We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

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We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

February 05, 2017, 05:24:09 am

We have owned two LD, but purchased them when they were newer. My question is two fold; anything to be looking for on a 16 year old Rig? And if this is a good price for what it has on it? 2001, MB, Miles 54,000.
This is the original owner-Not Garaged, stored outside.
Items he added- Kwikee 4 pt Levelers, New Norcold Refrigerator 8/16, Tires new 6/14, 2 Solar Panels with HPV22B Solar Controller upgrade, New Ball Joints 2016, New Velvac upgraded side view mirrors, Roof resealed by LD Factory 7 years ago and reinspected 2013 and had minor patch repair, Memory Foam Mattress for overhead-LD sleep sack Queen size, Insulated Tanks, Back up Camera, Bottle Jack, New Brakes 8,000 miles ago, Steer Safe?, Profil Battery refilling system, Perm.installed Surge Protector, Front Window bra-wheel covers, 2 extra 12v. Fans, leather Front Seats, New 2016 AM-FM Radio XM/Sirius Satellite Radio, and other misc. things-
They are leaving 100% everything hoses, dishes, etc. which is good because we sold our last LD due to health reasons and never thought we would be getting another and left 100%.
The only item is No Electric Step! He doesn't like them and didn't order from Factory when he purchased it new. Due to physical issues we are going to have it installed- has anyone had electric step installed? Costs?
We negotiated the price down to $19,500, and pictures look good. We were looking for a little newer LD but we think, (unseen so far) sounds like this owner took good care of it.
Sandra

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #1 – February 05, 2017, 12:59:32 pm

Hello Sandra. So very glad to hear you are again shopping for an RV. We LOVE the Gypsy Spirit and I knew y'all were going to miss her. I sure hope you find another one. Happy RVing
Ronnie & Glinda

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #2 – February 05, 2017, 02:59:53 pm

"And if this is a good price for what it has on it? 2001, MB, Miles 54,000.
This is the original owner-Not Garaged, stored outside."

Hmmm? The first thing that caught my eye was the age vs the mileage!

I own (original) a 2004 30'IB with 89,000 current miles. I don't consider myself a coast to coast hi-mile driver, although I did make one trip to Alaska. That would put my annual driving at roughly 7,400 miles/yr.

The coach you are interested in, a 2001 with 54,000 miles is not your daily driver. It's average would be around 3,400 miles/yr. It would appear to me that this 2001 coach has done an awful lot of sitting in place!

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #3 – February 05, 2017, 04:48:47 pm

Hi Sandra. A motorhome sitting for awhile isn't that bad. My '99 that I got in Feb. 2000, has a whole 43,000 miles on it. I'm the original owner. Never garaged or covered, it sits in my driveway, and I take care of it. Shortly after we got it my shift schedule changed permanently to include Saturday. My wifes schedule remained Monday through Friday, so the opportunity to use it was greatly reduced. It sees many trips to local areas, the LD caravan trips, not too many miles because I don't want to drive very far for three or four day trips. It has been to Texas 3 times to visit outla, uh inlaws. Some day soon I plan to retire and put more miles on it. I do most of my own work on it, and I don't keep very good track of what I spend. So sorry Mimi, poor record keeping will doom me for selling it to you.
I don't have an electric step, an unnecessary add on with too much complexity. Using the manual step is way easier, too simple. Just don't forget to fold it in. (You should have a checklist anyway). I plan to buy another LD, just before the last E450's become available to Lazy Daze. By all means, included RV stuff would sweeten the deal. RonB

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #4 – February 06, 2017, 07:22:32 am

Chris what a great form to use to check out a Lazy Daze - very good. Ronnie and Glinda so glad y'all purchased Gypsy Spirit and are enjoying RV'ing.
Yes, I know the Cons about letting an RV sit to long but I guess for me taking the chance instead of buying an older Rig with 100,000 miles.
We have driven a long way to see the RV today later this morning and found out last night he hasn't gotten the Smog Certificate because he wants to wait to see if we want it? Even if we want it we don't plan on driving it home today. But gee he wants a deposit but hasn't gotten a Smog C.? Good grief the Smog Certificate is good for 90 days, which is plenty of time to sell. He then said it would only take an hour or two to get it today! First of all you usually need an appointment to get it and especially in this area which is very populated and busy. We are tired, and fit this drive in because we wanted to see the LD but need to get back home asap for our business.
Besides our Farmers Agent will not insure an older RV unless all the ducks are in a row, including a Smog Certificate.
I don't understand these peoples reluctance in getting Smog Certificate before they put it on the Market?

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #5 – February 06, 2017, 12:20:59 pm

Sandra. If its a Ca. vehicle it has routinely been smogged and passed every two years. If he had it smogged two months ago, things could have gone wrong by the time you smog it and it doesn't pass. Then it's back and forth between you two about what is wrong, and who is going to pay for it. He is willing to do it as soon as you say you'll buy it. Thats great! A 2001 has OBDII, (On Board Diagnostics version 2) and it only takes about 15 minutes nowadays. No treadmill Dyno test. It just has to be warmed up, and a check for visible smoke and gas cap seal. I had mine smogged here in San Diego just two weeks ago. The Seller will get a print out, have him show it to you. It shows the measured values vs. the allowed and average values for HC, NOx and CO. A good thing to keep track of these values so I can spot impending issues. (plugged up CATs or sparkplug misfires).
Populated and busy? Plenty of places to have it done then. Worst would be in the middle of no-where with only one guy 45 miles away whose machine is 'temporarily' broken.. I've never gotten an appointment by the way, and never a wait longer than an hour. At least you have a nice place to wait. I highly reccommend going with the Seller to the smog place. If you have to wait you can talk about the past history of the MH. RonB

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #6 – February 06, 2017, 12:40:14 pm

Thanks RonB- appreciate it. Sandra

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #7 – February 06, 2017, 12:48:48 pm

"I highly reccommend going with the Seller to the smog place. If you have to wait you can talk about the past history of the MH. RonB"

Am I missing something important here about a smog certificate? Why would a seller balk at providing this when it is such an integral part of a sale? Since they continually minimize the cost and time it takes to do it, why not have it done as a show of faith that the rig is in good shape. This extra step, particularly if it is performed ONLY after the sale, seems a totally counterproductive method of assuring your proposed buyer that the rig is worthy.

?

Virtual hugs,

Judie

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #8 – February 06, 2017, 12:52:34 pm

FYI

California smog testing, on vehicles 2000 and newer, has recently gotten a lot easier.
The only test performed now is plugging the certified test machine into the OBDII port. The test takes about ten minutes.
If the vehicle's computer is free of problem codes and has successfully completed all of its internal tests, it passes.
No more dynamometer testing for a smaller, 2000 and newer, vehicles either.

Now, almost any smog station should be able to test newer LDs.

Larry

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #9 – February 06, 2017, 01:21:13 pm

The OBD II scanner I have has an I/M Readiness function which is used to check the operations of the emission system. It's a good way for a potential buyer to do a quick pre-check prior to an actual inspection.

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #10 – February 06, 2017, 02:39:24 pm

Quote from: Judie Ashford - February 06, 2017, 12:48:48 pm

Am I missing something important here about a smog certificate? Why would a seller balk at providing this when it is such an integral part of a sale? Since they continually minimize the cost and time it takes to do it, why not have it done as a show of faith that the rig is in good shape. This extra step, particularly if it is performed ONLY after the sale, seems a totally counterproductive method of assuring your proposed buyer that the rig is worthy.

Judie

My last time through the smog check (2 years ago) cost me around a hundred dollars (west side of L.A.). I suspect the seller doesn't want to pop for the cost unless he's sure he has a ready buyer. If the rig doesn't sell within 90 days of a smog test, he'd have to pay for a new one all over again in order to close a sale. Short-sighted? Perhaps, but maybe the seller has had it on the market for a while with no sale. Just speculating. Also, regarding another poster's comment, not all smog stations will/can handle an RV because of space limitations at the facility. I had to shop around. -- Jon

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #11 – February 06, 2017, 03:03:48 pm

"If the rig doesn't sell
within 90 days of a smog test, he'd have to pay for a new one all over
again in order to close a sale. Short-sighted? Perhaps, but maybe the
seller has had it on the market for a while with no sale. Just speculating."

Also speculating . . . perhaps not keeping a smog certificate active because of the expense every three months might make sense, IF the seller is willing to do a smog check if/when someone seems genuinely interested. The ad could advise the last date of smog certificate approval, and express willingness to redo for a genuine buyer. If, indeed, there is no action on a sale during a prolonged period of time, then a continually updated certificate may not be warranted, but surely it would be a sign of good faith if one were in place by the time the buyer came to visit.

Making the buyer hand over the purchase price BEFORE taking the rig for a smog check seems out of proportion to me. If a buyer is sufficiently motivated to appear at the sales location with sufficient funds to purchase the vehicle, that would seem, at least to me, a much bigger commitment to follow through than the seller's position of obstinately holding out for complete payment before taking the rig for a smog check.

Even if an inspection is $100. (not chicken feed, I agree), it is almost certain that an interested buyer has gone to a lot more than $100. worth of effort and expense to appear at the sales site with payment in hand, even if both are in the same city.

For me - and I would speak for no one but myself - I would NOT do business with someone like that. That sort of intractability is not conducive to a smooth transaction. I would always be fearful of the next unreasonable factor to appear that would make me wish I had kept my money in the bank, and me in my cozy nest, instead of aggravating myself with the unpleasantness of a less-than-desirable transaction. See: Frog in heating water syndrome. I would be continually waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But maybe like giving birth, the ultimate result might be worth the pain in the doing of it. But not for me.

Virtual hugs,

Judie

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #12 – February 07, 2017, 08:44:31 pm

Quote from: RonB - February 05, 2017, 04:48:47 pm

I do most of my own work on it, and I don't keep very good track of what I spend. RonB

You make a good point here Ron; something I hadn't thought about. From everything I've read in the forums, a lot of the folks do their own repairs and maintenance. How will they address that if they decide to sell one day?

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #13 – February 08, 2017, 01:49:22 am

   Hi Mimi. I do write down most of my maintenance; oil changes, air cleaners, tires, brake flushes, radiator flush in my gas mileage book. It is also a diary of where I've been. I take pictures of other endeavors, so those are dated. I can remember most other items. I don't record simple things like wipers, car wax, cleaners, lens caps for the marker lights, light bulbs, etc.
   With five other cars, I spend more time with them. My wife, a retired accountant, keeps track of expenses if I bother to tell her, and specify which car it was for. I have friends who would likely buy it from me, they are mechanic types also. I keep waiting for the fridge to quit but OK so far.
I will smog mine just before I advertise it, but if the 90 days expires, I'd wait until I had an offer before I would pay to have it done again. My code reader would tell me if anything was wrong, (if the scan gauge didn't).
   I haven't had anything done except three warrantee problems many years ago (2003). On one, Ford was clueless, so I had to fix it for them. Cost me a lot of time and about a $1. RonB

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #14 – February 09, 2017, 04:39:05 pm

Did we learn a lesson from this experience! We spent much time, money and energy dealing with this owner and going to look at it. "Always go look at a Rig for sale-Never buy one site unseen." We almost sent him a Deposit but after reading responses here we changed our mind. Thanks folks!

The pictures were 3 years old and looked much newer then what it does today. Lazy bones you were right, I think it has sat for long-long periods, which was next to the Freeway and it was very dirty there. I won't bore y'all with everything we didn't like but a few things; there was a musty/old smell (not real bad and it has been raining), my husband seen green moss growing on the roof, when he turned on the generator (which has not been used much) it sounded like 747 Airplane! Our LD 1999 MB generator didn't sound like that- there was a couple splits in the back frame and my husband was concerned maybe water was going in and said something to the Owner and he just walked away-no comment.
Basically the Rig looked "OLD" and it is 2001, 17 years old- so it wasn't right for us. Someone else my see it as a good deal for 2001 MB? and the Owner said he would have the Smog Certificate and then changed his mind, saying if we bought it and gave him $$ he would get a Smog Certificate.
We loved our other two LD's and will continue looking after we rest up.

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #15 – February 09, 2017, 05:30:27 pm

It always amazes me that people try to sell things without cleaning them. Bad odors and moss growing are not good for a sale. I will admit my LD had a pretty dirty exterior when I bought it. But it was just dirt from being parked in a busy storage lot. But the interior was spotless and smelled good. I see why this 2001 was priced low.

Re: We are taking a trip to look at 2001 MB? $19,500.00

Reply #16 – February 09, 2017, 05:32:48 pm

Methinks you made a wise decision there Sandra. Could have been just cosmetic but why chance it"

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