Tiffin vs Newmar

[contrarymary]

We are going to be buying our first motorhome (used) and have been looking at the Tiffin Allegro Bus and the Newmar Mountain Aire/DutchStar. We will probably be buying a unit ranging from 2001-2004. Does anyone have any ideas or which one is a better product or advice. We've not driven the Tiffin yet. We live in Az. and if anyone knows of one for sale by owner we would be interested in looking

[srydve]

For what it's worth when I was shopping a year or two back I had both Newmar and Tiffin on my acceptable list, I ended up with a Newmar and I am happy with it. I think they are both good brands, as long as you get a good coach from either manufacturer I don't think you will go wrong. Find one you want at a price you feel good about. Good luck.

[bcbounders]

Mary,

I don't think you can go wrong with either one: Newmar and Tiffin are both great manufacturers who have reputations for building high-quality coaches AND for standing behind their products if/when something goes wrong.

[padre44]

My experience with Newmar (2011 Bay Star 2901) is that there are too many things wrong and they don't stand behind it. Customer service has been poor. I wouldn't buy another one.

[Parkerrs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by padre44 My experience with Newmar (2011 Bay Star 2901) is that there are too many things wrong and they don't stand behind it. Customer service has been poor. I wouldn't buy another one.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I'm on my third Newmar unit, the previous ones were 5th wheels. I've yet to have qaulity problems which related to Newmar.

I did have some problems with my current coach, but they could all be attributed to it sitting on the dealers lot unsold for 2 years. Newmar has always been professional and courtious to me. I went to the factory for a few things to be done to the current coach last year. I will say that when the service department did one thing they messed up another, but they took care of it and were very appologetic for the trouble. None of the items taken care of at the factory were warranty issues, they were ad ons and a small repair to some road damage incurred from a truck slinging a recap. They did many things at no charge and were very accomodating. I would have no problem buying Newmar again.

Back to the original question, as you can see I'm a Newmar owner and proponent. I think the Tiffin products are a nice looking rig. It seems that the people I talk with at campgrounds with them love them. I do see or hear from owners about many teething pains on new units, but once straightened out they have no trouble.
All Tiffin owners will give glowing reviews about service after the sale and about being taken care of by the company.

My personal experience with Newmar has been eqaul. What problems I've had were taken care of without problem. Newmars have their share of teething problems on new units also, But from what I gather on the forums and talking with owners is that Tiffin seems to have more initial bugs even though they take care of correcting them.
That being said, you are looking at a previously owned coach so all of the initial bugs and problems will or should have been solved. In that case floorplan, price and qaulity of the previous owners maintenance should guide your decision.

Pick the floorplan and coach that makes you happy and go for it. They are both good companies with a nice product which they stand behind.

[Melmoses]

As you can see ours is a Tiffin. We are one of those owners who believe in Tiffin service, it is excellent. Just in case you want to look there are Tiffin coaches listed for sale on www.tiffinrvnetwork.com under TRVN classifieds. This forum is open to anyone, Tiffin owner or not. There are some great coachs there and maybe one is close to you so you could check it out. Can't hurt to look.

[bdaball]

You may want to focus on the engine and chassis rather than emblem on the hood.

Of course the DW may have something to say about the floor plan.

[Mr_D]

Due to the options were added at order time our DSDP front axle was overloaded when delivered. After some negotiation and taking it to Henderson's for an evaluation Newmar ended up having me drive the unit to Charlotte where Spartan put a new 14,600# axle under our unit. Other than a few problems with the dealer service (dealer is no longer a Newmar dealer). We're very happy with Newmar and would buy another one. Our rig is a 2002 and, other than the normal maintenance has been a very solid unit. did have to replace the cooling unit in the refer though. Next will probably be the slideout covers. The BriteTek roof sill looks as good as new.
We belonged to an RV club that my parents helped found in 1958, towards the last there were 12 MH's of them six were Newmars so we had a good idea of what they were like. plus there were no Tiffin dealers in the area.
I think both are good, find the floorplan you and the DW like and go with that.

[Teachrz]

Our first MH was an '82 Allegro. The previous owner took it back to Red Bay and had the interior updated in '95. Tiffin claims that they have or will make any part for any of their products, no matter how old. Having said that, my dad has a Newmar and the quality is exceptional.

[kb0zke]

Interesting! This question is on the Tiffin owners forum, and five of the eight posts prefer Newmar. Only one Tiffin owner responded, and two don't indicate which they have.

I'm sure that other Tiffin owners will chime in later. No, we don't own either, but both are on the list of possibles.

[rotts4u]

I looked at Tiffin and Newmar for each of my two coach purchases and each time I ended up with a Tiffin. After Tiffin fixed a few things for me for free on my USED out of warranty coach I was really impressed. That was a major factor in my purchase of a new Phaeton 2008 model. I had a few smaller issues when new that they of course took care of with a trip to Redbay. After 4 years I have been to Redbay two times but not in the last 2 years. So I am quite happy with mine though Newmar appear to be a nice coach too.

[Mvlawn]

Both are good units but i am partial to Tiffin.

[Raca-roni]

I've had three Newmar coaches and I'm on my second Tiffin. My first two Newmar's were really Great coaches. That was before 2005. 2006 we ordered a 43' DSDP. What a pig that coach was. I hated it. Everytime I turned to key to go on a trip I wondered what would happen this time. We had to take it back to Newmar four times in one year for major problems that the dealer could not fix.

Then we bought our first Tiffin. A 2007 AB 42QRP. This coach was Great! We ha dit for almos tfour years and sold it, privately, and ordered a 2011 AB40QXP......We've had this coach for six months now and it is everything we could expect form it and more. We are full-timers and this means alot to us.

So in a short statement. I'll put my money on Tiffin anytime. Awesome coach and fantastic service in warranty or out of it!

[Route 66]

One of the Tiffin owner's above did confide in me that he was looking at a new Newmar.

However, they're both great brands.