
> > > Twin 55 amp Iota charges less than a year old. Xantrex pure
> sine-
> > > wave inverter less than a year old. High deffenition Direct
TV
> > > system less than a yera old. 27" Samsung LCD TV less than a
> year
> > > old. Refridgerator about 4 years old. AC units about 3 years
> > old.
> > > Roof deck rebedded, refastened and painted less than a year
> ago.
> > > Polished Aluminum wheels that you can comb your hair in. New
> > carpet
> > > about 2 years ago. I could go on and on, but you get my
point.
> > >
> > > If I were to sell my bus tomorrow I could get around 25 to
27
> > > thousand.
> > >
> > > Now think about that "project bus" that has been sitting
behind
> a
> > > barn for 8 years before someone pulled it out, polished it
up
> and
> > > hung a for sale sign on it. These are two very different
> pictures
> > > arn't they? Certainly you would experience a very different
> cost
> > of
> > > ownewship betweeen the above examples. Now you may be able
to
> buy
> > > the project bus for 16 thousand bucks, but get ready to
spend
> that
> > > much again, and more, to make it into a good looking
reliable
> > runner.
> > >
> > > So shop wisely, and buy the best bus you can find in your
price
> > > range.
> > >
> > > Good Luck.
> > >
> > >
> > > James
> > > 78FC33SB "Old School"
> > > Orange Lake, FL (Mid-Eightys, total over cast and raining)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "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..
> > > >
> > > > 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)
> > > >
> > > > 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
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]