2008 Dutch Star, am I crazy??

[BABrede]

Been looking at trading our 2000 American Eagle for a more "liveable" floor plan.

Have found a 2008 Dutch Star 4354 with a great floor plan and only 1800 miles. YEP, 1800 miles!! Owners only made one trip and then one of the owners got sick and been in storage since. Has 425 Cummins and Spartan chassis. The pricing is below 200K.

Would I be crazy to pass up this coach???

Thoughts??

Kerry

[LABergo]

Sounds like a great coach. I just upgraded from my 2000 DS to a 2007 MA. Although my DS was a great coach and we've had many great trips in it....I am looking forward to spending much more time traveling and my wife wanted more liveable space. I found the 41" MA and it has the 450 Cummins and a Spartan chassis. It also has Comfort Drive, and I understand the 2008 DS has this also. What a pleasure to drive......I don't think you are crazy....it is a great coach.

Larry
2007 Mountain Aire

[soricobob]

A double edged sword: low miles make this new, but 2008 takes this out of warrantee. Since we were reliant on Newmar for their warrantee coverage for two years, we would have been out thousand$$ without that coverage. That would be my only concern (besides checking fluids, tires, etc).

[harleyman134]

One of the first coaches we considered was a 2008 Dutch Star 4354, DW liked the full bath in back. We were offering $200k drive out, the dealer was wanting substantually more, we kept looking. After about 3 months the dealer approached us again and was within $5000 of what we were willing to pay, in the meantime we found a 2005 Mountain Aire in cherry condition for a whole lot less money. After the dealer contacted us we discussed both the Dutch Star and Mountain Aire, we like the 4 slides on the MA vs the 2 on the Dutch Star. We wound up buying the Mountain Aire and the wife is just as happy with it as she would have been with the Dutch Star. As much as we liked the floor plan on the Dutch Star I think the floor plan of the Mountain AIre (4304) offers more liveable space. The price you are looking at on the Dutch Star seems reasonable and it's a great floor plan and if you do buy it, I'm sure you will be happy.

["007"]

Go for it, life can become short never know what might be ahead. Plus its a Newmar.

[seabee13]

We recently picked up our 2011 Dutch Star 4353 at the Factory the PDI and service was OUTSTANDING. The folks at NEWMAR are AWESOME. This is our fourth Coach and we have never recieved this kind of service. Go for it . Seabee13

[PFMCDM]

I recommend going for it. Life is short. If it would make you and your wife happy - do it. It is a great coach. I think I had rather have the 2008 than a new model year DS.....and I am serious about that.

[chiefdave]

I would certainly consider it if the owner was willing to include a 2-year extended warranty. This way you protect your investment. Good luck.

[Bruexx]

I bought a 2008 Dutch Star 4320 a year ago,with 10,000 miles on it+ I am STILL getting the "wrinkles" out of it,the previous owner obviously didn't bother to get the "wrinkles" out of.None of these issues were under the NewMar warranty,but were done as part of the purchase, by the dealer + or by the Spartan chassis warranty.I haven't had any repairs done that have been covered by the extended warranty.
So by my experience you can still expect to come accross some "new coach issues"(wrinkles)?I am beginning to wonder when these issues will stop,it also seems to be "something"?
But if you are paying less than 200k,then you have $$$ that you can spend on these issues yourself,as that is a very reasonable deal!
Bruce

[Romeo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BABrede Have found a 2008 Dutch Star 4354... Would I be crazy to pass up this coach???

If I were you I wouldnt buy it. What's the phone number?

I just got back from the FMCA International Convention in Redmond, Oregon, tonight, and after seeing the 2500 coaches in attendance and all the dealer's new coaches, I need a new one.

[BABrede]

Thanks for all the great feedback.

Seems we've narrowed our choices to either the 2008 Dutch Star or 2010 Revolution LE 42T. There's a bit of difference in the price, but it may be worth it for the warranty, and knowing that if something screws up I probably did it. LOL

Kerry

[Renden]

I am sorry you are missing an opportunity to buy the 2008 DS - I bought a 2006 DS with 16,000 miles on it and no wrinkles yet of any $$ consequence - runs well after its firts 3,000 new miles !! The warranty issue seems to bother some people but you have to consider the price and what it could cost to fix some wrinkles and this will never equal a new DS !

[Batman_777]

A 2008 Dutch Star Newmar is a higher level coach than a 2010 Fleetwood Revolution (same size and comparable options), but the Revolution is two years newer.

These things lose value and physically age rapidly... If you want to see, Check the NADA for RV's

That's a tough one

You can purchase a Good Sam's Warranty

[LindyT]

I'm wondering what bearing, if any, the fact that Newmar bastardized the Dutch Star after 2008, has on the 08's and older?

We looked at several Revolutions before finding the MADP and we loved the floorplan - better than our 4528 actually, but boy the quality sure varied A LOT between same-year Revolutions. One was in tip-top shape, then the next had doors and knobs falling off (brand new) - we concluded it wasn't for us.

There are some things I think Newmar excels at and other things I'm not pleased with, but Newmar's team just can't be beat. I've never had factory service - I do most of my own work, but I call or e-mail them regularly and they're a super bunch of people to work with.

I don't think you could go wrong with the DSDP... just be mindful of the fact that Newmar downgraded the DSDP after 2008 (a rather ridiculous move on Newmar's part.) I don't know what that does or will do to the value of yours - sure makes things confusing for consumers though. They did the same thing with the MADP.

Good luck! Happy travels.