Want to buy Bluebird

[Kurt Horvath]

Talk about negotiating, I called Country Coach last week just to see what they
give me on a trade in on a use Prevost. They looked up book value, about
$110,000.00 for a '95 PT-42'. The sales person then stated they would wholesale
it and that would be the trade in value. They offered me $65,000.00 for my Bird.

Birds have dropped in value the last few years which is good and bad. Bluebirds
have never been more affordable than they are now and the trend will probably
continue due mostly to the fact that most birds don't have slideouts.

Just keep looking you'll find just the right coach for the right price.

As far as I know the major diffrence between PT-42's and PT-43's are the way the
engine was mounted. They dropped the motor down into the frame 12" which in turn
created a walkin closet. I some convoluted thinking they figured they gained a
foot so the redesignated the '97 a 43' coach, but they are not 43' long they are
still 42' long


----- Original Message ----
From: Pete Masterson
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 7:57:28 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Want to buy Bluebird

Hey, I wasn't saying that you shouldn't negotiate the best price you
can get from Mr. Oliver... My coach was originally listed on his web
site at $149k and I waited until he put it up on eBay (as he tends to
do if the coach doesn't move out in a reasonable time period) -- and
I paid the initial offering price on eBay at $119k plus a small Texas
transfer fee (under $200 as I recall) and necessary state
registration fees, etc. Since I purchased about 18 months ago, that
seems to be in line with (and better than most) BBs in similar age
and condition.

Of course, I'll add that I'd been on the WanderlogeForum as a
wannabe, and several folks suggested that I buy "George's bus" --
that was then at Mr. Olivers -- and after some exchanges with George
about the condition, I decided that it was the one that fit my needs
and budget.

I note that on Vintage Birds a 93 PT40 that caught my eye was offered
originally for $179K -- with an original listing date on VB of 1/05
(now shows 1/06) -- the asking price is "reduced" to $150K -- and
while the coach seems to be pretty good (as best one can tell from
photos -- I never went to look at this one because I felt the owner
was not asking a -reasonable- price) it's overpriced by at least 30
to 40K...

If you look at Vintage Birds and Bird Connection, you'll see many
coaches offered at unrealistic prices. It's endemic for owners to
overestimate the value -- particularly if they've owned the coach for
a time -- and if they've paid for various upgrades, etc.

I hope that when the time comes for me to sell "George's bus" that
I'll be able to price it realistically -- and then strike a bargain
that meets both my needs and the buyer's needs... I also realize that
I will not recover the cost of any of the upgrades/modificati ons I've
made. They were simply for my comfort or convenience -- and, of
course, maintenance expenses are not at all recoverable. ..

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@mac. com
On the road at Lockhart Texas

On Nov 23, 2007, at 6:20 PM, Kurt Horvath wrote:

> I stopped at Mr. Olivers a few weeks ago and took a good look at
> the 95 PT-42 at the time he priced it, as is for $95,000 before he
> put a wrench to it, his words, I would keep looking, the paint was
> in poor condition and I would say she had been run hard and put up
> wet more than once. I did like the interior layout though. A little
> bit worn, But the one thing that I recall is none of the tiles in
> the kitchen or bathroon were cracked. I have a cracks that run
> front to back and two cracks that run side to side. The shower
> stall is a little smaller than the round glass type but it has more
> storage inside than mine has with lots of cabinets.The '97 was at
> the auction yard when I was there so I can't comment on it. But
> generally a coach that has been in use gets about 10,000 miles per
> year on average, I did 20,000 my first year so It may be in good
> running condition. I would have to be, to do that kind of mileage
> in 11 years, 18,500 a year MOL, Most every
> tech I ever spoke with said they would rather have a Bird that had
> high milage on than one that had low miles. These coaches were made
> to run not sit.
>
> Pete, I was hoping for a 10% finders fee
>
> Kurt Horvath
> 95 PT-42
> 10AC
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Pete Masterson
> To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 4:42:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Want to buy Bluebird
>
> Having purchased my coach from Mr. Olivers, I can observe that he
> tends to price the RVs he carries at a very realistic price. $130,000
> does seem low for a 97 -- note that the '95 a bit further down the
> page is listed at $119,500.
>
> Looking at the photos (which can make the coach look a bit better
> than in person) it seems to be in fairly good condition. I suspect
> the high mileage is the key reason for the aggressive price (plus the
> more realistic pricing that Mr. Olivers tends to have when compared
> to the 'hopeful' asking price many owners seek (endlessly)) .
>
> As for "what needs to be replaced" -- probably no more than the usual
> unexpected replacements/ upgrades that most coaches end up needing...
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@mac. com
> On the road at Lockhart Texas
>
> On Nov 23, 2007, at 4:22 PM, martingregg598 wrote:
>
>> I am hearing you Gardner, Has anyone seen the 97 on Mr. Oliver's web
>> sight? It has 185,000 plus miles and the generator has 9000 hr. Is
>> there anyone out there with that may mile on that new of a coach.
>> Can't
>> help but wonder how much stuff needs to be replaced. $130,000 for
>> a 97
>> seems low.
>> Marty Gregg
>> 95 BMC 37
>> Kennewick WA.
>>
>>
>
>
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