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Almost there (buying a 176)...

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david950 View Drop Down
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Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Location: Broussard, LA
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    Posted: 05 May 2010 at 4:54pm
Well, after our trip to TX this weekend to do a walking tour of a 176, live and in person, we've decided to pull the trigger.  Though I started this trek dead set on driving to OH and purchasing from our "sponsor's" dealership, Forest River's push to have us "shop locally" may be working on me.  

Obviously there is a cost (fuel and time) associated with the 1900 mile round trip to OH, so I can't leave that out of the equation.  My local dealer has come to within $1500 of the "other" price, but that includes installing a brake controller and 7-pin wiring in my TV and a sway control hitch on the rPod, as well as some extras like scrip at the company store, some free campsite coupons, etc., so I feel the "net" is fairly close.

All of the dealers I spoke to (I visited dealers in TX and NE) indicated that while they would sell to me, they do not promise available space in the service bay for owners that aren't customers.  My local dealer had similar stories - they are busy, and customers come first.  They do have a very good reputation locally, as I have friends and family that have bought from them.  For what it's worth, I don't agree with this stance, or the veiled threats in the brochure and on the website (maybe threat is just my "spin" on the issue), but I'm not going to make it my personal fight.

In short, I think I'm about to go against my usual pattern and not buy solely on price.

We're going to visit our dealer this week to place our 176 order.  We're going with the conv/micro, a/c, 19" TV, axle riser, and probably the HDTV antenna, but we're going to skip on the R-Dome in favor of an E-Z Up or something similar.  My dealer doesn't have any 176s now, but will include ours in his next order - he's estimating 6-8 weeks.  I'll lose out on some "summer" (another "cost"), but oh well, the fish are biting, and I can't tow the boat *and* the rPod.

Thanks to all of you for your answers to my questions.  I'll probably take a break on asking them, but I'll keep reading your posts daily, and hopefully I'll have lots more questions in July.

So, am I overlooking anything?  Of the options listed, I figure the only "maybe" is the antenna (I plan on bringing a DirecTV dish and receiver).  I may see what kind of price I can get on a cover and the carpet - I think I want both of those eventually.
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