buying a Bluebird

[Jack & Donna Smith]

Damn; Where was all this when I needed it???
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal---
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In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner wrote:
>
> It appears that some potential BB buyers think its the
> responsibility of the owner of a motorhome to point out all of the
> defects on it, when its actually YOU that are responsible for
> educating yourself to spot the ones the problems that are important
> and those that are not. Then the decision is yours which ones you can
> live with. I do believe that the owner has the responsibility to be
> truthful in describing any problems he is aware of as well as
> truthfully replying to any questions the potential buyer asks, but
> even then you may not be getting what you think you are getting.
> Consider that the owner of the motorhome may be as uninformed as to
> the BB condition as you may be in understanding how to find the
> problems. Realize that once you plunk the cash down and sign the
> papers the coach is yours and even if the owner lied about things
> when describing the condition of the coach it will be very expensive
> to sue to get the money back. . So whats the solution?
>
> 1. Belong to a forum like this and ask questions BEFORE you buy as
> well as after if something goes wrong and needs fixing. No question
> is stupid unless you dont ask it. Unasked questions before the sale
> may be very expensive to fix after. Wasnt it Ben Franklin that said
> "make a decision in haste and repent at your leisure"?
>
> 2. Use the Vintagebirds checklist when you go over the motorhome and
> ask the owner to go over it with you also. You may even consider to
> have him go over it before you travel there to see the coach and then
> send you the results of the checklist.
>
> 3. Understand that every motorhome has a few problems some of which
> are important to the owner and some that are not. Its up to you to
> ask the questions that will identify them.
>
> 4. Be truthful and start with a realistic budget to buy and maintain
> the coach. Dont start looking at $100,000 Bluebirds if your budget
> will only cover an $50,000 one.
>
> 5. Make an honest assessment of how much of the maintenance and
> repairs on the BB you can accomplish yourself and what improvements
> you have to hire out.
>
> 6. Know how much tires, a transmission service and oil change costs
> if you are unable or unwilling to do it yourself and the coach you
> are going to buy needs them. It can get expensive fast!
>
> 7. If you are married (or not) talk over what you will use the coach
> for and how often. If you are only going to take the kids on a trip
> once a year and use if on weekends for short trips a FC model may
> just be the ticket. Full timers may be only comfortable with a 45'
> BB, although I personally know some that live very nicely in a FC33.
> Different strokes for different folks.
>
> 8. In my opinion the FC model is easier to work on, costs less, is
> cheaper to maintain including replacement engines and transmissions,
> and has less depreciation then either a SP or PT models. I have both
> a 1982 FC35 and a 1985 PT40. It is far easier to change the
> alternator on the FC, change the belts or work on the injection pump
> etc (unless you are a very little, little,person). The FC models are
> also not as large and heavy as either the SP or PT models. In other
> words the FC models can go places that that the others cannot. So
> spend some time and plan carefully what you intend to do with the
> coach and then you can make an informed decision and pick the coach
> that meets your requirements.
>
> 9. Financing. Financing for almost any year coach is available. If
> your local bank will not finance it, then there are many places that
> will. The better your credit record the easier it will be.
>
> Good luck and ask lots of questions
>
> Tom Warner
> Vernon Center,NY
> 1982 FC35(for sale soon)
> 1985 PT40
>