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Old Car Nut · 02-07-2015, 03:01 PM

Yesterday DW and I went to the Seattle RV show hoping to get a good look at the latest offerings in the Class A world. Sadly there were very few in the size and platform we are shopping for. What we saw in the 40'+ DP class are listed below. They were the only ones at the show.

If you wanted a 5er this is the show for you. Lots of towables in every configuration you can imagine. Even micro trailers.

I offer our opinions below based on our own tastes and expectations and in no way are they meant to hack on anyones coach. I hope we don't come across as disparaging anyone or any product. MSRP was for the show models we saw. 20% show discount not yet applied.

As for DP models

Monaco Dynasty 45P. Very well appointed to be sure but in our opinion nowhere near the finish quality of the old company. Maybe it was just the dark millwork. Ceiling treatment was less like a casino than before. Still a very nice coach. Floorplans offer only one difference between the "D" & "P". The entertainment area changes sides with some slight changes in configuration. MSRP was appx $700K

Newmar London Aire 4553. Very beautiful coach. Nothing slacking in the fit and finish department. Well laid out floorplan although DW and I would like more counter space in the kitchen, but then we say that about most coaches. If we could afford it we would have ordered one on the spot. MSRP $750K

Ventana LE A bit small for us. Finish quality was good, but we saw it AFTER the LA and well, it's not an LA and its the LE version. We wish there had been a Ventana 4375 to look at. We really like the floorplan for that. MSRP $238K for the LE and we were told $340K for the 4375.

Winnebago Grand Tour 42QL A much nicer coach than we expected, and had all the equipment you expect in a coach at this price point. Upholstery was good quality, but someone managed to break the release on the slide out L lounge by early day 2 of the show. Did not like the countertop materials, felt like plastic to the touch. Cabinetry and millwork less than we expected in this price class. We would pick the Ventana over this one. MSRP $426K

Holiday Rambler This was a 36 footer and we didn't go inside. Too many folks trying to get in and out and it wasn't in the size class we were really after. Outside fit and finish was good. Not big fans of the new front cap.

Lots of gas models at the show, lots of Ford V10 30-36 ft models. Nice coaches, again not what we were looking for. We did poke around in some of the Forrest River class A's but what they had there were in the Georgetown line and 36' was the biggest.

For us and what we are in the market for there really wasn't a lot to see. We did however hook up with a broker we might work with. He charges a flat fee and has access to a lot of former celebrity units including some killer prices on Prevost and Newell. In the range of a new LA. We will see.

TMan59 · 02-07-2015, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the report.
Looks like there were a lot more there than the Tacoma show.
One Tiffin dp in Tacoma.

Vacay Wheels · 02-07-2015, 08:20 PM

We went on Friday. You're right about the towables, there were so very many of them. I think there were more T@B trailers than all tag DP's put together.

We are looking at 32-34-foot gassers. The show confirmed what we'd already concluded. From a quality standpoint, it's Tiffin, then Newmar in close 2nd, then anything else, then Coachmen. Tiffin doesn't seem to have a drop down bunk offering, so I think the show settled us on Newmar if we go with a new coach.

It was interesting to see the Fleetwood Flair, which I presume is the latest entrant in the ACE/FR3 bare bones A's. "All the quality of a Class C in a Class A!"

Old Car Nut · 02-08-2015, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vacay Wheels

It was interesting to see the Fleetwood Flair, which I presume is the latest entrant in the ACE/FR3 bare bones A's. "All the quality of a Class C in a Class A!"

Thats exactly what we saw in most of the class A's at the show. Sorry but that Winnebago/Itasca Grand Tour did not measure up at $400K. The Newmar Ventana is less $$ and the interior has better materials.

Newmar has come up with a very interesting way of hinging the powder room door that requires less space to swing open.