Community Forums

shepardmike · 07-03-2024, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pnewman10

What it did have was a steerable tag. I do notice when we get in a campground my friends Cornerstone tracks around the campground easier than my Anthem. We did end up ordering a new Anthem on a Freightliner Chassis, which has a steerable tag.

I cannot believe the turning radius with the steerable tag. While I am not upgrading for a long time, this would be a show stopper in the future.

Cruzer · 07-05-2024, 07:47 AM

I've driven the K4 chassis and didn't find it to be much different in handling than the K3. It does have a different basement layout with a relocated fuel tank that made me prefer the basement storage of the K3. Plus, the Realm didn't impress me very much.

We drive out west quite a bit and I've taken our motorhomes on roads such as the Beartooth Highway, Million Dollar Highway, Teton Pass, etc. The Cornerstone easily outshines other chassis. The bottom end torque of the 600 ISL/605 X15 engines makes it much easier when climbing grades while the 15 liter engine with the three speed engine compression brake makes descents effortless compared to the weaker engine braking power of a 9 liter 450 HP engine. Plus, the 6 wheel disc brakes just never fade and this coach can stop amazingly quick for a vehicle topping out at 54,000 lbs.

Granted, if you drive flatlands a smaller engine will still get you there and the extra power won't be as noticeable. However, the extra braking capability might just save your bacon some day and I do enjoy getting up to speed rather quickly when leaving a rest area so that I can blend into traffic rather than slowly building up speed and trying to find a hole to slot into. Fuel economy is similar between the 600 and 450 because the engine isn't working as hard and the engine RPM is lower at cruise speed due to the additional torque of the larger 15 liter engine. You will burn a bit more DEF with the 600 versus the 450 but that's not a major cost factor.

As of now you can have your choice of either the Spartan K3 or the new Freightliner chassis. FL has come a long way since the earlier days when Spartan was the best and things are changing so that is no longer true. The FL uses a ZF front IFS suspension versus the Reyco-Granning of the Spartan. They both handle well but the Reyco-Granning is touchy. If it's dialed in it's fine but if not it can be a problem whereas the ZF is always spot on. The V-Ride on the Freightliner is a step up and really contributes to more roll resistance and better rear axle location.

The only drawback to the Cornerstone is the increased MSRP but in the long run I think you'll enjoy the Cornerstone more. Plus NIRVC doesn't sell at MSRP. Angie will give you a good deal and the price difference between the Cornerstone and Anthem won't be as much. The resale value of the Cornerstone will also be higher so there's a lot to consider.

I enjoy driving and if I had to upgrade from our Cornerstone to a new coach I'd go with either a Cornerstone or America Eagle on the Freightliner chassis.

Angie Morell · 07-05-2024, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruzer

I've driven the K4 chassis and didn't find it to be much different in handling than the K3. It does have a different basement layout with a relocated fuel tank that made me prefer the basement storage of the K3. Plus, the Realm didn't impress me very much.

We drive out west quite a bit and I've taken our motorhomes on roads such as the Beartooth Highway, Million Dollar Highway, Teton Pass, etc. The Cornerstone easily outshines other chassis. The bottom end torque of the 600 ISL/605 X15 engines makes it much easier when climbing grades while the 15 liter engine with the three speed engine compression brake makes descents effortless compared to the weaker engine braking power of a 9 liter 450 HP engine. Plus, the 6 wheel disc brakes just never fade and this coach can stop amazingly quick for a vehicle topping out at 54,000 lbs.

Granted, if you drive flatlands a smaller engine will still get you there and the extra power won't be as noticeable. However, the extra braking capability might just save your bacon some day and I do enjoy getting up to speed rather quickly when leaving a rest area so that I can blend into traffic rather than slowly building up speed and trying to find a hole to slot into. Fuel economy is similar between the 600 and 450 because the engine isn't working as hard and the engine RPM is lower at cruise speed due to the additional torque of the larger 15 liter engine. You will burn a bit more DEF with the 600 versus the 450 but that's not a major cost factor.

As of now you can have your choice of either the Spartan K3 or the new Freightliner chassis. FL has come a long way since the earlier days when Spartan was the best and things are changing so that is no longer true. The FL uses a ZF front IFS suspension versus the Reyco-Granning of the Spartan. They both handle well but the Reyco-Granning is touchy. If it's dialed in it's fine but if not it can be a problem whereas the ZF is always spot on. The V-Ride on the Freightliner is a step up and really contributes to more roll resistance and better rear axle location.

The only drawback to the Cornerstone is the increased MSRP but in the long run I think you'll enjoy the Cornerstone more. Plus NIRVC doesn't sell at MSRP. Angie will give you a good deal and the price difference between the Cornerstone and Anthem won't be as much. The resale value of the Cornerstone will also be higher so there's a lot to consider.

I enjoy driving and if I had to upgrade from our Cornerstone to a new coach I'd go with either a Cornerstone or America Eagle on the Freightliner chassis.

Thank you for the shoutout

Cruzer! I am always available to help in any way I can! Please don’t hesitate to contact me!

NC25T · 07-12-2024, 04:43 PM

The only FL experience I have had was in an American tradition at NIRVC Vegas I think 2 years ago. That coach had by far the best turning radius of the coaches we drove however everything else about the drive was horrible. It’s ride quality and how it handled the bumps on the test drive was way below the 40ft Newmar Mountain Aire & 45W Cornerstone. It took us only a few hundred feet of driving to know the Tradition wasn’t for us.

I hope one of these days a dealership will have a cornerstone on the FL & Spartan so we can take them on a back to back test drive to see how they feel.