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85 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Yahoo Message Number: 19779
Looking at an '85 36' CC Magna with the 300HP Cummins 6CTA8.3 6 spd Allison with 44,000 miles. Any thoughts? This is a bit older than I am looking at but it appears to be extremely clean...like new (as they say!).

These also are still quite pricey for their age...worried it might depreciate relatively quickly now that it is 20 years old?
Is the '95 Cummins a 4 cycle diesel? What is the general thought on this engine and transmission combination?

E-mail any thoughts on value...Wholesale is $63K...Retail is $89K.
Any thoughts would be appreciated...Thanks...Tom Rootness in Northern Minnesota

Re: '85 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19781
The 95 Cummins is a mechanical engine - read that as it doesn't have the electronics and their associated problems and expense. The Allison 3060 isn't all that different from the 3000 currently offered. Been a solid, reliable combination for me.

You ARE looking at a 1995 model and not a 1985 model, right?
The 95 Magna with Cummins 6CTA 8.3 with the Allison 3060 is worth hundreds of thousands (if in good shape).

Mike Cebula
95 Magna #5266
In good shape

Tom wrote:

Re: '95 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19784
Thnaks Mike...is the '95 Cummins a two or four cycle diesel? Does this Magna have the Gillig chassis? What are the issues with this model...all have some issues? Is the 44,000 miles an issue...ie; too low miles? Any particulatly important "options" to look for?

Thanks...Tom Rootness

Quote from: Mike Cebula\[br\
]
The 95 Cummins is a mechanical engine - read that as it doesn't
have the electronics and

Quote
their associated problems and expense. The Allison 3060 isn't all
that different from the

Quote
3000 currently offered. Been a solid, reliable combination for me.

You ARE looking at a 1995 model and not a 1985 model, right? >

The 95 Magna with Cummins 6CTA 8.3 with the Allison 3060 is worth
hundreds of thousands

Quote
(if in good shape).

Mike Cebula
95 Magna #5266
In good shape

Tom wrote:

> Looking at an '85 36' CC Magna with the 300HP Cummins 6CTA8.3 6

spd

Quote
Allison with 44,000 miles. Any thoughts? This is a bit older

than I

Quote
am looking at but it appears to be extremely clean...like new

(as they

Quote
say!).
>

> These also are still quite pricey for their age...worried it

might

Quote
depreciate relatively quickly now that it is 20 years old? > >

> Is the '95 Cummins a 4 cycle diesel? What is the general

thought on

Quote
this engine and transmission combination? > >

> E-mail any thoughts on value...Wholesale is $63K...Retail is

$89K.

Quote

> Any thoughts would be appreciated...Thanks...Tom Rootness in

Northern

Re: '85 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19788
Tom,

Sorry, but I think, a newer coach would be a better investment.
What make the difference is you and the history of the coach. I would be asking about the service records. How old are the tires, belts etc. Maintance is everthing.

Paul

01' Intrigue # 11309

Quote from: Tom
Looking at an '85 36' CC Magna with the 300HP Cummins 6CTA8.3 6

spd

Quote
Allison with 44,000 miles. Any thoughts? This is a bit older

than I

Quote
am looking at but it appears to be extremely clean...like new (as

they

Quote
say!).

These also are still quite pricey for their age...worried it might > depreciate relatively quickly now that it is 20 years old? >

Is the '95 Cummins a 4 cycle diesel? What is the general thought

on

Quote
this engine and transmission combination? >

E-mail any thoughts on value...Wholesale is $63K...Retail is $89K.

Any thoughts would be appreciated...Thanks...Tom Rootness in

Northern

Re: '85 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19789
Paul...Were your comments about an '85 OR the corrected '95? The '85 was a typo. Thanks...Tom Rootness

Quote from: pcummings4
Tom,

Sorry, but I think, a newer coach would be a better investment.
What make the difference is you and the history of the coach. I > would be asking about the service records. How old are the tires, > belts etc. Maintance is everthing.

Paul

01' Intrigue # 11309

Quote from: Tom"[/quote
Quote
>]
>

> Looking at an '85 36' CC Magna with the 300HP Cummins 6CTA8.3 6 > spd

> Allison with 44,000 miles. Any thoughts? This is a bit older > than I

> am looking at but it appears to be extremely clean...like new

(as

Quote
they
> say!).
>

> These also are still quite pricey for their age...worried it

might

Quote
depreciate relatively quickly now that it is 20 years old? > >

> Is the '95 Cummins a 4 cycle diesel? What is the general

thought

Quote
on

> this engine and transmission combination? > >

> E-mail any thoughts on value...Wholesale is $63K...Retail is

$89K.

Re: '95 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19790
Quote from: Tom
Paul...Were your comments about an '85 OR the corrected '95? > The '85 was a typo. Thanks...Tom Rootness >

[quote author=pcummings4"

>

> Tom,
>

> Sorry, but I think, a newer coach would be a better investment.
> What make the difference is you and the history of the coach. I > > would be asking about the service records. How old are the

tires,

Quote
belts etc. Maintance is everthing.
>

> Paul

> 01' Intrigue # 11309
>
>
>

[quote author=Tom"

>]
> >

> > Looking at an '85 36' CC Magna with the 300HP Cummins 6CTA8.3

6

Re: '95 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19795
4-cycle.

Mine is the 38' Magna Caprice and I believe Gillig was the only chassis used in '95; however, a Detroit Series 40 was an option instead of the Cummins.
So far, I've had two items that failed. One was the fuel cutoff solenoid that Cummins replaced with a more robust solenoid. That failed this past September. The other was problems with the Freedom 25 charger/inverter. Main failure was randomly going into bulk mode and boiling the batteries. After going through the contact cleaning, 'whack it on the front', etc. for a year, I replaced it with a Xantrex RS3000. The RS2000 would have been more than adequate but I plan on adding some battery capacity and the RS3000 is looking toward that. This Xantrex RS series has true sine wave capability and now I won't have to worry about any of the newer electronics I might install.
Tires have been replaced once and are due, based on time, again. This is always a little painful since they still look good, but it's been 5 years and it's time per the pros.
If you have the maintenance done as recommended, the coach should last a very long time.
One item you might want to pay particular attention to on the one you are looking at is the dessicant filter. Normally, it would be changed around 50,000 miles. However, it's probably 10 years old (assuming the maint. records don't show it already replaced) and should probably be replaced soon before it fails and contaminates the air system - that can get expensive. Everyone seems to know to change the oil and xmsn fluid (and filters) regularly. The other biggie is monitoring the SCA level of the coolant. This is a major cause of engine failure. What is done for this is totally dependent on the type coolant being used. I use the good old heavy duty ethylene glycol diesel version with low silicates and add the SCA per test strip indications. It's available at all NAPA stores and easy to get. There are other options with newer coolants - I'm just an old fud that trusts what I know and stick with it.
Mine is approaching 58,000 miles. About the only thing I can think of with looking at a coach with low mileage is possibility of dried out seals if it sat for long periods without at least being started. A good look by a mechanic would be advisable for this.
Otherwise, if everything works, and the maintenance records look good, I prefer an older coach like this - less depreciation every year right from the get-go. Of course, that assumes you will keep it for a while. Chances are, this is our last large coach. If we sell it, it will be to downsize. Every time I go to a show and look at what's available in a new coach, I can't find anything new that I think is worth enough to spend that kind of money.

Slides are the only other issue. If I was a full-timer, that might be something to consider. However, the space is fine for just the two of us and our two small dogs. We spend anywhere from 4 to 9 months a year in the coach and haven't had claustrophobia yet.
Also, haven't had a single problem with slides since we don't have any.
Only other changes made to ours is a GPS system, in-motion satellite, got rid of the two barrel chairs and small table and replaced with a large 2-drawer file desk and recliner, replaced the old couch, added a wall pantry 6" deep and moved the table out correspondingly. Also, I've installed an external oil bypass filter and no longer change oil. Instead, at the normal scheduled oil change interval, I take a sample of the oil and send it off to a lab for analysis, then change the external filter, add the 6 quarts oil removed as a result of doing that. So far, every returned analysis has indicated the oil is fine, additives ok, and no need to change. That's worked for the last 4 changes and I'll probably change the main filter next time too.
If it works, I've attached the specs as a PDF file for this year coach.

Mike

'95 Magna Caprice #5266

Tom wrote:

Re: '95 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19796
Thanks Mike...the attachment did not come through...but I have already retrieved that from the CC web site. Thanks for the discussion. I will ping you if I get closer to a purchase. Thanks...Tom Rootness in Cold Minnesota

P.S. Do you have a garage for yours...I think I would want a garage to "tinker" and work on the coach? TMR

Re: '95 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19799
Yes, have a garage for it out back that also houses our Class B weekender and my Jeep.

Mike

'95 Magna Caprice #5266

Tom wrote:

Re: '95 CC Magna...Thoughts? Good/Bad?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19809
Hey Mike would like to sell the freedom inverter I'm looking for spare parts for mine when it dies

thanks
Brian

10030 95 intrigue