scottydl said:
. . . but I just need some advice from folks who have been there / done that.? Thanks -
Hi Scotty:
Earlier this year, I was there, and did that -- and it worked out well for me on a rig I found in RV Trader On-Line. I traveled from Quartzsite, AZ to Round Rock, TX -- then returned to my home base in Sacramento, CA. However, I set up some rules for myself that you may find helpful. Once I decided the rig was the one I wanted, my approach was to work "everything" out on the phone, Internet, and from pictures -- other than a final kicking of tires and test driving myself after traveling to the sellers location. And the seller would have to agree that if I found something wrong, I could walk away. The seller and I talked probably 10 to 15 times by phone during the process.
o Once I found the one I wanted, I priced it out using NADA. I wanted to determine exactly what I would pay for this rig -- regardless of what his asking price was.
o After my arrival, the seller had to agree that it was OK for me to take the rig to any dealer I saw fit to have the engine, drive train or whatever checked out prior to purchase. This one made me nervous because something might have shown up the the seller was not aware of -- and that would have nixed the deal. Of course, if the seller agrees, this could be done by the buyer prior to traveling to the location. However, I would find the dealer to do the check-out vs. asking the seller to find one for me.
o I "did" work out the exact deal on the phone -- and confirmed it in an email.. That is important. I would not travel that far to wind up on the short end of a price negotiation.
o And finally, I asked the seller the question I have asked on every used vehicle I have ever purchased. "Is there 'anything' that you know of about this vehicle, that I should know prior to buying this vehicle"? Actually, I asked it twice. Once on the phone, and once while looking him straight in the eye after my arrival.
All this said, in the price range you are looking at, I would agree with Roamer and Ned. I spent about $1,600 on the way home getting several things fixed that did not surface during the entire process. Breaking down in an RV on a long lonesome highway is "not" a fun experience. <g> The probability of more problems in an older Class C would keep me personally from buying via long distance. My purchase was a '96 Class A with 45k miles.
Check the newspapers in the closest cities to your location for rigs more local to you -- and find one that you can easily get to and check out prior to even beginning to negotiate. And continue to look on line to find a rig closer to you.
Either way -- good luck and please post what you come up with.
