A used Newell, what do you think?

[Foodsman]

I'd like your thoughts on the Newell's from lets say 2002 to 2006? Would you consider an 8 to 12 years old Newell ?

American builds a great coach with its Eagle and Heritage brands and Entegra has the Cornerstone, all top of the line coaches. And I know you can buy a newer one of them for the same money as an older Newell.

My question is... is the build of the Newell so much better so that it is a viable consideration over the other newer rigs mentioned above?

I'm probably asking the question poorly and I apologize for that. I know a Newell is a beautiful coach but would you choose one 8 to 12 years old with the expectation of it going another 20 years?

Thank you for your help and wisdom...

[John_S_]

Yes most of the Newer Newell's I have seen have that curved staircase. Foretravel uses a full length fuel tank so you can not put it by the door in the middle on the newer coaches as it is midship in the older late 90s they put it upfront for weight distribution.

[Foodsman]

Hey Peralko, check your PM! 🙂

[Mr_Mark1]

I thought of another plus for a mid door set-up. If you are ever in an accident, it could be possible that the front entry door is not operable and you might feel 'stuck'. Ninety nine percent of the time we probably will never be in that kind of accident but it's a thought.

BTW, most upper end Monaco's, including ours, has a door bladder that fills with air when the emergency brake is released to keep out door air noise. The controller is in the front generator bay for adjustment.

MM.

[JetAonly]

My MH has a mid door entry. It is opposite the fuel tank, so little storage it lost. I like the living room feeling that the front of the MH has. We also have no wind noise from door. It also makes the dining area feel like a dining area rather than more seating with a table in front. I don't like how it breaks up the wall and it is a bit narrower than a front entry door.

I have seen a Newell with a mid entry that has a angled/spiral mid entry…wow, very snazzy!

[John_S_]

Actually with a mid entry you lose a full sized pass thru bay. That us why they went to front entry.

[Deano56]

Joatha wrote:

Foodsman wrote:

I have no idea what a 1999 coach like that is worth but I was really amazed by it. I just can’t get over something could be 15 years old and look like that. It was obvious the owner took serious pride in it and I can sure understand why... Wow!!!

I would guess you could easily get a 1999 Newell for somewhere under $200K.

Here's a 1998 for $179K (asking price)...
http://www.rvt.com/Newell-45-2slide-1998-Costa-Mesa-CA-ID5543009-UX69938

Here's a 2002 for $199K (asking price)...that 1998 is nice but too much bling for me
http://www.rvt.com/Newell-Coach-2002-Owensboro-KY-ID5674694-UX111084

they are nice but too much bling for me

[mci7]

As a Foretravel owner, my thoughts on the front door vs mid door, is due to the Bus look ?, just a guess. I see both having advantages.
While I like the Newell in general, I feel the weight is a major disadvantage, they are real heavy and with the 500 DDC 60 series, they are a little slower. Over all they are a fine coach and well made. Think I will remain with the Foretravel until I down size to a Sprinter type within the next 5 years (guessing)
Do not full time and don't ever expect to, love coming home.
Dave M

[Foodsman]

bogeygolfer said: "and interestingly, never a window in the door."


I was just as surprised about that as youl. It seems Newell has an advanced technology called "open door"! 🙂

[bogeygolfer]

Personally, I like the idea of a mid-entry coach and wish there were more available. Reasons I've heard listed are: everyone doesn't have to tromp through the whole length of the coach if they are, for instance, just coming in to use the head, going to the bedroom - or loading groceries into the galley, etc. Also, the co-pilot seat is right up front with the driver, as opposed to being set back to allow for the door.

All the Newells I've seen have the mid-entry, and interestingly, never a window in the door. Always looks very secure, like an armory! There were also some custom-made Foretravels (Unicoaches) with a mid entry, but they were pretty rare as I understand it. I'm not really sure why all the DPs started going to the front entry; I always thought the mid entry was a good layout, although you do lose some wall space mid-coach, along with less storage as noted above.

[Joatha]

Foodsman wrote:

I have no idea what a 1999 coach like that is worth but I was really amazed by it. I just can’t get over something could be 15 years old and look like that. It was obvious the owner took serious pride in it and I can sure understand why... Wow!!!

I would guess you could easily get a 1999 Newell for somewhere under $200K.

Here's a 1998 for $179K (asking price)...
http://www.rvt.com/Newell-45-2slide-1998-Costa-Mesa-CA-ID5543009-UX69938

Here's a 2002 for $199K (asking price)...
http://www.rvt.com/Newell-Coach-2002-Owensboro-KY-ID5674694-UX111084

[Mr_Mark1]

Yes, I'm the resident expert (dodging Lemon Pies).... Anyway, you can still order a mid-door coach from Newell. Actually, there is a guy with a Prevost with a mid-door that was customized. His original entry is still there but covered up and could be re-opened if needed.

Back to Newell. They are gorgeous without a doubt and as a used coach, it just couldn't get better for the 'bang for the buck'.

The only negative about the mid door is that you will lose pass-through storage in that area. You will not gain it up front but you will get a little bit of additional storage up there.

The new Newell's have bi-fold swing up doors that stick out about 6-8 inches at the top of the bay opening. And, since the new Newell's have pneumatic doors that are automatic and hug the side of the coach when opening, I wondered if someone left the bay door hinged upwards behind the main door, if it would open? Seems like a safety issue too but I'm sure that there is a way around it. I didn't search it because by that time, I was interested in Prevost.

Safe travels,
MM. (wiping meringue off my face).

[Effy]

I think Newell is the only true custom coach that has mid entry floor plans. Something to do with the proprietary chassis as opposed to the Prevost bus chassis, but Mr. Mark would know for sure.

[Foodsman]

Yes indeed, congradulations on the new rig! I just got back from Asheville and do I have a story to tell...

You know how sometimes your talking or thinking about an old girlfriend or someone you new years ago and then you see them a few days later? I started this thread July 6th and something similar happened to me...

Wherever I go I park as far away from the building as I can so I can walk and get a little exercise, that’s what I did this morning. I was I’m walking out of the Best Buy and not 50 yards from my car is this huge motorhome. I mean this coach took up half the parking lot and was blotted out the sun! And my wife says I'm prone to exaggeration, can you even imagine that?

As I get closer to the coach I see emblazoned on the front of the coach in big letters for anyone to see the word “NEWELL”! I’ve seen Prevost’s before but this is my first Newell and it is gorgeous!

The owner was by the side of the coach working on a cooler so I walked up and said hello. I was standing by the door and couldn’t help but take a peak inside the coach as I was talking to the guy. Even though I couldn’t see much of it, no one could miss that the interior of the coach is a humdinger!

I asked him if it was new and he laughed and said “not quite its a 99”! He must of thought I was one of the local morons, I only missed it by 15 years, are you kidding me!

I had a bunch of questions for him but his phone rang and his wife needed him in the store. I asked him one more quick question and he said he's owned it 11 years'. There were two things that surprised me about the coach.

1. The door was on the side not up by the passengers seat and I’ve never seen that on a Diesel-Pusher before. What do you guys think about the side entry?
2. As I was walking back to my car I took a really good look at the side and front of the coach and was just amazed at how good it looked with no sign of ware and tare you’d expect on something 15 years old.

I have no idea what a 1999 coach like that is worth but I was really amazed by it. I just can’t get over something could be 15 years old and look like that. It was obvious the owner took serious pride in it and I can sure understand why... Wow!!!

[bogeygolfer]

Congrats on the new coach! I'd love to have one of those some day.

[mpierce]

I just bought a 1990 Wanderlodge, Smoke N Mirrors", with the "old" 8V92 two cycle Detroit. Probably one of the least efficient diesel engines.

We drove it home 1800 miles. I basically set the cruise on 63 mph. Since it was hot, I ran the generator 24 hours a day, to run the coach AC's. We got 5.6 mpg, with the generator running all the time. Took 3 days to get home. If I figure the generator burned 1/2 gal of diesel an hour, and add that back in, the MH would have gotten a little over 6 mpg without the generator.

I did not think that was too bad for a two cycle engine, with a MH that is weighing almost 48,000#!