In a post on another thread Thinking about selling our FT.... (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=21974.36), it was suggested that when my time to buy got closer I get added to the MOT mailing list to find out about coaches before they appear on the MOT website.
How much/What information do you get on individual coaches in those weekly e-mails? Specifically, I'm wondering whether the information includes data on GVWR and GCWR and the like for figuring approximate cargo carrying and towing capacity. I know the general numbers are likely available elsewhere, but I also know those numbers often vary from coach to coach.
Does FOT have any similar to the weekly e-mails from FOT? Thanks.
Simple answer is no. From MOT I just got some 20-50 word description, and maybe 3-6 phone photos. It is sometimes all they know about a coach coming that is shared with the sales force.
But when you have your budget, model, length, and some more on your wish list, then they can tell you if something is coming that might be of interest.
I did not want a 40', or Aqua Hot, but wanted Walnut interior. All that helped really narrow the coach list to an occasional one that mattered. Those 3 things but us into only the U295, unless it was a custom build, delete Aqua Hot, 320, or a custom build U270 upgrade to Walnut or Cherry, all very rare. We found a mid-door, and maybe only 7 of those were built in the U270, 295, or 320, as to be a very rarely seen Foretravel model.
We are looking at real estate, we are not going to waste a lot of time on what we are not going to buy, which would be next year. I can follow the internet market place till we are listing and or selling our home. Seeing a deal today, just is frustrating, as we are not able to snap it up.
Okay, thanks. As far as budget goes, our budget might be less for a used FT than if we were to consider SOB for the simple reason that as they get newer, the FT coaches seem a little flashier, at least the pictures I've seen, and that is something that does not fit our personalities.
I suspect we'll be in the market when the time comes (if I get the wife on board) for anything from a 1997 to a 2003 FT, probably 36 feet long. (I need to get her in a 40-foot model to see how she feels. I know she hasn't even been willing to look at any other brand in that length, and FT is the only brand I would even consider in that length.) Our budget at that time might allow us to stretch a year or two newer and would certainly allow us to go a year or two older. If I can get her comfortable with not having slides (she says she's open to the idea), that may well be the route I go.
Does FOT also send out e-mail alerts about incoming coaches? I couldn't really tell from their website. Thanks.
I have not gotten any from FT but I do get a call when they think they have something thatmight interest me.
Well, it sounds like proximity as much as anything will be my biggest impediment to buying a FT when the time comes to buy our first coach. I am not retired, independently wealthy, or my own boss, and I live roughly 1800 miles away from MOT, so dropping everything at a moment's notice to go look at something MOT has or has just gotten in is not really an option.
Next question: I've heard of people putting deposits down on a coach they're interested in. How much time does that buy you to go down, inspect the coach, and make a decision? I don't want to eliminate FT from my list simply because I can't find one for sale in the surrounding five state area (about as far as I can drive on short notice).
I live in Virginia and bought in Texas. One time at the factory and one time at mot. I just had the salesman send a whole bunch of pictures. I said ok and gave them my credit card for a deposit and hotfooted it down. Looked at it and bought it. Then went home and came back and picked it up. In your case a trip down to look and you might want things done so fly home and wait till you have a week and drive down and pick it up. Many of us bought sight unseen but with the right to refuse. They are so well built most things can be fixed. There are only a couple coaches I have seen with walk away problems.
I have been involved in buying 4 Ft's sight unseen except pictures and have paid for 3 of them in full at least a week prior to seeing it. Only taken once! One (that we have still) was only 1800 miles and one 500 miles away. the others 3-3500 miles away. None of these issues bothered me as I can fix up myself (majority).
My comment to all this "back and forth" of "what I do or do not want, but cannot make a move for at least a year" is fine, up to a point. I would suggest that people keep reading the Forum for info and making notes so that when (if) the time comes that a person is now able (has money or lifestyle changes) then that is when you should make a quick move based on your learned info. You will never really know what you want till it is in front of you, and that could be a long time away. Your wants will change without a doubt.
JohnH
Well said. I could't agree more. :)
I agree with what John said. We decided that we wanted a Foretravel. We looked at the FOT and MOT websites. After one week the coach we wanted came available at FOT. We drove to FOT and bought the motorhome. Less than one month after deciding on a Foretravel we had the one we wanted. One year later we are still tickled with our coach.
Thanks for all of the insight from everyone.