Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-20-2019, 01:06 PM   #1
i73
1 Rivet Member
 
das , California
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7
I have some questions about used prices.

I fully understand that airstreams hold their value, and it's one of the main reasons why I'm looking at getting one. But after doing some looking around in my city I'm finding the prices to be a little bit ridiculous. There's one in particular a 30' 1968 that is going for 9,700, there's so much work that I'm going to have to put in and this is the advertisement for it:

"mostly gutted 1968 airstream was going to redo it but plans have changed. brand new $9,000 heavy duty axles. hot water tank, sink, wood burning stove, and 6'6" cast iron tub are inside. mostly new windows and doesn't leak. Needs more work."

The air stream looks like it's been sitting there for a few years, is not polished, is this what I should expect the prices to be for a gutted airstream coming into fall? And if not what a good starting offer I can make that won't be insulting?

Thanks for any help!
i73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2019, 02:10 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
2002 19' Bambi
Lafayette , California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,559
Run, don't walk, away from that one. A cast-iron tub in an Airstream? Gutted means a lot of work and money to get it to usable condition.

You will probably find used Airstream prices to be surprisingly high. Check on the prices in classifieds here on Air Forums and, for example, at A to Z Motors (https://www.atozmotors.com/) in order to see if a used Airstream is within your budget.

Tim
Tim A. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2019, 02:37 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami , Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Blog Entries: 13
Shoot, next spring I'll sell you my 1986 31' Sovereign with recent axles, brakes, tires and awnings with everything intact and working for $12k.

So keep looking, you can do a LOT better than the unit you described...
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
n2916s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2019, 10:40 PM   #4
i73
1 Rivet Member
 
das , California
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7
Yeah I assumed so, I can justify paying 10%-20% for a airstream for them to make profit but these just seem insane this is the posting btw (It's in CAD): https://victoria.craigslist.org/rvs/...930464815.html

IF I was to make an offer what would be fair for both parties? A few other trailers are going around for $13k in my area and I'm still not confident that's what I should be paying.

Thanks for your responses!
i73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2019, 04:44 AM   #5
Moderator
 
Kevin245's Avatar

 
Vintage Kin Owner
... , ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
Images: 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by i73 View Post
Yeah I assumed so, I can justify paying 10%-20% for a airstream for them to make profit but these just seem insane this is the posting btw (It's in CAD): https://victoria.craigslist.org/rvs/...930464815.html

IF I was to make an offer what would be fair for both parties? A few other trailers are going around for $13k in my area and I'm still not confident that's what I should be paying.

Thanks for your responses!
$13K is way too much money from my perspective, as such I would walk from this one. 70's era 31' SoR's a abundant, and that is more than a "ding" in the curbside rear. As is common, this appears to be a major restoration abandonment sale. An empty shell accompanied by boxes and a truckload load of tears. I would suspect that you could do much better with $13K even in CAD. Just my take, YMMV. Best of luck.

Kevin
__________________

"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."

William C. Swinney

Kevin245 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2019, 09:20 AM   #6
4 Rivet Member
 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Greeneville , Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 436
Want a 30'? I'll sell you mine.
jimfa440 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2019, 09:34 AM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
2004 30' Classic
California , MD
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 256
in our looking at used AS, the 30s seemed to have the best prices.

I was amazed at the high asking price for 23s and 25s.
cru-in is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2019, 12:39 PM   #8
4 Rivet Member
 
1976 31' Excella 500
Chappell Hill , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 485
Images: 1
I paid $6k for a fully intact, fully operational 31' Excella. Some Ads need a LOL button.
tbashin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2019, 09:03 AM   #9
1 Rivet Member
 
Currently Looking...
Owings , Maryland
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by cru-in View Post
in our looking at used AS, the 30s seemed to have the best prices.

I was amazed at the high asking price for 23s and 25s.
I have to agree. The question is - are they actually selling for those prices? We recently saw 2016 Bambi Sport for sale locally at just about the same price I could buy a new one for
Lucyem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2019, 10:25 AM   #10
Rivet Master
 
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami , Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Blog Entries: 13
There is a sucker born every minute. I’ve seen Airstreams sell on EBay for twice what they were worth and most of those sales were “sight unseen”.
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
n2916s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2019, 10:48 AM   #11
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,685
Hi

How long have those Airstreams been on the market? Its quite possible they have been listed at those prices for the last 5 years.

The overpriced stuff hangs around forever and ever in any market for any sort of item. The gotcha is always that the "right priced" stuff sells quickly. If 5 trailers sit on the market for 5 years that's a lot of "trailer months" of listings. If another two dozen each sell in a month or less, the "trailer months" are still dominated by those 5 overpriced trailers. You will see the same thing shopping for boats or classic cars.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2019, 11:27 AM   #12
Rivet Master
 
InsideOut's Avatar

 
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen , Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
Images: 108
Quote:
Originally Posted by i73 View Post
what I should expect the prices to be for a gutted airstream coming into fall? And if not what a good starting offer I can make that won't be insulting?

Thanks for any help!
Here is a link to a Price vs Condition Price Guide that you may find helpful in looking at vintage (more than 25 years old) Airstreams. If you poke around, you'll see some budgetary numbers that may be helpful for you to know what you'd be getting in addition to the purchase price.

This guide, while not perfect, is kinda the best info out there - both for buyers & sellers.

Shari
__________________
Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002

RMVAC | ACI - CO Unit (Formerly WBCCI) | BIRDY - our 1956 Safari | 1964 Serro Scotty
InsideOut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2019, 08:52 AM   #13
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,685
Quote:
Originally Posted by n2916s View Post
There is a sucker born every minute. I’ve seen Airstreams sell on EBay for twice what they were worth and most of those sales were “sight unseen”.
Hi

With any "lump" there can be stories about ownership. One side thinks this price the other side thinks that price. The result is that it lists (and sits) at the higher of the two prices. All the two sides do is yell at each other. The "lump" just sits there and rots.

Indeed that's not *always* the case. There are most certainly listings that are there simply to catch an impulse buy. Apparently there *are* folks out there who spend big piles of cash on impulse.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
bewildered by used prices .. ! nickclifford Trailer Values 8 06-10-2017 08:35 AM
Used Prices- what is fair? coastal Dollars & Cents 4 02-18-2014 08:10 AM
Some progress and Some Questions SCopp 1970 - 1973 Overlander 3 02-03-2013 07:25 AM
Gas prices, diesel prices, and crude oil prices Tin Diesel Off Topic Forum 2 02-12-2009 12:41 PM
I am new a member and I have some questions wol Repairing/Replacing Floor &/or Frame 7 09-22-2004 09:17 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.