Tom, This may make sense to you. I own Harleys and an Airstream. To me they have things in common. Timeless design, Durable, Recognizable and really cool. There is also a sense of community with both items. Just as you'd low wave another HD you would "high beam hello" another A/S. I've stopped to assist a Harley rider on the side of the road and would also stop for an A/S just like they have stopped to check on me.
P.S. If it is your desire you can accessorize to the Nth degree.
Hi Going...I agree...if I were ready...the Safari SE in 27'FB (or maybe the Classic Limited 27 FB...but starts to get a bit pricey!) would be my choice! Not sure I can pull a trailer w/2 Harleys behind the AS!
If I may ask...what kind of MSRP discount on a 2007 can I expect (hope for?)?
The new 27FBs are sweet, and certainly great floorplans. The Safari will be quite a bit lighter if total weight (GCVW) is a concern and of course considerably less expensive. Take a close look at the 25FBs, same basic floorplan which actually measures 25' 11'. The 27FB has a north/south queen where the 25 has an east/west queen, the 27FB has a larger closet and larger pantry. I am suggesting the 25 for a couple reasons, one; more have been produced so you have a larger selection and more negotiating room and a chance to PU a pre-owned 05 or 06, two; 25s are right a the threshold of fitting into almost all parks, where the 27 could be pushing it (some will argue this point), and lastly, because we love ours. Overall, I think you can get a better deal on a 25.
As far as discounting, I believe you can find a lot of detail by using the search function on the forum, but IMHO, if it is at the beginning of the model year, now the 07s, expect between 10% and 15%, depending on the location and the availability of the model. And if the model is a new model and hot, 10% may be pushing it for some dealers with limited inventory. If you buy last years model, 06, you could achieve discounts in the 15% to 25% range. Of course, Goin camping can tell you exactly the deal they got on their 07 25FB, which would be a good benchmark, since they went in with good info from the forum.
You can search for prior threads on "discount" or "msrp" or princing for more details..
MSRP has about 24% profit in it (Dealer cost is ~76% of MSRP..) for most Airstream trailers.. Different makes have different markups.
What any given dealer will take for a trailer depends on how they are feeling, how "hot" the demand is for that model, how long they've had it in inventory, etc etc... I'd offer opinion that consensus here seems to be discounts off list of 15% to 19% are reasonable, depending on model, financing (most dealers make extra profit if they handle financing..) and possible trade or chance to install hitch and accessories.. Some members have gotten more than 20% on "leftover" models, or ones that have been used extensively in RV shows as "Demo" models.. You also should evaluate local dealer for service levels and quality of maintenance work, and be prepared to pay extra to deal locally if service is good, or take chances and buy remote if local dealer not so good...
Unfortunatley, the 25' and 27' FB SE Safari's are rather popular at the moment, and a dealer is not likely to want to give one away at minimum markup if they feel they can sell it to next potential customer for more..
Good luck with your search...
John McG
__________________ Condoluminum
In Theory, there's no difference between Theory and Practice, but in Practice, there is usually a difference...
...Don't forget the really cool things too! A built in head thumper! (the doorway!) I hit it at least once a trip.
While the AS (I have an Argosy) is smaller inside, we wouldn't trade it for anything. I've had other TT's. but will never go back. I've been places with our Christine I would never try with any other TT. The overall design gives it unique strength, accompanied by the torsion axles, a unique towing experience.
We have less storage than most, but it all worked out and we seem to carry all we need.
I really like the feeling that I'm pulling a 31 year old trailer in better shape than most 5 year old SOB's on the road.
Tom,
I have grown up camping in pop-ups and SOB's. When I first starting looking for a camper of my own, I had a few needs that had to be filled. I wanted a camper that was low cost, high in construction quality and would give me a year long + hobby renovating. This has been said but most of the SOB's are wood construction. I just rebuilt a slide-out in my parents SOB that they bought used last year. It is about 10 years old and the slide out pretty much 'slid out' and was rotten to the core. I didn't want to buy an SOB only to have it rot out in 5-10 years (and all flat roof SOB's will leak) and head to the junk pile. I also searched online for hours on end for older and vintage campers to renovate. The only name that kept coming up for campers 15+ years old was AS. Some of those are 50+ years old! It is not like all SOB owners don't take care of their campers or all AS owners do. That told me that MUST say something about the way they are made.
We got a 30 year old, 31' AS in March (our shiny turd). Everything worked on it except the TV antena. The inside, being 30 years old, was showing wear and the PO painted the rear bedroom and added pink stenciling (to each his own). We could have cleaned it up and camped in it fine for a while longer but me and the wife decided to gut it and rebuild the inside to last another 30 years like we knew the outside would. We are reusing alot of the hardware (well made), all of the appliances and the plastics because they are still in great shape.
Having this AS has and is fulfilling my need for a hobby as I am enjoying the renovation to no end! It is also the first hobby I have taken on that my wife wants to be a part of. I am not a very patient person and my wife knows that all too well but this project has allowed us to work together on something more than we ever have before. I also know that when we are done, we will have a camper that will last at least another 30 years with minimal work (not counting the polishing HAHA).
__________________
Tadd, Beth and the Shiny Turd (until she names it) Our blog
I am alive and well...still no AS (or MacBook Pro ).
I just may become the answer to the trivia question..."Who knows the most about Airstream trailers...that has never owned one?"
Combination of life's complications...along with a wife that only seems to respond to tag axle 45' Prevosts with three AC units. Plus retirement nest egg has shrunk a bit and we are having to work longer than hoped. AS (or any RV) just may never happen.
I took some time off from the AS Forum...but got hooked again. Too many nice people that I now seem to think of as "friends". Kind of like a daily "campfire" session
Hope there are no time limits b4 you either buy one or get banned???
If you could travel back in time say 30 years and buy 3 different brands of trailers and subject them to the consumer reports of identical tests. Then skip ahead 5 then 10 then another 15 years and compare each one at the different stages of aging, I think you would find the Airstream would win over time and the other units would have long made it to the landfill.
Say one of the tests was that the trailer was pulled over 30,000 miles across the Country. Another might be that a couple lived in it for 5 years. Another would test the exterior condition and another the interior.
Another big test would be to determine the value of the trailer and resale value at the 5, 10, 15, and 30 year marks. I was surprised to learn that the $8,000 I paid for my 72 Trade wind was more than the original owner paid for it new back in 1972!
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