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Newbie Looking to Purchase a Prevost Coach
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Hi Dick
Thank you for your candor end the wealth in information regarding the years, models and some of the features to look in a coach which are extremely helpful for me .
In the extremely short time measured in hours that I’ve joined this group I have learned so much. I’m impressed by the vast knowledge base the members of this site possess and the willingness they have shown to help. I look forward in drawing from that knowledge base .
If you think of anything else I welcome your input.
Thank you again Dick for your help. Much appreciated!
Dave
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Hi GI-Joe/Dave,
We are in the process of purchasing a 2003 Prevost XLII Liberty Lady Classic non-slide from Olympia Luxury Coaches (just outside of Nashville…they are currently moving to a new, larger facility – don’t know that they’ve updated their website with the new address, yet?).
Meanwhile, you can contact General Manager/Partner: Austin Hicks at (615) 686-9960 or Brad Land (806) 662-2632 to see what makes/models of Prevost coaches they have available…and, to see the differences between the various Converters.
Our coach is going through Prep and having several things addressed to “bring it back to (nearly) Zero.” Although we’ve owned several high-end vehicles over the years, we recently spent six days with Austin and most of Olympia’s exceptional technical and mechanical teams and witnessed the absolute perfection of several coaches they just released for delivery. We have built a high degree of trust and appreciation for their skill sets; and their commitment to ensuring each coach is extremely re-conditioned to “as new” mechanical and safety standards before the new owners drive off!
We have also heard great things about Jeff Rowe and East Tennessee Luxury Coaches.
An overall perception that we’ve picked up on from visiting several dealerships/converters; and months of reading various Prevost forums…is an overall consistent excellence of workmanship and timeliness for being able to make appointments and turn-around/completion of any work from both the converters and the many Prevost Service Centers. Which does not seem to be the case with most of the larger production RV manufacturers and dealerships.
The quality of a Prevost is undeniable…they are built to last (which is why we are hoping to have ours for the next 25+ years!). And, solid as a tank!
Good fortune in your search. Will caution you that if you see one that is “right for you” – condition, mechanically, layout, etc. – jump on it because they go quickly.
That said, we lost out on several (while we were waiting for assets to sell for making a cash purchase…don’t like to carry any debt). Fortunately, we ended up having everything time out just right and were able to purchase the “best for us” coach!
Now, we just need about 25+ years experience to learn everything about it!
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A lot of great advice here… Hope “Badfitter” chimes in also as he had a great approach to his Prevost bus purchase by buying a slightly less expensive coach than his total budget leaving the necessary dollars readily available to SIGNIFICANTLY update his bus both mechanically and technologically. Also, check your email.
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Buddy,
I have already apologized for mistaking Tom and Nancy as being owners and I should not have to do it again. I really thought they were closely attached to this forum but are simply long term members and frequent poster.
No need to take a dig at me and my coach. We hope to remain with the Prevost comfort and convenience and are looking for a newer Prevost. No one will take this in trade so we will likely have to donate it to a charity to get rid of it as we full time and have no way to own 2.
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Bill, I do not know where you are getting your information from, but for the record Tom and I own Prevost Community. Our wives are not owners, but suffer through the time we spend on our computers daily administering the site.
Tom has owned 7 Prevost conversions and as he stated above he owns something other than a Prevost for reasons he stated. I don’t know why he felt he had to explain his reasons why, but he was gracious about it and did explain.
I have had 3 Prevost conversions and still own one.
Even if Tom and I did not own a Prevost we both have and are willing to share information we have learned during our years of ownership.
For the record members of Prevost Community do not have to be owners. We suspect all our members are Prevost enthusiasts to one degree or another. Ownership of anything including a Prevost is not a requirement.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
What are your thoughts regarding financing a coach? Are there any benefits to financing a coach? Should there be a combination of cash and financing, or a straight cash transaction?
Who on this site (if you do not mind me asking this personal question) has chosen to finance in lieu of paying cash, or vice versa?
Regarding financing: Do you have any recommendations regarding a financial company that you felt would be the best choice for financing a Prevost?
Thanks in advance for all your thoughts, recommendations, and help. I appreciate it more than you know.
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Greg, Deb,
Let me first say congratulations on your new Prevost coach! You must be happy way beyond words.
I wish you many years of happiness, health and safe driving. Enjoy the heck out of it!
Thank you also for your dealer recommendations and your thoughts on purchase timing. I’m going to give the dealers a call.
Thanks again.
Dave
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This is purely a personal practice, but we struggled to get where we are today, and as such decided to not borrow to buy depreciating assets not related to a business purpose, or “toys”.
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Thanks Jon, that view makes sense to me.
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Especially if you are purchasing an older coach…it can be difficult to find a bank that will finance what they likely view as a fully-deprecated (or, 90%+) asset.
Jon and Tom have secured a couple banks as Sponsors of the Prevost Community website that might be able to help (particularly as they understand what a Prevost’s value is vs. a typical RV).
It seems that all new Prevost and other RV’s depreciate exceptionally fast during their first 5-years or so. The trade-off is that they are newer (parts probably more readily available) and therefore, warrantied.
Although some folks believe they can purchase a Prevost coach for less directly from the Seller (as is)…and, while that is likely true. I am not mechanically qualified for as complex and large-scale systems as found on these busses. Therefore, purchasing through a reputable Dealer (for which we believe Olympia is the pinnacle) and having them “bring the coach back to zero ~ as new” is a great route to take – for us.
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I have a lot of respect for dealers and brokers that know Prevost coaches and are willing to make the huge effort required to restore one to a very reliable condition.
But as a buyer the ultimate responsibility lies with you to understand enough about the chassis and house systems to insure those items that might require attention will get the needed attention. The best and only way I know to do that is to insure the coach has highly detailed and complete maintenance logs or some documented ongoing maintenance program.
It is a lot of work doing the investigation as to what a coach needs, but someone like Austin who will try very hard to deliver a great coach is going to have a very difficult time knowing if important things like fluid changes or critical parts replacements were done without those detailed records.
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One of the best options for financing may be your local banker. We’ve used a bank and a credit union for many years. Neither knew what a Prevost was, so we educated them. They both then bid for our business. Our banker actually became quite excited about Prevosts and ultimately earned our business with better rates and service than the credit union.
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Hi Jon,
Absolutely 100% agree with you (and, your many exceptional Articles posted in Prevost Community) about the importance of Maintenance Records. Excellent advice!
In our case, this is the 3rd time in just over 10-years that Olympia has resold this coach…meaning, at least three Level III services during that time from Olympia, alone. Fortunately, there were five boxes of records, manuals, drawings, etc. that also came with the coach.
Nevertheless, we are still going to have Prevost perform a DMI, when they do the front wheel alignment…and, get Detroit Diesel and Allison Transmission Code Reader print outs for on-going Maintenance records.
Prevost will also perform the delamination check…there might be a corner of one panel that needs re-glued (hopefully, not requiring the rivet correction?).We thought about holding off on purchasing until we had Prevost’s work done. – but, the coach went through a PPI with Gil, a PDI with Austin and Bobby and it really was in exceptional condition (including mechanically). The layout is perfect for us and we didn’t want to lose out on this coach.
Olympia is going over everything from brake chambers, pads and discs; new tires, we’re having them put Centramatic Wheel Balancers on all axles and a new Pressure Pro TPMS system; (6) new Lifeline batteries, reworking water compartment; air bags and hoses checked (will also have Prevost check these and coolant level, as well), new charger; we’re putting in a new refrigerator, etc. Also, having the area from the front Entry door – throughout the cockpit reupholstered. Replacing (1) Cruisair, re-building two and Level III Service on all four. 20KW Kohler Generator has already been re-wired and serviced. New LED headlights, fog lamps, side lights and docking lights; new Entertainment Center, too. We are changing out the solid Hunter Douglas shades to Duo silhouette shades; and the cockpit blackout shades changed out to White…to refract the Florida heat away from the coach (as you’ve recommended).
Was thinking about putting in new Inverters but, there really aren’t many dependent systems (no slides, no air doors, no Crestron/iPads, power awnings, etc.) with a Classic. So, not sure what would really be gained by changing out the (2) 2500 watt 24 Volt Heart Inverters for full Sine Inverters?
When done, we believe this will be about as current as a Classic can be…and, the fact it has 160K miles – means it has been driven, cared for and hasn’t spent an inordinate amount of its life undergoing repairs. At least, that’s the theory we’re going with! 🙂
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Jeff,
You won’t hear from Badfitter on here, he asked to be removed from PC with no explanation, so we don’t have a clue. You can reach him on POG and POG Facebook, he’s a regular there.
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Greg,
I can understand your logic regarding buying from a reputable dealer, and I agree with that logic.
If I should go the other way (purchasing directly from a seller), I’d intent to have someone that is qualified to go over the coach fully. A private seller wouldn’t give me the luxury of a warranty (even 90 days) so that would surely be a point of consideration.
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