Community Forums

docj · 02-02-2014, 02:26 PM

A few weeks ago there was a thread here about the new Monaco Dynasty and the general consensus was that the people posting comments were underwhelmed by its floorplan.

For the past couple of days we've been parked next to a awesome looking 2012 American Heritage with an MSRP >$800k. Since there's no way that I can even consider buying something that expensive I could admire it without being envious since it's way out of my league.

However, one thing struck me as odd and that was that the huge full wall slide (that must have been at least 25' long) had just one small window at one end and it was the ONLY window on that entire side of the MH. There were only "normal" size and two small windows on the other side. Since we almost always have our shades up and our windows open when the weather is decent this puzzled me enough to go online and look at the floorplan.

Sure enough, that model of the Heritage (and the others are similar) has only three "regular" windows in total plus two small ones in the bathrooms. So with a 45' MH there would be very little cross-ventilation or sunlight. As a result I guess you would be forced to use artificial lighting and your A/C-heating system pretty much all the time. But, to me, not being able to even see outside sure does take away from the fun of being in beautiful places where I can watch animals walk by or see a beautiful sunset.

While looking at the floorplan I also noticed that the so-called kitchen had only one absolutely tiny length of counter which was mostly taken up by a two-burner stovetop and a sink. Our old Beaver has a wrap-around kitchen with more than 8 feet of counter. We'd never have room for all our gourmet kitchen appliances in the Heritage.

I don't consider this post to be sour grapes, but, rather, a continuation of the discussion we were having about the new Dynasty. Many of the things I noted about the Heritage (lack of windows, small kitchen) were true of the Dynasty as well. You would think that for that kind of money manufacturers could provide true gourmet kitchens, large bathroom showers (the Heritage has a tiny one), and lots of other things. For all their size neither coach even provides a cozy, comfortable TV viewing area; the one in the Heritage consists of two sofas well recessed into deep slides, the occupants of which have to look sideways at a high-mounted, front TV.

In the discussion of the Dynasty it was noted that supposedly the design was based on "what RVers want." That may be true, but there is a difference between "giving people what they want" and doing so with some class and taste. I would hate to think that RV manufacturers have stereotyped RV buyers as only caring about the "bling" and not whether the product has been well designed. In other words, is the buyer of a >$750k MH primarily concerned with being able to shout "I HAVE AN EXPENSIVE MH" than he is actually having a well-designed one? Given the bright blue, rather ostentatious under-coach lighting that illuminated his site all night, I think that's what the owner of this particular Heritage was trying to say to the world. But I would like to think that not everyone with this much money feels this way.

My old Beaver has a gourmet kitchen, a huge shower, super comfortable Ekornes furniture and a 40" TV mounted so it can be easily viewed by everyone. This just makes me more convinced than ever that I have no incentive to "move up".

Clay L · 02-02-2014, 02:39 PM

We met some people once that had a very very expensive motor home and the woman made sure everyone knew the oven and stove had never been used. I guess I was suposed to be impressed that they were able to eat out all of the time.
I wasn't.

Dog Folks · 02-02-2014, 02:44 PM

To each his own and it is good that you are happy with your rig.

However, manufacturers are in business to make a profit through sales, and only tend to make what people will buy. Of course, there are exceptions. Remember the Edsel?

Maybe the trend is towards this type of floor plan.

Easy Living · 02-02-2014, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay L

We met some people once that had a very very expensive motor home and the woman made sure everyone knew the oven and stove had never been used. I guess I was suposed to be impressed that they were able to eat out all of the time. I wasn't.

Reminds me of an acquaintance who proudly pointed out that she had no idea where the kitchen was in their new house. Suppose that was to impress everyone at a gathering, but it had the opposite effect.

Martha

StevenNSteph · 02-02-2014, 02:57 PM

Almost everyone that I have met who owns a 750K+ coach never "cooks" in them, instead they reheat prepared meals or go out to eat. So these types of coaches have kitchens that are for that type of person's lifestyles. My friend's dad's Provost has a larger liquor storage cabinet than a pantry and he probably has upwards of $2,000 of very high-end booze in it. (The hummer he pulls behind it is also painted to match too but that's beside the point). As far as windows go, why do you need them for ventilation when you have 3 or 4 AC units on the roof and aqua hot systems in the basement.

BTW, I'm not disagreeing with you. I cook all the time and a large kitchen with counter space is a "must have" in my coach choices. Windows all over the place are an absolute must for me. But manufacturers build for their specific market.

**JohnRR** · 02-02-2014, 03:09 PM

I certainly do not have a high end unit but I do have a stove that has never been cooked on, maybe the salesman showed us the stove worked when we bought it could not say for sure. But the microwave/convection oven gets a work out.

I don't think the first owner used the stove either.

Tha_Rooster · 02-02-2014, 03:38 PM

Different strokes for different folks my stove and oven has never been used either. We like to eat out and not clean up the mess that's just us. We also never open the windows to let the dust,dirt, and allergens in. Does that make us bad people or snobs not hardly. If I could afford million dollar beauty it would be under the carport instead of the rev. It's true the KiA will get there the same a BMW or Lexus ect. I'll take the later.

docj · 02-02-2014, 03:55 PM

I would expect that the "eating in" vs "going out" question would get different reactions from full-timers and those who use their RVs just for vacations. Going out to eat a lot makes sense while on vacation, but I can't imagine doing it every day all year; I wouldn't have done it in my sticks and bricks, so why is the MH any different? JMO FWIW

Papa_Jim · 02-02-2014, 05:42 PM

We were browsing through some new motorhomes a few weeks ago.

A couple of lower end Class A coaches had wonderful floor plans that really impressed us.

We thought that all of the really high end Class A coaches had poor kitchens, tiny showers, not enough windows, but lots of glitz.

Most of the coaches we looked at were difficult to use with slides closed.

For now, we think that we're better off with what we have.

Jim

mojoracing · 02-02-2014, 10:28 PM

In other words, is the buyer of a >$750k MH primarily concerned with being able to shout "I HAVE AN EXPENSIVE MH" than he is actually having a well-designed one? Given the bright blue, rather ostentatious under-coach lighting that illuminated his site all night, I think that's what the owner of this particular Heritage was trying to say to the world.

SO……..blue lights make him a snob and a showoff? I detect a hint of envy. Im sure most everyone that has posted on this thread wouldn't turn down that coach if the prize patrol rolled into the driveway and said its yours if you promise not to trade it for your old coach and some cash. Lets face it, toys like this scream look at me and god bless those that can afford them. Most of the people driving them probably hire a lot of folks and give them the ability to afford low to middle line models. My wife loves to cook and we eat well but often times its cheaper for a couple to go out to eat by time your done buying everything for a nice meal. As far as windows go, I agree it is nice to have a few big windows but we rarely open them. I like my coach like an icebox in the summer. We boondock at motocross tracks all the time so the dust would be unbearable not to mention the noise. Nothing better than crawling into bed with cool sheets and the gen humming quietly in the background.

Papa_Jim · 02-02-2014, 10:49 PM

I think the OP asks a very legitimate question. The guy that owns the big bucks coach. Is he only concerned with how it impresses everyone, or is he just as concerned with the design of it?

It makes me respond with the thought, why are these coaches being designed so poorly? In 45' mansions with 4 slides, why is there no kitchen, tiny showers, small or no windows? Why are they being built so tall? Why is the windshield so tall? Why can't the slides be designed so the coach is useable with the slides in?

Just my 2 cents.

Jim

mojoracing · 02-02-2014, 11:01 PM

I have been seriously looking at Entegra which I deem a high end coach and they seem to have several great floor plans. I think its like anything else, some better than others and different floor plans to suit different folks. There are plenty of entry and mid line coaches out there with bad floor plans and not enough windows.

sam-3 · 02-02-2014, 11:10 PM

When I see expensive class A coaches at RV shows I think about trying to keep the massive interiors clean.I go on vacations to enjoy the tourist attractions and to enjoy the camping experience. I don't want to spend a zillion hrs. on housekeeping.

OrngTrillium · 02-03-2014, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog Folks

To each his own and it is good that you are happy with your rig.

However, manufacturers are in business to make a profit through sales, and only tend to make what people will buy. Of course, there are exceptions. Remember the Edsel?

Maybe the trend is towards this type of floor plan.

Umm while it might not have sold well when it was new, there are those born after when it came out that umm, well I guess we couldn't have done what you're suggesting :P

I tend to cook nice dinners from around the world on a nightly basis most of the year but I suspect that my dinners may become somewhat more basic this upcoming season.

Basically what we have here are coaches for people who like bling. If that's what they want that's what they get. In the New Coach forum a member here got a nice King Aire. he customized it, put in much nicer (less blingy but more elegant) flooring and got rid of the quilting on the leather etc. Looks great, and for 2 people his floorplan seems useable. So there are high end coaches out there that aren't quite as gawdy. Money or lack of doesn't buy taste or common sense but there are people at both ends who have both and people at both ends who have neither.

Some of those high end coaches can be customized, the show/basic unit is designed to "wow" and say see this is why you need to spend double/quadruple on a coach.

The person who stays at America's Best Value Inn, Embassy Suites by Hilton are both looking for value but at two different price points.

The person who stays at a W Hotel and a Fairmont both want luxury. However one is aimed more at the "peek-a-boo" shower crowd and the other at "dignified elegance".

If they can pay to play they can play how they want too. And we can play how we want too.