Community Forums

DeeGee · 04-18-2015, 08:13 PM

OK, at long last, we are officially owners of a new Entegra Aspire. We ordered a 2015 42 DLQ in natural cherry with the latte upholstery last October. It has been sitting at the dealership (Richardson's in Menifee CA) for almost a month, because we have been just too busy to get it.

It's still there.

But it's not their fault. We can't legally drive this beast, according the the Great State of California. In its infinite wisdom and august majesty, the state has decided to issue drivers licenses to illegal aliens rather than deport them. Not surprisingly, there are hundreds of thousands of applicants. To get a class B non-commercial you must take a written test and a driving test. You need a doctor to fill out a medical form before you take the written. Knowing about the huge backlog of work at the DMV, which has never been known for its efficiency, I decided to go online and make an appointment for my driving test. Uh, no. You can only make that appointment by phone, using an 800 number. So I called it. After 2 hours and 7 minutes on hold, I was informed that I could not make an appointment for the driving test until after I passed the written. Even if I had the written test, the earliest available appointment was May 22.

Soooo, I need to go to the DMV, wait in line forever, because I'll be da%&ed if I wait until May 22 to make an appointment, take the test, then call and wait on hold again. Only then can I drive the beast.

Once I get the learner permit, I'll take a training course, then get my brother to sit in the right seat so I can pick the thing up and bring it home (he is a firefighter and so can drive it).

So, a heads-up to anyone buying a new coach in CA - if you are not licensed, allow about 2 months for the process. I know a lot of people just drive one with their regular class C, but the insurance companies take a dim view of it, and the CHP is starting to crack down too. There's money to be made, after all.

But back to the Aspire. It's absolutely gorgeous. Even if it's still locked up. It's the Golden Garnet paint package.

DeeGee · 04-18-2015, 08:20 PM

Oh, and Richardson's was very helpful throughout the process. The tech knew his stuff. The walk-through took about 11 hours over 2 days, mostly because we're perfectionists. There are just a few issues, mostly little stuff - the guy doing the caulking was enthusiastic as all get out, and there is a bunch that needs to be scraped off the paint. The switch that stops the steps from going in and out doesn't work. The panel that is screwed on the closet wall needs to be screwed down all the way. One of the bedroom shades doesn't go all the way up. The most significant thing is that the leveling system insists that the ignition is on and so we can't use the jacks. All this should be fixed before we return.

brobox · 04-18-2015, 08:35 PM

You just described why I left CA in 1974.

hogdriver · 04-18-2015, 11:12 PM

I'll bet that licensing process in California has made the roads much safer! Not.

hawgguy · 04-18-2015, 11:49 PM

Have you considered not being a law abiding citizen in the interim?

LVUS101 · 04-19-2015, 03:07 AM

Congratulations on the new Coach!!! California can drive you insane...

dave&ginny · 04-19-2015, 05:20 AM

Congrats on the new coach! Sorry to hear about the agonizingly long wait.......my 2 weeks of waiting is driving me nuts. Maybe, if you learned Spanish and told them that you're new to the country, you could jump to the front of the line.

wnytaxman · 04-19-2015, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVUS101

Congratulations on the new Coach!!! California can drive you insane...

But only after being on hold for two hours and standing in line for another two hours.

I thought NY was bad, but they aren't even close to CA.

bevandtomH · 04-19-2015, 06:04 AM

Hello DeeGee- Congrats on the new coach!
Tom

Route 66 · 04-19-2015, 06:06 AM

Folks, let's stay on topic and not get into the politics of drivers licenses.

Thanks!

ravens2012 · 04-19-2015, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawgguy

Have you considered not being a law abiding citizen in the interim?

My thoughts exactly!!!!!

Jersimon · 04-19-2015, 07:18 AM

Congrats on the new coach, we absolutely love our 42 DLQ!

Have you considered moving

.

DeeGee · 04-19-2015, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersimon

Congrats on the new coach, we absolutely love our 42 DLQ!

Have you considered moving

.

The only thing keeping us here is work. Jean will retire soon, but I have years to go yet. If I can arrange to work remotely (nothing I do actually requires my presence in an office) we intend to hit the road. We just accepted an offer on our house, and are going to rent for at least a year, to sell all the accumulated stuff. So, in a year or two....

Frankly, the incredible climate here on the coast is no longer enough to make up for the crap and the crowding. I grew up in the country. I won't live in a city. When suburbia gets so crowded that all driving is spent in slow traffic, it's not suburbia, it's city. I want out.