DHart
Washington State
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Trap... I'm excited for you. As I think you may know, my wife and I have examined all the Tiffins, all the Americans, all the Winnebagos, some of the Newmars, some Entegras, a few Damons, all of the Monaco/HR's. Like you, some of them had floorplans which we really liked, though most models did not.
Unfortunately, most, if not all of the Tiffins now have curbside kitchens which we really don't like at all. Same story with many of the Newmars and Entegras we looked at. They're all nice coaches, of course, but when it comes to buying and LIVING in a coach, the floorplan is almost everything.
Like you, we found the Monaco/HR 43DFT to be THE sweet spot. You can get a similar floorplan from American and I like their rigs a lot. But you can also spend a lot more than Monaco/HR to wind up with almost the same floorplan, but a ton of money wrapped up in high end woodwork and some electronic niceities which aren't really necessities.
Dollar for dollar, the Monaco/HR Diplomat/Endeavor 43DFT twins are home run best buys in our view. And as you know, that's what we bought and have lived in full time for the last two months... with many more months to go before we swing back by home for a brief touchdown to get it sold!
I'm excited for you and have no doubt that you, as the others here in this thread who have the 43DFT, will be exceptionally happy with this model. Is it PERfect? Of course not, NO RV is the perfect RV... every choice you make involves a compromise of something. But it's an awesome combination of luxuries, niceities, necessities, and essentials that will cause you to rejoice every day you are in it or driving it. That's how my wife and I have been ever since day one... we remark to each other what a perfect choice we made and how wonderful it is... every day!
And, gotta say, having the mid-cabin half-bath AND this rear bathroom totally ROCKS!
* This post was
edited 02/06/12 09:25pm by DHart *
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Trap
Alberta
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Do have to agree there DHart, although the turn off for us was for fulltiming with the American Coach was the tiny vanity in the rear bath and the lack of storage in the vanity.
As for amenities we're Diplomat is more elegant and optioned than we would ever need and like you we would be pinching ourselves daily as to how lucky we will be to have that coach.
Trap
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JetAonly
Ohio
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Any concerns about the rear radiator?
2000 Monaco Dynasty
ISC350
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Trap
Alberta
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JetAonly wrote:Any concerns about the rear radiator?
We would prefer a side rad, but do realize that we can't find everything we want in one coach, since we'll live in it more than drive it, floorplan trumps side Rad in our case.
Trap
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JetAonly
Ohio
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Trap wrote:JetAonly wrote:Any concerns about the rear radiator?
We would prefer a side rad, but do realize that we can't find everything we want in one coach, since we'll live in it more than drive it, floorplan trumps side Rad in our case.
Trap
We are discovering the same thing. It's a different balance for everyone. We walked through this model in Tampa at Lazydays. They are beautiful!
Enjoy you new Coach, congratulations!
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driveby
Vancouver BC Canada
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that sounds like a very expensive test drive  (read you've found your new coach)
Good luck on the negotiating. That's when the fun really starts.
2008 Itasca Sunova 35J Class A
1997 TJ Sahara, hard and soft tops and AC
Held together via Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar and stopped by US Gear Unified Brake system.
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Trap
Alberta
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driveby wrote:that sounds like a very expensive test drive (read you've found your new coach)
Good luck on the negotiating. That's when the fun really starts.
Yeah that can always get real interesting, always fun to find out if they really do want to sell it to ya. See who can hold out the most.
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ctpres
SAN BERNARD RIVER VALLEY, Needville , TX
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Did the Houston RV show today - DW and I agreed - for the first time 43DFT @ show price of $284 would be the one for us. Sorry did not copy the options on it. If it didn't have eight tires on the ground we didn't even look in the door. I was really disapointed in some of the better brands overall quality and layout. One of the top dogs was showing one with a 2'x3' odd shaped table, hardly enough room for one place setting and two elbows. Could not believe several with small two burner electric and single sink and no dish washer! And quality, excluding Monaco, was a no show. Conclusion - if your coach isn't to old just add lots of lights for an quick and cheep update.
Foreman Chuck USNR, USAF & USCGA
and
Headhoncho Suzie
BAR-BOB Ranch, San Barnard River Valley, Texas
2010 Damon Daybreak Classic 32'
1990 Jeep Wrangler
2011 Sea Eagle 385 Fast Track inflatable kayak
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Trap
Alberta
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ctpres wrote:Did the Houston RV show today - DW and I agreed - for the first time 43DFT @ show price of $284 would be the one for us. Sorry did not copy the options on it. If it didn't have eight tires on the ground we didn't even look in the door. I was really disapointed in some of the better brands overall quality and layout. One of the top dogs was showing one with a 2'x3' odd shaped table, hardly enough room for one place setting and two elbows. Could not believe several with small two burner electric and single sink and no dish washer! And quality, excluding Monaco, was a no show. Conclusion - if your coach isn't to old just add lots of lights for an quick and cheep update.
I'm thinkin that price of $284 is still a bit on the high side. Sure hope they we're open to offers
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DHart
Washington State
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Trap wrote:ctpres wrote:Did the Houston RV show today - DW and I agreed - for the first time 43DFT @ show price of $284 would be the one for us. Sorry did not copy the options on it. If it didn't have eight tires on the ground we didn't even look in the door. I was really disapointed in some of the better brands overall quality and layout. One of the top dogs was showing one with a 2'x3' odd shaped table, hardly enough room for one place setting and two elbows. Could not believe several with small two burner electric and single sink and no dish washer! And quality, excluding Monaco, was a no show. Conclusion - if your coach isn't to old just add lots of lights for an quick and cheep update.
I'm thinkin that price of $284 is still a bit on the high side. Sure hope they we're open to offers
Agree with Trap... Mine was MSRP at $330k and dealer dropped to $230k, but that was at the end of 2011 when the 2012's were just starting to come in. I would try to get the dealer down to perhaps $250k-260k-ish this time of year.
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