Looking at a 1985 Wanderlodge Bluebird 40 ft.

[pattypape]

I like this thread because it is emotional.....
I would not take $100 K for our special to us 88FC.
We do not have $100K into it, but we know what we have repaired & replaced. And
what the next repairs should be.
It suites our needs, it makes us happy, we enjoy the travel and seeing the USA.
"Our Bird" has kept us safe and always returns us to our real home. It has been
very dependable for about 6 years.
Every time we use the Bird, it saves travel $$$ and earns its own keep.
As it pays for itself in allowing us to travel without rental cars , hotels and
restaurants.
So when we are too old & done with this travel,
we may give it to our Sons, ( who are presently not interested )
or sell it at a very reasonable price
or we may just give to a friend that has helped us travel pain free and who also
enjoys this freedom.
This decision we hope is well into the future.
This is "Our Bird" and we are not interested in upgrading
and going through the process again ,
We are having way too much fun.

Bill's 2 cents in Michigan with an 88 FC (a family member)


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64" wrote:
>
> Ryan, I think you misunderstood the intent of my post. I really am not in
disagreement with any of what you said. With a little clarification I think if
you reread my original post you would not take exception to anything I stated
either.
>
> I would not sell my coach for $75K mainly because of the time an effort I
have put in it not the money. I also clearly stated that if I HAD to sell then
"who knows what I would take" I know the market as well as the next fellow,
trust me I do.
>
> That being said we all know the realities of fixing up BB buses from my
experience (having owned two in under two years) if I was buying tomorrow I
would buy the best darned bus I could find. I feel you end up better in the
end. The car guys for the most part look for the best to start with as well.
Must be a reason. Not to say that I haven't seen some darned impressive
restorations on cars that to me looked like crushers but I don't have enough
time or energy to take on those kinds of projects at my age. I don't mean to
imply anything other then what is right for me.
>
> That number of $75K was just for the purpose of making a point. I am proud of
the ole girl though. Had a lot of help from my friends on it as well and that
makes it mean even more to me.
>
> Your right it is emotional. That's what this is all about. It about enjoyment
of a hobby and making friends. Priceless to my way of thinking.
>
> John Heckman
> 1987 PT 36
> Shippensburg Pa
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > Ryan- Be nice!! IMHO, if you want the "perfect" coach- with a professional
inspection and full maintenance documentation- flea bay prices are in many ways
irrelevant. It's sort of like comparing "Manheim" prices to Barrett-Jackson or
Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach. Hopefully, Cheryl will find a coach that is
in as good a shape as John's. You would be hard-pressed to find one as nicely
kept and maintained as his.
> >
> > Brisket Boy
> > 85PT40
> > Hershey, PA
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Ryan Wright wrote:
> > >
> > > John,
> > >
> > > All due respect, John, you're talking about emotional value. Just
> > > because you wouldn't sell your coach for $75k doesn't make it worth
> > > $75k. Actual market value of an item is comprised of two things - (1)
> > > What a seller will let it go for, and (2) What a buyer will pay for
> > > it. When buyer and seller agree on a number, then market value has
> > > been established for that particular item. When this happens many
> > > times over similar vehicles, then general market value has been
> > > established. Nobody is going to give you $75k for an '87 PT-36 no
> > > matter how nice it is. I wish they would, but there are newer, nicer,
> > > cheaper coaches on the market. Thus, the coach isn't worth that kind
> > > of money.
> > >
> > > Many of us here keep track of coach prices and have a general feel for
> > > the market. I personally look at all eBay auctions for Wanderlodges
> > > and keep mental notes of where the market is going for these coaches.
> > > Now, I only have a segmented view of the market as I'm not watching
> > > dealer sites, but eBay is as close to "street price" as you can get.
> > >
> > > All numbers that I give out are based on my gut instinct from watching
> > > segments of the Wanderlodge market over the past several years.
> > > Numbers assume a clean coach that doesn't need any work. There are
> > > always exceptions, but most clean, well cared for '86 PT-40s should
> > > fetch somewhere in the $50k range. If there are any items that need
> > > attention, you deduct from there. A torn up one might only be worth
> > > $20k. A sweet one with all sorts of fancy extras might fetch as much
> > > as $60k. In this market, we probably have to deduct between $5k and
> > > $10k from those prices - but the market should recover.
> > >
> > > It's nice to sit back and say, "Well, I wouldn't sell my coach for
> > > $75k, I love it so much." I could make the same statement but, truth
> > > be told, if somebody was on my front porch with $75k in hand, I'd hand
> > > him title and keys and go buy myself a mid nineties coach to replace
> > > it. I'd even let him take the crystal glassware and 30 year old scotch
> > > in the liquor cabinet.
> > >
> > > -Ryan
> > > '86 PT-40 8V92
> > >
> > > On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 10:14 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > My opinion for what it's worth is that there is absolutely no way to put
a
> > > > price on a coach of this vintage sight unseen. Condition means
everything. I
> > > > have a 36 PT for which I would not sell today if I was offered $75K. But
> > > > realistically if something happened and I had to sell who knows what I
would
> > > > end up taking. If I was buying I'd pay $60K for one in near new
condition.
> > > > There are likely some out there that I wouldn't take if they were free.
I
> > > > know that's not much help but it's pretty much the entire truth.
> > > >
> > > > John Heckman
> > > > 1987 PT 36
> > > > Shippensburg Pa
> > > >
> > > >>
> > > >> NADA value is meaningless on this coach. Assuming everything is
> > > >> working and in excellent, clean condition, an '85 PT-40 should be
> > > >> worth ~$45-$50k. Deduct from there for any items that need attention.
> > > >>
> > > >> That being said, the current market is terrible. $35k-$40k would be a
> > > >> more realistic price for a seller to get. Again, assumes coach is
> > > >> clean and doesn't need a lot of attention. Given those assumptions
> > > >> it's doubtful you could pick the coach up anywhere in the NADA range
> > > >> unless the seller is extremely desperate.
> > > >>
> > > >> -Ryan
> > > >> '86 PT-40 8V92
> > > >>
> > > >> On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 5:00 PM, Cheryl wrote:
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> > We looked at a 1985 Wanderlodge Bluebird 40ft RV today. It is my
first
> > > >> > experience in looking at this brand. In doing a google search, it
> > > >> > appears
> > > >> > that Complete Coach Works bought out the Wanderlodge company.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > How difficult is it to get replacement parts and what would be a fair
> > > >> > price
> > > >> > for an '85 with 81K miles? The NADA is between $22K to $26K.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Any advice or information regarding this brand, make and model.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > We have a daughter in Tucson and plan to use the motorhome for travel
as
> > > >> > we
> > > >> > are not campers - yet! We'd like to tow our motorcycle and car.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Feel free to email me directly.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Thanks!
> > > >> > Cheryl
> > > >> > Massachusetts
> > > >> >
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>