Airstream Classic
Looking to buy an Airstream Classic 30RB. I've never owned a bumper pull, any information on how they handle, what to to expect would be helpful.
Forum Discussion
rbpru wrote:
Airstreams cost because of the volume, construction, quality and pride of ownership factor.
They are very high priced and would not be so if they were not worth it in the eyes of their owners.
Considering you could buy two or even three standard TTs for the price of an Airstream and a 20 year old AS is just reaching puberty in TT world, says a lot.
We looked at them briefly, The DW did not like the shape, I want a slide and neither of us wanted to spend that much. None of that has anything to do with the value of an Airstream.
To put it in perspective, if I won a multi-million dollar lottery, Ferrari might just make their first pickup truck. :) Till then its my F-150.
Safe travels
Every winter I spend a few minutes strolling through the giant Airstream display at the Tampa show. As the prices hit the stratosphere over the years, one thing becomes clearer. This is a case of genius level marketing and very little substance behind the curtain. Same ole' appliances, Chinese LEDS, and other junk found in the brands that the Airstream snobs love to belittle. Garbage QC in many areas (huge puckers between rivets on roof seams, really?) All of this is accompanied by ridiculous pricing. The 2018 30' Classic had a BASE MSRP of $142,000..................seriously?
Sorry, but when you go on about just reaching puberty at 20 YO, and Ferrari comparisons, there is a marketing department smiling, and the bean counters at Thor staring at the profit margins in awe. It's all about drinking the Kool-Aid.I wonder how many Kool-Aide drinkers would still wave that Airstream flag after a deep dive into search topics like "floor rot, Roof leakage, filiform corrosion, and factory support for warranty problems" ? I knew that the whole deal jumped the shark a few years back, when I stopped at an Airstream dealer who had a few worn out hulks on his lot. I was actually buying a part for another brand, but I was looking at his inventory before I left. I step in a 28' or so, thirty year old Airstream TT, and my foot goes in the rot hole at the door. the interior is filled with mold smell and need a total gut job. The salesman tells me it's available for $18K and he can't move much on the price. Yea, OK, right after pigs fly. The problem with this whole "value" concept is that, once you step away from the dealer, and back into the real world, a quick search of national databases show an abundance of really nice similar used Airstreams, of the same vintage, that do NOT need $20-30K in rebuilding, for LESS than $18K. That's how it works when you can sucessfully create a perception of value, based on past reputation and brilliant marketing.
