Community Forums

Spring1898 · 03-23-2023, 05:09 PM

Looking to learn more about the pros and cons of these two brands.

I am more familiar with Newmar Dutchstar, knew someone who owned one.

But was also recommended Tiffin by the same person who has owned both for decades.

Would the phaeton be equivalent to the dutchstar or is that the allegro bus?

Why would you choose one over the other in these older coaches?

markpj23 · 03-23-2023, 06:12 PM

Both are popular coaches. We took a hard look at Tiffins before buying a 2009 Beaver. Build quality was the reason.

Hoping not to start a war here - the Newmars are just built better IMHO. Take a look at both and draw your own conclusion - that's the only sure way to know.

Winemaker2 · 03-24-2023, 05:45 AM

I dont know what year Newmar started putting Comfirt Drive on various models but it is real bonus IMO. I lucked out when we bought our 2013 Ventana... didn't know about CD but the difference driving is real (but not obvious on a short drive). Lots of posts / discussions in the Newmar section as well as a good writeup by Ken Sherwin, the inventor / developer.
Just my impression w/o a detailed comparison but believe a Dutch Star is roughly equivalent to an Allegro Bus. Ventana ~= Phaeton

1doodadd · 03-24-2023, 06:03 AM

I had a Beaver and build quality IS far superior over both brands, not to mention I miss my C12 Cat. Bought a tiffin over a Newmar, wish I would have bought a Newmar Dutchstar. Simply because of the slides and the finish on the interior cabinets. Cheap and not reliable. I do like my floor plan

Cousin Ed · 03-24-2023, 07:46 AM

Newmar has "hung wall" construction; that's aluminium studs and fiberglass insulation. It will be quieter and much easier to heat or cool.

saddlesore · 03-24-2023, 07:52 AM

Newmar vs Tiffin vs , vs.. After both being bought out, the question should be Thor vs Winnebago

Cat320 · 03-24-2023, 08:40 AM

Why limit yourself to only two brands? All brands have all levels of coaches...if you see an ad that sounds interesting, check it out, then come back and ask questions.

RVFunlovers · 03-24-2023, 05:11 PM

I looked hard at Newmar, Tiffin, and Entegra.
All have advantages and disadvantages that matter differently to each buyer.

Look for the floor plan you like. And the coach you think you are getting the best deal on.

Good Luck.

**pasdad1** · 03-24-2023, 05:28 PM

I would definitely want a Cummins engine versus Caterpillar because of the larger service network.

Also a Freightliner chassis versus a Tiffin made chassis gives you more service locations as well.

Some will say just go to any diesel truck repair…… however I like having more options.

W&L Dan · 03-24-2023, 06:36 PM

After owning a Dutch Star 20 yrs then buying a 2018 Tiffin bus I vote for Newmar

Spring1898 · 03-24-2023, 11:43 PM

Not exactly limiting, but just expanding slowly as I acquire more knowledge. It takes time to learn the different model lines over the respective years.

Also price under $100,000 is a big limitation on newer/luxury style coaches, so I am trying to find that zone where the build quality was good, any paying more mainly only got you better aesthetics rather that quality.
It feels like the coaches which were about $70k before are now in the $90k range.

08 was the first year of comfort drive for newmar. But those coaches never seem to come up in my search criteria, which tells me that they are more expensive than my budget.

Beavers are nice, though I am not familiar with their model line. Saw a nice Patriot Thunder. Looks to be owned by recent college grads, and not near me, but that C13... Great at making power (at the expense of fuel economy)

Considered monaco's as well, mainly some of their Side Rad models. But those don't seem to be as common and are more expensive for higher miles.

I need to get in a few coaches again to see if the 2 living area slides is really worth the additional complexity for the extra space over a 1 living area slide.

Isaac-1 · 03-25-2023, 02:14 AM

There are several factors to consider here, not only do you need to look at the relative place in the market for each brand, but what its place was in the market in any given year, as some brands like Tiffin have moved distinctly more up market over the last 20 years, and others have relatively maintained their same level. Also you need to consider the fact that some designs have not aged well, some coaches have design or manufacturing shortcomings that only showed up years later, and some even upper end model suffer from being equipped with orphaned systems, this is particularly true of automation systems, as well as a some slide mechanisms, suspension systems, and hydronic heating systems.

markpj23 · 03-25-2023, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring1898

.... 08 was the first year of comfort drive for newmar.

... not so. I have it on our 07 Essex.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring1898

...Beavers are nice, though I am not familiar with their model line. Saw a nice Patriot Thunder. Looks to be owned by recent college grads, and not near me, but that C13... Great at making power (at the expense of fuel economy)..

Look for a Contessa or perhaps a Monterey. Our 09 Contessa had a C9 cat that I loved. Beware some of the early 2000's Patriot Thunder models had a poorly placed black tank that resulted in lots of clogs between the john and the tank. Paint checking on that era coach is common across several lines.

You should be able to find the Newmars under 100k - Dutch Star or Mountain Aire most likely.

Good luck with your search.

2Ropes · 03-25-2023, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring1898

Not exactly limiting, but just expanding slowly as I acquire more knowledge. It takes time to learn the different model lines over the respective years.

Also price under $100,000 is a big limitation on newer/luxury style coaches, so I am trying to find that zone where the build quality was good, any paying more mainly only got you better aesthetics rather that quality.
It feels like the coaches which were about $70k before are now in the $90k range.

It does take time to research RV's and watch the market, I am looking for one around the same price point at you are. It would be nice to be under $100k but I have learned to expand my searches up to about $150K in this market. I always see additional coaches show up in my search that have been on the market for awhile and price is lowered. You should also spring for a couple appraisals on coaches you feel you would like, this will give you a since of actual cash value. I have found that in today's market the good coaches are being purchased pretty quickly from 15% to 25% of actual cash value. A purchase at Trade in Value would be a good buy but you have to be quick; one I found 6 hours after it listed already had someone scheduled to look at the next day and it sold. That was not the first one either that went quickly.

What are your plans with an RV? Extensive travel or occasional local trips? That's kind of irrelevant to this, I'm just curious.

Also I suggest getting inspection performed contingent on any contract to buy. Last year this saved me from a de-laminating roof on a 2008 Phaeton as well as slides that did not work. It's expensive and spending $1500 on it and saying no-thank you to the seller hurts but it saved me 100K plus very costly repairs on top of that.