Forum Discussion

Sborish's avatar
Sborish
Explorer
Sep 12, 2018

Should I buy??

Hello RV Enthusiats,

My wife and I have been contemplating buying a rv for a couple of years now. We’ve been renting about twice a year costing upwards of $1500 each time.

Low and behold someone in our neighborhood is selling theirs! It is a 1984 Itasca Sunflyer 22’. Perfect size for us. I think they will sell it to us for $6500?

I know the underlying concerns are many. This family has a very nice house, they take great care of their cars and the RV is immaculate with only 33,000 miles. The husband is a former mechanic and holds an important job with a public school district. Of course we do not want to spend a bunch of money on an rv and the styling and condition of this rv really appeals to us.

Curious is anyone has experience with this rv and may have any info on red flags before we make the purchase.



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  • fyrflie's avatar
    fyrflie
    Explorer III
    Sep 14, 2018
    Nadaguides shows a low retail price of $8500 without any options using a California zip code.

    Don’t know where everyone else gets their information.

    However, make sure you do a good inspection of major ticket items. I.e. tires, roof, fridge, etc.
  • Walaby's avatar
    Walaby
    Explorer II
    Sep 14, 2018
    fyrflie wrote:
    Nadaguides shows a low retail price of $8500 without any options using a California zip code.


    Maybe because it's California. I personally can't see spending that kind of money on a 30+ year old RV.

    Mike
  • free_radical's avatar
    free_radical
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2018
    Sborish wrote:
    Hello RV Enthusiats,

    My wife and I have been contemplating buying a rv for a couple of years now. We’ve been renting about twice a year costing upwards of $1500 each time.

    Low and behold someone in our neighborhood is selling theirs! It is a 1984 Itasca Sunflyer 22’. Perfect size for us. I think they will sell it to us for $6500?

    I know the underlying concerns are many. This family has a very nice house, they take great care of their cars and the RV is immaculate with only 33,000 miles. The husband is a former mechanic and holds an important job with a public school district. Of course we do not want to spend a bunch of money on an rv and the styling and condition of this rv really appeals to us.

    Curious is anyone has experience with this rv and may have any info on red flags before we make the


    Seems like very low milage for such old rig,,could be that someone turned the odometer back!?
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Sep 15, 2018
    Walaby wrote:
    fyrflie wrote:
    Nadaguides shows a low retail price of $8500 without any options using a California zip code.


    Maybe because it's California. I personally can't see spending that kind of money on a 30+ year old RV.

    Mike


    I'd much rather spend that kind of money for a 30 year old RV that's in good shape and has been well maintained than on a 10 year old RV that has not been properly maintained!
  • Fizz's avatar
    Fizz
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2018
    Put it all in perspective...
    An overseas vacation for two weeks will cost you more.
    If you get five years out of it then sell it for half what it cost you, did you lose money?
  • 2gypsies1's avatar
    2gypsies1
    Explorer III
    Sep 15, 2018
    It appears you know the family and you know their background and how their home and yard is kept up. I think you could get some good RVing out of it IF they've been using it regularly and it hasn't just be stored without use. That's not a lot of money lost if you have to have a major repair. Sell it for parts.
  • fyrflie's avatar
    fyrflie
    Explorer III
    Sep 16, 2018
    Walaby wrote:
    fyrflie wrote:
    Nadaguides shows a low retail price of $8500 without any options using a California zip code.


    Maybe because it's California. I personally can't see spending that kind of money on a 30+ year old RV.


    I put in a random Georgia zip code, near Atlanta, and Nada returned the same pricing.
  • CharlesinGA's avatar
    CharlesinGA
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2018
    It won't have fuel injection, and I would not touch a carburetor. Carbs have to be used regular and frequently or you will have lots of trouble with them. I mean like driving it every week, even if its only to Wal-Mart and to the grocery and back. Fuel injection doesn't seem to care how long it sits, I don't understand why, but that is the way it is.

    Charles
  • Ralph_Cramden's avatar
    Ralph_Cramden
    Explorer II
    Sep 24, 2018
    fyrflie wrote:
    Walaby wrote:
    fyrflie wrote:
    Nadaguides shows a low retail price of $8500 without any options using a California zip code.


    Maybe because it's California. I personally can't see spending that kind of money on a 30+ year old RV.


    I put in a random Georgia zip code, near Atlanta, and Nada returned the same pricing.


    That is because the free online version is generalized. Its not the same as the paid subscrition.

    When you put in the zip code it goes into a database along with the particular brand/model and that's then analyzed and used to analyze demand, along with lots of other data they collect, that ends up in the regional subscription versions such as estimated market values in geographical regions.

    It works well with cars and other motor vehicles, not so much with the limited RV market and its constantly changing brands and models made in limited quantities.

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