While surfing the web this morning, RV shopping, I came upon what at first glance appears to be a great buy on a 2010 Tiffin Phaeton. ($119,000 for a 40'DP seems to be a REAL good buy). A couple of things in the ad raised my "spidey senses". Before I responded to it, I'm interested in a few unbiased opinions? I'd be interested in what others think of the ad. Would I be breaking any rules by posting a link to the ad and asking for a few unbiased opinions?
Jim
Trabuco said
07:41 PM Jun 20, 2015
I don't see a problem posting an ad and would be more than happy to look at it. Is it a dealer ad or private party? The coach is 5 years old and I haven't looked at any ads but the price appears to be in line. I would definitely look at the coach in person even if it required a plane ticket to do so.
I had a friend buy a five year old coach site unseen, looked good in all the pictures but when he got it home you could tell it was well used.
Offtosmelltheroses said
08:28 PM Jun 20, 2015
Here's the link. Particularly note the pictures.
http://wyoming.craigslist.org/rvs/4998906677.html
Trabuco said
09:03 PM Jun 20, 2015
Pictures are a bit fuzzy but it appears to be in good condition. Find out if they have service and maintenance records. At 34,000 miles the diesel is not broken in yet. Cummins says 50k is the break in mileage, not sure about cat. It probably has original tires but they should be good for at least a couple of more years. Breaks are good for another 10 years depending on the miles you put on it.
If you make a visit to look at it, have the seller fire up the refer and hot water heater a day before so you can verify they are working good.
But the biggies for me would be the diesel engine and the Allison trans. Ask the seller if he has had oil and coolant analysis done. This will let you know if there is any major issues.
Offtosmelltheroses said
09:09 PM Jun 20, 2015
Should I be concerned that the interior photos appear to have been taken from two or possible three different coaches?
Trabuco said
09:22 PM Jun 20, 2015
If that's the case yes I would be concerned. That would dictate a visit to see the coach. There may be a simple explanation but you never know.
Barbaraok said
09:48 PM Jun 20, 2015
Ask about any radius problems and whether they had leaks in their wet bay. Both noted problems with Tiffins in the past few years. If really interested, go over to the Tiffin Owners Forum on iRV2.net (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f106/) and ask questions.
Barb
TRAILERKING said
10:40 PM Jun 20, 2015
Well for sure there are two different dash pictures.
Second Chance said
06:32 AM Jun 21, 2015
As a photographer, the photos bother me. They were originally very tiny thumbnails that have been up-sized... a possible sign that they were "lifted" from another site. The text seems like it was written by an RVer - but that could have been copied and pasted in, too. Two different dash shots just don't make sense...
Terry and Jo said
07:10 AM Jun 21, 2015
I'm like Second Chance. Those photos bother me considering how easy it is to take pictures of one's own coach for an ad. Before I did anything, I would insist on photos from the owner to include those areas like the wet bay to see if one could see a problem. Insist on close-up pictures of that area. It really appears that this seller has taken photos from the internet that were posted by dealers. And, he didn't do a good job of that because of the differences in the pictures of the dash area and the kitchen and living room.
As easy as it is to get one's own pictures, I think I'd be leery of this one unless I was actually seeing the unit, and even then, when I visited, I'd try to have an RV tech along to look at it as well.
Terry
Millie said
02:03 PM Jun 21, 2015
All the information I've read here gives me the creeps. If a person was 'that' callous to put wrong pictures in it ...I should expect him to be callous in other ways too.
PIEERE said
08:31 AM Jun 22, 2015
I seen this one on craigslist Nashville TN. also! I smell a big fish as it never said anything about Wyoming!
Offtosmelltheroses said
07:39 PM Jun 22, 2015
I don't think I'm even gonna waste my time trying to contact them. Thanks for everyone's input...pretty much affirms my suspicions.
ChefMom said
07:49 AM Jun 23, 2015
Offtosmelltheroses wrote:
While surfing the web this morning, RV shopping, I came upon what at first glance appears to be a great buy on a 2010 Tiffin Phaeton. ($119,000 for a 40'DP seems to be a REAL good buy). A couple of things in the ad raised my "spidey senses". Before I responded to it, I'm interested in a few unbiased opinions? I'd be interested in what others think of the ad. Would I be breaking any rules by posting a link to the ad and asking for a few unbiased opinions?
Jim
Jim:
We've run into this a couple of times before when poking around ebay. It seems that these are brochure pictures, maybe with a few genuine shots of that particular coach (but not many). My response was to email seller and state that it was good to see all original brochures pictures to get a feel for the layout of the coach, but asking to see extensive pictures of the particular coach that was for sale. He actually did send pics of coach for sale and they were a lot different (condition wise) than that of the brochure pictures (of course). Good luck and don't purchase anything without seeing it in person and having it checked out.
Selah said
06:28 PM Jul 2, 2015
There is no possible way I would even call and ask anything on this one. Three different kitchen shots, two differnt dash pictures, fuzzy exterior shots; nope Nope NOPE!
Offtosmelltheroses said
03:47 PM Jul 6, 2015
Yup, agree!
WendysPhotos said
08:19 AM Jul 9, 2015
They ask you for aa deposit to hold it then disapear. Okay one of the photos is from Tiffens brochure. I have seen honest people use these as they are not good photographers. If you really want to see if it is a real ad. Respond with a 'I can be there this week to look at it, I have financing already set up'. If they never respond back it is a scam, they do not want you to see thier fake motorhome. Where a legitimate seller would jump all over it. If it ends up being a legitimate buyer then explain why you responded that way and make arrangements to go see. NEVER send a deposit in any form.
A friend of ours buys classic cars this way all the time. It is how he weeds out the fake ads from the real ones.
While surfing the web this morning, RV shopping, I came upon what at first glance appears to be a great buy on a 2010 Tiffin Phaeton. ($119,000 for a 40'DP seems to be a REAL good buy). A couple of things in the ad raised my "spidey senses". Before I responded to it, I'm interested in a few unbiased opinions? I'd be interested in what others think of the ad. Would I be breaking any rules by posting a link to the ad and asking for a few unbiased opinions?
Jim
I had a friend buy a five year old coach site unseen, looked good in all the pictures but when he got it home you could tell it was well used.
Here's the link. Particularly note the pictures.
http://wyoming.craigslist.org/rvs/4998906677.html
If you make a visit to look at it, have the seller fire up the refer and hot water heater a day before so you can verify they are working good.
But the biggies for me would be the diesel engine and the Allison trans. Ask the seller if he has had oil and coolant analysis done. This will let you know if there is any major issues.
Should I be concerned that the interior photos appear to have been taken from two or possible three different coaches?
Ask about any radius problems and whether they had leaks in their wet bay. Both noted problems with Tiffins in the past few years. If really interested, go over to the Tiffin Owners Forum on iRV2.net (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f106/) and ask questions.
Barb
I'm like Second Chance. Those photos bother me considering how easy it is to take pictures of one's own coach for an ad. Before I did anything, I would insist on photos from the owner to include those areas like the wet bay to see if one could see a problem. Insist on close-up pictures of that area. It really appears that this seller has taken photos from the internet that were posted by dealers. And, he didn't do a good job of that because of the differences in the pictures of the dash area and the kitchen and living room.
As easy as it is to get one's own pictures, I think I'd be leery of this one unless I was actually seeing the unit, and even then, when I visited, I'd try to have an RV tech along to look at it as well.
Terry
All the information I've read here gives me the creeps.
If a person was 'that' callous to put wrong pictures in it ...I should expect him to be callous in other ways too.
I don't think I'm even gonna waste my time trying to contact them.
Thanks for everyone's input...pretty much affirms my suspicions. 
Jim:
We've run into this a couple of times before when poking around ebay. It seems that these are brochure pictures, maybe with a few genuine shots of that particular coach (but not many). My response was to email seller and state that it was good to see all original brochures pictures to get a feel for the layout of the coach, but asking to see extensive pictures of the particular coach that was for sale. He actually did send pics of coach for sale and they were a lot different (condition wise) than that of the brochure pictures (of course). Good luck and don't purchase anything without seeing it in person and having it checked out.
Yup, agree!
A friend of ours buys classic cars this way all the time. It is how he weeds out the fake ads from the real ones.