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Doug, Did I totally miss the asking price or are you not ready to share?

Nice coach. Let the boys know to remove their shoes if they’re on the couch! Dutch stars are such nice units!

Nice work using some “Top Gear” footage. Also, keep doing what you are doing man. Good video

It’s your business so your choice. But this would keep me from ever buying a coach from you. I’ve owned two class A diesels over the last 15 years and a couple gassers before that. And have a class B license as required in California for over 40’. If I was to purchase from you I would want to look at and drive one or two coaches before negotiating price and signing a PO. I’m sure you would want to do the same if I was to trade my coach in.

We're renting DPs and now knew we want one. We're still renting because we want to know what we want in it. Currently we've figured out that we want more kitchen counter space, larger shower and a king size bed so i don't kick my wife in my dreams 😂. You are completely spot on about test drives.

Doug please remove that couch and put in Theater seats

It seems that many of the new RV's are not put together very well. They have issues that keep the owners from getting full use out of it soon after purchase.

I understand the liability issue but I think it might be hard to sell these things if you can’t drive it first.

Doug, this is no doubt a beautiful coach. I have to disagree with the paint scheme, tho. I always have hated the way they painted these busses. I never could understand why they were all painted so similar, yet people would try and say they were so different. The zig zag schemes of the newer ones are a little better, but not much. There's plenty of ways to paint these better maybe some day they'll start doing it?? Still this is a beautiful coach, Doug.

🙂

I understand the last distraction. I can't imagine buying a 10-15 year old coach with a test ride. You will never know how a vehicle handle if you are riding in the passenger seat. The steering wheel could be vibrating and you wouldn't know. I understand you are trying to protect yourself, but maybe there is some better insurance out there. I'm not willing to take responsibility for a coach before it's mine!

Gorgeous bus!

Very nice, too bad I’m a year away from buying one.

I hope you weathered ok. Move in ready 😎

One of your best vids yet. Decent length to get nice overview. I like the montage entering the coach. I think that's new. Like it.

Just Beautiful!

Every time you showcase a coach, my wife and I say “this one is perfect!” And then you have another one and that one is perfect. I’m retiring soon and we hope to be on a plane to Kentucky this time next year. And your dealership is the only one we’ll be shopping at. Thanks for taking to time to make the videos.

Sweet looking coach

Doug. I agree with what you are saying, and I’m on board. Here is a slight issue though(Not your issue, but an issue). We were looking at Diesel Pushers and Super C’s. I live in New England and I actually called you guys. I wanted to look at some pushers you had. I didn’t talk to you, can’t remember his name. I was a cash buyer, and asked if it was possible to drive one of the pushers if I flew down, as I have never driven a pusher. I’m told the feel is very different from a Super C because of the position of the seat to the steer wheels. I had driven a Super C because some friends have one. I was told there were no test drives. I couldn’t possibly purchase something of this magnitude without driving it. We ended up purchasing a Dynamax Super C because I was more comfortable knowing how it handled. To this day, I’m still curious on how a diesel pusher handles compared to a Super C. So far we are happy with it, but maybe some day I’ll get a chance to drive a pusher and know if I may want one. That is the only thing I can say about a no test drive scenario. And I did explain I was a cash buyer when I talked with him. Maybe this video was needed more than you know. Good luck, and keep the great videos and coaches coming.

I'm surprised you let anyone test drive a motorhome at all. When I get ready to sell ours I know that's going to be a hurdle I'll have to deal with when someone shows up to look at it. That's all you need is for someone to show up, take a $300,000+ coach out for a drive and scrape it against something not know how to make a turn then show back up and say "not interested". BTW, I know someone who did that and it was on a brand knew ENTEGRA and he wasn't a newbee to big rig RV's and should have known better.

Your business, your rules!

Looks to me like a very sub-par inspection unless the inspection noted those issues and you purchased it anyway. Good video. We get to see other sides of being an rv dealer.

Had a 2008 Monaco Diplomat (Cummins ISL 400) and it was the dream RV to own. Sure, it had the usual RV issues but it let me do 45,000 miles in three years and every mile was a pleasure to drive. Too bad Monaco went bankrupt because their chassis system was the best. Really enjoyed this video of the good old days.

I have no idea what is good or bad.

This makes perfect sense to me. While many states don't require a CDL to drive a personal coach, many do. If I bought from you and drove back to my state of Kansas, I would be driving illegally in any state that requires a CDL, since Kansas requires one. Here, you can't drive any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles (like a 5th wheel), over 26,000 gvwr without a CDL. Technically, it depends entirely on the state you're licensed in when visiting a CDL state. If Kentucky doesn't require one for a personal vehicle, but does for a commercial one, as a dealer, you're in a very gray area before they own it.

Love that intro music, I was expecting to hear Michael McDonald belt out a few notes.

So I can see both sides to this. For the average consumer, any purchase of a vehicle (most likely a car, suv or truck) comes with the expectation of a test drive. I think that methodology rolls over to the experience of buying a vehicle like a class A coach. However, as stated, experience of driving a large coach is needed before just stepping behind the wheel and giving it a spin. Most information that a buyer may want can be obtained through a ride along. In fact, having the seller start the coach and then ask to sit in the drivers seat can be a nice way to get a sense of the coach before heading out on the ride along. Once underway: • How is the ride? • Any major vibrations or indications of wheel or suspension issues? • does the steering wheel seem to track straight without major corrections? • does power seem to come on and push you into seat from a stop? Any hesitations? • does transmission shift smoothly? •when braking does driver need to fight the wheel or the pedal? • when stopped do you see any check engine lights illuminated on the dash? If so inquire. Beyond that we are only talking about observations of blind spots and driver seat position during a test drive.

I understand 100%. People need to figure out what they want by researching and driving coaches at the big RV dealers that can cover the liability because their profit margin is plenty high enough. We thought we wanted a Super C, until we drove one. We rented a Gas powered Class A, drove it a couple thousand miles and decided we liked the experience but it was so much better with that motor in the rear when we test drove a few pushers. (And we means me AND the wife.) You are on the very short list of dealers I will consider buying a coach from. I am a serious and qualified buyer that is planning to retire in a few months. I watch your inventory and every video you put out. (along with James'). When I do make the move to come see a coach and consider buying it I will need to drive it along with the wife but have no issues signing or paying in order to check that last box.

I agree 💯 ! It’s not like buying a car. I have one Coach , and if I’m selling it, I would make sure they are qualified to buy and I would drive them first, then we’ll see! If I was coming to your dealership, I would want you to drive so I could inspect and listen. That being said, would you be interested in a trade for one of your coaches? I would let you drive Doug !

I understand your constraints and agree with your method/policy. With this level of machinery ( $, physical characteristics, rarity, repair expense, etc), if I want an example you have on premises enough, I'd do what it takes to protect me and you in the process of seeing if this is truly the coach I will drive away with.

Same way in the yacht business. The broker can give you a tour of the vessel and allow a cursory inspection but the engines don't start and the boat doesn't move until a signed offer has been made and earnest money has been passed to the broker. The purchaser typically has a right to a full inspection and sea test prior to acceptance and has the right to terminate the offer based upon his findings and determination.

I totally agree . Too much liability. I have sold many motorcycles , and cars and they always want to test drive it.. I always tell them give me the money then you can test drive it , if you damage the bike or car you own it, . I will allow them after they give me the money and test drive it if they don’t like it I will give them there money back. I also have found that there is a lot of tire kickers that really are not wanting to buy they just want to drive your vehicle. Really who in the right mind would give there vehicle over to a complete stranger to drive hopping they will buy it??

That don't make no sense.That's what the test drivers is for to see if you're comfortable with the coach or to see if you like it... Why would Buy something i'm not comfortable with 5:31

It makes absolutely perfect sense. I drove Prevost coaches for a few years and although driving something that size is much easier than people think, it also requires a different level of awareness. You have to watch farther ahead, think farther ahead, understand how long it takes them to stop, etc. And it's absolutely guaranteed that if you've never driven air brakes before it's going to feel like you slammed the brakes as hard as you could the first several times you stop lol

The only way to do business! I totally understand the reason at hand. I have driven a motorhome 15 plus years and I don't let no one driver my motorhome without knowing they can drive with lots of experience.

No test drives no nothing they need an rv or a commercial license or rv endorsement added to the dmv test. To many truck drivers and rv drivers not capable to safely negotiate the roads. You don’t fly w o a check ride and license why do we let people who are iffy in the suburban they own drive 40k vehicles with no knowledge

Agree 💯. Owned an automotive dealership for years and couldn't count the number of people who wasted our time just to take a joy ride. Dealing with RVs is a totally different ball game. Totally different machine and a lot more money. If someone doesn't understand that.....best not to even deal with them.

Do you ever get motor homes under 26000 lbs

I think before you waste anytime on a buyer that they need to show proof of down payment and they are approved for the dollar amount and maybe have them sign an agreement they are liable.

100% dont worry about it!! Because theres some con artist that will come and have a accident on purpose trying to get a law suit or something!! Cant take that chance!! Any one thats Sirius about buying will sine that paper no problem!!

You break it, you buy it.

Your policy is 100% on point.

Any advice for someone who doesnt have experience with driving a diesel pusher and looking at buying a 35 foot coach? I dont want to get in an accident or be into a mess right away. I would like have the basics to be able to competently operate a MH.

I agree with your business policy 100%. Who would let anyone drive a motorized anything of that dollar amount as an uncommitted test drive? When you add the massive size and weight of motor coaches, it’s an absolute NO. There is so much one can check out in a test drive without driving; noises, vibrations, etc. Your policy is very reasonable.

I'm with you.

Sign purchase agreement and provide an automobile insurance card and driver’s license. That’s the way dealers do it in WA. Don’t blame your methods at all. It’s all about risk management. I also had to put down a refundable deposit also.

When I bought my coach from a small Southern California Dealer I actually did not drive it until the sale was completed and I took delivery. I drove it with the a rep from the dealer the first time and had a friend that had a coach for the drive home.

Since the customer signs the agreement and there by Sewell is no longer liable is rig insured & how?

I would personally want a test drive before spending the money, but I would also have been ready to buy as long as the test drive was good. I have looked at used MH’s before and the salesman would always come out and ask if we needed anything. Knowing we were only looking at that time i told him I’m only looking and didn’t want to waste their time. Once we were serious buyers then we would start talking business!

Totally agree with you, it's a liability. Need more of small business Doug's Out there. I will definitely give you my business on a country coach magna