Country Coach vs Newmar & Entegra

[Kathryn]

Hi Folks! Back again ...

Still expecting to purchase end of year - early next ...

Planning on buying new, either Newmar Dutch Star or Entegra Aspire ... but have recently seen a couple of outstanding used Country Coaches, 2008, 2009 or 2010 Inspires. A little concerned that CC was out of production, although latest news is they supposedly have new funding and will be back in production for 2014.

I am not familiar with them. They seem to have the same price categories + or - $350K, $500K, $800K. How does their quality match up with Newmar and Entegra? Anyone have or had one? Known positives and negatives? The CCs are all on Dynamax or Spartan chassis, 425hp Cat, side radiator, tow 15K, 43' tag, HydroHot, all the goodies ... plus IFS which neither Dutch Star or Aspire have.

I checked the CC owners forum - very few posters, little info, hoping general membership might know more????

Thx.

Kathryn

[laj]

Far as I'm concerned you can't do any better then CC. Great cabinetry, great handling chassis.
Lots of places to get them worked on when needed, and no problem getting parts. Rumor is That the CC factory will be producing new ones sometime in 2013. You didn't say if you were looking to buy used or thinking when the new ones came out.

[PDR John]

CC built some awesome coaches.

Dutch Star does have IFS.

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by laj

Far as I'm concerned you can't do any better then CC. Great cabinetry, great handling chassis.
Lots of places to get them worked on when needed, and no problem getting parts. Rumor is That the CC factory will be producing new ones sometime in 2013. You didn't say if you were looking to buy used or thinking when the new ones came out.

Used on the CC. Yes, even from pictures online you get the feel of excellent quality. Just wasn't sure of real-life track record.

Their website news says gearing up for 2014 production.

Thx

Kathryn

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by PDR John

CC built some awesome coaches.

Dutch Star does have IFS.

John! How's that new DS?!!! You 99.5% converted me from Entegra to DutchStar if buying new, but saw a couple of awesome gently used CCs.

Does your DS have IFS? The Newmar DS Standards list and the website do not show IFS until you are up to the Essex on the Spartan.



Kathryn

[Mr_D]

We had a 2000 DSDP on FL chassis, it did not have IFS, had to order the optional Spartan chassis to get IFS back then.
Our 2002 DSDP on Spartan has IFS.
Can't tell from looking at the factory literature I have if the FL chassis was IFS or not, but the Spartans have always been.

One thing Newmar doesn't do is publish it's features as much as other makes do. They need to hire a good advertising agency and revamp their advertising from the ground up. Most people don't know they even invented the flat floor slide. Then there's the "big news" Entegra splashed around about the air dollies they just started using in the factory that Newmar was using at least 12 years ago.

At the Phoenix Good Sam rally earlier this year I went through the Entegra's there. The salesman showed me a wall panel sample and proudly told me that Entegra was the only manufacturer using hung wall construction. He was less than pleased when I called his bluff since our 2000 and 2002 DSDP's and all since have used hung walls!

Easy way to tell is to look at the front axle when looking at a rig.

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

We had a 2000 DSDP on FL chassis, it did not have IFS, had to order the optional Spartan chassis to get IFS back then.
Our 2002 DSDP on Spartan has IFS.
Can't tell from looking at the factory literature I have if the FL chassis was IFS or not, but the Spartans have always been.

One thing Newmar doesn't do is publish it's features as much as other makes do. They need to hire a good advertising agency and revamp their advertising from the ground up. Most people don't know they even invented the flat floor slide. Then there's the "big news" Entegra splashed around about the air dollies they just started using in the factory that Newmar was using at least 12 years ago.

At the Phoenix Good Sam rally earlier this year I went through the Entegra's there. The salesman showed me a wall panel sample and proudly told me that Entegra was the only manufacturer using hung wall construction. He was less than pleased when I called his bluff since our 2000 and 2002 DSDP's and all since have used hung walls!

Easy way to tell is to look at the front axle when looking at a rig.

That's true about them needing to make the features more prominent on the website. You really have to spend some time to search out some of them. As far as I can tell, IFS is only on those models that use the Spartan chassis. On the site when they "compare models" they specifically list the IFS on the Spartan for the Essex and King Aire, so since it is NOT listed for the Mountain Aire or Dutchstar and lower, I am assuming it is not on them ... I don't know.

John did you confirm if you have the IFS on your new rig, and if so, is that a Spartan chassis???

Thx all.

Kathryn

[dons2346]

"The CCs are all on Dynamax or Spartan chassis"

The Country Coach chassis is a DynoMax chassis. There is a huge difference between the Dyna and the Dyno chassis.

[PDR John]

Yep ours is IFS. 17,000 lbs rating, lower control arms almost touch in the center. Freightliner frame.

I'll post a picture of the front suspension tomorrow.

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by PDR John

Yep ours is IFS. 17,000 lbs rating, lower control arms almost touch in the center. Freightliner frame.

I'll post a picture of the front suspension tomorrow.

Wow! That's great! Guess it is one of those things missing or hard to find on the website ...

One more BIG plus for Newmar!

Originally Posted by dons2346

"The CCs are all on Dynamax or Spartan chassis"

The Country Coach chassis is a DynoMax chassis. There is a huge difference between the Dyna and the Dyno chassis.

Oooops! My bad! See ... that's why I am asking for info!

So ... what is the huge difference? You can't tease us with that statement without telling us more ...!

Enquiring minds want to know ...

Kathryn

[Kathryn]

Ahah!

Love those Google searches!

"... DynOmax is the chassis upon which Country Coach builds their coaches ..."

DynAmax is not a chassis at all, it is a brand name for a different line of motorcoaches! "...Dynamax manufactures Class C Motorhomes, Class C Motorcoaches, toyhauler motorhomes, and fifth wheels." "...Dynamax builds their motor coaches on a Ford or Freightliner truck chassis..."

Live and learn!

Kathryn

[HJLowell]

We have friends in Galion Ohio with a C.C. and it is a Very fine, Very well planned out unit.
From what I have seen over the last few years. there are some VERY Nice pre owned C.C. on the market that are Like new or Better than New.

[PDR John]

For the "I need proof" crowd and just general knowledge.

The front suspension of the 43' Freightliner frame.

[Bigd2]

Originally Posted by PDR John

For the "I need proof" crowd and just general knowledge.

The front suspension of the 43' Freightliner frame.

John..

I saw a couple of spots you forgot to polish near the front suspension

My 2007 CC has IFS but I am not sure if they always had this feature. I sure do like the turning radius