Hi again, I found a 1999 '23 that looks in good shape; however, I have yet to see it personally. It has 70,000 miles and asking price is $24,950. Can someone give me an idea what I should counter offer on this? I plan to have it inspected prior to purchasing. It's being sold via a broker, is that something I should be concerned about? Thanks a bunch
If you post the ad, someone may be able to give limited advice based on any photos.
It’s just about impossible to tell much about a 20+ year old vehicle with just a year and an asking price.
So much depends on how it was maintained.
Rich
If the site has pics and a description, but you don't want to give the link, then at least post the pics and description here.
Steve
Sold via a broker raises red flags for me. If you can’t see it in person yet, ask them to do a live online walkthrough with you, showing you the inside and outside. If they don’t have access to it to do that then walk away, it’s likely a scam. Don’t make any offers or deposits until you see it in person.
Here are the pictures
Good advise, we are setting an appointment for my son to view it tomorrow
Do you think a counter offer of $19,000 is reasonable? Too low? Too high?
Here's the way I think about pricing in this market. Decide what you're willing to pay, offer that, but be prepared to miss out if it's not close to asking price. If you're willing to pay asking price, offer it.
Used RV prices are as high as I can remember. It's not really about original selling price, or depreciation, or fair prices, or anything else like that right now. There are people who want RVs and can afford to pay much more than what would have been common in the past.
If you do get the RV, be prepared to go through the same supply/demand imbalance when booking campsites.
It's still a great way to travel, IMO.
Rich
Thanks Rich, appreciate your feedback.
There is something very suspicious about the add - no 22' or 23' LD models in 1999 had a dinette. Some of the inside pictures appear to be from a longer model, but the outside is the smaller one. The location of appliance access on the outside is wrong for any 1999 model. Here is the brochure for 1999:
Steve
Steve, I see that, so what do you think he's going to be showing tomorrow? I'm waiting for him to provide me with the VIN number. I'm also nervous about this and that is why I'm reaching out to you knowledgeable owners for some council.
Without additional information, who knows what condition it is in, how it has been maintained, the age of the tires and batteries, or what enhancements it has.
Keep in mind it is 22 years old, that's a lot of years for mother nature to do her work. It should have had a bunch of resealing projects done to it already and quite a bit of mechanical maintenance performed....hoses, belts, fluids, brakes, etc.
You really can't provide a link to the ad or are you afraid of someone getting to it before you do? A few low-quality photos tell us next to nothing.
It probably has the small 350 V8 and will not be very powerful, probably unable to pull most toads. There is a chance it has a bigger engine but, once again who knows, you are not providing much for us to work with.
Understand, we are an RV site, not a buying service or appraisers. None of us appraise for a living.
I suggest a professional inspector/appraiser, not just someone who knows a bit about cars or RV.
We have seen too many folks get burned on a "nice looking" elderly LD that is loaded with costly hidden problems.
Most old rigs have them.
Larry
There is something very suspicious about the add - no 22' or 23' LD models in 1999 had a dinette. Some of the inside pictures appear to be from a longer model, but the outside is the smaller one. The location of appliance access on the outside is wrong for any 1999 model. Here is the brochure for 1999:
Steve
In that brochure, the front lounge says you can substitute a dinette for the barrel chairs, transforming it to a "front dinette"model.
Got it Larry, thank you. I understand your point but I was hopeful to gain information from those of you more experienced. In any event, the VIN number indicates it's a 1998 Chevy Express Van and from the brochure I'm reading that's it should be on a Ford Chassis?
There is something very suspicious about the ad - no 22' or 23' LD models in 1999 had a dinette. Some of the inside pictures appear to be from a longer model, but the outside is the smaller one. The location of appliance access on the outside is wrong for any 1999 model.
Steve
It’s a 22’ Front Dinette, the Chevy version of what Gene and Sally owned before their RK.
It’s rare to see a Front Dinette, usually, they are Front Lounges, the same as you and I own.
1998 was supposed to be Chevy's last year, evidently, LD still built a few in 1999, it may be 1998 chassis with a 1999 coach. This is not an uncommon practice and is seen a lot in older LDs
Larry
Got it Larry, thank you. I understand your point but I was hopeful to gain information from those of you more experienced. In any event, the VIN number indicates it's a 1998 Chevy Express Van and from the brochure I'm reading that's it should be on a Ford Chassis?
Sassy,
Often LD has a chassis from one model year being sold on a house body from the next year. Or sometimes the other way around. Depends on the time of year and the model year of the vehicle manufacture.
LInda
Here is the ad
Linda, your input much appreciated....
Based on the side photo, I would say those are 27’ photos. Either they just made a mistake or something is fishy.
I picked up a trick to tell them apart, take the cab measurements, and if the length is roughly 1/3 of the whole length, it’s 24’, otherwise it’s 27’
Here is the ad
That is a screenshot, not a link, it has less information than in the previously posted photos.
Larry
Sorry, I don't know how to attach the link...help
Based on the side photo, I would say those are 27’ photos. Either they just made a mistake or something is fishy.
I picked up a trick to tell them apart, take the cab measurements, and if the length is roughly 1/3 of the whole length, it’s 24’, otherwise it’s 27’
Recalibrate your eyes.
It's a 22' Chevy Front Dinette, I have owned two Front Lounges (1983 22' FL and 2003 23.5' FL) and have looked at many more. The window layout is unmistakable.
AFAIK, LD never built a longer floorplan on the G30 Chevy chassis, only 22' models. With the low 11,000-lbs GVW, the chassis was not capable of carrying a larger coach.
Changes by year (https://www.lazydazeowners.com/pocketguide/changes.htm)
For a few years (1994, 95, 96), LD built a 30' model on a Chevy GP30 chassis.
Larry
1999 Lazy Daze Class C 23FT Motorhome with ONLY 70,000 Original... (https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/rvd/d/happy-valley-1999-lazy-daze-class-23ft/7352016622.html)
More Red flags
“Please email your contact information to set up an appointment to view the lazy days or we will NOT respond.” Why would anyone not be willing to answer questions before setting up an appointment?
Be cautious anytime someone says they won’t respond through the app being used, ie Craigslist unless you give them your contact information. Getting people’s email and phone numbers and selling them is a big business. If it were me, I would respond through the Craigslist email and ask for their contact information.
“I have questions for you, how can I contact you?” “ In what area is the Rv right now? Is it at a private residence or a dealership?”
If your son is to meet with the seller, only meet if in a public place. Be cautious and don’t get emotionally invested. I’ve purchased a few RVs in my time and all of the purchases were preceded by lengthy telephone conversations before I knew if I wanted to see the RV or not. And why would any reputable seller not want to pre screen buyers before setting up an appointment? This may be legitimate or may not be. I hope it is and it works out in your favor. Be aware and be smart. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
So Cal Gal, you have given me a lot to think about, so thank you. I asked the seller to set up a virtual walk-through instead of tomorrow's visit but he has not responded. Unfortunately, I already made the mistake of giving him my telephone number but I will be more savvy next time. I really appreciate all the advice you and others have shared; I'm still learning. Take good care and safe travels.
YouTube channel “rv miles” recently posted a video “Avoiding RV Sales Scams”. They share some good information. You have to forward through the video to get to the scam information at the end, but it’s worth listening to. I just experienced this same type of scam on Craigslist regarding a car for sale. I became very suspicious right away because the ad had so little about the car itself. It’s sad, but there are a lot of people out there that would rather steal from others than work for a living. Don’t feel badly if they don’t respond, feel good that you dodged that bullet. I know your dream RV is out there and you will find it. We shopped all over the US for ours for a year and it turned up literally a block from our house. Just keep looking.
For reference, I sold my 1995 TK recently for $19,500 with less miles and I'll bet it was in better shape.
A recent example: I just sold my 27' Airstream (I'm now traveling in a 19-footer) to a couple who live 2,200 miles away and could not travel to see it. I had advertised on Airstream Classifieds and on RVTrader, posting descriptions as long and detailed as they would permit (4,000 characters and 2,500 characters, respectively) and as many photos as they allowed (50 photos and 20 photos, respectively). I showed the trailer's flaws as well as its enhancements.
I had phone conversations with the buyers, answered questions via email, sent still more photos, and gave them a 75-minute video tour via FaceTime, pointing out all the bad points (e.g., dented rear bumper) as well as the good ones. I wanted them to be really sure they knew what they would be getting, and that it was what they wanted. Only then did I ask them to wire me the money. That happened this morning, and a transport driver will pick it up next week and bring it back to them.
My point is that an honest seller will be willing to communicate and to provide as much information as the prospective buyer needs to make a decision. If you get a brush-off, a hard sell, or a rush treatment, it's probably best to walk away.
Ok, with the link, it appears it IS a front dinette, and the pics jive with that - some distortion due to the wide-angle lens. I would say private party, driven to an open area for the pics. The contact caution is likely to reduce crank offers and dealer solicitation. Check it out - might be a good find, but beware of ANY signs of past leak or accident damage.
Steve
Probably a scam if given a phony vin #
So many scammers and flippers out trying to steal a few buck...oopps...i mean make a few bucks...lol
"Hi again, I found a 1999 '23 that looks in good shape; however, I have yet to see it personally. It has 70,000 miles and asking price is $24,950. Can someone give me an idea what I should counter offer on this? I plan to have it inspected prior to purchasing. It's being sold via a broker, is that something I should be concerned about? Thanks a bunch."
Buying remotely is definitely a dicey situation. That said, we have done it successfully four times - purchasing sight unseen and having had them driven/carriered to us by a third party.
To wit, the items were a 40-foot fifth wheel (private sale in Nevada in 1997); a 1998 Sportsmobile (purchased from a private person through Sportsmobile 2002); a 2005 Lazy Daze (purchased through a dealer in San Diego 2009); and a 2009 Pleasure-Way (purchased from a truck dealership in Virginia 2019). We sold the fifth wheel locally in 2003, but still own the other three units. All were, and always have been, completely satisfactory.
Only on the Pleasure-Way did I engage a professional to inspect the unit (in Virginia). All units were exactly as presented to me via email and the net. The fifth wheel had been lived in for several years by a family of four, so had some upholstery wear, but caused us very little grief over the years (A/C was not sufficient - only one unit). The other three units came to us looking like "fresh out of the factory". I don't know why there was so little use on these three units, but it was like they were brand new.
Not clear how much weight to credit good luck on these purchases, and things are probably a lot different than our last event in 2019.
Just one person's experience. As always . . .
YMMV - most definitely!!!
Virtual hugs,
Judie <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona
Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West (http://dorrieanne.wordpress.com)
Today: Modern Day Chuckwagon
***************************