[A/S] Trailer Shopping

["Richard McFarland" <estatewagons@xxxxxxx>]

This is one of those questions which really needs a few more
"options" added into the equation.

1.  Once you have looked at the trailer - "is it the one you really want?

2.  Can you afford it - at that price range?

3.  Is there a similar selection to chose from nearby?  Or will you have
to spend money to travel to look at others like it?

Next....

4.  31' Airstreams from the 1970's are selling in the 7-8K range - for
units in reasonable shape - according to recent postings.  If a 1994
model checks out to be in the 15K range (price guide price) -
well - that means that there are about 20 years of Airstreams that
have to squeeze into a range of about $7500 (the difference between
the '70's prices and the 90's prices.

(I am being very-very general here...trying to offer a point
of perspective.  I realize that there are many different sizes of
Airstreams - and the size as well as the age and the condition
affect price)

Here is a the tricky part of what my point is - the 1994 model fits
into a price guide that is based on a comparison of prices against new
models - but the older  (1970's) models fit into a totally different price
range (their own...) and the 1994 model is getting down into the range
where it gets really gray.  Do you think of it as a depreciating
new unit?  Or an appreciating "older" unit?

(please note that I did not use the terms "classic" or "vintage" as
that brings in a whole new bunch of terms and ideas)

5.  Once a unit (car or trailer etc...) gets to be a certain age - the
"price" often has to do with more than simply a "guide" price.  It
has to do with desireability (and this can be regional) -
"actual" condition (standing next to it...looking at it...versus looking at
it's
statistics on a piece of paper...or at it's statistics on a computer
monitor)-
curb appeal - etc.  Depreciation is a tricky topic....it is very real for
the
first few years and then it becomes a very gray concept.

6.  Once a unit gets down into a certain price range (depends on what it is)
the price does not drop much more - if it's in decent shape - as the price
of
"fixer-uppers" defines the lower end of the market.  If the fixer-upper
price
range is "active".....(as it is with Airstreams).....then the price of
nice - clean
units "floats" above that.  Once a unit gets to be a certain age -
newer units and much older units are suddenly all within a very close
price range.

7.  Also - keep this in mind....if you are asking about pricing - if you are
talking to a person who just bought a trailer - they will very
likely be advising you to shop for the "best low price"...if you are talking
to
someone who is selling their own trailer...(if they are aware of the market
and are patient) they will probably be trying to get
a "best high price" for it (logically...since many people are)

8.  Guide prices....the guides are a great place to get information.
However - they are a guide - they are not always the bible when it
comes to units as they get older.  My experience in the past with guides
has been with collector vehicles - and sometimes....the guide prices are
reflective of reality....and sometimes the guide prices
and the real market prices are totally two different things.
I could talk your ear off about this topic...but will spare
you...let's just say that the older a unit gets....it's more and more about
what the unit really "is"....to you.

9.  Are you looking to turn around and sell the unit - and make a profit?
If
so - obviously...buy low and sell high!  But - if you are looking to be an
owner and if you do your homework - and check everything out -
in terms of what needs to be replaced and serviced
(as best one can determine) - you'll have a pretty good guess going as to
whether a more expensive unit is really not that much more expensive
(in the long run)...opposed to a worn out old unit that is average priced
that will wear out your credit cards in record time!

Enjoy the buying process and you'll enjoy the ownership process.

Good Luck.  RL