Simple question?

[Dwight45]

I've found a 2003 Monaco that meets our criteria but we have only seen pictures. It's powered by a Cummins 400hp engine and has 125000 miles on it. Price is mid 60's without any negotiating. It's a 2 day drive to see it so I was just wondering if it would be worth the drive to see it. The 400hp is one of the attractions. What do you think?
Thanks.
Dwight

[tropical36]

Dwight45 wrote:
I've found a 2003 Monaco that meets our criteria but we have only seen pictures. It's powered by a Cummins 400hp engine and has 125000 miles on it. Price is mid 60's without any negotiating. It's a 2 day drive to see it so I was just wondering if it would be worth the drive to see it. The 400hp is one of the attractions. What do you think?
Thanks.
Dwight

Only thing close to that price asking would be for the Dynasty Series Regal 400hp, but with that many miles, I wouldn't pay near that.
Don't know of any 36ft 03, with 400hp and with the 300 and 350hp, the price offering would be considerably less.
They can ask whatever they want. Getting it is always the hard part.
Never will figure out, why so many private sellers think that they can get more than high retail, when Dealers even sell them for low book and below on occasion. With no trade in, just flash the cash on the last day of the month, for one that has been sitting there for awhile and see what happens. Did I mention not to be sitting comfortably and being on your way out the door, with check book in hand.

[oldave]

wolfe10 wrote:
Don't know about Monaco, but our 2003 Alpine ABSOLUTELY did have the ISL 400 HP with engine compression brake.

Don't know when the ISL400 was introduced but the story I heard
was in those yrs Monaco was flying high and bought engines in
volume perhaps for a better price .
Sometimes this placed them behind the market when new engines
were introduced by Cummins.
When emission controls were placed on engines people were glad
to get last yrs engines in this yrs coaches .

[Executive45]

mike brez wrote:
2003 brochure

I missed the page on the 03 Dynasty Princess 36'. 🙂 Somethings rotten in Denmark. Just sayin..

My money says it's a 2002 not an 03. Depending on number of slides it'll either be a PSB or a PST. Mid 60s is way off the mark for that coach....Dennis

[wolfe10]

Don't know about Monaco, but our 2003 Alpine ABSOLUTELY did have the ISL 400 HP with engine compression brake.

[Ivylog]

oldave wrote:
I didn't know Monaco ever made a 36 ft Dynasty
Also they didn't introduce the 400 ISL until 04

Don't put any money down until you are sure it's on the up & up .

SCAM ALERT, nothing about this rig adds up...no ISL 400 in 03 and the shortest Dynasty with a tag (03) is 38’.

[4x4ord]

I often buy stuff sight unseen. It usually works out.

[AllegroD]

Can they stream a walk around and through. Then you would know if the drive to inspect would be worth it. I would not spend that kind of money without eyes on.

[mike_brez]

2003 brochure

[wolfe10]

Yup, as as much (or more) to do with expectations than power or power to weight ratio.

We have had DP's from 250 HP to 400 HP and, setting reasonable expectations, have never had a problem.

[gswcgi]

You don't need a 400HP diesel to more than adequately tow a 5,000lb load. I have a 2003 Safari with a 330HP CAT 3126E diesel and tow a Nissan Xterra 4X4 always loaded with a total of 5,000 lbs. I live in Reno and everything is uphill from here. I have never lacked for power even climbing over 8,000' passes here in the western USA.

[oldave]

I didn't know Monaco ever made a 36 ft Dynasty
Also they didn't introduce the 400 ISL until 04

Don't put any money down until you are sure it's on the up & up .

My bro in law found a great deal in Fla that wanted some money to hold
the coach and start the deal
I told him not to send money but go see it, if he wanted I would go with him .
When he told the seller that , he hung up and the ad disappeared along
with the phone .

[westernrvparkow]

Dwight45 wrote:
A little more information about the 2003 Monaco. It's listed as a Dynasty Princess 36. I couldn't find info on it so I emailed the seller and they said NADA info was available under 2002 stats but I couldn't find a 36' model. The 400 hp and 36' length were the reason I was looking at it. I'll be pulling somewhere around 5 - 6 thousand lbs trailer into some tight spaces. Thanks for all of the responses, I'm still shopping and in no real hurry.
Dwight

It is likely to be a somewhat rare bird since most buyers of diesel pushers go big. That also means at resale time, the 36 foot length may become a sticking point. The 400 Cummins has a good reputation, especially once it gets a few miles on it. Problems generally appear right away. There is no way I would ever buy sight unseen. One person's "good" is another person's "Yuck". You might consider flying to inspect it if indeed your trip is a full two days. Between fuel and hotels the cost would likely be close to the same. An added bonus is we are now into November where weather can be a driving issue if the rig is up north. If you buy, you don't have to worry about getting your car home if you don't have it already set up as a towed.
As a practical matter, the 400 will more than tow your trailer, though you may dog it down on steep inclines. Personally, I doubt the difference in maneuvering ability between a 36 footer and a more common 38 to 40 footer is noticeable. And a 45 with a tag can turn as sharp as a 38 without. Good luck.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Hi Dwight45,

I assume you have exhausted all the more local (closer to you) RV dealerships & private sales for a coach that fits your needs? I can't imagine (myself anyway) needing to go that far. But if what you seek is truly that rare so be it. My response is YES YES YES you have to see, smell, drive, inspect, what you are buying. My second coach was purchased used from a buyer 4 hours out from me one way. I made the trip twice & purchased/took delivery on the third visit. That was not a small amount of windshield time.

[Nutinelse2do]

According to nada, if it’s the triple slide, average RETAIL is 52k.
If its a single slide, average retail is 50k

There are a whole lot of coaches out there with half the mileage. If he is willing to negotiate, it could be worth a trip.