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COACH COMPLEXITY
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A good example of the cost of these obssolete items was the CC Glass Dash I use to have.
Run and operated on a computer running windows 3.1 and a display unit that is no longer available.
My option and only option, a $10,0000 dollar SilverLeaf replacement which is first class and really works well.
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In defense of the cost to repair or replace items on our coach we all do have to realize that a 15 year old coach in today’s market might be bought for $150,000 (I made up that number) and it might have 150,000 miles on it.
We know from the fleet owners’ experience that 15 year old coach still has a whole lot of miles of life remaining. But despite the fact 20% or less of its life has been used up, we are buying it for less than 10% of its replacement cost. So basically we can buy a 15 year old coach, and then spend a similar amount of money to recreate it with everything we can dream of new or updated and we still haven’t anywhere near the cost of a new one, yet we possess a coach with all the systems we desire and a life none of us will wear out.
The problem is the market is cruel. It undervalues our coaches and when we do make substantial investments in updates it barely moves the meter when it comes to price.
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But Jon … isn’t the market cruel to everything that is higher end? Like cars, boats, yachts, airplanes, and oftentimes real estate? The notable exceptions sometimes (except for any real estate I buy!) are primary homes and second homes.
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The items you mention don’t have an obsolescence problem. You can get replacement parts
But what about the automated homes????????
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As most of us on this site are mature (most kind way to say it) and retired we all are facing a grim reality as well as most Americans that have worked hard and have accomplished much to be in the positions we have. As the reality of hyper inflation looms on the horizon and the cost of everyting goes up in price, tires, fuel, the ability of those later to afford to buy our assets deminishes. Sure to replace a Coach, Boat or Airplane new is outragious in price the sale of used asset inflated by monetary policy can not afford to be purchased by more and more Americans. Sure my vacation house will appreciate in value right along with inflation but who of those younger will be able to afford to buy it from me with what they face today. Most have limited disposable incomes for a second home, boat or airplane and the government policy of inflation makes normal living more and more difficult and expensive. I sometimes feel good when I see my portfolio increasing or my real estate keeping up with inflation or even worth more, but I worry who will buy it from me when I want to sell. Families face stagering health care costs, education committments to their children and normal living.
Sooooooooo, I figure I will use, enjoy the assets I have and not worry about selling; the market will tell me what it is worth when time comes to sell. I can try to set the selling price but the actual selling price will be what someone will “be able or willing” to buy it for. I might get angry or feel the buyer is trying to lowball me, but look at who is in the market to buy assets now vs. 15 years ago. This Country is suffering and the disparity between the top and bottom is getting greater than ever and the middle is disappearing.
I guess my post is related to enjoy what we have and not be unhappy or angry when selling assets don’t meet our expectations. If anyone wants to get angry get angry at Washington, they are the bad guys.
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Well said Michael, that pretty much puts in all in perspective.
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Jon,
In my business how about dealing with,15 IPADS,7 Flatscreen T.V’s, Media Center with 10,000 Movies on a Hard Drive,2 Tracking Satelites,2 Lap top Computers, WiFi for 20 plus devices,Plus the normal Stereos,DVD players,etc. I miss the days of a single VCR and a couple of a/b switches. Getting to complicated for a OLD Entertainer Coach man. Going to have to go back to school to keep the T.V. On!!!
Robert
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I have zero concerns about adding devices and features. If it makes sense to have 10 TVs. 3 satellites, 4 pocket doors, remotely operated dump valves, etc. go for it.
What I am concerned about is the shift from controlling those devices with a switch such as the AB switch you mention to a whole coach system that requires special (proprietary) programming, electronic devices we all know will be outdated in 2 years, and multiple layers of devices, all of which have to function in order to accomplish what a simple switch or relay will do.
Technology has both improved our coaches and made them worse. On our original coach most of the house used 12V DC power for a lot of the lighting. But some of the lighting was 120V and to get that power to the light we had to select our power source by turning a big black knob. We had to select shore, generator or inverter power. We could be plugged into shore power but the lights, outlets or appliances would not work unless that knob pointed to shore power.
The second coach had an automatic transfer switch so all of a sudden that coach became a joy to live in because the transfer switch took care of figuring out how to get power to 120V devices. Admittedly when we wanted music or TV we had to push an AB switch and use remotes, but that was the most complex thing we had to think about. Everything else had a switch. Push the switch and the door would open or the light would light. And the switch was right where it needed to be.
The system was more complex than the first coach systems but with a little effort I could make anything work if it broke. And it rarely broke. The total repairs on the electrical system in 8.5 years was for me to replace 2 relays.
Today we likely have similar reliability but I am no longer in control. I don’t have the depth of knowledge to know what I don’t know. And worse, I wonder what will happen if any of the manufacturers of devices stops selling and supporting them, what happens if a repair requires programming, and what happens if the system is obsolete and the coach needs a new control system?
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No thanks, I’ll stick with Fox, but we can’t go any further with this or we’ll violate our PC rules.:)
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Sorry about that!
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Jon,
I am Sorry, I didnt mean to upset you talking about the options my New/Slighly Used Coach has. It just seems in my business there is NEVER and end to the wants of the client.It is getting silly all the electronic devices they expect and demand. A nightmare for me to say the least. My first lease coaches had 19″ T.V’s and a V.C.R. and everyone was happy.The front lounge of the new coach has 4 flatscreens in there alone.Now days if you dont provide all these goodies you are operating a outdated coach. The Coach I am purchasing is a 2013 X3-45 with a Front Slide,The reason I went this route is because it has a Detroit in it. I am NOT ready to take the chance with the Volvo engine running my schedule. I am getting updates done to it by the converter and it only has 49,000 miles on it. The interior is having some things done to it to suite me,Solid wall dividing the driver area and the front lounge with a pocket door, 2 burner cooktop in the galley,interior lights and a bunch of little things. It is going to be a electronical nightmare for me in the begining until I figure things out a litttle.Just wanted to explain why I said what I did in reply to your post.
Your Friend,
Robert
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My old coach was built in 1991 and has the KISS method (keep it simple stupid) and I like it that way. No fancy stuff to raise my blood pressure. There’s enough to go wrong without the high tech goodies.
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Robert,
I understand completely. You are working in a different arena than we who use ours as a motor home.
I actually can feel your pain because if you have your coach all set up with the latest and greatest some one will come along and want Amazon instead of Netflix or they will want the TV to link up with their home security system so they can see if their pot stash is still safe or some other additional complexity to an already complex system.
Our complexity becomes second nature for us because once we learn it we are OK. We may have to make a phone call or two before we realize to reboot the system we need to turn off the rear outlets, but once we learn things we tend to use them properly. You on the other hand as your coaches keep pace with the latest and greatest are going to spend time when you could be sleeping teaching your customers how to operate the various features without breaking something.
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Jon,
How true are your words,It seems that no matter how much you offer there is someone that wants something different. My first Eagle,The way you switched from Shore to Generator was you unplugged the plug in the bay and plugged it in the appropriate receptacle you wanted. Now so much happens that you dont see,it amazes me at times. I have a Media Center on the new Prevost that has a Hard drive with over 10,000 movies stored on it,There is NO WAY they will ever all be viewed. It is getting out of control. I have more invested in IPADS than the 20 KW Generator that powers the whole Coach. This will likely be my last ride as I am turning 51 and am going to try to keep this one going for 10 years,I think I will call it done after this.We shall see.
Robert
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