'80 35FC present parket value help needed please

[johngilmoremd@...]

Tom,

I would sell it for $32,000.

-Jack

-----Original Message-----
From: boatman1197@...
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 9:34 AM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: '80 35FC present parket value help needed
please

Hi Jack,



Are you looking to sell your Bird?



Tom- Who is looking for the right BB

Boatman1197@...

johngilmoremd@... wrote:

Hello Doug,



I am/was one of those lurkers who was looking. Years ago I owned an 83 FC 35.

We had a lot of fun and some incredible trips with her. But we sold due to

schedule changes and a new baby on the way. Just didn't think we would be

camping much for a while.



So now that we have a spunky 2 year old daughter and 11 year old son we have

caught the camping and weekend adventure bug again. This time around I was

hunting for something smaller, a travel trailer actually, just to make it

easier to store.



Then like a lead pipe hitting me on the head...there was my coach listed on a

local site for sale! Not the same one but the same model...an 83 FC 35 in

almost perfect condition! I sent an email with 20 questions to the dealer who

had accepted it as trade in. They couldn't even answer the questions, had no

idea.



Yesterday I took the gang and we had a look at it. The experience was so

nostalgic that it's hard to describe. None of the "seasoned" salespersons

wanted to assist. They knew nothing about it and in fact I believe they were

intimidated by the cockpit and the intricate workings of the coach. So I got

the newbie sales-kid and out into the rain we went. I taught him about the

coach over the next 3 hours.



This gorgeous machine has the 3208 turbo, Jake brake, new fridge, ducted air,

nice sound system....the tv over the pilot's chair works and even has a good

picture. Back up cam works great and every appliance functions properly. She

has the original paint and it looks good....orange and brown. Apparently was

stored indoors. The diamond plating on top is mint. It has a diamond plated

spare tire holder on the top at the back with a winch mechanism to load/unload

the spare. I didn't have an opportunity to pull the front panels to verify that

the rad is mod for swing out but I did see some hinges which looked like they

dropped the bumper. So I think it's got the swing out mod. Every switch, button

and control that I checked worked fine. Slide out mechanism was smooth and the

genny started right up. Doghouse has the original sound and heat proofing

material. Front air and heat works great. Even the misters on the wipers work.

The interior looks like it has had

very little wear. Tires are practically new and match all the way around.



I was stunned. I really couldn't believe how well this baby had been loved

over the years. She drove like a dream. So I took a stab at the dealership by

asking more questions. When were the injectors last replaced? (2002) Are they

sure about the mileage? (65K) etc. Well, to make a long story short, I offered

them half what they were asking. After several more go 'rounds with the sales

manager they accepted the offer.



Frankly I'm still in disbelief. Now that diesel is back down to $2.39 I'm

going to fill the tank and get ready for next weekend.



That having all been said, this particular coach needs to go to a full timer.

It's too sweet to sit and only be occasionally used. I will most likely look to

trade it for a toy hauler or outright sale to the right person. I don't see

these coaches as just commodities to be bought and sold. They are fine machines

and should be owned by individuals who understand and appreciate them.



So, keep looking. Your bird is out there.



-Jack

83 FC 35

Houston



-----Original Message-----

From: dj.long@...
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 11:51 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: '80 35FC present parket value help needed
please

And there are plenty of us lurkers out here look'n for the right bird

to pounce on. So don'tbe afraid to list. If it sells for the price

you need your happy, if it doesn't you tried and be happy you kept

her. If you want more kids I would trade one or two of mine for a

good bird.

Doug Long

Edmonton

Wanabee

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"



wrote:



>



> 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.



> >



>



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