Cost of ownership

[gcyeaw]

Mike, My brother lives in Pennsylvania, so I could stay there, and
every bank in the world is trying to give me a credit card, so I
guess I'm in good shape!

(couldn't resist, sorry)

Gardner
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> Consider this; fresh reman 3208T in my FC, 4000 miles later
injection pump quits on the Pennsy Turnpike, towing, days in the
motel, stress, around 4000 dollars. The engine remanufacturer
wouldn't stand behind the pump, and it wasn't worth fighting over.
Those are the things that might or might not happen with any RV, but
the cost are always more on a bird and truck shops HATE them. Make
sure you have great credit.
> MH
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: gcyeaw
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 7:47 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
>
>
> Mike, Leroy, I can't disagree that if all I wanted was an RV,
then
> buying a new or slightly used motorhome would be the way to go.
When
> I saw an older Bluebird, it just looked so great. It was a true
> classic with character and that is the attraction. It certainly
> isn't the wisest investment if all you look at is the dollars.
There
> has to be a return in the enjoyment and satisfaction of caring
for
> and reviving such a machine.
>
> The reason I ask questions is to make sure I am going in with my
> eyes wide open. The more I learn the better I will be able to
make a
> wise choice when purchasing. And along the way I am meeting new
> poeple on the forum, so it's already showing some reward.
>
> Gardner
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike:
> >
> > I agree with you. When we purchased our bird we planned for
> deferred maintenance. I guess if we knew the costs of owning
these
> beautiful machines up front we could become consultants and
charge
> $200.00/hr. Then we could be sued for misrepresentation. It's a
> crazy world.
> >
> > Leroy Eckert
> > 1990 WB-40
> > Niceville, FL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Mike Hohnstein
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 12:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> >
> >
> > Uh, you sure a new class C wouldn't be a better choice? Trying
> to see the future with an antique vehicle is very irrational.
> > MH
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: gcyeaw
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 11:54 AM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> >
> > James,
> > Thanks for your data. There seems to be some controversy over
> the
> > level 2 maintenance cost, but based on an average speed of say
> 30
> > mph, that's 60,000 miles in 2000 hours. So if it's $800 or
$1200
> > it's not much different spread out over that mileage/time. Not
> > knowing the cost of adding a swing radiator, it would seem to
> pay
> > for itself on the first broken belt or hose. I imagine that
> removing
> > the dog house and putting down a protective runner before
> heading in
> > for service might also save some labor and probably please the
> > service tech as well.
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Gardner, here are some actual maintence costs for the model
> > of 'Bird
> > > that you are looking for.
> > >
> > > If you take the 'Bird to an authorized Cat Center for oil
and
> > filter
> > > changes it will cost $280.00 -- This will include all of
your
> oil
> > > and fuel filters, a complete chassie lube and Cat brand
motor
> > oil.
> > > Of course they do all the work, you watch them and start the
> bus
> > > when needed.
> > >
> > > Here are the parts cost:
> > >
> > > 16 Qts. 15/40 Cat -- $34.40
> > >
> > > 2 - 1R-0713 -------- $11.20
> > >
> > > 1 - 1P-0808 -------- $2.46
> > >
> > > 1 - 1R-0750 -------- $11.88
> > >
> > > 1 - 8N9803 --------- $20.10
> > >
> > > Total parts cost is $80.04 -- so, you can save two hundered
> bucks
> > > here if you do it yourself. This is a once a year task for
> most
> > > folks.
> > >
> > > Tires, every five years between $2200 and $3000 depending on
> Tire
> > > Brand.
> > >
> > > Cat PM level 2 Maintainence -- every 2000 hours or 10.000
> gallons
> > of
> > > fuel -- Costs $790 at a certified Cat Center and includes
> > > everything. This service also includes the above listed oil,
> > filter
> > > and lube service.
> > >
> > > 1) All new hoses and belts
> > >
> > > 2) Performance Analysis report
> > >
> > > 3) Steam clean engine
> > >
> > > 4) Valve lash adjustment
> > >
> > > 5) cooling system service (flush and clean)
> > >
> > > That is pretty much your ongoing maintenience stuff. You can
> also
> > > figure on a transmission service every thirty thousand miles
> with
> > a
> > > new filter and fluid for about $175.00 including labor.
> > >
> > > That's the stuff you can count on doing and what it actually
> > costs.
> > >
> > > Hope this helps.
> > >
> > >
> > > James
> > > 78FC33SB "Old School"
> > > Orange Lake, FL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hello, Gardner.
> > > >
> > > > The biggest factor in the cost of ownership of a 25 year
> old, or
> > > > older 'Bird, lies in the condition of the bus that you buy.
> > > >
> > > > Remember we are talking about older buses here and no two
> are
> > the
> > > > same. You will find "project buses" on the market that may
> need
> > > > everything replaced on them from the motor and electronics
> to
> > the
> > > > fridge and carpet ect. However, from time to time, a very
> nice
> > > > highly updated example will be offered for sale that will
> need
> > > next
> > > > to nothing.
> > > >
> > > > Obviously the cost of ownership will be much higher on
> > a "project
> > > > bus" than on a Cheery example with newer motor and
> everything
> > else
> > > > in the bus having been already updated and in good working
> order.
> > > >
> > > > I guess my point is to buy your bus wisely! The project
bus
> at
> > a
> > > > rock bottom price that needs everying replaced will not be
> your
> > > best
> > > > value. Rather, find a bus that has had on-going care by
> folks
> > who
> > > > were enthusiastic owners.
> > > >
> > > > Take my bus for example ... the motor is about 4 years old
> with
> > > > 15,000 miles on it. At the time the motor was replaced so
> were
> > > all
> > > > pumps, fan assembly even the main started motor. All belts
> and
> > > > hoses are two years old. Trojan batteries less than a year
> > old.
> > > > Twin 55 amp Iota charges less than a year old. Xantrex
pure
> > sine-
> > > > wave inverter less than a year old. High deffenition
Direct
> TV
> > > > system less than a yera old. 27" Samsung LCD TV less than
a
> > year
> > > > old. Refridgerator about 4 years old. AC units about 3
years
> > > old.
> > > > Roof deck rebedded, refastened and painted less than a
year
> > ago.
> > > > Polished Aluminum wheels that you can comb your hair in.
New
> > > carpet
> > > > about 2 years ago. I could go on and on, but you get my
> point.
> > > >
> > > > If I were to sell my bus tomorrow I could get around 25 to
> 27
> > > > thousand.
> > > >
> > > > Now think about that "project bus" that has been sitting
> behind
> > a
> > > > barn for 8 years before someone pulled it out, polished it
> up
> > and
> > > > hung a for sale sign on it. These are two very different
> > pictures
> > > > arn't they? Certainly you would experience a very
different
> > cost
> > > of
> > > > ownewship betweeen the above examples. Now you may be able
> to
> > buy
> > > > the project bus for 16 thousand bucks, but get ready to
> spend
> > that
> > > > much again, and more, to make it into a good looking
> reliable
> > > runner.
> > > >
> > > > So shop wisely, and buy the best bus you can find in your
> price
> > > > range.
> > > >
> > > > Good Luck.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > James
> > > > 78FC33SB "Old School"
> > > > Orange Lake, FL (Mid-Eightys, total over cast and raining)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "gcyeaw"

> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I have asked other questions on this forum and I do
> > appreciate
> > > > the
> > > > > responses I have received. I have been building a
> spreadsheet
> > to
> > > > try
> > > > > to estimate the real cost of owning a vintage Bluebird.
I
> love
> > > the
> > > > > look and would enjoy repairing/restoring the systems at
my
> > > leisure
> > > > > prior to retirement.
> > > > > The price range I am looking at is under $30,000 for a
> 1984
> > > or
> > > > > older FC 33 TO 35. Given that price range I would expect
> to
> > have
> > > > > lots of small things to fix. Also given the age, I would
> > expect
> > > > > higher incidence of failure in in basic engine/transmit
> > > > ion/chassis
> > > > > systems over say, a 10 year time span..
> > > > >
> > > > > Would it be reasonable to estimate $700/year for routine
> > > > > maintenance and $1000/year for unplanned maintenance
> averaged
> > > over
> > > > a
> > > > > ten year time span? (assuming I don't need an engine
> rebuild)
> > > > >
> > > > > I am really trying to determine the value as the clock
> > ticks
> > > on
> > > > > 20 to 25 year old coaches. They may be well built, but
so
> was
> > I
> > > 40
> > > > > years ago!
> > > > >
> > > > > Gardner
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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