Coach Prices and Long Term Quality

A Chevrolet Tahoe and a Caddy Escalade are similar vehicles while the American coaches are both Fleetwood products that were also bankrupt a few years ago, like GM. I agree you should check out some others for top of the line. Newmar & Foretravel are a couple of top line coach that have never been bankrupt.

Tough question to understand exactly what you are asking. You mention 20 years as a point when you want to know if the coach would still be serviceable, which I think you mean usable. Altho both coaches may still be usable, I am sure that both coaches will also be out of date as far as systems, like the electronics, Appliances, furniture, and maybe even the engines, assuming new EPA regulations which are sure to happen in the next 20 years.
Perhaps you are asking about value, after 20 years. Maybe after 20 years, the actual sales value of the two coaches may be much closer than they were when new. That is tough to predict.
You used the example of Cadillac, and I will just go to the actual values using examples that most people can relate to. Right now, a 1957 Cadillac, in good condition, will be worth less than a 1957 Chevrolet, in equal condition. The Cadillac cost a lot more when new, but way down the road, people like the Chevy more and are willing to pay more for it. Doesn't make a lot of sense but the same could happen with the two coaches you mentioned. In 20 years, the less expensive coach may be worth more even tho both units would still be serviceable/usable. Of course, if the company goes out of business, in the next 20 years, and parts are no longer available, the sales price for both of the units may plummet, even tho they both may still be serviceable, assuming that no unavailable parts have broken.

We have spent a fair amount of time at Tom Johnson's in Concord, NC and looked at Eagles and Heritage. Both are nice rigs and I could certainly not see a $200K difference in them. No question the Heritage is loaded with fu fu stuff that would not mean much to me. We see a lot of older Eagles while traveling and, as already noted, a well maintained coach of that initial quality will last a long time.

IMO, if I was thinking of spending the $$$ for an Eagle or Heritage, I would take a look at the Newmar Essex and King Aires.

wolfe10 wrote:


Even if quality is the same (and in many cases, "state of the art" is NOT a proven, reliable commodity)the more complex the systems, the more things there are to break.

yep that is my philosophy for everything from kitchen ranges, washers/dryers, automobiles, etc. the more fancy and computerized "fluff" used to sell, the more fraught with danger.
bumpy

wolfe10 wrote:
There are actually two very different issues at work here:

Quality.

Degree of complexity.

Quite a lot of "higher end" coaches add a shocking (IMO) number of "gadgets" to their offerings.

Even if quality is the same (and in many cases, "state of the art" is NOT a proven, reliable commodity)the more complex the systems, the more things there are to break.

I agree whole heartily with Wolf, but, IMO, It all comes down to maintenance. I believe that if you take care of your vehicle it will last for the 20 years or so your asking for.

-paul

Check out the specifics sheet. Little difference in the chassis and lots of different in the box you ride,eat,and sleep in. We test dove a H and it had heated, AC, and vibrating seats . The E had only AC and heat.

There are actually two very different issues at work here:

Quality.

Degree of complexity.

Quite a lot of "higher end" coaches add a shocking (IMO) number of "gadgets" to their offerings.

Even if quality is the same (and in many cases, "state of the art" is NOT a proven, reliable commodity)the more complex the systems, the more things there are to break.

As you can see in my sig, our Endeavor is 14 years old and doing everything we ask it to. No, we haven't owned it since new but it has been well taken care.

Whether its a car or a motorhome I believe that as long as it is maintained it will last as long as you want it too.

How do you feel about it if the question is put that the manufacturer is General Motors and in one case you are looking at a Chevrolet Tahoe and the other an Escalade with an extra $25,000 of fancy stuff added, and some money for the prestige of a different name? Does the different name badge from the same manufacturer mean more serviceability? I don't think so, the extra price is for the extra stuff and the prestige.

Because that's more like what you are looking at with the two motorcoaches.

Underneath, a Freightliner is a Freightliner.

Really do not know how to answer your question accurately, but our 16 year old Eagle is an amazingly reliable piece of equipment.

Personally, I cannot imagine how the Heritage warrants that price delta, but I am fairly sure that both will "go the distance".

Hard to beat the Eagle on an upgrade perspective as far as the house design is concerned.