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Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Yahoo Message Number: 16188
Hello everyone! I found this forum tonight as I am anxiously seraching for a used Country Coach. I have never even owned a motor home, just travel trailers. I have decided to purchase a motorhome for me and the family which includes a wife, son !3, and daughter 11.
We loved camping and ever since I sold our last travel trailer the family has wanted another. I of course was glad to rid myself of the hair raising white knuckled drives pulling the thing. So I've found a good alerternative to that....a motor home.
Now we are still young enough that we work full time so the majority of our trips are instate (Michigan) to campgrounds. We also attend a lot of sporting events and like to tailgate. There would be occassional trips to Fla., etc..

When I first started looking 6 mos. ago I started looking at the lowest cost, newer coaches. The just seemed so cheap, like the travel trailer I had, just with a motor! Recently I have listened to a few people who have advised me to get an older high quality diesel coach instead of a newer gas powered, cheaper model. That brings me to Country Coach!!!!

I have found a 96 Country Coach Affinity that is absolutely stunning but has 98,000 miles. It can be had for $85000 plus tax. Should I go with it for the money or a slightly lesser Country Coach with less miles? Or a newer lower miles gas? Any help would be greatly appreciated...I am sure at least a few of you were in my shoes at one point and could offer some insight. Thanks much

Ken

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16193
Ken

I'm fairly new to CC and diesels, but I wouldn't let the 98K miles bother me. I've read where these engines will run up to a million miles. Maybe 500K is more realistic for a MH, but still much more than the typical camper will put on them. I would also check bluebook for comparison and go from there on the price. You can also do a search on some of the internet MH sales sites and maybe get a better idea on price there. Good choice! I know you will enjoy your CC.

PS Also check out the www.rv.net forum for loads of additional information. Gd uck!

Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi (Pugs) USAF Retire

2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: arson137
Hello everyone! I found this forum tonight as I am anxiously > seraching for a used Country Coach. I have never even owned a

motor

Quote
home, just travel trailers. I have decided to purchase a motorhome > for me and the family which includes a wife, son !3, and daughter

11.

Quote
We loved camping and ever since I sold our last travel trailer the > family has wanted another. I of course was glad to rid myself of

the

Quote
hair raising white knuckled drives pulling the thing. So I've

found a

Quote
good alerternative to that....a motor home.

Now we are still young enough that we work full time so the

majority

Quote
of our trips are instate (Michigan) to campgrounds. We also attend

a

Quote
lot of sporting events and like to tailgate. There would be > occassional trips to Fla., etc..

When I first started looking 6 mos. ago I started looking at the > lowest cost, newer coaches. The just seemed so cheap, like the

travel

Quote
trailer I had, just with a motor! Recently I have listened to a

few

Quote
people who have advised me to get an older high quality diesel

coach

Quote
instead of a newer gas powered, cheaper model. That brings me to > Country Coach!!!!

I have found a 96 Country Coach Affinity that is absolutely

stunning

Quote
but has 98,000 miles. It can be had for $85000 plus tax. Should I

go

Quote
with it for the money or a slightly lesser Country Coach with less > miles? Or a newer lower miles gas? Any help would be greatly > appreciated...I am sure at least a few of you were in my shoes at

one

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16194
Ken,

Last month we purchased a 1995 Intrigue that had 107K miles on it.
The chassis was in great shape and the house looked nearly brand new on the inside. We flew to Oregon where it was located, checking 5 bags that had our all our living essentials. Had the coach inspected by a Cummins Coach Care service center, loaded it with the food & drinks we'd need, and drove it 3,000 miles home to NC in 5 long days (we, too, are stilling working). It didn't even hiccup along the way.
From your description, you have found a gem at an unbelievably low price; I wouldn't hesitate -- grab it while it's still there!

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16195
Quote from: arson137"
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Ken,

I suspect mostanswers you get will be enthusiastic so please allow me to be the pragmatist. The brand and model is a good choice. Check maintenance records carefully. See if the seller will sllow CC to reveal all warranty and maintenance items they may have on record for that coach. Get maintenance records from independent shops if possible. Check the tires. RV tires age and rarely wear out. If they are older than 5-7 years they should be replaced. But look for any unusal wear that would suggest alignment problems. Tires cost a lot, ~$400 per. Check the sidewalls for any possible delamination, another expensive item. Check the roof and ceiling for any old leaks.
Pull out the awnings for inspection. In general the chassis and house integrity items will be more important than interior components such as audio/visual equip. If is is hard for you to earn $85,000 then treat the bucks with great respect and do your hard earn dollars they respect they deserve. By the way, your post suggests you use campgrounds a great deal as opposed to RV parks. Check to see if your favorites will accommodate the size of the coach. Many cannot take big rigs. Lastly, good luck and all of us are sure you will enjoy the RV life style.

Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16196
Hi Ken -

You are making a wise decision buying a used CC rather than a new "other" motorhome. I thought I would let you know that I have a 36 foot Allure with 88K miles and a Great Room slide for sale at the same price. It is currently on E-Bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4541219913&category=50056&sspagename=WDVW
and on RVSearch:

http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm?a=d&tc=36286&vid=131225
We are selling only because we recently bought a winter home and will not have time to travel for 2 years.

Regards,
Dave

'98 Allure 36 #30187

Quote from: arson137

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16197
Good comments.

1. I would not go over 36ft if starting out and using the coach for State and County parks.
2. Personally, I would have a hard time buying a coach that did not have a LR slide.
3. Lower end coaches, especially Allures have less bells and whistles but this could be a plus on an older coach. Less things to go wrong!
4. Check the manufacturers date on the tires. If not within five years, budget to replace at least the front two from the gitgo and drive with the satisfaction that you have the good rubber up front.
5. Remember, if all coaches were perfect we would have nothing to gripe about and would have missed talking to some really great people.

Enjoy.

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16211
Ken

We did the same thing 3+ years ago. Paid more money than you are looking at for a lower ranking unit, but have enjoyed the coach while enduring depreciation and some repairs. A used coach becomes a hobby. First learning about diesel engines, then about all the systems. In the meantime you get to have a lot of fun and meet great people.

Although we would like a LR slide, we enjoy our coach quality so that trading up is hard to justify. The Affinity will be a quality coach.

The 98,000 miles some will view as a plus (the engine has been excercised thoroughly), some will view as a negative (too many miles for good resale and wear and tear on the inside). If you intend to keep the coach a longer time and the wear and tear is not noticeable, it will be a great coach for you. Only you will know.

Dean

1995 Magna 5280

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16213
I would modify that statement to read "any coach becomes a hobby" GGGG

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16217
Ken,

Based on what you have told us, I am going to give you an entirely different opinion then what you will get on this site. You are younger then most of us CC owners and your needs are different. If I were going to buy a motorhome at your age for the use you describe, I would get a new gasoline model with 22.5 wheels and the heavier chassie. My reason is that gasoline models require less maintenance, less service, and they handle more people, much like a trailer. Your are going to use it on short trips and maybe back and forth to Florida not on long trips into heavy mountains etc. And you are still working. You don't have the time to spend at a dealership having repairs done. Gasoline models also store easier and in many cases don't need power when in storage. When we were in our early 50s we purchased our first gasoline motorhome and we loved it. It did not ride as well as a diesel however it was cheaper and it did not require a lot of maintenance.
There are also things on a CC which you don't need like the Hydro Hot. W ith your kind of camping you will not be in cold weather for long periods of time except in storage. So a regular propane furnace is fine and in most cases your kids will use the shower house so you don't need a large bathroom with unlimited hot water. Most gasoline coaches are made to be winterized, whereas diesels are more difficult to store in cold climates.
These are just my thoughts. If you have a lot of money and time then I would buy a diesel, otherwise a gasoline model would be my choose and then work your way up as you get older. I just helped 2 ladies, who are my neighbors buy a 36 foot gasoline coach to travel in for several months a year. They are retired and going to follow us west. They purchased a new gasoline model because they feel more at home with a coach they understand and because it sleeps more people and cats. Your choise also depends on how much you enjoy the finer things in life. good luck

Bill G. 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Any advise on purchase ofused Country Coach?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16287
Hello Ken,

I went through the same thing in trying to decide what to purchase until I narrowed in on a used Country Coach. However, my interests were driven by planning for retirement and having time to now travel freely without being on anyone's schedule. This is a major difference and I think you need to carefully access they way you and your family will use the motorhome. You may find that an investment in a large diesel pusher such as Country Coach may not fit you and your family's plans. Don't get me wrong, the Country Coach is a great coach and we really enjoy it. A diesel pusher such as this is meant to be driven. I could never see myself owning one of these still working and only being able to use it on weekends and short vacation periods. It was better for me to rent when I want to use one. Of course the rentals were not a Country Coach.

I had met someone recently in a campground also in a Country Coach that pointed out that our coaches could entertain six, feed four but only sleeps two. And when you really look at it, it is true. We have tried to travel with an extra couple and you can make it work, but it is not a comfortable trip.

If you really think you want to consider a Country Coach, look in the files folder and you will find a PDI checklist that I put together when I was looking for a used coach. It may help you. I have updated it occassionally as I find things on my coach that I should have checked.

Good luck....

Jim & Barb Hughes
2000 Allure #30511

On the road to Alaska....now in Minn

Quote from: arson137
Hello everyone! I found this forum tonight as I am anxiously > seraching for a used Country Coach. I have never even owned a

motor

Quote
home, just travel trailers. I have decided to purchase a motorhome > for me and the family which includes a wife, son !3, and daughter

11.

Quote
We loved camping and ever since I sold our last travel trailer the > family has wanted another. I of course was glad to rid myself of

the

Quote
hair raising white knuckled drives pulling the thing. So I've

found a

Quote
good alerternative to that....a motor home.

Now we are still young enough that we work full time so the

majority

Quote
of our trips are instate (Michigan) to campgrounds. We also attend

a

Quote
lot of sporting events and like to tailgate. There would be > occassional trips to Fla., etc..

When I first started looking 6 mos. ago I started looking at the > lowest cost, newer coaches. The just seemed so cheap, like the

travel

Quote
trailer I had, just with a motor! Recently I have listened to a

few

Quote
people who have advised me to get an older high quality diesel

coach

Quote
instead of a newer gas powered, cheaper model. That brings me to > Country Coach!!!!

I have found a 96 Country Coach Affinity that is absolutely

stunning

Quote
but has 98,000 miles. It can be had for $85000 plus tax. Should I

go

Quote
with it for the money or a slightly lesser Country Coach with less > miles? Or a newer lower miles gas? Any help would be greatly > appreciated...I am sure at least a few of you were in my shoes at

one

Any advise on purchase ofused Count

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 16198
David & Karen

2000 Intrigue 11062
40 ft Single slide. PT
2002 Odyssey TOAD