Looking for a good buy in a used converted coach. What's available?

[gumpy]

I have a friend who is considering buying an RV that he can live in full time while away from home on jobs. He's has expressed an interest in buses, but is leaning more towards an
S&S. Of course I'm trying to sway him back from the "dark side". 

He needs something that will be comfortable for 3 (he, his wife, and one teenage daughter).
It needs to be completed. He won't have the time or desire to build or complete someone's abandoned project.
It needs to be mechanically reliable as he won't have the ability to work on it.
It need to be winter capable.
His target range is under $30K.

I've pointed him to the classifieds on the board. If anyone knows of something on the market that might work here, please email me the details so I can pass it on to him.

craig

[Hi yo silver]

Craig,
Ooh, under 30 grand.   That's tough!  I'm thinking, an already completed conversion, obviously.  Preferrably, a Custom Coach, or comparable factory conversion.  To me, that's the simplest approach, if he can find an older one, within or near his price range.  It's converted in accordance to recognized standards, and already complete, not as pretty as some I've seen, but probably not much mileage on it if converted new.  Worked for me. So far, so good!
Dennis   

[Lin]

Bluebird may be an option.  There are 1980's to be had for under $30k.  They have the factory production and documentation of S&S, but are bus construction.  Many have been very well maintained.  Another thing is that they are bluebooked if financing is of interest.

[belfert]

I hate to say this, but if one wants reliability and something that needs no work a S&S might almost be better.  Lots of late 90s motorhomes for less than $30k in a gasser.  I personally would never buy anything but a diesel, but that is just me.

A two stroke engine in an old bus isn't exactly hands off.

[PADoug]

Here's one that I would like to emulate as far as the layout, and the price looks right:

http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=397&name=Indy

HTH 

Doug

[bubbaqgal]

This isn't so much about the bus but the age.  Many campgrounds don't allow rigs that are more than 10 years old for more than a few nights.  If he is traveling for work and planning to be in one spot for a few weeks or months at a time this is something he needs to consider also.

[John316]

Cat,

Maybe you guys would sell yours for somewhere around 25K....just thinking out loud .

God bless,

John

[Lin]

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/rvs/1553057352.html

[Tenor]

Nice one Lin!  The webasto is a definite help for cold weather!

Glenn

[BG6]

He's looking for a S&S, because he's not going to find a ready-for-wife-to-live-in coach in his price range. Tell him to buy one in the $10K range and save the rest of his money.  In the used market, there isn't any reason to spend more unless he runs across a screaming deal in a top-of-the-line S&S that someone needs to get sold in a hurry.  The S&S that was on the market 2 years ago for $50K is still on the market and the owner is so weary, he'll take $15K

It will only be 3 or 4 months before he and his wife will be ready to think about a coach conversion, especially if they are doing a lot of traveling.  They will have a lot better idea just what they want and what they don't, AND since they are already in their S&S, they can take their time and do the conversion well.

[Kevin Warnock]

I don't know if Wulf still has his RTS, but I know he's been trying to sell it for over a year. He put over $100,000 into in, and last I heard he was willing to sell it for $25,000. I've seen pictures, and it looks 'wife ready' to me. It has a lot of nice features, and it's really nicely done. Wulf has converted a number of coaches, so I think his RTS would be a safe choice. At least one of his conversions was a featured centerfold in Bus Conversions Magazine, a Neoplan I recall.

I love my RTS.

Also, I believe Pete from this board is selling his RTS, although I don't know how much he is asking.

Good luck

[kyle4501]

The Eagle looked good since the daughter could have her own room for those moments when a teenager needs their privacy.

I don't think his risk is very high as surely it would sell latter for more than half what the current asking price is. . . . Assuming the suspension is good & there aren't any major corrosion issues to be dealt with.

[DaveG]

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/rvs/1553057352.html

Wow, I think this 7 looks pretty nice.

[Lin]

He sent me pictures of the MC7.  The interior is respectable also.

[jok]

I am looking to sell my 1977 MC8 (keeping the Prevost ). I would take $33,000 today. A little over his budget though.

I probably should not be putting this here though since it is not in the classified section. Nick, you may want to delete.

http://s852.photobucket.com/albums/ab86/jok-kalamazoo/?action=view&current=MCI1.jpg

John