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Coach disappointment
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A & M, I can certainly see you needing to replace those airbags. I’m just wondering whether the Prevost system that keeps you level in corners may be harder on the airbags?
Regardless, once we get “our” Prevost (It will really belong to the bank for a while;), I am thinking annual visits to the Prevost/Marathon service center, and I’ll rely on the techs there to tell me what needs replacing or repair. Not sure if I can leave the bus service part to Marathon, or make separate visits to Marathon and Prevost service centers. Want at least an initial look by Prevost. I want the mechanical aspect of the coach to be in best possible shape, and everything working as advertised. -
I would have Jeff Rowe check it out for sure, and do all the service work done on it, he can do it all one stop shop
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I echo what Al said earlier. I also have purchased two pre-owned Marathon conversations from Marathon Coach, both from Marathon Florida location. My buying experiance on both coaches where second to none. Marathon went above and beyond on every aspect. They did everything they said they would do without hesitation. To me these days that says it all.
Bill
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The beauty of bus ownership is the owner can spend as little or as much as desired to maintain the coach.
But in the end if maintenance is deferred it sometimes gets significantly more expensive than if it had been done in a timely manner. Push the age of tires and risk the cost of a roadside replacement or worse serious damage as a result of the bad tire. Ditto with failed air bags. When one bursts you risk damage to a coach that is now sitting 4″ lower than the ride height and which has no suspension to absorb bumps.
Ignore the Norgren valves and trying to keep the coach level in a campground becomes a challenge.
The cost of ignoring the coolant change schedule could be a new engine.
These are not imagined issues, but issues that have been reported often on this forum and others. To buyers, pray you do not end up with a coach that looks great cosmetically, but has not had any effort made to deal with needed maintenance. Ask folks whose coaches did not have air system maintenance how much it costs to remediate the damage.
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An interesting P.S. to the initial post: I happened to Search in Youtube for a2001 Prevost, and ran across a sale video posted two years ago. It was the same coach we looked at in Phoenix, however, when we saw it, the coach had received new fabric trim, reupholstered chairs and new bedspread. So, whoever had it the last two years until it was put up for sale went to the trouble of sprucing it up, without paying attention to the tires etc, as we noticed. I shudder to think of what other surprises would be in store on that coach.
P.P.S.; Is there a reliable person in central Florida who could inspect a coach?
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It would be dependent on the conversion, but in general my first choice would be to have they guys at Parliament (Ben and Rick) do it if possible. I would also feel comfortable with Tradewinds. If it was a Liberty I would take it to Liberty in Stuart, a Millennium it would go to Millennium in Sanford, a Vantare Parliament or Donny Meyers.
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Jon,
That is, after doing your own PDI, are you saying to take it to one of these places to just inspect the “coach” or also the chassis?
I thought you would need to go to Prevost for the chassis, engine/transmission analysis?
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A pre-delivery or pre-purchase inspection is not a black and white process that never varies. The purchaser and his skills and Prevost experience play a large role. The available documentation influences the inspection process. The seller and any warranty determines if the coach even needs an inspection.
When I bought my coach from Liberty I had documentation regarding the skin issue, I knew Detroit Diesel had adjusted the engine and the coach was fully serviced. So my inspection was a combination of operating everything and being trained at the same time because Liberty was going to stand behind the coach. I still spent almost 2 days going over the coach, its systems and even viewing the underside.
At the opposite end of the spectrum would be a purchase of a coach “as-is” with no warranty. If it was an XLII and had not had skin repairs or documentation of a recent inspection by Prevost the coach would go to Prevost for an inspection or I would walk away. I would go over the coach with a fine tooth comb either by myself or with the aid of inspections by experts.
Somewhere in the middle would be a well documented coach and in that case the depth and scope of the inspections would be determined by the information available. Keep in mind however that I am speaking for myself. Someone who has no previous Prevost experience should not go forward with a purchase unless and until they know what they are getting into because there are so many things they may not know it is best to get as much help and advice as possible.
This is not intended to scare buyers, but to make buyers aware an after the purchase surprise can cost a lot of money. Fortunately the coaches tend to be reliable, but to rely on that is risky.
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phil found my bus i made the deal great deal fixing older coaches is a must i got all books and records complete package i like phil followed him a while almost had a train wreck with a 2000 h3 country coach than called phil and had a happy ending TAG1
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