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New Prevost Buyer
Ok… I know this question probably has been asked 1000 times. I am purchasing my 1st Prevost. I am buying from a wholesaler. So, I have to go fly see the coach and buy it with my limited knowledge, but i have been asking several questions, and i have test driven a few, and I have had diesel pushers for 12 years. I will not be able to have it inspected by a Prevost service center befor buying, so any in sites would be appreciated. It is 2001 h3-45 dbl slide vantare.
I have had the change to do a FaceTime on the coach, got to love technology. I know you can not substitute that for actually touching and feeling it, do I take a chance to buy it site unseen and pay the seller to deliver it?
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22 Replies
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I started a thread under provost lifestyle a few months back anod it has had some excellent feedback. There is also a thread about a recent purchase that experienced some issue’s on 1st trip out which thru this forums feedback the new owner is getting great feedback and after the sale dealer satisfaction. With the cost to purchase, cost to repair, and complex systems involved in a Prevost I plan to touch & feel many coaches and meet with many dealers / owners prior to purchase. I have to say that there is No Way I would purchase without doing a per purchase inspection, and I would also inquire on this forum if there was any experienced owners that lived close to your purchase point that might act as a 2nd set of eyes.
It could be difficult to address issue’s after the fact.
current potential issue’s I have picked up thru the Forum.
Delam issue’s on XLII’s
Tire age
Battery pack age
Overall weight of coach, weight on each axle, unloaded weight / loaded weight
AC types, temperatures and maintenance
Slides, factory / aftermarket
Differences between Entertainer Coach / Motor Coach
Different builders and access to service from those builders, or access to service if builder is no longer in existence.
Status or braking system and transmission.
Has the unit been used to tow, and if so what, weight of towing done. What is the tow package on the unit rated at and is it factory or aftermarket improved.
I am sure there are many more, this is what I would be looking at with any potential I look at, then after I got past that I would look for the experienced 2nd opinion from other local members who might be close to your purchase point.
The experience on here is amazing and also appears to be very helpfull in any way that a member ask’s
The big thing I think is to ask prior to the purchase if at all possible for help, and I think the support experienced would be paramount.
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Gregg, where is this coach located ?
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Ggreg,
Ditto what Corey said, where is it, we may be able to offer some suggestions for pre-buy help. I would not buy it sight unseen and have it delivered, you’re opening yourself up to a nightmare. Without a 3rd party PDI from someone qualified, you could be spending lots of money after the sale.
Here’s a good article Jon did on pre-buy: Pre-Buy
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Don’t but it sight unseen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take the time now or you will be taking the time latter with your own bucks. The other thing to consider is hire or pay expenses for someone on this site to go inspect it. Believe me it will be the best and cheapest money you’ll spend. If its in Calif ill do it for free. 559-901-6426 or you can email me at
sidtuls@yahoo.com -
Greg,
do you mind sharing who the wholesaler is? I just bought a 07 Marathon H3 and was pretty open about who I was dealing with… you will find that this is a small community and everyone knows eveyone. I agree I would not but sight unseen and I would definately have someone that knows what they are looking at. The PDI that my coach went thru… resulted in about 15K of repairs all of which the seller paid for as part of the deal we struck.
Good luck
Bill
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Hi Greg!
We just spent two days doing exactly what everyone here has suggested. There were two buses we wanted to look at in Tennessee. Both with identical floor plans and just one year apart in age. Over the past year we have read this forum faithfully, gathering as much information as we could. Still we knew there was no way we could make a decision on our own.
Jon volunteered to meet us and walk us thru the process. It was eye opening to say the least. Right here I want to say, I don’t care how many pictures you see or how many additional pictures the seller is willing to send you, you have NO idea what that coach is like until you get there. Also, no matter what you are told, you must not take any of it as gospel until it is proven. You don’t buy a Prevost on faith.
This process is huge. It needs to be approached logically. Methodically. Wisely. Who cares if there are blemishes inside or out if the batteries are shot or the OTR won’t run or the tires need replacing?
There is no way to put a value on the experience of the past few days. Jon is constantly teaching. His vast knowledge is amazing. We probably would have missed half of what he showed us. Traveling to meet Jon, we believed one of these coaches could possibly be “The One”. It is more likely that neither will be without a great deal of concession on the part of the seller.
We are driving home as I write but not the least bit discouraged. Our heads are full of new thoughts. We have ‘felt’ the space. We will go again soon to look at more buses. We will be on our own this time but we will be better prepared.
Thank you Jon! You have no idea how grateful we are for the time you so generously gave us.
Oh, and before I forget, Jon……Rod says thanks for helping him with that cell phone issue. You are a techno-genius!
Nancy
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Arizona is where the coach is located and I live in Orlando. I will have to fly to see it.
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Read the article, it was very helpful. It would be nice to be able to purchase the coach from a private seller that has had the coach a long time vs a wholesale dealer that buys and flips the coach. There may be hidden issues.
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Greg,
You do not know what you do not know. I am not being a smart aleck. There are so many things an owner knows it will blow your mind. As a non-owner you cannot begin to understand all of the clues that are available to you in evaluating a coach that can point out areas of concern. I would strongly suggest that at the very least you get a nearby Vantare expert or owner to participate in the inspection with you.
Start with an understanding of the market price for the coach you are looking at and assume those prices reflect coaches with everything working but normal wear and tear. The start with the big stuff. Age of tires, age of batteries, condition of AC units based on the temperature differential between return and supply air temps, leakdown rate of air systems, and clues as to the level of maintenance. If there is no proof of maintenance assume you have to do a 100% (expensive) maintenance event that includes engine, chassis, transmission, coolant, etc. Place a value for all the items not right and that need repair and subtract those costs from the purchase price. Compare that to what the market seems to value the coach.
It really doesn’t matter how much is wrong with a coach as long as the price reflects what it takes to make it right. But as a new owner it is very difficult to deal with a coach with a lot of stuff wrong because you are already overwhelmed trying to learn the coach. Your previous RV experience is not going to offer much help.
If you can get past the review of the big issues, then begin the detailed inspection / training process. That can literally take a couple of days and you need that to evaluate things that take time to show up such as if the coach leans, if the air systems leak down, and if all the devices and systems work.
The cynic in me suggests you try not to put too much faith in what a selling dealer tells you is “normal” or “that is how they all work” unless the dealer can prove a considerable level of expertise with the conversion. I have owned coaches for 23 years and I am not qualified to offer detailed help on anything other than my Liberty and then it will be limited to my experience. I could not help other than in general terms on other conversions since each converter has their own way of designing the systems. This is especially true of Vantare who has a unique electrical system. Contact them for some insight.
Good luck.
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Oh, and before I forget, Jon……Rod says thanks for helping him with that cell phone issue. You are a techno-genius!
I certainly hope all you folks picking on my can and string communications expertise you notice my ability to give Rod expert advice relating to the operation of a cell phone. He is a guy who can make his phone work as a GPS or surf the internet, or do all sorts of other magic tricks but he had to turn to me for advice on how to do something.
Actually he was putting his phone number in my phone and didn’t know how to add a space. I had to show him because he didn’t know how to work a flip phone that has no camera, texting, voice mail, apps, GPS, etc.
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Rod & Nancy,
Are you sure you were with Jon? It was all going well reading about your tire kicking until I came to the part where you referred to Jon as a Techno Wizard of Cell Phones! That’s when I fell off my chair laughing so hard. This is the same guy who has 2 cans and a string in his grease pit and can barely sort out functions of his flip phone.
You must have found another Jon in your travels 🙂
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What about batteries, what are the things I need to look for ?
House and chassis?
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Greg can you share any info with us like Year, model, converter, and any photos, price? Someone on this sitge may even know this coach.
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Greg:
I was in your position several months ago and in the market trying to determine best methods of researching the used coach market, specific used models and how to reach an ultimate decision of which brand coach builder to buy. Somewhat overwhelming!!! Made a January trip to the Tampa Prevost show and didn’t take long to determine we needed to buy from a dealer that offers a full PDI.
We took delivery last week of a used XLII single slide from Liberty in Stuart, FL. Expensive but you get a top of the line product with service and a full PDI that backs it up. Assures all systems work, batteries, tires and expendables are all changed out at time of delivery. The entire staff treated me and my wife with the same attention to detail they provide someone that spends the big bucks on a new coach as i witnessed first hand. As we made interior changes to floors, furniture, systems, etc. all to which they were more than accomodating and showed attention to the details that were important to us. Our coach was delivered as promised at our stated and agreed upon budget with no surprises or hidden charges.
My first time buying a bus / coach / motorhome of any type so decided i would start out with a top of the line product that would give me many miles and time of service… Since delivery, We have spent (4) four nights and driven 900+ miles and the experience has exceeded my expectations! I believe there is no substitute for doing your homework and if you are looking for a bargain in this class, it will be back in a fiberglass motorhome.
Prevost has a reputation as the best and now we have experienced why, especially teamed up with Liberty. After building 700+ coaches since 1978 you can see why Liberty strives to not only do it right, but continually looking to improve their product!!!
Regards,
Brady & Trish
Lafayette, LA
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The coach is located in Phoenix AZ. If anyone is close by that can help a newbie out, it would be appreciated. I am tring to get there this thurs 6th.
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