Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

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Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

September 09, 2018, 12:11:33 pm

So much info here and hope to pick your brains a little. I have found a 1992 Silver Anniversary Uni Home for sale. Fresh paint and graphics along with new tires and air bags only 53000 miles. They are asking $32,000. I have to say I have always loved the Uni Home's they are just ageless. My question is this a reasonable price? I have not gone to see it yet but will in the next week.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #1 – September 09, 2018, 12:29:54 pm

Welcome to the ForeForum.

Really depends on condition/maintenance.

Fuel line age, bulkhead condition, age of interior and appliances, whether the engine had proper "care and feeding" (require a very different oil than the others and are very sensitive to overheating), etc.

At that age, a coach could be a real money pit or a real treasure.

You are welcome to post a link to the coach and perhaps someone here will know the coach.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #2 – September 09, 2018, 12:34:19 pm

That price seems about right for a FBP coach. The paint job alone runs 18 to 20k. I'm probably a little prejudice since I own a U300 92' with FBP.

You can always check it out and offer what you think it's worth.

see ya
ken

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #3 – September 09, 2018, 01:22:17 pm

O.K., I give, does 'FBP' mean 'fresh body paint' ?

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #4 – September 09, 2018, 01:24:32 pm

Full body paint

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #5 – September 09, 2018, 01:39:27 pm

Wowsers, That coach was a pricey dear brand new!

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #6 – September 09, 2018, 01:41:29 pm

Paint, tires and airbags could be 70% of the price or more.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #7 – September 09, 2018, 01:58:11 pm

We paid 27.500 for our 92 u300 in 2014. Has FBP, and a documented fresh motor with 3,000 miles. I did have to put tires on it and we changed the flooring to our liking. It also has 500 watts of solar with new updated inverter charger.
Have not had any major problems other then regular maintenance.like Brett says do your homework and ask for documentation on Maintenance. They are great coach's and with regular maintenance and up keep will last a long time. Good luck.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #8 – September 09, 2018, 02:04:38 pm

Thought I would add some photo's.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #9 – September 09, 2018, 02:10:04 pm

The price would depend on a lot of things considering she's close to our age. I paid $32,000 for ours in late 2014, but that was after looking for a year at GVs in the years I wanted. It really boils down to having the coach inspected by Brett or someone who KNOWS FTs. What was a big part of my decision (I did not know Brett had owned the coach before) were these 'pieces of eight'. I can trace her lineage back to 1998 , know what was done on a regular basis and what was replaced/re-built over the years! THAT COUNTS!

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #10 – September 09, 2018, 02:28:26 pm

Quote from: BillnSue – September 09, 2018, 12:11:33 pm

They are asking $32,000 which researching seems high.
My question is this a reasonable price?

Bill and Sue,

Welcome to our Forum! You came to the right place for OPINIONS. We all got one! Here's mine...

Pricing on a 26 year old Foretravel motorhome is almost totally subjective. There are so few "comparable sales" that no "book" values will be valid. You say the price seems high. Based on what? As stated by our other members (above), there are so many variables to consider that each coach purchase must be evaluated on it's own merits. In the end, all you can do is decide if the asking price is reasonable to you.

The closer you can look at any coach before making a purchase decision, the better. Unless you are totally familiar with all the systems found in a complex diesel pusher with air brakes and air suspension, it is doubtful that you will accurately assess the true condition of the coach. If at all possible you should enlist the aid of a impartial and experienced owner or inspector when you view the candidate.

New paint and graphics are good, unless they were applied to hide significant body damage. Do you like the color and graphics?

Fresh tires are good, but be sure you actually verify the DOT date code on all tires. Do not simply go on "how they look".

New air bags are good, as long as they were installed properly. Do you know how to test the air leveling system on the coach?

I'm not trying to discourage you in your quest. We love our Grand Villa, and would not trade it for any newer model. BUT, even though we bought it for what we considered to be a good price, we then more than doubled our total investment by making numerous upgrades. No matter what you spend to buy a coach, you will almost certainly spend more money "improving" and "customizing" it to your particular taste.

The best you can do is find a coach as close to exactly what you want as possible, for a price you can afford. Don't worry about what "other" people paid, or what they think of the price you paid. If you are both happy with your purchase, then that's all that should matter.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #11 – September 09, 2018, 02:40:43 pm

WELL SPOKEN !!!!

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #12 – September 09, 2018, 02:56:43 pm

Bill and Sue,

Here is a recent Forum discussion on this exact same coach.

92 Unihome question?

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #13 – September 09, 2018, 02:57:12 pm

The price depends on so many things. Probably the biggest is corrosion and bulkhead condition. Sure, you can repair a bulkhead but if it's the result of road salt, the coach will always have problems. If the coach has been stored indoors it's whole life, it can be worth twice as much as an outside coach. Coaches driven in salty winter conditions can be almost worthless and will cost more than the 100 point coach in the long run.

Yes, paint, tires, upgrades made a big difference. Maintenance records are important and can be especially so on the Detroit with it's need for a low ash single grade oil.

Our 1993 36 foot U300 cost $21,500 almost ten years ago with new tires, new ACs but bad fridge and with 62,000 miles. It was stored outside and the decals were poor. Over 100K now with zero coach bucks for stuff that broke. A couple of airbags that I changed was about it along with minor relays, etc. Uses perhaps a quart of oil every 2000 miles and has averaged 8.0 mpg exactly over it's life from the computer. 10 mpg without toad. Absolutely love it!

I think all Special Editions are 40 feet and 102" wide.

All coaches can be fun if you are a DIY person but also can be an endless source of pocket book drain and stress if you are not and get a poor coach.

Get a member to inspect it with you would be my best advice. Price of $32K with that many miles and clean underbody does not sound like too much if it's really nice. But easy for a paint job to hide years of neglect also. One member bought a decent U300 last year for $8K but it was not perfect and with a lot more miles.

Pierce

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #14 – September 09, 2018, 03:21:25 pm

That's a sweet looking 92. From the photos it appears to have been well cared for. Check it out. Take it for a drive and buy it. When stuff starts going wrong just post here and we'll take care of you.
jor

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #15 – September 09, 2018, 03:28:29 pm

As many have said, price is subjective. I would like to comment and say I have talked with seller and would like to mention if not already known. The coach has had a fire in the back bedroom, that may explain why the bedroom ceiling is covered with wood, second the remaining ceiling headliner I believe was recovered, the pictures would suggest some weirdness in the way the ceiling fabric has a few waves. Cabinets stripped and refinished, and as mentioned why repainted..... just to update coach or to fix fire damage? Sounded like the owner had been rebuilding it for awhile.

I did not want to comment in a totally negative way, but others have made very good comments about all these extra's. This could be a very nice coach, all that I say is be sure to inspect very carefully or have some one with knowledge inspect it for you. I wouldn't be afraid to purchase it, if it was what I was looking for and I felt everything was repaired to a high standard.

JUST INSPECT VERY THOROUGHLY AND EXAMINE WHY SOME THINGS ARE NOT AS ORIGINAL ( WHY COVERED UP)

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #16 – September 09, 2018, 03:29:44 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – September 09, 2018, 02:57:12 pm

If the coach has been stored indoors it's whole life, it can be worth twice as much as an outside coach. One member bought a decent U300 last year for $8K but it was not perfect and with a lot more miles.

This coach belongs to a (now) good friend of mine in SW Arizona, he parked it years ago after his wife died. I 'inspected' it and finally gave up because EVERYTHING was suspect. I'll see him next month and, over Pacificos, I'll try to convince him to sell it to me and I'll find a enclosure for it. I hate seeing these great coaches just sit and fade away!

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #17 – September 09, 2018, 03:35:38 pm

I can also tell that it's a rear radiator and not a side radiator. Special order. A good thing in my mind. It also has the much improved air intake where the side radiator normally is. At least that's what the small grill looks like to me. It looks in great shape. Never seen awnings like that color/design. Must have been included in the Special Edition.

Pierce

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #18 – September 09, 2018, 03:42:27 pm

Quote from: mike leary – September 09, 2018, 03:29:44 pm

This coach belongs to a (now) good friend of mine in SW Arizona, he parked it years ago after his wife died. I 'inspected' it and finally gave up because EVERYTHING was suspect. I'll see him next month and, over Pacificos, I'll try to convince him to sell it to me and I'll find a enclosure for it. I hate seeing these great coaches just sit and fade away!

Mike,
That's a very rare 36 foot U300. I though only Jerry and myself had one of those. I looked at it a couple of times on the way to Mexico. Could be a really nice coach and perhaps not much to get it in good shape. Ours had not been driven in several years but I slapped new batteries in it and drove it home coast to coast and fast too as the "DW" had to get back to work. It seems happy to get lots of use today.

No worries about corrosion damage where it's sitting.

Pierce

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #19 – September 09, 2018, 03:56:17 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – September 09, 2018, 03:42:27 pm

That's a very rare 36 foot U300. I though only Jerry and myself had one of those. No worries about corrosion damage where it's sitting.

X2 on that! As you can imagine, the tires are so shot I'd have to have a mobile service come in to replace the tires and the batteries before I could even move it!

The one thing in my favor, is I've met a lot of folks down there over the past 15 years of wintering that can help.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #20 – September 09, 2018, 04:22:10 pm

If the paintjob is anywhere near the quality of Nitehawk's the price is good.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #21 – September 09, 2018, 04:37:39 pm

Quote from: John44 – September 09, 2018, 04:22:10 pm

If the paintjob is anywhere near the quality of Nitehawk's the price is good.

That's what I'm thinkin' too! Here's our's with a fresh paint & stripe job. I have the invoices: $ 13 CBs! I've seen the pics when it was being done: everything was removed from the exterior before stripping and re-do (she looked like a high end 'prison bus '). I like the 'retro look', and we get comments and 'gasps' everywhere we go!

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #22 – September 09, 2018, 09:07:13 pm

So here's my 2 cents. Let's assume the cosmetics are fresh and appropriate as they appear to be...nice to our eyes actually. And, let's assume it took $100k to correct every possible mechanical defect. Would you be able to replace it with a comparable new coach today for $132k? NO WAY.

The only way these old FT coaches aren't a good deal is if your budget is really 32k....or $50k...in which case you could be sad if it took an additional $32k ($64k) ..and your budget was only $50k.

For us it was about spending almost what we paid for our already good condition coach, replacing a lot of things before they broke and ending up with a "like new" coach. For us it made a lot more sense than a new coach. We have any number of friends who bought brand new coaches costing $150k-$300k that they've been unable to use for months after purchase due to "new" defects, and who will NEVER have as high quality and reliable a coach as our 18 year old FT.

Yes, if you're handy maybe you can buy a $32k coach and fix things only when they break and spend less but is your dream to travel or spend time fixing things...hopefully not by the side of the road.

Again, our approach only.

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #23 – September 10, 2018, 01:22:23 pm

I saw a silver anniversary coach that had had slanted windows. Only year and model with them.

As to prices it all depends on condition. There have been ads for these at $12,500, unknown as to condition. but if it's in great shape then it could be a good buy. Research, research, inspect!

If possible have Brett (Wolf10) look at it. He is the expert on these older coaches.

Keith

Re: Thoughts on a 1992 Silver Anniversary

Reply #24 – September 10, 2018, 01:37:13 pm

Looking at the photos, it seem to be in nice shape and not abused. My only comments are that it look original as far as the TV/interior goes and I wonder if it has been converted to LEDs, has inverter upgrades, solar, etc. You can certainly do these yourself for a reasonable price but sending the coach out to modernize it can be very expensive and raise the initial cost much higher.

On the other hand, you may be looking for something just like it is without the need for 4K TVs, etc.

You probably have found that there are not that many Foretravels for sale and traveling to view one can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating, especially if the coach is not quite as represented by the seller.

The summer season is drawing to a close along with the sales window. Prices will be heading down until spring so the buyer may be willing to bend on the price.

Good luck and post what you decide to do and or find.

PIerce

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