Intrigue compared to Allure 2000 - 2004

[msu1966]

Can anyone describe the major differences between the Allure and Intrigue in the 2000 -2004 era? I went to Damon Rapozo's CC model history and there does not appear to be any significant differences between the two other than minor tank capacity and possible option for the 400hp C 12 in the Intrigue engine other than price which appears to be in the $20 - $25,000 range, with Intrigue being the higher price.

Thanks for all your advice,
Ken

[Kodiakan]

Originally Posted by msu1966

Can anyone describe the major differences between the Allure and Intrigue in the 2000 -2004 era? I went to Damon Rapozo's CC model history and there does not appear to be any significant differences between the two other than minor tank capacity and possible option for the 400hp C 12 in the Intrigue engine other than price which appears to be in the $20 - $25,000 range, with Intrigue being the higher price.

Thanks for all your advice,
Ken

When I was looking for a CC I had 2000-2002 in mind so looked more at those years. The Allures I came across were more likely to be simpler such as propane hot water 6 or 10 gallons and forced air heat. Intrigue seemed to have the hurricane heat and Aquahot. The wood cabinets seemed a grade nicer also on the intrigue but that might have been just the different units I looked at. I settled for a simple Allure. The other stuff is nice while it works but expensive to fix when it doesn't.

[Old Dinghy]

We came from a 1998 Beaver Contessa with 330 CAT when we began looking at Country Coach in 2003. Long story short, we found the 400ISL with 1250 ft/lb torque to be a plus along with hydronic heat and water, auto-start generator, basement tray, available floorplans (we bought the Ovation version), and general levels of fixtures and appointments to be of a higher grade in the Intrigues. Friends with the Allure are happy as well, but after over 15 years and 97K+ miles we still love our choice.

[DJ55]

Our '03 Allure (First Avenue Edition, which added some non-standard features) has Hurricane hydronic coach heat and hot water, a sliding tray in one of the two pass through basement compartments, very nice nickel hardware for the cabinets, shower and light fixtures (we don't like the bright brass/gold look), and cabinetry as nice as what we saw in Intrigues in the same time period. Granted, our coach was originally made/ordered with a lot of options and perhaps those elements made it end up closer to a typical Intrigue of that period. I do wish we had the electric floor heat that we saw in some other CC coaches, but that wasn't a deal breaker for us.

[dons2346]

Back in '01, we special ordered our '02 Intrigue to get the few extras that were available only on the Intrigue and above. Come late '02 when the '03s were available, those options (and some standard features) that were on the Intrigue line were now available in the Allure series

[Smitty77]

In the years your considering, the care, condition, and upgrades to electronics and in some cases addition of residential fridges, would be more important then the minor differences between the Allure & Intrigue.

When you go to 05, the lines blue between them. As the 05 Intrigue was the carry over of the longer run and mature body line - it was 06 before they went to the higher roof line body style. Where I believe the 05 Allure was the newer higher ceiling body line, with other newer components and features provided.

In 03 both the Allure and Intrigue shifted over and were available with ISL's vs ISC's. From memory, I believe the Intrigue shifted to ISL400 mid year, vs ISL370(?).

The Intrigue did start to offer the larger block CAT, a C12, in 04. A well sorted out mature engine. In 05, the Intrigue had a C13 engine option. Either of these larger engines, would be preferred for heavier towing duties, and lots of mountain driving conditions. (The penalty, besides MPG being lower for the extra power, is that usually some of the tank capacities needed to be reduced to make room for the larger combo of Big Block and Allison 4000. But another benefit to offset this, is the addition of much higher Braking HP via Jake Compression braking assist.)

In 04, for both the Allure and Intrigue line, the ISL (370 in the Allure and 400 in the Intrigue) shifted to Common Rail and Variable Geometry Turbo. The VGT based ISL would be preferred over the CAPS era ISL. Peak HP/Torque are the same, but the VGT offers a more broader HP/Torque curve, and no more Lift Pump to keep and eye on. (But be very careful if the ISL with VGT is what you want, as in 04 CC phased the engine in. We had an early 04 Allure with ISL370, that we thought was VGT because of the year - as I learned more about the differences between CAPS and VGT ISL era, I discovered that we had the CAPS era. So learn how to tell the difference, I did not know at that time. Or just get the engine SN and call Cummins for info on it.).

Also be aware that the 04 an earlier IFS Allure and Intrigue, came OEM with Koni SP1 Adjustable shocks on the front end. They were overwhelmed in handling the 40' coaches. (Good chance they're replaced by now. But if not, plan on looking into either the Koni EVO '99's' shock, or Road King, especially on the front end.)

In 03, check to see if you have Hydro Hot, or Hurricane with Water Heater. And also in 03, I believe the Intrigue (Not sure on the Allure?), still had the Generator on in the Driver Side bay, vs front, which uses up storage space. (And note: Our 04 Allure has the front Generator, and as mentioned earlier in this thread, not on a slide out. So major work requires dropping the unit which in most shops adds a good 2-4 hours at shop rate to drop and then put back in the unit.)

Both coaches have Micro Checking. So not a differential between them.

Happy hunting,
Smitty

[DJ55]

Originally Posted by Smitty77

And also in 03, I believe the Intrigue (Not sure on the Allure?), still had the Generator on in the Driver Side bay, vs front, which uses up storage space.

Both coaches have Micro Checking. So not a differential between them.

Our '03 Allure does have the genny in the driver side front bay. We have lots of storage, so I'm not displeased with that position since we couldn't get the models/years we wanted with a front slide under that genset.

And, fortunately, we don't have any micro-checking. Others have told me, for Allures at least, that started with the '04 model year.

[Smitty77]

Originally Posted by DJ55

Our '03 Allure does have the genny in the driver side front bay. We have lots of storage, so I'm not displeased with that position since we couldn't get the models/years we wanted with a front slide under that genset.

And, fortunately, we don't have any micro-checking. Others have told me, for Allures at least, that started with the '04 model year.

Dave - Thanks for clarifying the 03 Allure content on your coach. (I chuckled when you mentioned the nickel vs brass - as I spent a few weekends, at several good bottles of scotch costs, to swap out brass knobs, puck lights, bathroom faucets, and a few other odd's and ends - from brass to nickel, as that is what the DW wanted!). Was not aware that the 03 Intrigue was not part of the Micro Checking crowd - good info!

My first visit to OMC, with as I'm sure you know, many former CC tech's. Including a gent that spent several years and worked many positions on the Allure line. He and another tech, came over to ask me some questions about one of my 'hit & miss' problems that I was trying to get resolved. They walked thru, and around, the coach - and got into a friendly (Loud at times!) discussion about if it was an 03 or 04 Allure. Our coach is 31017, and build date reflects Sept. 2003 build date. They both concluded that it was more of a 'hybrid' between 03 to 04, during shifting of model years. (Kind of interesting. My documentation from Country Coach, has it as an 04 Allure 40', Two Slide (Driver Side) High Cascade Model. But when you look at NADA, they don't show a 40' High Cascade model for 2004!).

My point for sidetracking this thread to my particular coach - is that Country Coach seems to have some uniqueness within model years!

But anyway you look at it - both Allures and Intrigues of that era, were well thought of coaches. I give a nod to IFS's, and not sure when they shifted Allure vs Intrigue to IFS in the OP's 2000 - 2004 era.

It really does come down to condition, and documentation, documentation, documentation of care... As long as a coach meets the needs of a buyer - either an Allure or Intrigue will get the job done.

My best to you, and all,
Smitty