should I consider older diesel pusher?

I feel the price is too high. For what they are asking you can find a newer motorhome. Granted the motorhome you are looking at is very unique in that it has bunkbeds which may not have been original but added by a previous owner. I looked at American Coach's website and they only had brochures back to 1999. They did not show a bunkbed option.

If you have to have the bunks then make them an offer. But look at all the dealership offerings to get an idea of prices here in the Northwest.

Good luck.

peaches&cream wrote:
$25,000 is dreaming. NADA says:
1998 American Eagle

M-40EVF (325hp)

TOTAL PRICE: $252,840 $18,950 $22,850

I would offer $15,000 and negociate from there.

And they'd say that you were dreaming because this is a M-40EV

S

-- the "S" is for "slide out". Notice that there's a slide out in one of the ad's photos.

The online NADA values on a M-40EVS are a bit higher:

Low Retail = $43,450
Average Retail = $52,350

I think the dealer has still priced the RV too high. If you're paying cash, you should definitely be able to get it for less. Just be prepared to walk away.

People talking about 20,000 for this vehicle are to low. The slide adds to the desirability for most people (read that as added sale price), I don't have one and do not miss the problems that come with them.

I paid 42,000 for our 97 American Dream, with 65,000 miles, 40 would have been about right.

The Eagle is one step up from the dream and is a very nice coach.

If it has had good maintenance on the chassis (ask for records or that is an negotiation) the miles are fine.

What you have to be prepared for is the "small" stuff Refrigerators, A/C, Heat, Hot Water, etc, be sure to check each unit.

My biggest problem has been finding quality people to work on my unit. I haven't. I am now committed to doing it myself.

For a feeling on what that means see my projects

If you do not like what you see when you look close walk away, there are a number of quality older coaches out there looking for a new home.

If you pay 20,000 there will be too much wrong with it otherwise the owner will want more money. 40,000 is a reasonable price.

The bunks take up a lot of room, if you don't need them look for a floor plan without them.

Our coach is 39 feet long, and most of the time it is just the two of us. The couch folds out for guesses when we have them.

As far as power goes, I pull a 10,000 pound trailer (that is a whole other debate) with my 325 HP engine which is just fine. Not sure what people are doing with the 600HP rigs they are buying today. On long steep grades I get down to 45 MPH but and still passing tractor trailers. Driving faster that 65 MPH in a soft sprung coach is never racking.

20000 and no more

Yeah, the DW started out with "We'll rent". I don't know why she is worried about towing because I do all the driving. Anyway we went to Hatteras for 3 days and rented from Enterprise - you know, the "We'll pick you up" people? Well, that's just marketing. We rented a car in Kill Devil Hills and the DW had to drive it 45 minutes over narrow roads and bridges.

Added to the must have list after that trip - "Big enough to tow something"

You will eventually be towing something. Think ahead a few years when you will want ATVs for kids at the dunes at Winchester Bay! The rental car thing will get cumbersome or non-productive with a 40' DP.

Excellent choice of rig. Highline model of American Coach.

Be sure the engine has enough Torque for the weight of the rig.

Closet storage might have been lost when the bunks were installed. Closets are quite small in these rigs anyway.

Try 30% off the asking price with no trade. (I was able to get that years ago when buying a 7 year old rig.) The dealer may have left room in the asking price to take in an upside down buyer's rig on trade.

Inspect the rig carefully, then buy it happily.

I also tried the rental car. I was outside of Atlanta, called Enterprise and they had no one to pick me up but if I could get there they would have a car for me. I got a ride there. They had no car available and now I am 10 miles away from my motorhome. I never gave them a second try. Taxis are expensive.
As far as MPG, it is directly related to speed. You could find a few MPG difference between 60 and 75 mph. Mine is a WH Gas 8.1L and if I go 62 mph I get 8.5 MPG. If I push to 70 I get 5-6 MPG. 62 is the speed when my OD does not kick out on small inclines on the road.

RedJeep wrote:

Mountain Mama wrote:
How are you going to get around without a toad, especially with the kids?

Plan is to rent cars at the destination.

Hi RedJeep!

Renting a vehicle will give you an idea how difficult it is as some locations don't offer rental cars depending on where you are going. We rented RV's 3 times before we purchased our first motorhome. Our cars were not set up for towing so a car rental was the only option.

We could not get a rental car in Sedona, AZ, in 2005. The big rental companies only rented at the airport if you were flying in. We found a 'used' car rental place and finally were able to get a vehicle. In 2004, we could not get a rental in Guerneville, CA, as they didn't have a car agency there. Since we rented a Class-C RV, we just unhooked and toured the wine country in that.

The convenience of having a toad along with you is a plus in a couple of ways. First, it saves a lot of money on a rental, second, if your RV breaks down, you have an escape plan. In 2006, we took a rental RV to Lake Tahoe and the only rental that was available was a mini van. It cost more but we had no choice.

On that same trip in 2006, we were in Napa, CA, at a state park and called Enterprise to come pick us up. There was a 2 hour wait as they were under staffed.

Safe travels,
MM.

Mountain Mama wrote:
How are you going to get around without a toad, especially with the kids?

Plan is to rent cars at the destination.