1st time buyer wanting to do it right the first time

[jonandjoni]

I am getting close to retirement and plan on buying my first RV. I plan on doing it right the first time so I have been doing months and months of research. I plan to spend 4-6 months each year traveling throughout North America from Key West, Florida to Juno, Alaska and everywhere in between. I hope to continue this experience for at least 20 years hopefully in the same RV than one day turn the keys over to my kids. With that being said I have narrowed down my search to two models that I think will meet my needs, Entegra Cornerstone & Newmar London Aire. I was hoping anyone that owns either of these models may be able to shed a little light on their experiences. Sure I like to hear all the good things but I really want to hear the negatives. If I am going to shelve out $500,000 I want to make sure I will have the most comfortable and reliable coach for years to come. And if you feel there is a better coach that falls within this price range please chime in.

[Ivylog]

I like this about retiring: Twice the husband on 1/2 the income and in this case... in 1/10th the space. Even as half timers, can your marriage stand this much closeness?
My DW married for better or worse and for lunch as I've been self employed and around the house more than most. As Half timers it took us three tries (started too small) to finally find the right coach, a big one with four slides. OP, glad you are starting big.
We are at 10 years on this rig that we bought slightly used as 10 years ago that was the only way to get four slides. I see no reason why it will not go another 10-15 years which may do it for us. No way would I buy a new rig, especially since this is your first one. I like the floorplans you are looking at but there are plenty of slightly used rigs (various manufactures) with much the same for a lot less than half.
If you cannot bring yourself to buy used then this dealer has two 2014's at reduced prices ($300K). I like my 42' as it's a little easier getting into USFS CG's, but not enough to say you should not go with a 45'.
Can you store it a your home in Fla (where in Fla are you)? Many areas do not allow it at your home except to load it up and go.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

[bullydogs1]

Both rigs are good rigs..the Newmar on the Freightliner chassis and the Cornerstone on the Spartan K3 Chassis which is a step up to their best one...You need to drive both rigs due to the different chassis....I can tell you that Entegra is a first class outfit when it comes to support and warranty. Newmar is also a first class outfit but warranty is only one year. Spartan chassis support is superb. you have two good winners picked out and so once you picked out your floor plan. DRIVE THEM...I can tell you with Entegra, they work with ANYONE to get you service you need. I have some good friends with an Entegra Aspire and one with a cornerstone ....both have had issues but Entegra stepped up and Spartan stepped up. Not that Newmar won't but they are on a Freightliner chassis....Note the Newmar has comfort drive which may be a difference as well. DRIVE then decide, you could not have picked 2 better winners.

[imgoin4it]

I cannot specifically answer the whole of your question, but perhaps part of it. We retired 12 years ago, still have the sticks and brick. We travel about three months and then home about three months which makes six months a year. We have had three different brands of motor, three gas and two diesel. The Newmar DSDP we have now has been the best, most relievable, and least trouble free of any of them. That's not to say it has always been perfect because there is not a coach made that is, but the other diesel was in the shop before every trip as well at the end of every trip over five years. So while I cannot completely answer your question you will go wrong with a Newmar product.

[cekkk]

jplante4 wrote:
A couple of things I've gleaned from this forum.

1. Unless you rent a number of rigs, it's very difficult to get everything you want the first time. You probably won't find anyone to rent the 2 you're looking at, so a suggestion I've seen here is to sit in the rig without the salesman and get the feel for the interior. After you purchase, it's a matter of adjusting your lifestyle to a new space reality and compromise. We bought a cheap class A not knowing what we wanted and used that as our learning experience to make a list of what we really needed. Asking here is ok, but you'll get a lot of opinions based on other's experience, not yours.

2. Don't plan on getting too far from the dealer or a dealer's facility in the first six months. There will be things going wrong, breaking or not quite right no matter how much you shell out.

Just MHO.

1. That's why my number 1 criterion was getting a $$ deal on a used one so I could get my money back when we figured out what we really wanted in a camper. It worked, and we have no buyer's remorse on our Eagle. It's so right in important areas that we are having a hard time finding a plan on a new one. I guess we'll just have to keep our money!
2. Our dealer is nearly a thousand miles from home. We were lucky. Never needed it in the whole 2-year warranty period. But I'd never risk that again!

[Effy]

I researched for about 5 years to find the perfect rig that fit my needs and budget. Bought a different model a year later and this spring thinking of trading again for yet another model . Buying your last rig first is a tough thing to do. Until you've spent some time in any rv you have no idea what you really want. You think you do but you don't. Most folks buying the types of rig you are looking at have already gone through several evolutions of what they thought they wanted. Floor plan is the single most critical decision. I don't care what you buy, if the floorplan doesn't work it doesn't work.

[jplante4]

A couple of things I've gleaned from this forum.

1. Unless you rent a number of rigs, it's very difficult to get everything you want the first time. You probably won't find anyone to rent the 2 you're looking at, so a suggestion I've seen here is to sit in the rig without the salesman and get the feel for the interior. After you purchase, it's a matter of adjusting your lifestyle to a new space reality and compromise. We bought a cheap class A not knowing what we wanted and used that as our learning experience to make a list of what we really needed. Asking here is ok, but you'll get a lot of opinions based on other's experience, not yours.

2. Don't plan on getting too far from the dealer or a dealer's facility in the first six months. There will be things going wrong, breaking or not quite right no matter how much you shell out.

Just MHO.

[afrescopXx]

RVing is a test of wills. Retirement is difficult enough for a couple in a house and more trying in an RV. There is so much more togetherness after retirement. An RV, no matter how big,lacks "me" room. We have a stick and brick home and an RV. We have both been retired since late 2006. We were 60 and 58 when we retired. From 2011 to 2014 we have been in our RVs for 6, 8, 6 and 4 months respectively. Life in the house is far less stressful as there is room to separate for a couple of minutes to a few hours. In an RV a couple has basically no separate place to be. Even the bathroom "experience" is literally semi-private. The divorce rate is high for retired couples, even those living in a house. Perhaps you should try RVing before making such a large investment? In our five years of RVing we have met very few people who travel constantly. Most, after an initial burst of wanderlust, settle down to a couple of spots, one for cold seasons and one for warm. Even travel can get old and tiresome.
One thing I would stress is to have an exit plan. Eventually you will want or need to get off the road. People get ill and financial situations change. Will you have a plan?

[Bumpyroad]

years back I looked at London Aires and it was the top of the line model. I happened to look at a 5er and no body seams could be seen in the fiberglass sections. they were beautifully glassed in and truly a work of art. don't know how current ones compare however.
bumpy

[hone_eagle]

There is no 'right' in a absolute sense,to make small niggles 'right' will cost big time if it means a change of rig.
make a best guess and live with it,because as we go though the rv life things change we can't anticipate -change in health ,mobility,partners,family e.g. grandkids coming along? often?
Funds unlimited?
Sooner or later we settle and make do.

[John_Joey]

I retired six years ago and we travel/live in a RV for about six months a year. I never thought that at this stage of my life it would be so dynamic. I would take that into consideration since your plan seems pretty set, and investing a half million dollars is nothing to sneeze at. Assume 50% loss on purchase every 5 year.

Have you ever RV before or lived in one for any length of time? How about your traveling companion? (if you plan on having one.)

Once you're on the road you'll find out that people travel in just about anything, and the success is based more on the person, then on the rig. Not the answer you're looking for, just something to think about in your overall plan.

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