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Good advice..

[Peter]

if most people would deal with you and get PDI or have it checked out it would not be a problem at your place , or if they get there coach serviced at your place people could call you to verify that info when buying a coach from someone who has had all service work done at your place or most of it , that would make buying a coach easy

Good advice buddy

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Jeff, do you have definition/suggestion of pre purchase inspection and projected cost. The conversation that I had with Prevost N.J. Defined 2 PDI’ available. One being more expensive than the other, gentlemen at Prevost said he would do the lower level because the cost difference was not going to get any better information.

do previous buyers find that sellers (Dealers/Private) are willing to work with buyers to have someone do a pre buy inspection. What have you found to be the best way to negotiate this inspection.

I met with a notable sales person and when I asked questions based on what is learned off this site I recieved negative feedback about what “sites like this create”. At the same time I have had very positive feedback & experiences from other dealers/resellers.

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I just got bit by that dog. A prepurchase inspection would be very good insurance.

I believe that the dealer that I dealt with on the recent purchase of this coach is straight and can be trusted, but that his tech basically pencil whipped his inspection. Since a lot of small discrepancies were overlooked, I now don’t feel that I can trust that the important items were checked. According to the dealer the tech has been terminated.

I have a check scheduled with the Prevost Car facility in Jacksonville on Wednesday 4/1 to get a baseline from where I can start with Prevost suggested checks and service and also to know the status of the coach conditionwise. I don’t know what it’s going to cost, but under the circumstances I expect the dealer to cover it. I’ll keep the group advised. Again, I do not have any reason not to have confidence in the dealer at this point. If he comes through it will be a big feather in his cap. If he doesn’t, I think that he’ll have much unwanted bad press.

I’ll keep the group posted as we move along.

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Your notable sales person probably would rather go back to the old days before forums where the buyer was mostly in the dark and paying dearly for the privilege of buying a coach. I’m sure you remember those days where some folks were so happy that the notable sales person sold him that coach only to learn quickly the siphoning of his wallet had just begun.

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I have looked at coaches for friends. I am not in the habit of running around looking at coaches or inspecting them, but because of distances on several occasions I have been asked to take a quick look at a nearby coach and report back on my impression of the coach and if it has been properly described by the seller.

There is little that is as depressing as dealing with sellers who will lie to sell a coach. What is more depressing to me is if the buyers have no Prevost experience they are easily taken advantage of, and may end up with considerable unanticipated expenses.

As Jeff points out a person looking at a coach needs to be a cynic. If the coach is represented as having routine maintenance ask for proof. A detailed log book, a pile of receipts, a collection of work orders or some other documentation that shows continuous maintenance is all the proof needed. If you hear “I had my mechanic do all the work”, or “I brought it to Prevost every year”, or “it was serviced by the converter” but the seller says he did not retain the paperwork then assume the work was never done and you are facing the expenditure of serious money to bring everything up to a known starting date. Also expect to have to repair some damage due to lack of maintenance. Or hope you are lucky.

There are buzz words used by owners who wish to appear honest. When you ask pointed questions about when certain maintenance was done or if any parts have been replaced to a schedule if you hear “I can’t remember”, or “I don’t know” it just means the selled cannot tell an out and out lie, but is still being deceptive if the real answer is “never”.

I will admit that in the short term it is pretty hard for the lack of routine maintenance to severely damage a coach, but there are still costs associated with the lack of proof of maintenance. Perhaps the greatest risk is to the engine or transmission. Both require fluid changes, coolant for the engine and Transynd for the transmission. If those fluids are not maintained both can be damaged to the point where a rebuild or replacement is required.

But there are other maintenance tasks that also protect the coach, and if they are not done or there is no proof they are done the new owner may have to spend a lot of money to get them done if fo no other reason than peace of mind.

Advice to owners who one day will become sellers………..save every shred of documentation relating to the maintenance and repair of the coach. It is more valuable than you know.

Advice to buyers……………….an honest seller will be more than willing to allow you to get the coach inspected by a third party, will show documentation of maintenance, and will not make any claims of excellent maintenance without being able to support the claim with documentation.

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I bought a 2000 model, so I was not expecting a perfect coach, but the thing that sticks in my craw the worst is the fact that the dealer took advantage of me and my lack of knowledge as far as Prevost/motorhomes. I love my coach and am pleased with what it is today, but I’ve probably spent $15000 getting it to where it is now, in spite of the claim of the dealer that he was intimately knowledgeable about this coach and its impecable condition. Just one example: new batteries in the first month. For a newbie, that was not only a shock to my wallet, but, belatedly, it yielded insight into the morays of my selling dealer. Disappointing, for sure!!! Sadly, it is the kind of thing that would prompt me to warn my friends to steer clear of that guy, unless you force the issue of a (third party) inspection, or take your own tech with you when you pick it up. Live and learn….ty

[Joe]

It should be pointed out to folks new to Prevost ownership that you do not know what you do not know.

These coaches are intimidating. The first time anyone looks at one their mind suffers from overload. There is so much to the average Prevost conversion it is impossible for someone with no Prevost experience to properly evaluate a coach.

From past comments most buyers are pleased with their purchase, describe the experience as a good one, and never felt they were taken advantage of. That does not mean a buyer can ignore common sense and not do a complete inspection on a coach.

There are also levels of trust when buying a coach. Generally if the coach is being purchased from the converter and the converter is willing to stand behind the coach and take care of any repairs for a period of time that relieves a great deal of the burden from the buyer. There is real value in that kind of purchase.

A buyer who is purchasing a coach from a dealer has to dig a little deeper into the inspection process when buying from any dealer, but especially one that does not specialize in Prevost coaches. The dealer however may provide some comfort by offering a warranty or a repair policy for after the sale service. We have dealers who advertise on this site and whose reputations are so good PC members often post about how pleased they were with the purchasing experience. I think it is fair to say some dealer sales are as good as it can get, but it is up to the buyer to know who they are dealing with and make sure any after sale support is clearly spelled out and understood.

Buying a coach from an individual puts 100% of the burden on verifying the coach condition on the buyer. Most sellers are good honest people, but rest assured some are cheats and liars. If that scares you as a buyer I have accomplished what I wanted to do. As a buyer there are several steps relating to the purchase I would never do without. Get a reading of the engine and transmission from a Detroit (or Volvo) and Allison dealer. They will give you a great sense of the history and health of those expensive components.

If it is an XLII I would get Prevost to do a skin inspection unless the delam issue has been resolved. The permanent fix involves not only resealing the panels, but riveting them and then covering the vertical rows of rivets with stainless steel strips that are all but invisible unless you are looking for them.

I would get an independent inspection from the converter, an experienced tech, or an owner of the same conversion to verify the overall house condition, including working all components and systems.

And I would personally look at the overall condition including date codes and clues all of which reveal if the owner was fussy and detailed or sloppy and careless. Do not be taken in by tire dressing and low miles, neither of which is very important.

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Lots of great advice! O.k., so can you direct me to the “reputable” dealers? I’ve called several the last couple days and none of them offered any type of warranty once you purchased the Prevost. That’s always a concern as you clearly articulated.

Also, RVs in general are complicated machines, but are Prevosts “more so” over the plastic DPs?

[Chas]

If I was a dealer and someone asked me how much of a warranty was offered that would be my answer. But anecdotal evidence that is sprinkled throughout the posts on this forum that show the dealers do their best to make things right.

It has been my personal experience that upon inspection of a coach I was buying I found a few minor problems and before I could drive the coach away the dealer had repaired or was completing the repairs on the items I identified. I have had exactly the same type of experiences relayed to me by buyers who dealt with other dealers also.

Any purchase from a dealer can be made subject to an inspection. I am not going to start listing dealers I recommend because I don’t want to omit any by accident, but I am certain other members will be more than willing to share their experiences with dealers.

I’m confident in saying based on personal experience and the feedback from others that expressed or not converters do stand behind products they sell.

I would not feel comfortable buying from a dealer that might be selling the first or only Prevost he has ever seen. But I believe I am correct in saying the dealers listed on this site are very familiar with and experienced with Prevost coaches.

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There he goes again posting those 8 cylinder words. Standby, I have to find my Webster to lookup “anecdotal”.

I’ll be right back.

[Peter]

One needs to bare in mind also that “Stuff” “S_ _t” happens… whatever you choose to call it…

A perfect example would be Jon,Tom or Peter, who stay ahead of the maintenance on their coaches can leave on a trip with a seemingly perfect coach and have a first time problem with something… it happens all the time so some items are not overlooked in a PDI… new problem? more than likely !!

Just my two cents worth,

Diane

[Andre]

Truer words were never spoken.

[Corey]

I agree with you Diane, today was getting ready for my 8 month tour, and opened webasto door and found packing nut on engine preheat leaking antifreeze , tightened nut all good now

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