I currently have a Winnie Minnie class C mobile home. I like it a lot but my wife always complains that the ride is rough and is not comfortable. She refuses to travel long distance. So we are thinking about upgrading to a class A . Our budget is around 80K . Would you please recommend a class A that is around $80,000 (new) and is comfortable to drive ? We are looking for something between 28 to 32 feet.thanks

never buy new. In this market, there are like new coaches selling for 30% new prices. buy a diesel pusher that is prior to DEF requirements, some thing like This. we found our's easier to drive than our previous rigs. the ride is great. comfort of the big chairs uncompairable.We travel day light, to dusk, and average 7-800 miles per day, depending upon our sight seeing and rest stops.We fuel each day before we quit, and are ready to leave early.

i have a used 40' for half that money and love it not scared to cross the country in it at anytime. Newmar London Aire with 300hp cummins 10 mpg loaded and ready for fun but large enough to stay awhile if needed..I would not reccommend taking the blood bath, my neighbor bought one , first 3 months he had it took back to camping world everytime he tried to use it. Got mad and sold it and absolutely lost his shorts and he didnt care was so happy to be rid of it, but he never owned one and isnt handy , they require some love and knowledge my education has been expensive... LOL

Tom/Barb wrote:never buy new. In this market, there are like new coaches selling for 30% new prices. buy a diesel pusher that is prior to DEF requirements, some thing like This. we found our's easier to drive than our previous rigs. the ride is great. comfort of the big chairs uncompairable.We travel day light, to dusk, and average 7-800 miles per day, depending upon our sight seeing and rest stops.We fuel each day before we quit, and are ready to leave early.'Never buy new' is not for everybody. If people didn't buy new there wouldn't be any used units. And, DEF is not a bad thing. It cleans the pollutants for cleaner air. What's wrong with that? Ever live in an area with Smog? DEF is a god-send.Every unit has a buyer, we happen to be 'NEW' buyers as that's what I like. We drove our first NEW coach for 7.5 yrs. and 70,000 miles. We had all new appliances, new TV's, new airbags, etc. As a unit ages, will need to be updated. There is a cost in making those updates.Safe travels,MM.

I agree that "used" is not for everyone. I bought used cars twice and was burned both times big. Yes I would love to get a great deal on a great used rig, but I don't trust the odds.For $80,000 a new gasser would be your only choice. Even then it would most likely be a short entry level model.

Although I bought new I'm not sure I would buy an entry level new coach. Especially if you plan on RVing a lot. I think you have to be open to new or used. The Newmar with a Spartan chassis was a great coach. The question is how clean is a used coach? I'm sure there are great buys out there. However, you can get burned badly. Don't be an impulsive buyer. Some of the RV dealers will dump new RVs at a good price. You have to negotiate your price not just accept an inflated new RV price. There have been a lot of changes to RVs in the last 12 years. Bet a 12 year old RV may need a lot done unless it is super clean.

Class A that is around $80,000 and is comfort to drive

47 Replies

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jan 07, 2015
TomB. wrote:
I bought a 99 Winnebago Adventurer that had 24K on the odometer & still looked brand new. If you really want a new model, Winnebago has rereleased the Brave & it falls into your price range. We had an 84 23' Chieftain back in the 90's and it had a very smooth ride. :B

if that chieftain was on the old P-30//32 chassis, I would not say the ride characteristics were stellar.
bumpy
Effy
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2015
JimM68 wrote:
Sorry, I just cannot read five pages of this today...

ALL gas class A's will ride about the same as the C you have.

If you want a good ride, you need a real rear engine diesel with full air ride.
Age doesn't matter much here. Slides came in around 1998, more is better.

This statement is totally inaccurate. The F53 rides much better than the E350 chassis. If you've ever driven both it's easy to feel the difference.
TomB_
Explorer
Jan 07, 2015
I bought a 99 Winnebago Adventurer that had 24K on the odometer & still looked brand new. If you really want a new model, Winnebago has rereleased the Brave & it falls into your price range. We had an 84 23' Chieftain back in the 90's and it had a very smooth ride. :B
JimM68
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Sorry, I just cannot read five pages of this today...

ALL gas class A's will ride about the same as the C you have.

If you want a good ride, you need a real rear engine diesel with full air ride.
Age doesn't matter much here. Slides came in around 1998, more is better.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
BUTCHPHI wrote:
Buy the one Tom/Barb pointed out in the first response. Looks like a very good deal and Mountainaire's are wonderful motorhomes. If it is in good shape snap it up. Hell, I'm tempted at that price and I have had my Tropical for 15 years AND LOVE IT, but if I was in the market-----!

I'd bet the guy will take 60 in this market.
consumeratlarge
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Our pursuit new was under 80k including tax, and could be equipped with a trac bar for $600 more to give a great ride. I was impressed with the handling and features for the money. Lots of power, too. All the new appliances work, and we enjoy it. We don't like rough roads or dirt roads with stutter bumps, but I love having all new parts. Tightening some loosened interior stuff after our roughest dirt road escapade, but it didn't strain the chassis at all. Everybody has different priorities, just one more data point to consider.

I'm a believer that the new F53 will be the least amount of maintenance, too, and the price difference of diesel fuel negates the savings. I think the diesel is required for more room, or pulling very heavy trailers. The bus type of air bag system does give a very smooth ride, but we are happy with the F53 new choice so far. I know the depreciation will be breathtaking, but about 7%/year for our 7 year projected ownership, may be less than some major work on an older, heavier rig over the same time span. Every design has compromises and advantages.
BUTCHPHI
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Buy the one Tom/Barb pointed out in the first response. Looks like a very good deal and Mountainaire's are wonderful motorhomes. If it is in good shape snap it up. Hell, I'm tempted at that price and I have had my Tropical for 15 years AND LOVE IT, but if I was in the market-----!
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
CodyClassB wrote:
I currently have a Winnie Minnie class C mobile home. I like it a lot but my wife always complains that the ride is rough and is not comfortable. She refuses to travel long distance. So we are thinking about upgrading to a class A . Our budget is around 80K . Would you please recommend a class A that is around $80,000 (new) and is comfortable to drive ? We are looking for something between 28 to 32 feet.

thanks

You are in the same market as we were in, in 2009. upgrading to a Class A.

any $80k NEW class A is going to be the bottom of the Class A market, most will not have premium equipment installed, thus they will not hold their value well. They will not be on a chassis that will deliver the ride you want.

If I were you, I'd be searching Craig's list for a better used coach from a private seller.
JerryofWV
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
You can get a "fair" new one or a "great" used one. You have to make the choice.
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Tom/Barb.....If you read my post, "Since many buy used for various reasons, it's always good to present both sides of the argument", I agreed with your opinion that you should look at both options, but you couldn't let it go, even now!