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Topic: 1997 Affinity with 525 Cat (Read 598 times) previous topic - next topic
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1997 Affinity with 525 Cat

Yahoo Message Number: 50600
It has under 53k miles, is in great condition and is at a repo auction next week. What is it worth? I know what NADA says, but what kind of real life price should it bring. Are there any specific issues (costly) that one should be aware of? I would appreciate any feedback on this model. It is in Oregon, not far from the Country Coach Offices.

Re: 1997 Affinity with 525 Cat

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50601
We could be wrong, to our knowledge, there was never a 1997 Country Coach manufactured with a 525 Cat engine.

Re: 1997 Affinity with 525 Cat

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50606
Considering it does not have a slide, it's value would be some where in the 50k to 60k range, in good shape ready to hit the road. At least that is the range I know of two units about those years without slides sold for. Now, the untold story is it's history. If one assumes it has set and not been run, then one should expect to replace all tires, battery, and a bunch of problems related with sitting. Does it have a diesel fueled furnace, then expect to replace circulation pumps. Maybe an A/C, could have a compressor seize from non-use. Then change all the oil's and filters. The Gillig chassis is very nice road warrior. Rear wheel seals will start leaking because on non-use and should be changed before they leak on the brakes and cause bigger problems. Then does it have a pto drive hyd pump or engine mounted. A Cat may be engine mounted. A pto drive can be a major cost to repair as you will most likely have to replace the hyd pump and install a wet kit. A pump is in the $600 to $700. Wet kit $130, labor? Yours or hired out. Then one will want to service the transmission with filter change and new synthetic oil.

If you can do most of the work yourself is one thing, if you have to hire it all done will be very expensive. We purchased a 97' Magna with 37k and a DD series 40. Did most of the work myself and spent a bunch and still have a few minor issues to iron out. Expect to spend in the range of 6 to 10k getting road ready, IF it has been sitting for any time. So a good auction price buying it as is, would be what? Between 30 and 40K or less. Or go buy one from Guaranty and have a dealers backing etc. Guaranty does seem to do a good job of going through a unit, but one pays there price of doing so. The trade off is a unit with fewer problems. Do not think a unit can be purchased without some issues showing up. They are complicated. MAKE SURE THE MANUALS ARE IN IT. They are worth there weight in gold.

Leonard
97' Magna