The True Value of A Bluebird

[The Whistleworks]

What's your asking price on your 83 PT40? thanks, J Barry Carlsbad NM
----- Original Message -----
From: mbulriss
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 11:04 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: The True Value of A Bluebird


Great post John! Almost makes me want to keep both Birds -- NOT.
Strange how we get emotionally attached to inanimate objects due to
the memories they helped create.

Mike Bulriss
83 PT40 "Stagecoach" - FOR SALE
91 PT40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bluebirdfitz"
wrote:
> I have a hard time figuring out the true value of our 78 FC 31; there
> are so many ways to measure value. I wonder what is the value of
> coming home late at night to the the sillouette of the big bus in our
> driveway and my wife whispering, "I just love the bus?" I ask myself
> the value of the fingerpaints and show and tells from my kid's grammar
> school days, all of which center around a big blue bus--certainly the
> only "blue bus" in town. I have six kids and they all know and love
> the difference between an RV and a Bluebird. They also know the
> difference when I say, "Everyone into the bus," versus, "load up the
> bus. "Load up" means "adventure--multiple days with sleeping bags and
> bags of books." "Into the bus" always means something quick but out of
> the ordinary--even if it's just an ice cream--after picking up every
> kid on the block.
>
> Our bus looks cool, and is cool. No matter how you slice it, it
> wouldn't be the same in a Rambler or Winnebago.
>
> Someday we'll sell the bus; maybe to something bigger--but always to a
> Bluebird. I wonder how much time I'll spend making it look unused.
> I'll scrub the crayon marks, and no one will ever know how much
> lemonade was spilled on the dinette; No one will know that it was five
> year old changing the oil religiously, or a seven year old bleeding
> the air brakes. There will be no pictures of the 27 people driving
> around singing Christmas carols, or the "apartment" provided to folks
> who just need a place to stay. Who cares that the back closet can
> hold ten fishing poles, three blow up mattresses and two canoe paddles
>
> Oh yeah, and I forget all those hours late in the winter finding burst
> pipe after burst pipe, hitting refresh on my browser hoping that
> someone somewhere is on here at three in the morning and knows where
> the hell that pipe behind the wall really goes--and those
> people--you--are there; always! I forget that I worked three days
> just to fill the tank. I forget that I will never rub hard enough to
> get rid of that scratch; and who'll remember why that wire was cut or
> why the fan screeches horribly, or where the load center is, or where
> to find a tire in central Maine.
>
> But I never forget that we are the best damn bus on the road--even as
> we are passed on every hill by Amish coaches. I rarely see another
> "Bird," but it is a constant source of joy to know we are not alone.
> The values we share are not easily defined, and we are as different as
> the day is diverse, but we all own Bluebirds, and that's good enough
> for me.
>
> Owning a Bluebird is, for us, an attitude towards living, very little
> of which can be measured in terms of depreciation or appreciation.
> Right now my two year old is a royal pain--he won't go to sleep and
> cares little for my rationale for rest, but, like our bus, there is no
> better value on the market.
>
> John Fitz
> 78 FC 31
> Maynard MA
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
> > John I think you may not be making a fair comparison and you may be
> > comparing apples to oranges.
> >
> > When you compare two coaches make sure they are in the same
> condition with
> > the same upgrades etc. Coaches that are completely rust free are
> worth more
> > then ones with rust. Coaches that have had regular maintenance are
> worth
> > more then those without documentation of some sort. Etc.
> >
> > I am seeing FC models on the market now, some of them with honest
> > descriptions that say it needs carpet, tears in the seats,
original etc
> > etc. Here is a 1983 FC35 for instance with a starting price of
$35K on
> > ebay 4563800685. I am not seeing decent coaches in the mid $20s.
> >
> > If the coach has new dinette upholstery done professionally, new
> carpet,
> > new refrigerator, new tires, new brakes, and everything checks out
> and is
> > in good mechanical condition and EVERYTHING works I would pay more
> for it
> > then one that has sat for a few years and has no upgrades and has
> A/C that
> > does not work etc. Depends on how mechanically challenged you are.
> >
> > In my opinion the coach you have if you do some work on it will be
> worth
> > what you paid for it and maybe even a little more. I said sometime
> ago that
> > I believe the FC models may go up in price if the diesel fuel prices
> etc go
> > up, and they have. They are the most economical to own and run. Dont
> get
> > discouraged you picked a nice coach. I have a 210HP NA Cat also,
its a
> > snail on the hills but runs like a top and starts instantly. And the
> PTs
> > are envious of our fuel mileage. They wont admit it though
> >
> > tom
> > 1982 FC35
> > Vernon Center,NY
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 06:00 PM 7/27/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> > >When we bought our '80 35FC last spring, we thought we got a pretty
> > >good deal on it in comparison with much of the market for that
> > >vintage. One of the reasons we got it was we figured that we would
> > >have to realize very little further depreciation on a 1980 and at
> > >that time, it seemed that there were only a few in the country of
> > >any age that were under the $30k mark. Quite a few over 30k were
> > >even older than ours. We were confident that once ours was paid
> > >off, we could sell it and roll that equity into a much upgraded bus
> > >and keep the same payment range. Our goal was to keep doing this
> > >until we were ready to fulltime it and would have an animal of a
> > >practically new one almost paid for.
> > >
> > >Anyway, I was looking today at birds on autotrader and it seems that
> > >the market has dropped even more. I found WAY more than I expected
> > >in the mid-20k range. It kind of bums me out.
> > >
> > >Is this the case or is the differences I think I see due to a
> > >seasonal pricing difference since I bought in the Spring, and we're
> > >currently seeing Summer pricing with a higher supply of available
> > >birds driving the prices down?
> > >
> > >Any thoughts?? What gives?
> > >
> > >John
> > >1980 Wanderlodge 35FC
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >----------
> > >YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> > >
> > > * Visit your group
> > > "<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum>WanderlodgeForum"
> on the web.
> > > *
> > > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > *
> > >
>

Wanderl\
odgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> > >
> > > *
> > > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
> > > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.
> > >
> > >
> > >----------




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[bluebirdfitz]

I have a hard time figuring out the true value of our 78 FC 31; there
are so many ways to measure value. I wonder what is the value of
coming home late at night to the the sillouette of the big bus in our
driveway and my wife whispering, "I just love the bus?" I ask myself
the value of the fingerpaints and show and tells from my kid's grammar
school days, all of which center around a big blue bus--certainly the
only "blue bus" in town. I have six kids and they all know and love
the difference between an RV and a Bluebird. They also know the
difference when I say, "Everyone into the bus," versus, "load up the
bus. "Load up" means "adventure--multiple days with sleeping bags and
bags of books." "Into the bus" always means something quick but out of
the ordinary--even if it's just an ice cream--after picking up every
kid on the block.

Our bus looks cool, and is cool. No matter how you slice it, it
wouldn't be the same in a Rambler or Winnebago.

Someday we'll sell the bus; maybe to something bigger--but always to a
Bluebird. I wonder how much time I'll spend making it look unused.
I'll scrub the crayon marks, and no one will ever know how much
lemonade was spilled on the dinette; No one will know that it was five
year old changing the oil religiously, or a seven year old bleeding
the air brakes. There will be no pictures of the 27 people driving
around singing Christmas carols, or the "apartment" provided to folks
who just need a place to stay. Who cares that the back closet can
hold ten fishing poles, three blow up mattresses and two canoe paddles

Oh yeah, and I forget all those hours late in the winter finding burst
pipe after burst pipe, hitting refresh on my browser hoping that
someone somewhere is on here at three in the morning and knows where
the hell that pipe behind the wall really goes--and those
people--you--are there; always! I forget that I worked three days
just to fill the tank. I forget that I will never rub hard enough to
get rid of that scratch; and who'll remember why that wire was cut or
why the fan screeches horribly, or where the load center is, or where
to find a tire in central Maine.

But I never forget that we are the best damn bus on the road--even as
we are passed on every hill by Amish coaches. I rarely see another
"Bird," but it is a constant source of joy to know we are not alone.
The values we share are not easily defined, and we are as different as
the day is diverse, but we all own Bluebirds, and that's good enough
for me.

Owning a Bluebird is, for us, an attitude towards living, very little
of which can be measured in terms of depreciation or appreciation.
Right now my two year old is a royal pain--he won't go to sleep and
cares little for my rationale for rest, but, like our bus, there is no
better value on the market.

John Fitz
78 FC 31
Maynard MA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner wrote:
> John I think you may not be making a fair comparison and you may be
> comparing apples to oranges.
>
> When you compare two coaches make sure they are in the same
condition with
> the same upgrades etc. Coaches that are completely rust free are
worth more
> then ones with rust. Coaches that have had regular maintenance are
worth
> more then those without documentation of some sort. Etc.
>
> I am seeing FC models on the market now, some of them with honest
> descriptions that say it needs carpet, tears in the seats, original etc
> etc. Here is a 1983 FC35 for instance with a starting price of $35K on
> ebay 4563800685. I am not seeing decent coaches in the mid $20s.
>
> If the coach has new dinette upholstery done professionally, new
carpet,
> new refrigerator, new tires, new brakes, and everything checks out
and is
> in good mechanical condition and EVERYTHING works I would pay more
for it
> then one that has sat for a few years and has no upgrades and has
A/C that
> does not work etc. Depends on how mechanically challenged you are.
>
> In my opinion the coach you have if you do some work on it will be
worth
> what you paid for it and maybe even a little more. I said sometime
ago that
> I believe the FC models may go up in price if the diesel fuel prices
etc go
> up, and they have. They are the most economical to own and run. Dont
get
> discouraged you picked a nice coach. I have a 210HP NA Cat also, its a
> snail on the hills but runs like a top and starts instantly. And the
PTs
> are envious of our fuel mileage. They wont admit it though
>
> tom
> 1982 FC35
> Vernon Center,NY
>
>
>
>
>
> At 06:00 PM 7/27/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> >When we bought our '80 35FC last spring, we thought we got a pretty
> >good deal on it in comparison with much of the market for that
> >vintage. One of the reasons we got it was we figured that we would
> >have to realize very little further depreciation on a 1980 and at
> >that time, it seemed that there were only a few in the country of
> >any age that were under the $30k mark. Quite a few over 30k were
> >even older than ours. We were confident that once ours was paid
> >off, we could sell it and roll that equity into a much upgraded bus
> >and keep the same payment range. Our goal was to keep doing this
> >until we were ready to fulltime it and would have an animal of a
> >practically new one almost paid for.
> >
> >Anyway, I was looking today at birds on autotrader and it seems that
> >the market has dropped even more. I found WAY more than I expected
> >in the mid-20k range. It kind of bums me out.
> >
> >Is this the case or is the differences I think I see due to a
> >seasonal pricing difference since I bought in the Spring, and we're
> >currently seeing Summer pricing with a higher supply of available
> >birds driving the prices down?
> >
> >Any thoughts?? What gives?
> >
> >John
> >1980 Wanderlodge 35FC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >----------
> >YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> >
> > * Visit your group
> > "<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum>WanderlodgeForum"
on the web.
> > *
> > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > *
> >
Wanderl\
odgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

> >
> > *
> > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
> > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.
> >
> >
> >----------

[mbulriss]

Great post John! Almost makes me want to keep both Birds -- NOT.
Strange how we get emotionally attached to inanimate objects due to
the memories they helped create.

Mike Bulriss
83 PT40 "Stagecoach" - FOR SALE
91 PT40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bluebirdfitz"
wrote:
> I have a hard time figuring out the true value of our 78 FC 31; there
> are so many ways to measure value. I wonder what is the value of
> coming home late at night to the the sillouette of the big bus in our
> driveway and my wife whispering, "I just love the bus?" I ask myself
> the value of the fingerpaints and show and tells from my kid's grammar
> school days, all of which center around a big blue bus--certainly the
> only "blue bus" in town. I have six kids and they all know and love
> the difference between an RV and a Bluebird. They also know the
> difference when I say, "Everyone into the bus," versus, "load up the
> bus. "Load up" means "adventure--multiple days with sleeping bags and
> bags of books." "Into the bus" always means something quick but out of
> the ordinary--even if it's just an ice cream--after picking up every
> kid on the block.
>
> Our bus looks cool, and is cool. No matter how you slice it, it
> wouldn't be the same in a Rambler or Winnebago.
>
> Someday we'll sell the bus; maybe to something bigger--but always to a
> Bluebird. I wonder how much time I'll spend making it look unused.
> I'll scrub the crayon marks, and no one will ever know how much
> lemonade was spilled on the dinette; No one will know that it was five
> year old changing the oil religiously, or a seven year old bleeding
> the air brakes. There will be no pictures of the 27 people driving
> around singing Christmas carols, or the "apartment" provided to folks
> who just need a place to stay. Who cares that the back closet can
> hold ten fishing poles, three blow up mattresses and two canoe paddles
>
> Oh yeah, and I forget all those hours late in the winter finding burst
> pipe after burst pipe, hitting refresh on my browser hoping that
> someone somewhere is on here at three in the morning and knows where
> the hell that pipe behind the wall really goes--and those
> people--you--are there; always! I forget that I worked three days
> just to fill the tank. I forget that I will never rub hard enough to
> get rid of that scratch; and who'll remember why that wire was cut or
> why the fan screeches horribly, or where the load center is, or where
> to find a tire in central Maine.
>
> But I never forget that we are the best damn bus on the road--even as
> we are passed on every hill by Amish coaches. I rarely see another
> "Bird," but it is a constant source of joy to know we are not alone.
> The values we share are not easily defined, and we are as different as
> the day is diverse, but we all own Bluebirds, and that's good enough
> for me.
>
> Owning a Bluebird is, for us, an attitude towards living, very little
> of which can be measured in terms of depreciation or appreciation.
> Right now my two year old is a royal pain--he won't go to sleep and
> cares little for my rationale for rest, but, like our bus, there is no
> better value on the market.
>
> John Fitz
> 78 FC 31
> Maynard MA
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
> > John I think you may not be making a fair comparison and you may be
> > comparing apples to oranges.
> >
> > When you compare two coaches make sure they are in the same
> condition with
> > the same upgrades etc. Coaches that are completely rust free are
> worth more
> > then ones with rust. Coaches that have had regular maintenance are
> worth
> > more then those without documentation of some sort. Etc.
> >
> > I am seeing FC models on the market now, some of them with honest
> > descriptions that say it needs carpet, tears in the seats,
original etc
> > etc. Here is a 1983 FC35 for instance with a starting price of
$35K on
> > ebay 4563800685. I am not seeing decent coaches in the mid $20s.
> >
> > If the coach has new dinette upholstery done professionally, new
> carpet,
> > new refrigerator, new tires, new brakes, and everything checks out
> and is
> > in good mechanical condition and EVERYTHING works I would pay more
> for it
> > then one that has sat for a few years and has no upgrades and has
> A/C that
> > does not work etc. Depends on how mechanically challenged you are.
> >
> > In my opinion the coach you have if you do some work on it will be
> worth
> > what you paid for it and maybe even a little more. I said sometime
> ago that
> > I believe the FC models may go up in price if the diesel fuel prices
> etc go
> > up, and they have. They are the most economical to own and run. Dont
> get
> > discouraged you picked a nice coach. I have a 210HP NA Cat also,
its a
> > snail on the hills but runs like a top and starts instantly. And the
> PTs
> > are envious of our fuel mileage. They wont admit it though
> >
> > tom
> > 1982 FC35
> > Vernon Center,NY
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 06:00 PM 7/27/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> > >When we bought our '80 35FC last spring, we thought we got a pretty
> > >good deal on it in comparison with much of the market for that
> > >vintage. One of the reasons we got it was we figured that we would
> > >have to realize very little further depreciation on a 1980 and at
> > >that time, it seemed that there were only a few in the country of
> > >any age that were under the $30k mark. Quite a few over 30k were
> > >even older than ours. We were confident that once ours was paid
> > >off, we could sell it and roll that equity into a much upgraded bus
> > >and keep the same payment range. Our goal was to keep doing this
> > >until we were ready to fulltime it and would have an animal of a
> > >practically new one almost paid for.
> > >
> > >Anyway, I was looking today at birds on autotrader and it seems that
> > >the market has dropped even more. I found WAY more than I expected
> > >in the mid-20k range. It kind of bums me out.
> > >
> > >Is this the case or is the differences I think I see due to a
> > >seasonal pricing difference since I bought in the Spring, and we're
> > >currently seeing Summer pricing with a higher supply of available
> > >birds driving the prices down?
> > >
> > >Any thoughts?? What gives?
> > >
> > >John
> > >1980 Wanderlodge 35FC
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >----------
> > >YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> > >
> > > * Visit your group
> > > "<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum>WanderlodgeForum"
> on the web.
> > > *
> > > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > *
> > >
>
Wanderl\
odgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> > >
> > > *
> > > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
> > > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.
> > >
> > >
> > >----------