Hi Yachts and
. I guess you are already familiar with the ownership of a Newell and its quality being a previous owner. Value wise, prices are all over the place kind of like real estate. No real order to things and with Newell's not being in any type of "Valuation Book", the stability of prices in this weaker economy can make for some interesting prices around the country.
A lot of folks during the real estate boom in our recent past got use to a rise in home values and are now having to come to grips with the thought of losing equity in anything considered a home. Like a Newell Coach.
I remember seeing back in 1992 a brand new Fleetwood American Eagle at the "Salem RV Show" priced around $128k with marble and granite counters and flooring. I was truly amazed at the deal and almost bought it. Then ten years later, I started seeing like American Eagle models down in Southern California for a half million. Talk about a booming industry. And of course this trend followed right along with the housing market, straight up and way over inflated on many fronts! But, that is what you get with easy money in a fabricated economy.
Newell's are no exception to the rule of inflating new coach costs, except because they are extremely luxurious, and with being there are enough deep pocketed individual to buy the handful produced every year, the rest of us get what's left over after the original owner or two are done with them. Most of these original buyers could care less what they lose on them, as that may be part of their whole incentive. I know of at least a couple of current owners who are in this class.
Sounds like to me you already know the bargain price ranges and are looking for exactly that. The other question would be, are you willing to invest some money or sweat equity into a purchase, if so, you will more than likely find your diamond in the rough.
To answer your question on the '97 for $60,000, for the most part that should be a descent bargain. Some other members bought a nice '96 for $65,000 that was originally priced much higher. Which brings up another point, if you are going to price your coach out of the shoot at a pie in the sky price, you are more than likely going to waken to a reality of a much greater loss when or if you ever finally do sell it. This can really be more of an issue on the much newer coaches. Once they sort of bottom out into the sweeter pricing zones, the values somewhat stabilize.
Just my nickels worth of ramblin'.