Holy Cow! FIVE 345s on eBay right now!

[Alumatube]

Here

here

here

here

and here.

Glad I'm not in the market to sell one right now!

Susan

[overlander63]

Don't panic, the surge in MoHo sales is because of the upswing in fuel prices. Once the price of gas levels off, and people become acclimated to it, the number of motor homes offered will drop off.

[Alumatube]

I figured it must be because of the gas prices, but found it funny that it was FIVE 345s and only one other, a 28'? Argosy (not counting fiberglass AS RVs--I think there were two or three of them).

Susan

[Fyrzowt]

It's a buyers market I suppose.
Hmmm, maybe I should.....

[pjude]

Hi! I figured there would be a dump in moho" so I jumped in and bought one. Hope I made the right decision.

[rickandsandi]

Yes, there is a big surge in used AS Motorhomes because they are all buying Four Winds!

[Minnie's Mate]

So what's up with this one: eBay Motors: 1984 Airstream Limited 345 Motorhome-Super Low Reserve! (item 230144150558 end time Jun-24-07 19:00:00 PDT)

It has a reserve of $7995 and looks like it is in so-so condition. I would be a little scared by the reserve, but at the same time, I'd be disinclined to bid on this one: eBay Motors: 1985 Airstream 345 Motorhome - Classic Headturner (item 190123534081 end time Jun-22-07 07:26:00 PDT) with its $30K starting bid and cosmetically challenged curbside rear corner. Seems they are all way over priced for the apparent market right now. Of course I know no one here would take less for their beloved baby, but then again, none of them are on e-bay right now are they?

[dmreilly10000]

I don't think the last one listed will get the $40,000 "buy now price" he wants.

[pjude]

Trade in value on an 86 345 is somewhere around 11,400 with the high retail at 21,900. I've been watching E-Bay for months before I bought and the coaches that are over 18,000 go off without a bid. There seem to be some deals such as one last week that went for $12,200 that was listed as very clean and very well maintained....I can't understand asking $35,000 to 40,000 for a 22 year old coach....even a Wanderlodge!
Pete

[Silvertwinkie]

Seem a bit high in $$$ to me, but Terry is right, lots of folks dumping or not buyin' MoHos due to gas.

[Minnie's Mate]

With fuel prices what they are, even with them coming down right now, I can't imagine anyone paying more than $15K for even the best of those unless they really have an appreciation for one like one of the forum members here would have and a forum member would realize that now is the time to get a bargain.

Fuel prices are just too much of an unknown right now. The oil companies are refusing to build new refineries so fuel prices are sure to stay up for the next few years. Or at least that is what the "experts" are saying right now.

[swebster]

Those prices (with the exception of the fixer upper for < $12K) are way too high. While there is a bit of a premium for classics (over same year HRs or Coachmens for example) 30K for a damaged coach and 40K for anything is nuts. I suspect these folks are no using the motorhomes much anymore and are just testing the market.

Funny thing about gas prices and market perception. We're taking our 1986 345 from Louisville to NH for 2.5 weeks this summer. It's about 2100 miles round trip for us. It'll cost about $850 in fuel and we'll tow our car. We have five people and two dogs staying at my wife's family beach house (free camping).

If we flew and rented a cottage it would be break down as follows:

Airfare for five (Southwest from SDF to MHT) --> $1908
Minivan rental for two weeks $979
Cottage Rental for two weeks --> $2400
Dog Kennel for two weeks --> $400
Total --> $5687

Savings by taking the motorhome -- > $4873 (85%)

Seems like even $4 a gallon, as painful as that sounds, would still favor taking the motorhome. We do this trip just about every year and after flying and renting the first time we easily justified the motorhome four years ago. It still seems to make sense even with the 100% increase in fuel prices since then.

Any additional local camping trips we make (within an hour or two) are just gravy. We kind of think of it as our mobile beach cottage.

[Alumatube]

I agree, Steven! We jumped on our 310 a few months ago due to the depressed pricing and we see it the same way you do. It always costs us less to take the RV on a trip over about 3 days length than it does to drive/fly and stay in a hotel. Plus we have our familiar surroundings, creature comforts and a superior degree of coolness in our shiny metal lodge!

The other benefit is having a fully mobile home in the driveway in case of emergency!

Susan

[Silvertwinkie]

There is a 345 on there right now that seems like a steal....

[Minnie's Mate]

This one is now at $12,500. It doesn't seem so much like a steal at that price.

eBay Motors: 1984 AIRSTREAM 345 CLASSIC MOTORHOME RV 45,000 MILES (item 180131752021 end time Jun-25-07 09:31:13 PDT)

[rebfa]

I saw them all! I want one! I'm trying to figure out which one is the best deal. I am willing to fly anywhere in the country to pick it up so location of the MH is not an issue.

[Anon]

The hit is not just in MoHo's though.
The larger AS trailers are not selling as well either. I have watched the prices of 25 footers bottom out.
The smaller ones are climbing at an exponential rate! I sold my 1977 Argosy Minuet 6 Metre two weeks ago. I had three buyers, with cash in hand, fighting over it. I got just about what I was asking for it too, (which I felt was high).
I am looking for an older truck with a big V8 in it only because the smaller 8's and diesels are going for a premium right now. Up here in the Detroit area you can barely give away a used 454 or a 460!
The price of gas is hovering right around 3.079/gallon today. From what I understand, we have the second highest gas prices in the nation. Trying to sell anything that sucks down gas at 8 MPG is hard to do around here. I am sure it is the same elsewhere too.
Now is the time to buy, if you are so inclined to upgrade your trailer, MoHo or TV. That's for sure.