Community Forums

clnhse · 10-11-2009, 08:39 AM

Is it true the 2011 MA will have a new front cap?? I wonder if they will make the awning part of the roof like the Tiffin Zypher?

I hear the Dutch Aire or the Dutch Star is going away??? Newmar is trying to align themselves with Tiffin and the DS and DA need to only compete with the Alegro bus so they do not need both. Any truth to this??

Saber77 · 10-11-2009, 09:56 AM

We just bought a new Ventana. We met the president of Newmar, who just happened to be making a visit to our dealership. He was very excited about the new 2011 Mountainaire.

Doc Mark · 10-12-2009, 04:05 PM

Roger & Toni

Congrats on your new Newmar!

Many happy, safe miles.

Let us know what you think of the new ride.

Mark

GaryKD · 10-13-2009, 03:53 PM

Hi clnhse,
For 2011 the Dutch Aire is at risk. The Mountain Aire is being redesigned, inside and outside. The Dutch Star will remain in the lineup.

akadeadeye · 10-17-2009, 06:51 AM

We have some friends who are at Newmar now for some warranty work and they said they were told by a Newmar employee that the Mountain Aire was being dropped and the Dutch Aire will remain.

Route 66 · 10-17-2009, 01:07 PM

Hmmmmmmm.

Conflicting information

.

GaryKD · 10-17-2009, 04:30 PM

Sales determines what stays in the lineup. If their are not enough sales to keep all the different models, repositioning of the models takes place. An item that can be one of the last things on the list of tasks is the name of the coach. Since $s are being spent on the MADP the coach will remain in the line up. What it will be named depends on sales. If the DADP catches on and sells better than the MADP then a repositioning and renaming of the surviving model may be made.

My opinion is that doing away with the MADP name and replacing it with the DADP name would be difficult for many customers to accept. Would current MADP owners purchase a DADP without feeling they have stepped down (perception is the key here, not reality)? The "Dutch" name has always been associated with the Star (standard) line. The Dutch Aire has not been included with other Aire line coaches when being serviced at the factory (as of my October 2009 visit to the factory). For new customers which name carries the most marketing weight, MADP or DADP?

There are many factors that must be considered when making these decisions. Price and features compared to competitors in the same target market weigh very heavily in determining how many products are offered.

Y'all come to the Newmar Kountry Klub special event, the Tampa Super Show (details in the NKK Events forum). John Sammut should be there and has lead the executive meeting with rally attendees the last several years. John is the leader of these decisions and can answer all these questions.

sgb · 10-25-2009, 08:53 PM

In 2007, we had planned to buy a Tiffin Phaeton or a Fleetwood Discovery.
We looked at the Allegro Bus and the Dutch Stars. Independant front suspension was an important feature for me.
We bought a 2006 Mountain Aire because it had IFS, 22.5 inches wheels, it had the 1.5 bath floor plan we wanted, (Tiffin did not offer it back then, and don't know if they offer it now), Hydro-Hot system, 400 HP Cummins engine, and it had superb wood craftsmanship and obvious fine details quality, at a price we could afford.
We have never felt sorry about this purchase. I would buy another MA in a heartbeat.
I think Newmar would make a big mistake if they were to eliminate the MA.
SGB

bcbounders · 10-26-2009, 12:44 AM

As a current Mountain Aire owner, I admit that I would hesitate to "step down", as it were", to either a Dutch Aire or Dutch Star.

That being said, however, I would certainly give them a look... especially since the current iteration of the Mountain Aire is priced somewhere in the stratosphere! It's gotten too rich for my blood! My '05 had a sticker price of $350K. The new Mountain Aire has a base price of about $450K... and, optioned out like my current MADP it's more like $475K. That's a lot of change to try and scrounge out of the couch cushions!

This is purely my opinion, but it seems like the upper-end of the Newmar line is getting crowded... without too much differentiation between the Mountain Aire, Essex, and King Aire. There used to be a clear delineation between them all... seems to me like that's getting blurred these days. They've taken the Mountain Aire so "upscale" that it's pretty similar to the Essex. While the Dutch Aire hasn't really filled in the gap left behind by the Mountain Aire (other than picking up the 43' floorplans).

So... would I look at a Dutch Aire/Dutch Star? You betcha! Would I buy one? Only if I felt it's build quality and features were at least a match for my current MADP. If it didn't... I'd look elsewhere. Plain and simple.

TW · 10-26-2009, 01:05 AM

Lets forget the price, some just don't like the name...
I came across a DUTCH STAR here in BC, the Buyer had it changed by NEWMAR to SWISS STAR, or they would not buy the MH...

Maybe iRV2 should / could have a contest for a new name in the middle goup

TW

GaryKD · 10-26-2009, 05:02 AM

There could be another view of this. In 2005/06 Newmar executives committed all Brands will have a Star or Aire in the name. Could Essex be an orphan?

Route 66 · 10-26-2009, 05:19 AM

I don't think we will know until it happens.

We didn't know about the Dutch Aire until it was introduced and John Sammut was careful not to comment on it at the Tamps show a couple of years ago, when the rumor was the Dutch Star was going to be moved to highline.

It moved down the pecking order instead of up and the 2010 lineup was a surprise also.

Silversurfah · 10-26-2009, 06:02 AM

I bought a Dutch Aire earlier this year and made the decision to purchase it over the King / Essex / Mountain Aire.. Why? First DW liked the floorplan over all others... Hmmmm Second, DW liked the floorplan over all others.. In any case It turns out we really love the coach and the interior design is lighter and airy which is a style we both like. We added almost every available option so we don't feel we are lacking anything. Only thing is the M2 chassis is a bit lower than the other luxury coaches so it is a bit tighter underneath. We fixed that in that we pull a GMC Sierra 2500 behind it with plenty of storage. Only real complaint we have left is the front suspension, It is really harsh when we go over bumps in the road on the highway. Any suggestions for shocks?

DocJim · 10-26-2009, 08:23 AM

I was talking to Independence RV about the purchase of a new 2008 Dutch Star. This is a quote from them by email on the Dutch series. "What I mean by that is that in 2009 the floor plans that we knew as Dutch Star were renamed the Dutch Aire and they have decided not to continue the production of the Dutch Aire line anymore."
I am hesitant to purchase a product that was about to be orphaned.