Having purchased many, many vehicles over the years, I thought I would add to the conversation.
First off, in my experience, it is better to have the seller test drive it while you sit in the passenger seat and listen and observe.
- This is especially true if you are not experienced and/or comfortable driving the vehicle. The reason is that when you drive, you are so focused on the road, that you will not observe a lot of the other important items.
- Observe how the driver steers the vehicle. Is the steering wheel centered? Is he/she holding it one way or the other? Does it return to center after turning a corner?
- Observe how the vehicle accelerates from a full stop. Is there any delay?
- Observe how the vehicle handles on the highway. Is it easily blown sideways by passing trucks? Can it accelerate and maintain highway speeds easily on moderate hills?
- Observe any shimmy or unusual vibration at different speeds.
- Walk down the length of the vehicle and listen for unusual sounds from the engine back to the drive axle.
- Have the driver make a tight turn in both directions. Is the turning circle the same? Any binding or scraping of the steer tires?
I could list lots of other things, but you get the point. IMHO it is better to observe than to drive during the test drive(s). If you are unsure you can handle the vehicle, that is a different question and you need to address that with a driving school... Not someone else's coach.
Next, have it inspected.
- This is normally up to the buyer to arrange and pay for.
- For an RV, you may need to use 2 different inspectors. One for the house systems (Fridge, heater, Aquahot, etc.), and one for the chassis (engine, transmission, etc.)
- Have the chassis inspector take samples. Typlically, this will be engine oil, engine coolant, transmission fluid, generator oil and/or generator coolant. Usually not necessary to take differential samples unless you heard weird or unusual noises from the drive axle during the test drive.
If items are identified during the inspection(s)....
- Decide what needs to be fixed for you to purchase the vehicle. Remember that for a used coach, some wear and tear is normal and not everything needs to be fixed today.
- For the items that you feel need to be fixed before you will buy the vehicle, get an estimate for the repair from a reputable shop. Always add 10% - 20% for things that might be discovered during the job.
- For some items that need to be repaired, you may decide to push back on the owner to have repaired at his expense.
- IMPORTANT: The oil and coolant samples are critical as they will tell you if there are dissolved materials or metal particles that are invisible to the eye. This can tell you that bearings are damaged or gears etc. are worn.
Once you understand the true condition of the vehicle, you can then negotiate with the seller for a price that you both can accept. If you have a good understanding of the vehicles condition and issues and have documented evidence, then it is much easier to negotiate for a position of strength. If kept on a professional basis, both you as the buyer and also the seller will be happy with the final price.
