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Assuming you have pinpointed the specific year range and converter, and established your budget you are more than halfway to making an informed purchase.
If you are bouncing around about model year, model and converter you will never be able to accumulate the knowledge required to make the best decision. Focus is critical.
When you do begin the search be prepared to not believe anything a seller is telling you. If the seller does not tell you outright lies, you will often get “I don’t know” as an answer to your questions. Start with making sure you like the coach. Forget colors, forget the decor, but concentrate on floor plan and features. You have to live in it and it has to be able to provide you with the features that suit your life style.
Once you have identified the coach you want, YOU are responsible for inspecting it. Nobody will care as much as you do. NOBODY. Start by asking to see the maintenance records. If they are not available the maintenance was not done. If they are available, and are detailed you just won the lottery.
Use a sharp pencil and track all the work needed to bring the maintenance to zero. Coolant, oil changes, all other fluids, filters, air bags, Norgren valves, brake chambers, tires, batteries, air leaks, etc. are all routine maintenance needs and some are critical. If the coach is an XLII 2000 or newer make certain Prevost has done a skin inspection or repair. If you can get a Detroit dealer to pull up all the engine and transmission codes and give you a history.
Keep in mind a low mileage coach may be ideal if a continuing maintenance history can be proven, including things that age like air bags or Norgren valves, but if not you may be buying a very expensive repair cost because items with rubber age out, especially if they are not exercised.
Once you get past the paperwork inspection then start at a given point like the driver’s seat and operate every switch, knob and dial so you understand their function and verify they work as intended. Move methodically through the coach in both the house and underside and the chassis.
A person selling a well maintained coach will welcome such a detailed inspection because it validates his representation it is a good coach. Someone selling a less than good coach will not.
Don’t even consider a sticks and staples RV as comparing to a Prevost. That is like comparing a Peterbuilt to a Dodge pickup.