Choice: Entry Level DP or High End Gas
As noted in another post, we looked at a few new Class A's this weekend. I am wanting to get input in regards to choosing either an entry level DP or high end gas unit. We looked at Itasca Suncrui...
Forum Discussion
We went through many years of analysis. Started off looking at used and quickly resigned ourselves to new. What we have a habit of doing is purchasing once and not thinking of upgrading.
People say "Buy used and you avoid the 1st year depreciation hit!" Sort of good advice if you don't plan, or cannot imagine trading it in or selling it within a few years. If you "under buy" you will pay that first year depreciation multiple times over.
We thought that we would be happy with a 28'-31' gasser. After looking into it, we found a washer/dryer was important. Then bath and a half.
Then the quality kicked in. We quickly learned that you get what you pay for. I don't want to offend anyone but we found that Winnebago's, Forest River and Thors are not in the same class as Tiffin. Actually, we found them to have very poor fit and finish.
So we gravitated toward Tiffin. To the casual observer, Tiffin may seem expensive for the same thing, but you get what you pay for! Then we realized that we were creeping up to "too big for a gas engine."
Then the leap... Diesel Pusher. Tiffin Phaeton, Allegro Red, Allegro Bus. OOPS! You get what you pay for!
Went to Hershey for the second time to cement our decision.... Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH. About to pull the trigger when something told me to look at the Newmars.
Bottom line.... The Tag Axle on the Dutch Star 4018, the quality of Newmar and the Comfort Drive, etc... said to us, "This will be the first and last motorhome you ever buy! Buy it now and you will have it for 20 years! You will never wear out the engine, and never need or want any additional feature worthy of the $10s of thousands to get it in a trade in. If you want a feature in future years, have it added on later."
So I don't care about 1st year depreciation. My advice... Stretch your budget as much as you can. If you buy with the intention to trade up many times, then your friend is sweat equity! Buy low, fix and sell higher. If your intention is like mine, to buy once, go BIG and NEW!
People say "Buy used and you avoid the 1st year depreciation hit!" Sort of good advice if you don't plan, or cannot imagine trading it in or selling it within a few years. If you "under buy" you will pay that first year depreciation multiple times over.
We thought that we would be happy with a 28'-31' gasser. After looking into it, we found a washer/dryer was important. Then bath and a half.
Then the quality kicked in. We quickly learned that you get what you pay for. I don't want to offend anyone but we found that Winnebago's, Forest River and Thors are not in the same class as Tiffin. Actually, we found them to have very poor fit and finish.
So we gravitated toward Tiffin. To the casual observer, Tiffin may seem expensive for the same thing, but you get what you pay for! Then we realized that we were creeping up to "too big for a gas engine."
Then the leap... Diesel Pusher. Tiffin Phaeton, Allegro Red, Allegro Bus. OOPS! You get what you pay for!
Went to Hershey for the second time to cement our decision.... Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH. About to pull the trigger when something told me to look at the Newmars.
Bottom line.... The Tag Axle on the Dutch Star 4018, the quality of Newmar and the Comfort Drive, etc... said to us, "This will be the first and last motorhome you ever buy! Buy it now and you will have it for 20 years! You will never wear out the engine, and never need or want any additional feature worthy of the $10s of thousands to get it in a trade in. If you want a feature in future years, have it added on later."
So I don't care about 1st year depreciation. My advice... Stretch your budget as much as you can. If you buy with the intention to trade up many times, then your friend is sweat equity! Buy low, fix and sell higher. If your intention is like mine, to buy once, go BIG and NEW!
