Newbie buying 2002 Monaco LaPalma

Tom n Jackie wrote:
Hi...newbie buying first MH class A. A friend is selling his 16 year old MH with 46,000 miles on it. It is loaded with everything. He says he has maintained it well, and he lives in AZ and i live in Tulsa, so it is 1100 miles from here.

From what i have read here, i need to get it inspected, test drive it, get repair estimates and reduce his asking by amount of repairs. He wants $20K.

What can any of you tell me about this model and value of a 2002 Monaco LaPalma. Your opinions are welcomed.

Bluegrass Boy Tom.
Loading up the RV for a Bluegrass Festival.

What instrument do you play? I don't play much bluegrass but I could probably get by on acoustic guitar, as long as you're not expecting Dan Tyminski.

WRT to your motor home, be sure to hire someone your friend doesn't know. Gete a thorough inspection of the entire rig. Engine compression and leak-down tests on the cylinders. Be sure oil pressure measures high on startup. The oil will thin as the engine heats, but if it shows less than great OP, you have an engine that will need bottom end work in the fairly near future. Buying from a friend can be fraught with peril, so make sure he understands, this is business, not friendship. You don't want any special deals and the guy inspecting will be someone he doesn't know.

Get his report. Read it carefully. Between the lines is good. Don't show it to your friend. Make a respectful counter offer. If he says no, walk away. It's not walking away from, the friendship, just the business part.

Rexhalls and Monacos are the top two "RVframes" (like an airframe) on my list. Metal roofs, man. Big plus. Not saying I would not buy a rubber roof, but it'd have to be pretty new for me to like it.

If you can, ask you friend if he's installed a Banks exhaust system. It is a major plus. I don't even care that much about the performance improvement (though I will like it), I like it because it's all stainless steel and is built to last.