Paul,
Factory delivery used to be quoted at $750, but I've seen it as high as $1,500. Presumably, this might be offset to some degree by not having to pay delivery charges to the dealer, although I don't know this for a fact.
Given what you went through, I'd think that any incremental cost of factory delivery would be well worth it ???
... you would most likely want to sit in, 'feel' and drive your coach choice before placing an order
That's true Paul, but most of the factories will allow you to tour various models of coach on their lot, irrespective of whether you plan to buy. One factory offered us a test drive, but I have no idea if that's possible at all factories.
.... then you would have the hassle of getting to the factory - even if they could miraculously build you your chosen coach (layout, fabrics etc) within a week or two.
Not really a hassle - just catch a flight &/or take a rental car. Forget building the coach in a week or two though. OTOH custom choices won't be available on a coach already built and sitting at a dealer's lot. Don't forget that a newly ordered coach picked up at the factory won't have had lots of potential buyers tramping through it, nor will it have been driven or test driven by who knows how many people.
You'd probably get a better deal on a 1-year old coach that has sat in a dealer's lot, but you could/would still negotiate a hefty discount on a "new" coach that you're ordering.
Given the relatively high purchase price of a new coach and the hassle-free factory delivery, it could well be worth scheduling two trips across the Atlantic, one to select and order the coach and another to take delivery. As we say, you pays your money and you takes your choice.
