Foretravel Purchase Price

Topic: Foretravel Purchase Price (Read 1327 times) previous topic - next topic

Foretravel Purchase Price

January 22, 2014, 09:15:08 am

Hey y'all.

So, I am currently a wannabe. Owned 3 motorhomes. The last was an 08 Newmar King Aire. Sold it a year ago and the withdrawal related shakes have set in. It's time to get back in a rig and motor down the road. I went to FT to look at a 2012 King Aire they had taken on trade. Three things struck me. Newmar doesn't appear to be what is once was. The people at FT seemed like genuinely good folks. And FT makes an awesome product.

So, that's taken me down the road of looking at used IHs and used Phenixs. With SOBs, I get the benefit of NADA "wholesale book" as a guide. However, I've not had such luck with FT and therefor have no field of reference for what "fair value" is for a used rig. How is that determined?

I'm certain this isn't the first time this question has been addressed but your help is most appreciated. And, from reading the posts, you all seem just as nice as those good people on the Wanderlodge forum.

Thanks in advance.

Joe

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #1 – January 22, 2014, 10:43:50 am

Welcome to ForeForums!

Probably all of the used IH's sold will have been done so by/through FOT. Most of the used Phenix's also from FOT, some by MOT and maybe a few by California Coach Company. Still, there isn't a lot of inventory/sales data and especially with recent years they are pretty much all custom coaches.

If you're looking at a private purchase, they'd likely be your best resource for FMV. If you're trying to negotiate a purchase of a used IH at FOT that's going to be more challenging.

(putting my moderator hat on now - his is not a question about NADA values and we have discussed that in several previous threads. Let's stay on topic - how to value a used IH or Phenix - and not hijack it with NADA)

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #2 – January 22, 2014, 10:48:54 am

Welcome, Joe. Yes, this group is a very nice, polite bunch, and there is a lot of expertise here, too. It looks like NADA has redone their website. When we bought our 1993 last year we were able to look it up on NADA and get some numbers. I suppose you could try looking up a competing coach just to see what sort of numbers you might see, or you could just make an offer based on what the coach you are looking at is worth to you. Remember that if you are looking at a consignment coach the owner, not the dealer, has the final say about the price. An outright trade-in is a different story.

You are absolutely right that Foretravel makes an awesome coach. I'm taking out the shelf that the old refrigerator sat on, and I'm impressed. The frame is glued and screwed to the sides of the area and the plywood surface the old refrigerator sat on is glued and stapled to the struts. There is insulation board in all the cavities and another piece of plywood is on the underside. Where wires pass through the hole is either caulked or foamed to keep air from moving from one area to another.

Yes, the WOG people are also very nice. In fact, several of us are on both forums. We actually talked to Randy about buying a 'Bird, but he didn't have any that suited us at the time we found our Foretravel. As you know, NADA prices for 'Birds are way under what they actually sell for, but at least you can get a price relationship between one 'Bird and another, or you used to.

Enjoy the hunt.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #3 – January 22, 2014, 10:56:44 am

Naybe brad Metzger will sell you his Phenix - heck he must have an icy by now for an IH.....

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #4 – January 22, 2014, 10:58:44 am

Agree with Michelle - Motorhomes of Texas and Foretravel of Texas probably could give you the best handle on used prices on these recent and low production coaches. Unfortunately, they are also the people most likely to be selling them to you

Good luck on going the family and welcome to the Forum

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #5 – January 22, 2014, 11:02:44 am

"joining" not "going" - damn spell check....

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #6 – January 22, 2014, 11:10:36 am

Former Newmar London Aire owner here.

Had a Foretravel, went to London Aire - back to Foretravel!
We had a limited "areo model" drivers door, 2 slides for 3 years.

Foretravels are hand built and it showes. Systems are simple, solid.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #7 – January 22, 2014, 11:21:22 am

Think about the fair price of a Foretravel this way. The Foretravel will last a minimum 50 years whereas a typical SOB will likely last much less all things such as upkeep & maintenance being equal. Then there is the driving experience and that Allison Retarder...quality of materials, craftsmanship (no Amish in Texas building these), ease of remodeling/updating, quality of paint, and most importantly, this very excellent group...

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #8 – January 22, 2014, 11:38:49 am

I will look to see if I can find the previous post; someone did some kind of a price list study based on year by year sale history (i think) & he came up with percentage for each year. Although i did not agree with the final numbers (perhaps it did not sit well with me and my GVFT) never the less it appeared to be a good resource to look at while considering other information. It was posted within last few weeks. Good luck and welcome to forum. I believe you will enjoy the good folks and the Camaraderie here.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #9 – January 22, 2014, 11:48:16 am

One more thing, to Peters point; this Forum by far has more experience, expert professionals and true concern for other members.

A quick search for Carl Sanders winter Vortex experience displays "this groups" resolve to assist other members.

Real life experiences, andvthe 50 year Coach!

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #10 – January 22, 2014, 12:24:01 pm

Welcome Joe. Check out this post - about 2/3 of the way thru Elliot Bray provides some info from a depreciation perspective:

Coach financing chatter (split from 1996 Foretravel U270 For Sale)

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #11 – January 22, 2014, 02:52:06 pm

Quote from: Mark Benko – January 22, 2014, 12:24:01 pm

Welcome Joe. Check out this post - about 2/3 of the way thru Elliot Bray provides some info from a depreciation perspective:

Coach financing chatter (split from 1996 Foretravel U270 For Sale)

Wow. This is really good work. A spot check of what I paid and sold my last rig puts this chart dead on with my experience. So, if I can afford it, buying a one to two year old coach, and owning it for no more than three years appears to be a really good spot in the curve.

Thanks for all of the excellent comments and warm welcome.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #12 – January 22, 2014, 03:23:17 pm

Welcome to this wonderful forum. Hope you can find your next coach, and it is a Foretravel.

An interesting news note, is that Ferrari has built more cars in each of the last couple of years than Foretravel has ever built since they opened their company over 45 years ago. Finding book prices on these fine coaches, many that were custom ordered is going to be likely impossible. I have not found the features, and the quality, in other coaches that my 20 and now 15 year old Foretravels had or have, when I have looked at other brands, newer years and for more money.

What you also have not likely experienced is the help, care and more that FOT and MOT can provide you when you want to update, or remodel any Foretravel that you fall in love with.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #13 – January 22, 2014, 03:39:02 pm

The ability to get the factory to help do something like put in bunk beds or new sofas or whatever, is huge. Add that to the construction with the nice people there and it really pushes FT over the top. I am in Little Rock, so five hours to the factory is not a big deal at all.

Please help me keep a look out for the right coach. Speaking of Ferraris, I've been ruined by that 600 hp Cummins. So I think that puts me in the Phenix range. I much prefer someone else to take the hard (first) hit on depreciation. Mostly because I can't afford to.

We have 8 and 10 year old boys and we would like the ability for them to invite a friend (each) to join us. This means we will need to sleep 6. So, I am already planning on buying something and changing its configuration to do so.

In an perfect world I would find a 2010 or 2011. Or the guy who owns that IH on the lot now could be overcome with generosity and give me a heck of a discount

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #14 – January 22, 2014, 03:47:38 pm

Speak to David Flanagan who heads up the remodel department. He spent as much time as we needed to answer questions about what we thought we might want to change in our coach. His staff includes men that built my 1993 and 1998 coaches. The service tech that did some electrical repairs has been with Foretravel for 37 years. Judging from all that we have seen posted on this forum in the way of remodels, the shop is willing and able to do most anything you can afford. The correct term is "one coach buck" per thousand dollars. On our trips to NAC we have been in the shop next to several $100,000 plus remodels in progress. Those owners thought their coaches worth the upgrades.

Sure hope you enjoy your slide down the slippery slope to your next coach.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #15 – January 22, 2014, 06:07:00 pm

FOT has a 2012 IH for sale on their web site. A picture shows it to have bunk beds.
Larry

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #16 – January 22, 2014, 06:31:45 pm

difficult decision

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #17 – January 22, 2014, 06:39:15 pm

Yeah, we never went for that bunk beds in the master bedroom concept.

best, paul

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #18 – January 22, 2014, 07:32:49 pm

Quote from: LTG – January 22, 2014, 06:07:00 pm

FOT has a 2012 IH for sale on their web site. A picture shows it to have bunk beds.
Larry

They took them out as it took up all of the hanging space. And, from an egress standpoint, I had some concerns if an emergency happened. Well, there is also the wide wide gap in its price and my budget...

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #19 – January 22, 2014, 07:58:24 pm

Papajoe,

I have a 45' Phenix with the 600 Cummins. I too have boys about your age and we have traveled exstesively in our coach. Ours has a sleeper sofa that folds out to a queen bed with an air matress topper. That and our loveseat pulls down into a short twin bed. Our family of five has plenty of room. In fact, we had 7 sleeping in ours for ten days at Disney recently.

Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

Chris

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #20 – January 22, 2014, 08:31:24 pm

^Wow. That's one of a few things I wish our rig did better, sleeping more than 3 people easily without putting folk on the floor. These new air mattresses work really well and all, it's just kind of inconvenient for all involved to have to step on each other to get to the head!

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #21 – January 22, 2014, 10:19:56 pm

The link that Mark B. posted to the Brays thread was interesting. We had our coach appraised in March of '13 and our % of appreciation was closer to .32 not .27 as his chart shows. I guess that the price has to be established some how. For us we reviewed every FT coach for sale in the US and used that average as a starting point - year by year model by model. We did require at least one slide so that narrowed the field. It is true we had no idea as to the condition of any of the coaches we reviewed but that is where we started. Not many data points on these fine coaches and as someone said someplace on this forum - the coach is worth what you pay. Great product, great people.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #22 – January 23, 2014, 12:42:56 am

Now that I think about the evolution of foretravel I noticed that a lot of owners bought the coaches knowing they all needed some restoration, me included.

I made a good biz for foretravel rebuilding the older used coaches to the new model look.

Did dozens.

Those 70's and 80's models for their then technology held up well. The later models life span seems longer for almost every year newer.

Bigger, stronger structure , heavier mechanical systems and wiring, bigger less stressed engines, better braking systems.

Like old yachts in a way. Nice driving giant box. More chassis than body. Motor homes not homes motor is how I explained it.

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #23 – January 23, 2014, 06:46:59 am

Foretravel helped confirm the price listed for our 2009 phenix in the classified section of the forum. We hope to get our new IH in late June. Jim Busby

Re: Foretravel Purchase Price

Reply #24 – January 23, 2014, 01:33:17 pm

Quote from: Jim Busby – January 23, 2014, 06:46:59 am

Foretravel helped confirm the price listed for our 2009 phenix in the classified section of the forum. We hope to get our new IH in late June. Jim Busby

Great Looking Coach. Message sent.

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