If you looks carefully at the interior photos you can see slashing on various interior parts.
After speaking with Benny the owner who was very upfront (his number is listed on the auction site) I think it will be a fantastic buy. It is sad what the kids did.
Jack, since it is a 1989, it does not include the coach number in the VIN which is listed on the site showing it is the 15th coach of the 1989 model year. 1990 was the first year that Newell included the coach number at the end of the VIN. That should be coach #196. I have a verbal confirmation that the 19th coach of 1989 was coach #200. This one is listed as a 45' but I do not believe that is accurate. The longest 1989 coaches I am aware of were 40'. With the new body style in 1990, the lengths increase up to 43', and in 1991 there were three 44'9" Newells built (#255, 262, 268). To the best of my knowledge the first 45'0" Newell was #305, a 1992 although a number of 44'6" Newells were built in 1992.
The listing also states that it is a Model 2000 which is incorrect, the model 2000 began with coach #213 which was delivered April 1989 and titled as a model year 1990.
Thank you Michael for that education your knowledge on this stuff is priceless. Did my coach come standard with the small three headlights or was that an option at the time? I was told it was upgraded by the guy I bought it from.
It was not only not the original front cap, it wasn't even an option at the time. Your front cap was replaced by a year 2000 front cap. Newell offered cap upgrades after the new cap was introduced on #538, the last 1999. So it originally came with the 4 rectangular Ford pickup headlights that had been used since 1990. Many folks refer to the 2000 front cap as the smiley face. The night time forward visibility was much improved with the small round lights over the four Ford pickup headlights.
You start adding up all the cost to bring a coach up operating condition you can put over twice what that sold for and also thats if you do the work. IMHO. If you are young and full of energy then Yep thats a good deal.
I'd say you dodged a bullet. I am at 56k on an interior renovation along with some minor exterior mechanical repairs so far. This is with me doing most of the work. On top of that, I have discovered "undiscovered" rot in more places than one. This one under the water manifold area of the bay is the most severe so far. Hard to find this stuff without removing the foam which looks oh so nice