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This may be my coach!
Just wired a deposit on Marathon 2000 XLV #0599. Does anyone know anything about this coach? I asked for all records and Marathon said they would ask owner to release them. I will order a PDI along with Detroit dealer, which is near Marathon in Oregon, to inspect. This coach has new tire and coach battery, but will inspect myself after the engine and transmission pass. This will work, just hope all is well. Any info would be welcome. This coach is on Marathon web site and prevost community.
Thanks
George -
22 Replies
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The only thing we did not like about this coach is the short couch, which from what Marathon said, does not fold out to be a sleeper. If you don’t need extra sleeping place, that would not be an issue.
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Thank you for bring that issue to my attention. I do need a pull out couch for me when my mother-inlaw wants to go, that’s where I will have to sleep. Anyother negative or issue that come to you attention. Did you drive the coach? There seem to have one drum that is not functioning properly, so I assume the coach will need new breaks.
george -
If there is a brake drum not functioning the first thing I would do is verify it has all disc brakes. If in fact it has drum brakes on the drive axle I think I would walk or run away.
Nobody should sell a coach that has known brake issues, especially if they are on the drive axle because that is the brake location that does the most work.
If it does not have drum brakes on the drive axle I will run away faster because people selling you a coach with a brake defect should also be smart enough to know what kind of brakes it has so they can repair them.
That should make you wonder what else is wrong that you are going to find out the hard way.
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I second what Jon said
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I find it very hard to believe that Marathon would sell a bus without properly functioning brakes. Could there be some sort of misunderstanding?
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Thanks for the advise on the breaks. I will check tomorrow on the type of break and extactly what the issue is. To be fair, the sell man told me, after a test drive he notice the issue. That will be part of final issue before any more fund trade hands. I’m trying to buy this coach using all I have learn from this site and having a hard time with my emotion running away with the thought of making my dream come true. But at no cost will I buy someone neglect and place their failures on my shoulder. Just keeping this coach tip top and getting as close to O As fast as my money can hold out, is a job in itself. I know you all have heard it before. But without you and the love of your prevost, I be lost.
Thanks again
George -
It’s an XLV so it will have drum brakes on the drive axle. We did not drive the coach, just talked to the salesman about it. Once we realized it did not have a sleeper couch, we were no longer interested.
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George, I know my post was harsh and it was intended to be harsh.
As a new owner you do not know what you do not know. That is not a criticism of you but a statement of fact every one of us has experienced. We all could overlook problems more experienced owners would quickly identify. So as a potential new owner you need to rely on people with expertise to guide you along the path leading to ownership.
The minute you said the seller told you the coach had a brake problem all sorts of warning flags went through my mind. First, this is not a private sale. That places a heavier burden on the seller because they should know more about the coach than almost any buyer, and secondly they should have gone through the coach with a fine tooth comb, and corrected issues before even presenting it for sale.
That coach has been around a while so an issue as serious as a failed brake should have long ago been taken care of. With my brain thinking along those lines I am immediately wondering what else is wrong that has not yet been taken care of, or worse what else is wrong that a buyer is expected to identify before it gets fixed.
I’m sure I am going to be in trouble for this post, but I want you as a buyer to be well aware you have to proceed with the utmost caution, and if you buy a coach thinking you can take care of some of the issues that pop up, you would be wrong. A coach with problems can be overwhelming.
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jon
your post was well received and not taken any other way. You are correct on the fact I need the help of the fine group of owners. You can’t beat experience period. I will call today on the break issue. I will ask if they are drum breaks. I will also required a complete break job or I will walk. If I where to sell this coach I would make it perfect to command top dollar and to save face, or lower the price. I been looking for a long time and if this one will not fit, I will keep looking. I do not Pandora box for my first coach.
George -
George,
A brake problem can encompass a lot of issues, each of which can signal something else.
The drum brakes (if that is what is installed) can have an issue with worn out linings, which likely means all brakes probably need pads and linings. If the problem is inadequate braking because a leaking hub seal has coated the shoes with grease may mean a hub seal replacement and possible shoe replacement. It could be a failed diaphragm in the brake chamber, in which case a new brake chamber can solve the problem, but might indicate all brake chambers are old and in need of replacing because the diaphragms are rubber and age causes issues.
It could be as simple as a brake that is out of adjustment because it has a bad self adjusting slack adjuster. A brake hose may be leaking and close to failure, also indicating others are suspect due to age. My point is the problem is not only getting the brake fixed, but determining if the needed repair is a signal the problem or potential problem is greater than a single brake.
That leads to other questions, depending on the answer as to what broke. A 99 model year coach should not have the original air bags, brake chambers or maybe even Norgren valves in the suspension because age takes its toll on rubber parts. If the seller does not know if the parts listed are original or were changed as preventive maintenance you may have to assume they are original, in which case you are potentially facing some relatively expensive repairs.
We have had extensive discussions about maintenance logs. Nothing is more revealing of a coach history than detailed records. The lack of records is not a sign a coach has not been maintained, but it could be and that is where a buyer is in a quandry. There are so many important maintenance events that have to be done, a coach can suffer if they have not. Just the simple task of maintaining the air system will pay huge dividends, but failure to service the system routinely can end up with a repair cost that is very expensive.
To do an adequate job of inspecting a coach a person needs to really know what makes them tick, and it takes a lot of time to evaluate the coach condition. Some items cannot be inspected. How will anyone know if coolant has been changed as required, or transmission fluid and filters are changed when needed? None of this even speaks to the issues that can be part of the house as opposed to the Prevost chassis.
If you like this coach ask hard questions. Very hard questions about the maintenance history. The phrase “I don’t know” as a response from the seller to a hard question is often code for I would rather not discuss this.
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George , what year of coach or what are you looking for ? Because there are some coaches for sale on this site from members that I can asure you are in better shape than the one u are looking at from 1994 to 2006 are the ranges of coaches for sale from members on this site from 40 ft to 45 ft . Don’t know why people want to always buy from a dealer , I have heard more horror stories from people who bought from a dealer some are ok but you must know your stuff when you look at it , One coach I looked at for a buyer looked great to him drove good , after I looked at it I told them it would take 50,000 to be top shape and I was off buy 30000 . So be carful when buying!!!!!!!!! When buying from a private party or a dealer
I have also heard a lot of horror stories from people who bought from private parties
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It’s a consignment coach likely being sold as is and Marathon certainly wouldn’t let a brake issue go unresolved if it’s a safety concern. An “as is” sale it just that, then you either negotiate the needed repairs with the seller or move on.
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Tom raises and excellent point I should have recognized from the beginning. If this is a consignment coach the owner may be tying the seller’s hands and not allowing the seller to put any money into the coach for repairs. My comments about my concerns still stand because as I first said a brake problem that has not been repaired is a strong signal.
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George, where are you located? The reason I askis if you are close to a Prevost inspection center, that would be the best place to do a chassis inspection. In previous discussions with Marathon, they were ameniable to relocate a coach I was interested in to their Texas outlet, which has a Prevost shop 3 miles up the road. Marathon will do an inspection on the house items, but I would prefer Prevost to look at the chassis items. As Jon said, the brake issue could be anything from a minor issue to serious repair, and Prevost will do lot more comprehensive inspection than a truck shop. It looks like a nice coach, but be aware major work could easily top $50k.
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XLV rivet coaches have disc brakes only on tag and steer. Drive axle will only have DRUM brakes. H3-45 will be disc brakes on all three axle for model Coach 599 is. This should be priced mid to upper 100’s.
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