First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
This post is intended to be helpful to the first time buyer of a motor home. For those of you who don't fall into that category or believe this post is incomplete or off the mark, do us all a favor, a...
Forum Discussion
I have a hot one. I have asthma. We bought a used 2002 Monaco Diplomat from DeMartini's in Grass Valley, Ca. Let me say up front, I think they are best RV dealership in the world. Let me continue with our problem.
IF YOU HAVE ANY BREATHING PROBLEMS, MAKE SURE THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE USED COACH WAS NOT A SMOKER.
My wife and I test drove the coach and she complained of a cigarette
smell. I did not smell it and told her it was probably the chemicals
they used to clean it. Timmy DeMartini was with us (Tim's son) and he
said he did not know.
Making a long story short, I am "new" to asthma, just having been
diagnosed about 6 months ago. Things in the air, cigarette smoke,
whatever...I don't always recognize what it is that makes it so hard
to breathe. My mistake.
I LOOKED AT THE AD, IT DOES NOT SAY "NON SMOKER". THAT IS YOUR CLUE
TO AVOIDING THE SITUATION WE ARE IN. Not only do you need to pay
attention to what the unit has, but look for what it doesn't say.
I did not pay attention to that part and the dealership put plastic
over the carpets to protect them. DeMartini was not hiding anything
from the public, they are better than that...and they will work with
me if I can't use the coach. My wife has cleaned it 3 times now, with
the 6 brush carpet cleaner thing. It is supposed to clean everything
out of your carpet, especially allergens. We hope we can get all the
smell, etc. out.
Something I learned buying large boats...take the ad with you and look
at every single thing advertised on the unit. Make sure it works.
Buy from a good dealer. We had a dealer in Sacramento in the late
80s or early 90s who was convicted of fraud, etc. He went to jail for
a year or two and is now in business again, under a different name.
I want to emphasize again that DeMartini's are the best dealership I
have ever had the pleasure to deal with. They have offered to work
with us on resolving the problem. Even if we have to sell this coach
and get another one, they will try to "make it right".
Take care and read the ads carefully.......Dave
IF YOU HAVE ANY BREATHING PROBLEMS, MAKE SURE THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE USED COACH WAS NOT A SMOKER.
My wife and I test drove the coach and she complained of a cigarette
smell. I did not smell it and told her it was probably the chemicals
they used to clean it. Timmy DeMartini was with us (Tim's son) and he
said he did not know.
Making a long story short, I am "new" to asthma, just having been
diagnosed about 6 months ago. Things in the air, cigarette smoke,
whatever...I don't always recognize what it is that makes it so hard
to breathe. My mistake.
I LOOKED AT THE AD, IT DOES NOT SAY "NON SMOKER". THAT IS YOUR CLUE
TO AVOIDING THE SITUATION WE ARE IN. Not only do you need to pay
attention to what the unit has, but look for what it doesn't say.
I did not pay attention to that part and the dealership put plastic
over the carpets to protect them. DeMartini was not hiding anything
from the public, they are better than that...and they will work with
me if I can't use the coach. My wife has cleaned it 3 times now, with
the 6 brush carpet cleaner thing. It is supposed to clean everything
out of your carpet, especially allergens. We hope we can get all the
smell, etc. out.
Something I learned buying large boats...take the ad with you and look
at every single thing advertised on the unit. Make sure it works.
Buy from a good dealer. We had a dealer in Sacramento in the late
80s or early 90s who was convicted of fraud, etc. He went to jail for
a year or two and is now in business again, under a different name.
I want to emphasize again that DeMartini's are the best dealership I
have ever had the pleasure to deal with. They have offered to work
with us on resolving the problem. Even if we have to sell this coach
and get another one, they will try to "make it right".
Take care and read the ads carefully.......Dave
