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Topic: MOT Questions (Read 1327 times) previous topic - next topic

MOT Questions

For those of you who have purchased a Foretravel through Motorhomes of Texas a few questions. 

What is your experience with their deposit policy? (amount, length of option period) 

How did you manage the inspection process?  Specifically engine, transmission, chassis and all basic systems (electric, plumbing, slides, slide seals, etc.)

Tom and Lisa

2003 U320 38' PBBS
Build No. 6217

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #1 –
I bought my coach at MOT and had a fantastic experience. I dealt with Mel and Jason. I had secured Brett Wolff to do a complete inspection. He covers everything upstairs and downstairs.

When my coach popped up I called MOT immediately and gave them $500 on a credit card and agreed to buy the coach pending my inspection. I arrived a week later to meet Brett at MOT. Brett found a few things that needed attention. The front wheel bearings were leaking and the inverter wasn't working. They repaired the bearings and replaced the inverter at their expense.

To prove my thoughts about their integrity, my coach came with a progressive portable 50amp surge protector. It was left behind when I departed and I didn't realize it until I got home. I called Mel. They couldn't find it so they sent me a brand new one at no cost. Just awesome, in my opinion.

I'm a happy camper. Two points... I wouldn't buy a coach without a Brett Wolff inspection and If I buy or sell another coach it would be only with MOT.

Edited to add: Brett Wolff is a member and moderator here.... he is easy to reach.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #2 –
I had the opposite experience, specifically with Mel.
Was talking to him weekly (and another salesman) with the type of coach I wanted for over a month. I was a cash buyer, with cash in hand.

A coach popped up on their sight with no pictures. I called them, but they were closed on the weekend.
I called ASAP at opening Monday AM. Mel sent some pictures, it was what I wanted. I told them I would take it as-is, and fly right down. I was ready to make a deposit. Then Mel calls back and say's someone is out test driving it.

They sold it that morning. In the mean time, it didn't show sold, and in fact they put pictures up during the week with more info. I called every day.I think they got the hint I was a serious buyer "in Heat".

Finally the people took delivery, Mel told me not to worry, they would find me another coach. That was 2 years ago, I have never been called back to this day. I found my own deal, 20 K less, and better then anything they had for sale from a private party.

Maybe if you walk in, they are going to be nice and take your money. That is what they do, make money (nothing wrong with that), but you will pay more for the same coach from them,then from a private party, probably with less documentation. Remember, any coach with a "C" in front of the stock number is a consignment coach

Make sure you do have it inspected by Brett, or have them PDI it. You may pay for that, and any fixit's are going to be negotiable with the coach owner, if the coach is on consignment.

Lastly, my sister and brother in-law, had a coach on consignment there for almost a year. It wasn't a FT, but a nice diesel pusher coach. They treated them nice, but it never sold. They took it somewhere else in Texas, and they sold it right away.

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #3 –
I agree with Jeff & Sandy.  Just finished purchasing ours thru MOT and it was nothing but positive for us.  Mel and Jason were both great to work with (although Jason did have an Aggie shirt on) and they did everything they said they would.  Mel was as cordial and low pressure and you can get and answered every question.  Our coach, being a 2002, has the air-operated awning and as fully expected it was troublesome (it's coming off as soon as we can budget for it).  Mel worked with a tech to get it working but it was late in the day so it carried over into the next day.  When it was finished he had it delivered to us.  Before deciding on this one we looked at two other coaches I had been following on their website and Mel was good enough to point out the pluses and minuses of each coach and we were never pressured to decide on any of them.

As far as price, you can submit an offer for any coach just as you were dealing directly with the seller.  I don't see why a price on a consignment unit would wind up being any higher than directly with the seller.  The seller will net less but you don't have to pay any more if you negotiate properly.

In any case, good luck and enjoy the shopping process.  We sure did.
George & Donna Ament
2002 U295 40' - 2 slide
2016 F150 - 4wd

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #4 –
Have bought 5 coaches off MOT, and they have sold 4 for me. 2 of the 4 did not even make it to their website, believe Mel has a good database of prospective customers, and a good coach will sell fast. I know when I was looking, he would send me pics of coaches I might be interested in. Just like in a private sale, you can negotiate [thru Mel and Jason] for needed repairs and the selling price. MOT is a company that has to make a profit, but they have always been above board with me. Agree if you need a PDI, Brett would be advised, but Keith R. and Keith D. at MOT will do an inspection after working hours.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #5 –
MOT and Mel did me okay. He did not pressure but I felt pressure because the coach was a 34' with all the maintenance records and the ability to talk to the owners 1 and 2. In hindsight I would have pushed harder for a better price. And if it sold, another one would have showed up. 
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #6 –
Welcome to the forum - Great question.

I'm one of the newer one here, but MOT has a pretty good track record on the Sales and Service parts of their business.  My impression is that they are conducting a good business and have not heard of many that have been burnt by them.  I think if your use the Search button that topic should bring you some interesting material. 
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #7 –
MOT is a good organization. They treat you with respect. However, they are in business, like all businesses, to make a profit. One of their methods is to sell your consignment fast. In other words, to price it as low as you will agree to. I sold my Foretravel at MOT. I had a good idea of its value. I had everything repaired at MOT before listing it., It needed nothing.  After considerable negotiating at MOT I agreed to a value for it to be listed. Less than I knew it to be worth, but I was ready to let it go.  It sold in about a week, before the picture were posted at their website. It required no repairs after consignment and before closing. That indicates the listed price was too low. Now to prove that it was listed for too low a price. It was listed for sale one year later at MOT, with more than 10,000 additional miles, with no major additions to equipment or improvements, at the same listed price. It sold within two weeks after being listed. If you sell on consignment at MOT, negotiate for a listed price in your favor, and not the price MOT wants to use.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #8 –
Just like anything else.  Something is only worth what someone will pay for it.  😊
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #9 –
MOT will take your consignment and list it for what you think it is worth, [within reason, can't ask $100000 for a old beat up coach] Took a Newell there a couple of years ago, and they actually suggested I list it for $10000 more than I thought it was worth. You can ask what you want, and the buyer can offer what he thinks it is worth. No skin off MOT's nose, they get a percentage of the selling price. But there are good times and bad times to list your coach, whether privately or through a consignment lot. and a $80000 coach in June may only be worth $70000 in Oct. If you look at MOT's website you will notice that they have lowered the prices on a lot of coaches because this is not the best season for selling motorhomes. Just do your due diligence.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #10 –
 "they get a percentage of the selling price."

What % do they charge ????
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #12 –
We have bought three Foretravels from MOT and one from FOT.    We used to have repairs made at FOT but got the idea they weren't that interested in the older coaches and started going to MOT.  Also we gave up on getting our big slide to work after multiple tries by FOT and took it to HWH.  It never failed again.  We had one excellent experience with Bernd when our fan controller quit and MOT sent it to him after making other repairs themselves.

We probably took less than optimum for our trade ins but when I thought about owning two coaches at the same time (been there done that) or trading the old one in, eliminating the risk of a major repair coming out of the blue while it was sitting on the lot, I chose not to take the risk.  We didn't want to have our coach sitting on the lot on consignment then find another when it sold, because we use them too much.   

We had one horrible repair experience at MOT that I won't go into but since then they have bent over backward to treat us well.  David called, apologized profusely and gave me his cell number if I never needed it.  I never have. 

We just bought another "last" coach from MOT and couldn't be happier with the deal.  My philosophy is different than some because if I do business with you I want to be the guy you're glad to see return, not the one that everyone runs to the back room to avoid.  If they take good care of me and and make money off of me then that's a good deal for both.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: MOT Questions

Reply #13 –
Bill, they had recently been charging 10% but that may not be true now.

 Interestingly, when we bought a first coach i learned i could get a 6% deal in the contract if we were to sell in the first year.  Which we did and in that as I recall they did not even charge that because We bought another as I traded in the first in six or so months.

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #14 –
Good point on trade ins. Don't know how it works in other states, but when I do a trade in at MOT, I pay state sales tax only on the difference .  This can save you quite a bit, and help compensate of the lower, verses private sale, amount, you recieve on the trade in.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #15 –
JCUS, I wish it worked that way in Oklahoma.  The trade I just did will cost about $5-6K for the registration in Oklahoma. 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: MOT Questions

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Johnstons –
JCUS, I wish it worked that way in Oklahoma.  The trade I just did will cost about $5-6K for the registration in Oklahoma. 
It still hurts, but a while ago, was looking at trading my coach, would have saved about $7500 in state and local taxes. So I would have had to sell my coach for $7500 more than the trade in to break even. Anyway you look at it, we pay a lot for the privilege of driving a motorhome in Texas too.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: MOT Questions

Reply #17 –
If you would have traded that designer series I might have been the buyer for it.  Beautiful coach. 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.