Buying 2015 Road Trek or Airstream Interstat

Wincrasher65,

In all due respect you don't know what you are talking about when it comes to Advanced RV or anything about their pricing. If ARV built a B apples to apples in features they would sell under an Airstream. They won't as they and their customers have no interest in that. Quality goes beyond the cabinets which is something few can understand because you will never find that from a dealer network driven competitive market. This is my third B after two good ones in Pleasure-way and Great West Van. No comparison.

mlts22 wrote:

wincrasher65 wrote:
The Interstate is probably the least attractive B out there from a value perspective.

Not much technology incorporated, yet priced like they do. Just to compare, you can basically get an E-Trek for what Airstream wants for their van.

X2.

There are a few improvements with the Interstate, but (JMHO, of course) you are paying a Cadillac price for a Buick. Unless one can get a steep discount (and I'm meaning significant like 20% or more), I'd get something that is actually awe-inspiring similar to Davydd's Alvar.

After a bit of poking around, I may backtrack alittle on the Interstate. I really like the Grand Tour, their new model. It's a similar layout to the ARV, but with a couch in the back.

At around $140-145k out the door, it's ALOT less than an ARV. More like $40k to $50k less. To me, that is not the same neighborhood.

Additionally, everyone bandies about the "quality" of ARV. Yes they have features, and yes they have high end formed cabinetry, but that is not quality. Quality is how well it's bolted together, and how long it remains problem free. The track record is just not there yet to make these bold proclamations. Incorporating alot of tech is one thing, ensuring it will give problem free service for along time is another. Time will tell, I'm sure.

If you want to make bold proclamations about quality, here's one for you - Winnebago Travato is the highest quality RV I've ever experienced! It's not had one single breakdown that required a trip to the dealer. The chassis had provided the promised MPG and performance without a single issue.

We also have been looking for one. So far in my opinion the LTV B+s are great but have a very long build time. The other production builds are all about the same just differing in flash. The Roadtrek stands out in really good electrical components and build.

We owned a 2005 Interstate for 8 years. They have good designs and reasonably high quality materials. We liked ours very much. But, like all Thor products, they have serious workmanship problems. It took us years to sort ours out. When it was time to replace it, we looked at current-production AIs, and it was clear that things haven't improved much. We ended up with a customized Great West Vans Legend LE. Very happy with it.

AsheGuy wrote:
Since everyone is pitching their brand I'll join in. :) Leisure Travel Vans is one of the quality converters also. 124K miles on ours and would make the same choice again.

There are a lot of choices, it all depends on your preferences and financial resources. But with the price of B's these days, it is very important to make sure the model you choose meets your needs.

I agree. See my submission re Free Spirit SS

kannon wrote:
I was considering the Interstate because Lazy Days has them in Tucson,not too far from Oro Valley.La Mesa is also here and I am going to look at the E-trek.I have bought from La Mesa before.The biggest issue for me is to get a model that looks like a van and not an RV so I can park it in my driveway.My last MH was parked indoors at a facility 45 min. from home and besides being expensive was a pain to bring it home to load up.I like the idea, if the spirit moves me to jump into the van and go somewhere.
I guess I have to look at the Winnebago as well.Thanks for heads up.

The Leisure Travel Van Free Spirit SS has a slideout and great rear bathroom and, it is made in my home province of Manitoba. Canadian dollars are some 20percent lower too. Worth considering. Great company been around 50 years and great quality and support. IMHO
AL
PS And I have a Pleasure-way--also quality built. BTW I like my galley on the passenger side so I can look out into the camping area and my table etc and not the neighbours sewer hookup.Just saying..
PPS If I had the money I would certainly go for an Advance RV customized rig but, sigh, I have other fish to fry....!!

wincrasher65 wrote:
The Interstate is probably the least attractive B out there from a value perspective.

Not much technology incorporated, yet priced like they do. Just to compare, you can basically get an E-Trek for what Airstream wants for their van.

X2.

There are a few improvements with the Interstate, but (JMHO, of course) you are paying a Cadillac price for a Buick. Unless one can get a steep discount (and I'm meaning significant like 20% or more), I'd get something that is actually awe-inspiring similar to Davydd's Alvar.

Since everyone is pitching their brand I'll join in. :) Leisure Travel Vans is one of the quality converters also. 124K miles on ours and would make the same choice again.

There are a lot of choices, it all depends on your preferences and financial resources. But with the price of B's these days, it is very important to make sure the model you choose meets your needs.

Did you look at the Pleasureway? The Airstream Interstate you can get a good price on from RV Direct. With that said having driven a RT, Interstate and a Pleasureway, the only one that did not rattle, that looked better and more open on the inside, etc., was the PW. For us the PW would be it hands down. Advanced is going to be MUCH MUCH higher price, you have to decide if that is worth it, unless you have endless money to throw around and wanted something done to your exact specs, etc. But I would look at the Pleasureway also. IF you want to get best value, Era is the way. To us it's very open and pretty inside and the 70X had the most comfortable seats.

I was considering the Interstate because Lazy Days has them in Tucson,not too far from Oro Valley.La Mesa is also here and I am going to look at the E-trek.I have bought from La Mesa before.The biggest issue for me is to get a model that looks like a van and not an RV so I can park it in my driveway.My last MH was parked indoors at a facility 45 min. from home and besides being expensive was a pain to bring it home to load up.I like the idea, if the spirit moves me to jump into the van and go somewhere.
I guess I have to look at the Winnebago as well.Thanks for heads up.