trading for bigger DP?

lj2654 wrote:
thanks for all the ideas, I haven't decided if I want to attempt to buy or not yet. I know mine is 6 years older but also know that everything is in great shape. Afraid of making the wrong decision.....and is 42-43 ft vs 40 ft gonna change the places I go to.?

It all depends on the turning radius of the two coaches. Why don't you test drive it and see?

lj2654 wrote:
Well, Today I saw an RV I really like. The one I have is great 2001 Beaver Contessa 40' double slide that's in super shape.

Today I looked at a 2007 Holiday Rambler Imperial 43' 4 slides with 98000 miles. Price seems low to me compared to the book values and that baffles me. Asking $149,000 but books at 175,550 low retail.

All I see at first look are the tires which are 3010 dated so good for 2 more years. I saw a very few spots on the paint bubbled, but very few. Haven't drove it yet or been on top to look, but everything I could check seems to work ok. All the bells and whistles, and 50,000 in upgrades when bought new.

They have had it on the RV lot for 6-8 months now at $169,000. Just dropped the price yesterday to $149,000. What else should I be looking at for a deal on this coach....?

I'd beware too, since the price isn't book. But, the poster that said the mileage is keeping it from selling at the higher price is valid. Sometimes they realize they'd better drop the price, or keep it for sale. Might want to see if you can get another $10K off the $148K, since they're already in discounting-mode.

lj2654, we started with a 42 ft. Dynasty and never had a problem going where we wanted to go. We moved up to a 45 ft. (didn't want Dennis to have a longer motorhome, ha!) and still go where ever we want.

Now that we are 65 ft. in length, a pull-through site is always desirable but not a show stopper if I have to unhook. I don't think you'll find any problems going where you want to go as you are used to 40 ft.

With a 42/43 ft. unit, you probably will not gain any under bay storage because of the now added tag axle. But you will enjoy the stablity that the tag brings. A tag helps the motorhome go straight and speed bumps are softened with a tag. It also helps hold down porpoising (it's what I've read but we have always had a tag).

As long as the unit has good service records, the miles are not a problem. We did have to have 4 anti-freeze boxes (including the original). Finally, the last one was the charm.

Good luck,
MM.

thanks for all the ideas, I haven't decided if I want to attempt to buy or not yet. I know mine is 6 years older but also know that everything is in great shape. Afraid of making the wrong decision.....and is 42-43 ft vs 40 ft gonna change the places I go to.?

The price reflects the hundred thousand miles as one with 50,000 miles would go for $175K. I would not worry about that amount of miles as long as the rest the coach is not overused and the generator does not have thousands of hours on it.

Check to make sure that it does not have any flood damage. There were quite a few vehicles flooded during the floods in the mid-West. They are usually sent out of the area to put up for sale.
As I know from my own experience when our Jaguar was totaled,it takes a few months for the info to show up on CarFax. By then our Jag was repaired and sold to an unsuspecting buyer.

Are you trading or buying outright? The only real price is the difference between the two. They could drop their price $10k but lower your trade by $10k and the difference would be the same. Do your research. That Imperial is a beautiful coach and you'll be really happy with the extra room and the two slides. Determine a FAIR price for your trade before you go in to negotiate, then do the math as they work you over. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work but at least you will have been able to keep your sanity during negotiations. Remember, these 'salesmen' usually have more experience negotioating than the average joe....let us know how you make out....Dennis

On edit: Below is a coach like yours altho a year newer that sold in March of this year for $ 42,995. Maybe use that as a starting point..D

Beaver Contessa Naples