My family has found the motorhome we bought last year is too big. We have found a nice smaller model that is in really great shape. It’s a 27’ 2000 Gulfstream Conquest Sport with only 9700 miles on it.
The dealer will give me $17,000 on a trade for my 32’ 1997 Itasca Sunrise, which has 48000 miles. The Sunrise blue book value is $17,900 low retail and $21,500 avg retail. I really don’t want to sell the Itasca while also owning the Gulfstream. There are driveway space issues, costs (interest on loan and insurance total $175 per month), and problems with the Itasca.
The Itasca has the following to detract from the sale: Leaky radiator ($1000 fix) that I “fixed” with an additive and could start leaking, stripped transmission pan screw, generator is piece of #@$%!, door is jimmied and hard to close, leak over windshield may be fixed (had sealed, not tested), generator won’t start from inside the coach, LP level indicator stuck on full, steering stabilizer leaks. If the radiator starts leaking again, I’ll have to fix it. So I figure if these problems were not there, I might get the avg retail, but with these problems maybe my best bet is to unload it to the dealer for 17K and be free of the hassle. It also has an exhaust manifold leak that was repaired, but not exactly the best way (re-used warped manifold with gasket). On the positive side the Itasca has 6 new Michelins, new brakes, 2 new shocks, flushed transmission, new hot water tank, new generator starter, new fuel pump, fully tuned up with new plugs, wires, rotor and cap, new serpentine belts.
What should I do?
Take the trade in and run?
Put the Itasca up for sale and wait until it is sold to buy another motorhome?
(Keep in mind it took nearly 2 months for this Gulfstream to come in. We are looking for the smaller Class C (25-29 foot range) and they are scarce. Most Class C’s are running upwards of 30 feet these days and Class C’s are HOT. Also If I go this route, it will add 5000 miles to the Itasca.)
The dealer will give me $17,000 on a trade for my 32’ 1997 Itasca Sunrise, which has 48000 miles. The Sunrise blue book value is $17,900 low retail and $21,500 avg retail. I really don’t want to sell the Itasca while also owning the Gulfstream. There are driveway space issues, costs (interest on loan and insurance total $175 per month), and problems with the Itasca.
The Itasca has the following to detract from the sale: Leaky radiator ($1000 fix) that I “fixed” with an additive and could start leaking, stripped transmission pan screw, generator is piece of #@$%!, door is jimmied and hard to close, leak over windshield may be fixed (had sealed, not tested), generator won’t start from inside the coach, LP level indicator stuck on full, steering stabilizer leaks. If the radiator starts leaking again, I’ll have to fix it. So I figure if these problems were not there, I might get the avg retail, but with these problems maybe my best bet is to unload it to the dealer for 17K and be free of the hassle. It also has an exhaust manifold leak that was repaired, but not exactly the best way (re-used warped manifold with gasket). On the positive side the Itasca has 6 new Michelins, new brakes, 2 new shocks, flushed transmission, new hot water tank, new generator starter, new fuel pump, fully tuned up with new plugs, wires, rotor and cap, new serpentine belts.
What should I do?
Take the trade in and run?
Put the Itasca up for sale and wait until it is sold to buy another motorhome?
(Keep in mind it took nearly 2 months for this Gulfstream to come in. We are looking for the smaller Class C (25-29 foot range) and they are scarce. Most Class C’s are running upwards of 30 feet these days and Class C’s are HOT. Also If I go this route, it will add 5000 miles to the Itasca.)
