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New used bus
We finally are getting some time off and hope to buy a new used Prevost. If anyone is thinking that now might be a good time to sell, please let me know. We are looking in the 1998 – 2001 range and need to stay in the 150,000 or under range. Prefer 40 feet and XL but may have to go to 45 and/or H. Obviously, no slides.
We are in Las Vegas and heading to Tucson to visit family but we can travel anywhere.
Thanks all.
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46 Replies
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Yes it is for sale 99 xl with rivets 45 ft Vogel converson
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Bill, do not be concerned about 40 feet. After about 15 years of 40 foot ownership we got our 45 foot 97 XL and the first thing you are going to notice is with the model year range you mention it will turn in the same or less space than the 40 footer because of the IFS.
Free advice: Stick with rivets. You can send me the money you save on fuel going from about 5.6 MPG to as much as 8 for my free advice.
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Nice 98 XL Vantare in the ads on forum right up front
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Bill
IFS ( independent front suspension) starts about vin T-5873. A 1997 XL. Dont if it was 40 or 45, but I think it was a 45 XL Marathon
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Jon
As a guy that is also looking are you saying that a pre EGR engine or a 40 foot would get around 8 MPG. Not that it is that important but better fuel mileage gives more money to but parts for the bus.
I talked to a dealer yesterday about a 2001 asking if the dlam had been checked. He said Prevost rips people off on that subject and no need to check. Along with the other questions he evaded I think I will take your advice and move on.
Fairly reputable dealer in Arizona.
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That guy lied to you.
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Two points. A lighter coach XL, not necessarily the heavier XLII with a 12.7L driven carefully is more than capable of impressive MPGs. I consistently got 8 with my 97 45 foot XL until they messed with sulfur content and it dropped to a consistent 7.5 MPG.
My previous 5000 pound lighter coach with an 8V92 got a consistent 5.6.
My numbers are based on total gallons used and miles travelled over long periods of time, like a year or more.
As to being a serious consideration, lets pretend the average owner gets 6 MPG and travels 12,000 miles annually for 2000 gallons. If he got 8 he would save 500 gallons of purchases or at current discounted diesel prices less than $1000.
In terms of cost of ownership that barely moves the meter because the greatest expense is annual depreciation. Sadly no matter if we have a coach with almost zero depreciation or one with staggering depreciation, at the ed of the year they may cost the same to own. On one you eliminate depreciation, but pay for that savings with more needed repairs due to the coach age. With the newer coach you have depreciation, but a lot of the parts that age or wear out are still doing well and you do not have the expense of maintenance an older coach has.
As to the comments about Prevost screwing its customers whoever said that is not living in the real world. First, parts are not cheap anywhere. We can buy a lot of our bus parts at places other than Prevost and if we are happy with spending a few hours doing price comparisons and happy with some lesser quality parts we might do better than Prevost. But that is only on some parts. I have never been able to get better prices on air bags. I think they may sell them for less than anyone. I buy almost all my parts from Prevost, except for some that are priced out of line, like brake chambers I go elsewhere. My point is Prevost is not cheating us or screwing us. When I consider all I have bought from them, I really doubt if I could have saved enough to justify the time spent checking prices and making sure I got the right part.
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Our 97 CC 40′ is consistently in the 8.5 MPG range driving the mountains of the west coast. CA has a 55 MPH speed limit while towing so it is always a leisurely drive when going south from here. Going north or east we drive the truck speed limit. We have the IFS so I have no experience with a beam axle unit. Lift the tag and the turning radius is impressive. Many of the places we stay in the west would be difficult for a 45′ unit so we remain happy with our 40′ non-slide.
Jerry
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Jon
Just to clarify the dealer was referring to dlam repair specifically not overall cost of parts. His comment was Prevost charges $30 -$50 k when you can pull back the panel and add glue and done. I know this isn’t the right way to fix the issue. This was the third dealer that doesn’t want to go the way of inspection. FRUSTRATING!
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Dade, stop seeing and speaking to that dealer. He is full of shit.
Maybe just to be clear, he may be selling coaches he repaired that way so anything he says regarding skins and the condition of the skins on his coaches is suspect.
Skin delamination is a non event on rivet coaches. There have been some scattered but generally rare reports of issues with the skins on the H model coaches. But there have been issues on XLII model coaches. Let’s be real clear on this. When the scope of the problem was made apparent Prevost stepped up to the plate and fixed coaches with skin issues. There were some exceptions to their generosity such as a coach with a questionable service history or heritage, but for the most part if they tested a coach and found any delamination they determined what the fix would cost and usually authorize the service center, often Jacksonville to perform the repairs. They did not pay for the paint work required so the strips that covered the rivets would match the paint job, but they ate the cost of repairs.
Those repairs could have been cheap if Prevost was out to cut corners. But they did not cut corners. They had a well engineered skin repair procedure that totally and forever eliminated future issues and assured that the coach would never have water entry from behind skin panels. It was a very expensive repair and if they wanted to cheat or screw anyone they would have done as the salesman said, slapped some glue behind the panel and sent the customer on his way.
But they did not. I’ll let others on here who had the work done provide you with greater detail, but Prevost rarely failed to pay for needed skin repairs. Now after so many years have elapsed Prevost is no longer supporting the repairs at its expense. that is understandable because everyone was proided with ample notice of the repair program and those that chose to not participate may have had coaches with skin issues.
You may share my comments with the salesman. They are harsh, but accurate in my opinion. Tom and I learned a great deal about the repair process and how Prevost chose to make them correctly at great expense. They did them the right way and paid dearly for doing them the right way.
Having said that. the Nashville service center that does extensive work on entertainer coaches has developed successfully a method of resealing panels without the expense of the rivet process. They have been doing it for a long time now and with success. But it is not easy, it is less expensive than the rivet repair, but not cheap. If you want specifics call the service center because in Nashville they are trained to do either type of repair and can give you some estimates on cost. But like the very extensive rivet repair process the bonding only repair process took a great deal of development, has a relatively sophisticated process and requires a great deal of attention to even the most minute detail. That is why you may have seen a lot of mentions on this forum about only taking skin delamination issues to Prevost and to trust someone lacking the skills, training and knowledge of the materials that need to be employed is not the best choice.
BTW, we are not shills for Prevost. In this case however Prevost stands pretty tall for doing things the right way and for eating as many dollars of good will as they did to get past this issue.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
O was at Prevost Winter Garden a few weeks ago and they had this new XL3 in the shop. Not sure what they were doing, but interesting to see the framing under the skin.
Chuck
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Hi Jon,
is there a particular name/title and phone number at Prevost Nashville to contact regarding conducting a full delamination check; and, their non-riveted repair procedure? Sorry, new to all this…if it is already available elsewhere.
Thank you,
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Per Mira Loma Service Center
Basic patch panel kit with no panel replacement,. $27,000
Complete panel replacement and patch panel rivet kit $40,000
Painting is EXTRA, done somewhere else.
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Chuck
No one said anything the 1st time you posted that picture.
1st off there is no XL3, there is an X3 but that bus ain’t one of em with stainless. That framing is for the composite sides they put on Greyhounds and seated coaches.
For you new guys out looking at coaches it’s hard enough without some idiots out in AZ doing YouTube stuff on delam that are using headlines for click bait and don’t have a f*^king clue what there talking about.
Your best help are from owners who have been in your shoes, there’s plenty of us out here. Let common sense guide you.
Later
bv
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Greg/Deb, As new owners I hope as part of the inspection process your coach was tested for delamination. Tom and I an others have used a lot of bandwidth stating clearly if you are buying an XLII it must get an inspection at a Prevost facility. The reason I say that is your seller may have had that done and should be able to provide the paperwork.
However, if it is not done, and if you suspect issues you can contact any of the service centers and ask for a complete test of the coach for delamination. It is my understanding a large percentage of the former Jacksonville work force is in Winter Garden at the new facility there so I would bet the expertise developed in Jacksonville is still available. Jacksonville was the lead Prevost service center for skin repairs.
But if other locations are more convenient to you contact any facility and I think if you press 2 you can ask for the service manager who can set you up for a test.
Good luck. Including paint these skin repairs can approach $50,000.
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