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Old 10-20-2016, 05:15 PM   #1
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'06 / '07 Signature, Marquis or Essex

Hopefully our decision is coming down to the short strokes. But... you never know.

We am seeking opinions from those who know from personal experience how these three coaches compare - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly (?).

Assumptions (and yes I know that the following can't happen. But...) when comparing these three (3) coaches:
1. They have the same engine - at least a 500 HP diesel
2. All have similar mileage - about 50k to 60k
3. A 12,500 KW generator (Newmar uses a 12,000) with similar low hours
4. All are 45' (several are actually 44' or 44' 11")
5. All are located in a reasonable distance from our home (reasonable ??)
6. All have three (3) roof A/C Heat Pumps - 13,000 or 15,000
7. That they all have VERY SIMILAR equipment - or at least in our opinion they are similar enough for our evaluation
8. That a certified inspector has verified that they are all in very good to excellent condition
9. That we are happy with all of the layouts and accommodations
10. That we feel that the agreed to purchase price is acceptable to us (after almost two (2) years of this evaluation)

Hopefully I've covered all (most ?) of the salient points.

What I'm interested in from this IRV2 incredable source of knowledge is - your opinion!! I am very specifically NOT interested in offending one coach owner against another. I'm simply seeking knowledge from those who own or have owned these specific coaches and that would like to venture an opinion.

In advance, thanks for sharing.
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Old 10-20-2016, 05:25 PM   #2
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You said same engine, does that mean same cummins model? or about the same Hp? I would worry about Cat in the 2007 timeframe, and Not all cummins model diesels have the same torque/ Hp and reliability...

Do they all have the same tranny?
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Old 10-20-2016, 05:28 PM   #3
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If they are in great shape, and have been well maintained, I dont think you could go wrong with any of those great coaches !!
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Old 10-20-2016, 06:58 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerryvan View Post
You said same engine, does that mean same cummins model? or about the same Hp? I would worry about Cat in the 2007 timeframe, and Not all cummins model diesels have the same torque/ Hp and reliability...

Do they all have the same tranny?
500 HP and above all have the 4,000 tranny.
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Old 10-20-2016, 06:59 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide View Post
If they are in great shape, and have been well maintained, I dont think you could go wrong with any of those great coaches !!
Agreed. But I'm interested in the differences and which is the best-of-the-best and why.
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Old 10-20-2016, 07:08 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Just For Fun View Post
500 HP and above all have the 4,000 tranny.
great tranny! but you did not answer the diesel Q, the reliability of the ISL, ISM, ISX are not the same. Cat 9, 12, 15, are very dif, the 15 is too big IMHO for rv due to weight, and very thirsty. There were some lawsuits against Cat, forget the details but it resulted in cat getting out of the over thge road market. Detroit had a solid diesel...
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Old 10-20-2016, 08:28 PM   #7
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I haven't owned either of theses coaches but here are some other things to think about.

The '06s will be pre-DPF.
The Sig and Marquis will be a straight front axle - not IFS. Not sure about the Essex.
The Marquis will have the nicest woodwork (matter of preference).
I'm guessing that more Sigs were built so you will have more to chose from.
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Old 10-20-2016, 10:54 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tankcj View Post
I haven't owned either of theses coaches but here are some other things to think about.

The '06s will be pre-DPF.
The Sig and Marquis will be a straight front axle - not IFS. Not sure about the Essex.
The Marquis will have the nicest woodwork (matter of preference).
I'm guessing that more Sigs were built so you will have more to chose from.
"IFS (independent Front Suspension ?) as apposed to a Straight Front Axle?"

I'm a total non-tech. Can you explain the differences from the quality and ride perspective?
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Old 10-20-2016, 10:58 PM   #9
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Also, I believe that the Signature has an "S Series" chassis and the Marque has a M 10 series (tag) chassis. SO the ride should be different.

But I've driven a '06 Beaver Patriot Thunder and it had a incredibly smooth ride.
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Old 10-21-2016, 07:50 AM   #10
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I'm not totally sure but in those years I believe Beaver would have used the S series chassis for the Marquis. On my 2008 Beaver Contessa, it has the same chassis (RR8S) as the Camelot and Scepter.

Also, an IFS typically has a better ride than a straight axle but when I was test driving coaches I did not see (feel) that. It could have had something to do with the fact that these are not cars. They are large heavy coaches.
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Old 10-21-2016, 12:49 PM   #11
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most '07 models are on '06 chassis so pre def
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Old 10-21-2016, 01:00 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerryvan View Post
great tranny! but you did not answer the diesel Q, the reliability of the ISL, ISM, ISX are not the same. Cat 9, 12, 15, are very dif, the 15 is too big IMHO for rv due to weight, and very thirsty. There were some lawsuits against Cat, forget the details but it resulted in cat getting out of the over thge road market. Detroit had a solid diesel...
Over 45,000 miles my ISX has averaged 7.6 mpg, that's about the same as the previous ISC 350 in a 15,000# lighter rig did!
And not all rigs that have CAT engines use the Allison transmission, some used a CAT 6 speed.
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Old 10-21-2016, 01:03 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tankcj View Post
I haven't owned either of theses coaches but here are some other things to think about.

The '06s will be pre-DPF.
The Sig and Marquis will be a straight front axle - not IFS. Not sure about the Essex.
The Marquis will have the nicest woodwork (matter of preference).
I'm guessing that more Sigs were built so you will have more to chose from.
Essex has always had IFS.
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Old 10-21-2016, 02:13 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Just For Fun View Post
Hopefully our decision is coming down to the short strokes. But... you never know.

We am seeking opinions from those who know from personal experience how these three coaches compare - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly (?).

Assumptions (and yes I know that the following can't happen. But...) when comparing these three (3) coaches:
1. They have the same engine - at least a 500 HP diesel
2. All have similar mileage - about 50k to 60k
3. A 12,500 KW generator (Newmar uses a 12,000) with similar low hours
4. All are 45' (several are actually 44' or 44' 11")
5. All are located in a reasonable distance from our home (reasonable ??)
6. All have three (3) roof A/C Heat Pumps - 13,000 or 15,000
7. That they all have VERY SIMILAR equipment - or at least in our opinion they are similar enough for our evaluation
8. That a certified inspector has verified that they are all in very good to excellent condition
9. That we are happy with all of the layouts and accommodations
10. That we feel that the agreed to purchase price is acceptable to us (after almost two (2) years of this evaluation)

Hopefully I've covered all (most ?) of the salient points.

What I'm interested in from this IRV2 incredable source of knowledge is - your opinion!! I am very specifically NOT interested in offending one coach owner against another. I'm simply seeking knowledge from those who own or have owned these specific coaches and that would like to venture an opinion.

In advance, thanks for sharing.
Don't know about the Essex, but those Monaco coaches have the all steel semi-monocoque chassis which is extremely strong. My coach rides and drives like a dream and it does not have IFS. Don't know how it could make it any better than it is. The quality of the build in those year coaches is quite a bit different than what you see many of the manufacturers doing today. JMO
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