'80 35FC present parket value help needed please

[Eric Johnson]

Hello Adria,
I'm no guru, but I haven't observed that the market for preowned BB's has "gone
through
the floor". The entire motorhome market, just like the house market, is a bit
soft now due
to higher interest rates and fuel prices, but should come back in time as people
and the
economy adjust to these new realities. The older coaches, if well maintained,
are a real
bargain as they don't depreciate at anywhere near the rate of a new coach and
FC's are
fairly fuel efficient as coaches go.

If I were selling my coach today I would do the following:
1. Take a good set of interior/exterior photos
2. Draft a complete and accurate description of the coach
3. Collect and organize all available maintenance records
4. Scan BirdConnection, FMCA magazine, WLForum and Vintage Bird listings for
comparables.
5. Do an advanced search on Ebay for any completed comparable sales.
6. Adjust my price up or down against the comparable listings for known
difficiencies or
advantages.
7. Take a weekend trip somewhere in the coach with the family and ask myself if
I really
want to sell it.
8. List the coach on all of the sites mentioned in step 4.
9. Patiently wait for the right buyer to come along.

Regards, Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes" <mrbeebody@...> wrote:
>
> Gurus,
>
> It seems that since we bought our beloved 1980 35 FC three summers
> ago - the market went through the floor. It's a bummer, but it is
> what it is.
>
> We are now thinking of selling it and I'd like some help
> establishing what a realistic price range is for what I have.
>
> Like I said, it's a 1980 35FC BB Wanderlodge. Rear queen bed setup
> and a desk in the front between the curb side closet and couch.
> It's got 99k miles on the bus and 33k miles on a brand new factory
> replacement 3208 catapillar diesel and the original 4 speed
> allison. It starts up almost instantly everytime (when the
> batteries are charged), runs excellent, shifts perfectly and I
> actually LOVE to drive the darn thing for some reason.
>
> I'm told that it has the swing out radiator, and the generator is a
> big Kohler diesel that also starts everytime. It has a newer toilet
> and a heated marble floor. As far as I know, the only thing is
> needs is the water heater element replaced and everything else seems
> to work fine.
>
> The outside needs paint. It's lived outside and it shows. The
> tires don't all match, but all have plenty of tread and I'd use them
> on a long trip tomorrow if I had to without worry. The aluminum
> wheels could be brought back, but I'd probably spring for chome
> liners first.
>
> 3 furnaces, 3 roof airs, zip-dee awning, etc. - all the typical bone
> stock 1980 features.
>
> Anyways, I know the exterior conditions are points against, but I
> figure the new motor should help to balance that out to some degree
> for a true BB enthusiast.
>
> Anyways, I've seen where some garage queens are still up for sale in
> the upper 30's, so - given my description, would $32k be a
> reasonable starting point? If not, please tell me what is.
>
> I hate to see it go, but it may be inevitable.
>
> Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.
>