Which model is better?

[AloraDanin]

Two of the motor homes we are considering are:

1999 Safari Continental Panther and 2004 Monaco Safari Cheetah. My understanding is that Monaco bought out the Safari company.

Does anyone have any info on these models?

The 1999 is asking $79,000 with a 425 CAT. The 2004 is asking $86,900 with a 330 CAT.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Barbara

[Barlow46]

Depends on which one has been serviced on a regular basis with records to back it up. More information would also be helpful. When were tires last replaced? (check the codes). Past repairs? Any upgrades inside? Generator model/size?

[PyrateSilly]

Some would say:
go with the bigger engine.
go with the newer one
go with the one with the records so you can see the documents of whats been done
go with the floorplan you like better

I say drive them, have them inspected and go with the floorplan you like better since you will be inside walking around more than anything.

[Steve Ownby]

It would be hard to find 2 motor homes more different. Substitute 1999 Range Rover and 2004 Chevy van.

The Panther was very high end. It was built before Monaco acquired Safari/Beaver. The engine is a big Cat (C12 or C13) with a true engine compression brake. The transmission is most likely an Allison 4000 which makes the drive train "bulletproof" if maintained properly. I'm not sure of the chassis except that it was built by Safari/Beaver and was not a Freightliner or Spartan.
The external skin of the motor home is aluminum.

The '04 was an entry level diesel built by Monaco after the purchase of Safari. The engine is the C7 Cat and The transmission is an Allison 3000. It has an exhaust brake rather than an engine compression brake. It has fiberglass sidewalls.

The chassis is a 4 air bag chassis built by Monaco and has a design flaw. The trailing arms holding the drive axle to the chassis are under designed and are subject to failure. There is a kit marketed by Source Manufacturing which fixes the problem. Cost is in the $3-4000 range.

Do some research and drive both coaches. If maintenance records exist then go over them in detail. With either coach prior maintenance is a big deal.

These are very different animals and only you can decide which way you want to go.