ORDERING LESS OPTIONS THAN DEALERS DO ON STOCK COACHES

You DO want the EMS system. Are you sure that it is an option on the DSDP? Remember, those options are NOT for the dealer to just make a higher profit. They consider resale/trade in value also and what they are competing against. Usually, you should look at the next model line DOWN since you do not want the higher dollar options. Kind of like in the old days. You purchased a Chevy instead of the similar model Oldsmobile. Will you be trading/selling in less than 5 years? If so, reconsider a few of the options. When you sell, you will be competing with the models that have the higher end options. You build your house but forgo the Granite and other hi dollar interior upgrades. The rest of the neighborhood has those from build. WHO sells their home first down the road? Not you. Buyers expect those items when they buy that used house. Doug

3882DOUG wrote:
I am looking at ordering a 40' Dutch Star coach with far fewer options than those the dealers stock. Most dealer's coaches have $40,000 plus in options. I am looking at about $12,000. I have included heat pumps, all electric, front overhead tv, docking lights,
baggage door locks, keyless entry, pass thru storage tray, individual window awnings and a kitchen window. I am leaving out options such as
washer/dryer, central vac, dishwaswher, freezer, exterior entertainment center, satellite dish, energy management system, power shades and Girard awning package. I am not leaving these options out
just to keep the price down, I just don't think I need them. Any options I should reconsider?

I would add in the washer/dryer sat antenna, and power shades for all windows. For us, we use these constantly on our summer 5 month trip. We do have the girard package but I'm not sure we couldn't do with just a different power awning as long as it was as large as possible. If the Girard is larger than that would be a consideration.

My Travel Trailer does not have a washer/dryer, a central vac, a dishwasher, an exterior entertainment center (unless you call the television I take outside an entertainment center?). Mine does not have a satelite dish, an EMS, or power shades. I do have an electric awning (which is nice). Not sure what a GIRAND awning package is, but I'm sure I don't have that either.

And you know ... I don't need or want any of those things either.

My wife is the dishwasher, she runs the vacuum sweeper, the refrigerator has a freezer section (separate door), and I go fetch ice, the entertainment center is a stand alone television, we got rid of all satellite television a couple years ago and use the bat-wing over-the-air television programming only, if we loose power there is no need for an emergency electrical system ... we just use flashlights and use the propane stove, and I crawl inside the pass-through storage to get whatever I need.

So you know ... I think you've got it covered pretty good! Enjoy camping!

Congrats on your new upcoming purchase!

Keep all those upgrades, it will help when you sell or trade in the unit. And we very quickly learned that you cannot live without those items once you become accustomed to them.

Go to NADAguides.com and check the value of the coach and see just how much, or how LITTLE those options add to the value of the coach for resale.

I would get what I want and not give a dang about investing for resale

But yes I would keep the ems power management, some places only have 30 amp power
And I like the central vacuum, but another vacuum will work, you just have to store it, make sure you have the closet space,

Washer and dryer are handy if you mainly use hook up sites
A water wasting nuisance if you primarily dry camp

Out side entertainment center, not for me,
great for tail gating events
Sports parties etc..which we don't do

We use our manual awnings a lot
Electric, well..depends on style and size
I'm not fond of the scissor style support that can't take Any wind at all
Don't have that type and can't comment on reliability

The Dealers don't give a rats most of the time what options it has on trade in. We like options, so when we looked for used we turned away from most that looked "stripped", but that doesn't mean the next guy didn't buy it.

I will say most options cost you far more to have retrofitted later, mainly because they are harder to wire in and high labor vs the factory. The guy before us figured he wasn't go to use an outiside TV so he didn't get it, and it is going to cost me twice what he would have paid on the order for me to get the factory type TV installed.

As long as you are certain what those options do and do not want them I fully agree to leave them off. Only thing I miss is dual pane windows... maybe those are standard.

MrWizard wrote:
I would get what I want and not give a dang about investing for resale.

X2

Generally speaking, dealers don't take under consideration the value of options when you trade in your coach at a later time. Ask me how I know.

Get what you want and skip the costly useless bling.

heat pumps? a waste IMO