Coach Prices and Long Term Quality
Hi all, I’ve been looking at the American Coach lineup of mitorhomes. But even lthough I’m using American Coach as the example. This question pertains to other quality motorhome manufacturers as ...
Forum Discussion
Hi all.
Thanks for your very thoughtful responses. The main thing I'm after is "How do you determine the quality underneath? You guys are obviously right about how you can fix and/or replace the refrigerator, stove etc. Its the chassis and drivetrain that dictate the real long term future.
That said, 60 to 70% of the new breed of motorhomes have Freightliner chassis, Cummins diesels and Allison transmissions. Yet many will tell you that American is a better builder than Thor! I don't want to get into a conversation about American vs Thor, I just want to make the best decision for a long term purchase and both of these manufacturers have the same thing underneath.
I don't really care from the coach depreation standpoint. I don't say that from the standpoint of "I have so much money I don't have to worry about such things". That is something for another forum or Dr. Phil... :)
What I mean is I want a coach that I can live in long term and it will take care of me as I take care of it! And if I've learned nothing else from this forum, I've learned if you really want to lose a lot of money, just trade for a different coach every few years.
I would much rather spend what I need to spend for a good coach from the start and stay with it. I was reading recently from a gentleman who has a 1998 American Eagle that he would not hesitate to take from Florida to Alaska! Now that's a coach!!!
Thats the coach I want, I take care of it and it takes care of me. The new and glitzy stuff doesn't mean that much to me. But I do understand the points you guys have made about not knowing what the future brings. Like the manufacturer going out of business etc.
Harry
Thanks for your very thoughtful responses. The main thing I'm after is "How do you determine the quality underneath? You guys are obviously right about how you can fix and/or replace the refrigerator, stove etc. Its the chassis and drivetrain that dictate the real long term future.
That said, 60 to 70% of the new breed of motorhomes have Freightliner chassis, Cummins diesels and Allison transmissions. Yet many will tell you that American is a better builder than Thor! I don't want to get into a conversation about American vs Thor, I just want to make the best decision for a long term purchase and both of these manufacturers have the same thing underneath.
I don't really care from the coach depreation standpoint. I don't say that from the standpoint of "I have so much money I don't have to worry about such things". That is something for another forum or Dr. Phil... :)
What I mean is I want a coach that I can live in long term and it will take care of me as I take care of it! And if I've learned nothing else from this forum, I've learned if you really want to lose a lot of money, just trade for a different coach every few years.
I would much rather spend what I need to spend for a good coach from the start and stay with it. I was reading recently from a gentleman who has a 1998 American Eagle that he would not hesitate to take from Florida to Alaska! Now that's a coach!!!
Thats the coach I want, I take care of it and it takes care of me. The new and glitzy stuff doesn't mean that much to me. But I do understand the points you guys have made about not knowing what the future brings. Like the manufacturer going out of business etc.
Harry
