A High End Gas Class A or A Low End Diesel Pusher

[Grandcanyon]

Hello! I hope you can be of help, we are in the process of looking for a class A we hope to buy by the end of 2014. Currently we are looking at a Newmar gas class A Canyon Star model 3953 bath and half MSRP $180K, means that with a discount the price would be around $135K to $145K I'm also looking at a 2014 Sportscoach Cross Country 404RB diesel pusher with a 340 Cummins, MSRP $230K with discount from the big Dallas dealer price would be in the $155K to $160K for the unit, they both have about the same options but I'm aware that the Newmar probably has much better quality materials, but from what I have read the ride of a diesel cannot be compared to the ride of the gas model, can someone shed some light at this question, also does anyone out there currently own a Sportcoach? Any issues that I should be aware of?? Thanks in advance.

[KSCRUDE]

We have went the gas rig route, you will need to do a few mods on the suspension to make it drivable. And the Five Star Tune. About 2K worth. I know nothing about the Sportcoach. What engine and HP and torque does it have? If we ever get another rig it will be diesel I would bet. How do you plan to use it?

[vsheetz]

What are your planned usage scenarios? Stay more or drive more? For example we are once a month nearby weekenders, with week long trips a couple times a year. So we opted for a gas coach at this time, due to reduced capital cost and maintenance coats. In a few years when we retire, and then traveling more often and further, a DP is planned.

[SuperGewl]

What do you plan to tow behind it and how far do plan to go and how often. DP yes better ride, more costly maintenance, better MPG's. Gasser less maintenance and you can do most of it yourself. Max tow is 5Klbs, maybe 5-7MPG's. Most likely the model you are looking at has better quality than the entry level DP you are looking at. The DP will most likely only tow 5kLBS and get 8-10MPGS but will still struggle over the hills due to the size of the engine and the tranny, just like the gasser will struggle some. New gasser Ford chassis do have new tranny software to aid in descending hills, sort of like the Allison tranny. It works very well by the way. DP also has exhaust brake to help.
So decide which you like better is they cost about the same, me I would most likely go DP, I love me some Diesel and I could save in fuel around home because I make BioDiesel and the Cummins 6.7ltr engine will run just fine on it.

[wildmandmc]

dp for sure, ride in a dp alot better, as its heavier, so suspenstion is stronger, air ride/
probably best thing, go to used rv dealer, see what a used gas an dp ride like,
as if both brand new, going to get a decent ride, but after few miles, you see.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by Grandcanyon

Hello! I hope you can be of help, we are in the process of looking for a class A we hope to buy by the end of 2014. Currently we are looking at a Newmar gas class A Canyon Star model 3953 bath and half MSRP $180K, means that with a discount the price would be around $135K to $145K I'm also looking at a 2014 Sportscoach Cross Country 404RB diesel pusher with a 340 Cummins, MSRP $230K with discount from the big Dallas dealer price would be in the $155K to $160K for the unit, they both have about the same options but I'm aware that the Newmar probably has much better quality materials, but from what I have read the ride of a diesel cannot be compared to the ride of the gas model, can someone shed some light at this question, also does anyone out there currently own a Sportcoach? Any issues that I should be aware of?? Thanks in advance.

Take your same $150K and look for used diesel pushers, you will find you get a LOT more for your money! Do you want a new Kia car or a slightly used Mercedes Benz ? I would take the used Mercedes every time. :-)

[docj]

Originally Posted by pasdad1

Take your same $150K and look for used diesel pushers, you will find you get a LOT more for your money! Do you want a new Kia car or a slightly used Mercedes Benz ? I would take the used Mercedes every time. :-)

X2; That DP you are looking at almost assuredly has the small Cummins 6.7L ISB engine. It gives you a diesel but it's too small to give you the advantages of a large, slow turning engine with lots of torque. Nor can it provide true compression (engine) braking, one of the greatest advantages of having a DP. With a little work you should be able to find a gently used MH with a Cummins ISC or maybe an ISL that you can afford. Some of the ISL's will have compression brakes (and don't let a salesman tell you that a compression brake and an engine brake are basically the same!)

[TXiceman]

Buy a higher end USED (3 to 5 year old) RV. You will get a much better value for your $$$$.

Ken

[dsbike]

Originally Posted by pasdad1

Take your same $150K and look for used diesel pushers, you will find you get a LOT more for your money! Do you want a new Kia car or a slightly used Mercedes Benz ? I would take the used Mercedes every time. :-)

I've got to agree with Pasdad1. Also if I was looking at a motor home in the 31k lb & 42' long range, I would be looking for a tag axel. Good chance the Sports coach has very little room for adding your gear that you would like to carry with you.
Not from my personal experience, but from what I have read on this forum, I would buy the Newmar brand over any Forest River product.

[Ramets]

X2, Ditto, I strongly agree!!! Look for a used diesel by a well respected maker. You'll get a whole lot more bang for the buck!!!!

[Smitty77]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Buy a higher end USED (3 to 5 year old) RV. You will get a much better value for your $$$$.

Ken

I chose this quote, vs the just buy used DP, because as also stated:

How will you use this coach? Is important.

I'll add that as you research what to buy, you'll see the statement ' Buy your last RV first'.

And, I always recommend buying the highest quality RV that you can, staying within budget, dropping years as needed to do so.

To us, we went DP due to planned usage. We did look closely at the UFO with the 8.1 in the rear. Liked the room of the Rexhall, with the two large slides openned, you had more room then most 40' plus coaches. But we wanted more CCC then the UFO would provide, so back to DP's with higher end chassis's and tags.

Good luck on your hunt!
Smitty

[topdownman]

Well, I own a Sportscoach and I would never consider another gas coach. However, I bought mine used a saved a ton of money. It's a good coach.

Originally Posted by Grandcanyon

Hello! I hope you can be of help, we are in the process of looking for a class A we hope to buy by the end of 2014. Currently we are looking at a Newmar gas class A Canyon Star model 3953 bath and half MSRP $180K, means that with a discount the price would be around $135K to $145K I'm also looking at a 2014 Sportscoach Cross Country 404RB diesel pusher with a 340 Cummins, MSRP $230K with discount from the big Dallas dealer price would be in the $155K to $160K for the unit, they both have about the same options but I'm aware that the Newmar probably has much better quality materials, but from what I have read the ride of a diesel cannot be compared to the ride of the gas model, can someone shed some light at this question, also does anyone out there currently own a Sportcoach? Any issues that I should be aware of?? Thanks in advance.

[Triker56]

39'-40' MH get a DP a gas is at it's limit with those size MH.
Even more so if you plan on pulling a toad behind it.

[StevenNSteph]

Ahhhh the eternal question Gas Vs. Diesel and New vs Used.

IMHO the new vs used is pretty simple used will get you a whole lot more for the $$$. New will allow you kiss away between 20-40% of your money as soon as you drive it off the lot, then you get the fun of repairing all of the 'problems' that were not caught at the factory. The used coach you buy will, of course, have had great maintenance so there will be very few if any items wrong with it - but IF you do a good pre-purchase inspection you will know the problems and either have had them fixed or the price reduced accordingly.

DP vs Gas is a whole other question. There are DP fanatics that think Gassers are terrible and will never own one, there are gas coach users who think DP's aren't worth the extra cost (purchase and maintenance) and poo-poo diesels. Most of these people are pretty easy to spot here with their bias one way or another. I have owned both and acknowledge the pros and cons of both. IMHO I owned diesels when I was a hard-chagrin weekend warrior putting on lot's of miles in mountainous terrain a short amount of time. My typical 'mission profile' involved 2-3 week trips where we spent upwards of 10% of the time driving so the diesel made a lot of sense. Nowadays I am a lazy full-timer that only moves the coach about once a week and then only for 100-150 miles. This 'mission profile' has me driving about 1% of the time during the year. Therefore I was much more concerned about the 99% of time so livability became a much larger and over-riding factor so I sold my DP (gasp) and bought a gasser because the floor plan was much more to our liking for a full-time machine.

Bottom line: As another IRV2 poster said - How much are you going to drive? Drive a lot get a DP, Drive a little a gasser is just fine.

Hope this helps and remember YMMV