Yahoo Message Number: 92074 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92074)
My wife and I are about to venture into the world of retirement and looking at becoming full-timers. We are currently seriously considering a 2009 CC Inspire 360 with a 425 HP Cat engine. The coach as less than 24k miles and is in remarkable shape, appearance wise. Although I intend to get motorhome inspected thoroughly before purchase, I was wondering if anyone in this group could give me their thoughts on the CC, such as reliability, things to watch out for and opinions on purchasing an "orphan" coach. We have looked at Tiffins, Newmars and other DP makers, but this coach seems to be a really quality-built machine at a price that is well below similar models of Tiffins and others in this price range. I would thank you all in advance for any advice concerning this purchase as it certainly represents a significant expense on our part, and, Gee, I sure would hate to make a mistake on something this large. Thank you in advance.
kgingles@...
Yahoo Message Number: 92077 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92077)
Keenan,
I have the same coach with a Cummings engine. We have owned it for about 3 years and have put on 23k miles. The only problems that we have had was a step motor that needed replaced and a starter problem. Goodyear tires are wearing uneven and will replace with Michelins.
Carl
09' Inspire 360
Yahoo Message Number: 92080 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92080)
You do not indicate where in the US you are located, but even though CC coaches are orphans, there is a large network of highly qualified techs to work on the coach. Some are in Florida, Arizona and Oregon, and I am sure there are others out there who are willing to travel. Also, I believe there has been some exchange of tech information with Foretravel.
S Brandt, '06 Intrigue
Yahoo Message Number: 92084 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92084)
This newgroup gives a good idea of what problems owners are facing with CC buses. I'd read it from cover to cover and search the archives too. All these buses have issues so it boils down to factory support.
When it breaks, where does one go?? When that happens you're looking for quality support, not red tape, fine print and reorganizations. Some folks here have waited 3 months for a hydraulic power steering pump. One problem that doesn't have a solution is the Owens-Corning check cracking. Sure you can spend $10-20k on a lighter color repaint job but that doesn't really fix the problem. It simply hides it.
I think Bob Tiffin makes a good bus and the company stands behind what they build. Newmar too. Both these companies are still in business, haven't sold out and/or reorganized. CC declared bankruptcy then reorganized. I'll leave that to personal opinion as for comfort level. At least the last time I checked that was the scene. So I'd take a hard and deep look at the options as you go about your research.
History should play a part in that research IMHO. It's also helpful to understand why a vehicle is on the market. It might be that someone has taken sick or they simply moved on. It also might be the previous owner had issues they weren't prepared to deal with. If the later is the case, you will inherit these issues and perhaps more.
I'm writing as someone who's a bit ticked off which doesn't negate the points I'm making. Both sides need to be heard. Your truth may be somewhere in the middle. Here's the take away. I'd most likely get the same bus again because we're comfortable in it. But I'd negotiate a much better deal and be proactive on many of the repairs. Knowing up front what you'll face is HUGE. It saves bread, hassles, time, frustration and inconvenience. It also may minimize lost travel time while you sit around in some repair yard and/or waiting for parts. No one wants to come coasting to the side of the road either. We live in our bus so repairs take on another level of lifestyle impact with scheduling them. Except for the radiator, we've been able to cover our own fixes. Some haven't been easy either. The link at the bottom of my note will give you an idea of what we've been through. Fixing stuff can get expensive so plan that into your budget. For fun I did an analysis of the cost of the Hydro-Hot, for example, which is on my blog in details. Just know before you go.
I'd imagine both Tiffin and Newmar have Yahoo groups like this one. Read those too and draw your own conclusions on who's got the better scene. You can also call the factories and/or write emails and see what responses you get. Smart businesses know today's customers are also tomorrow's customers. I'm still waiting for a response to my 2 emails I sent CC about 18 months ago regarding some slide repairs.
Others should jump in here and provide their input. It's good to get a range of opinions from actual owners. People will have vastly different experiences and reactions all of which have value. The bottom line by me is, CC needs to do a bit better. That's not to say their buses aren't supported. They are through owners like those here and 3rd party service facilities. Not everyone would be comfortable with this idea.
Good luck getting a fair deal and subsequent support. Don't forget that service/support is everything which needs to come before anything else.
Best - Scott
2006 Allure 430 40' #31349
(Bus-Stead Lemon) My Allure Page http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html (http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html)
Yahoo Message Number: 92085 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92085)
S Brandt - I have been to the Country Coach factory twice for service. Run by Ron Lee, Brother of Bob Lee who started Country Coach. The current factory is in the same building as previous. My last visit to the factory was less than 3 months ago. So exactly how is Country Coach an orphan??? It is a different corporation, but in the same building, same people, and so on. Does this mean that Cadillacs are orphans as the old GM is not around any more?
Bob & Barbara 2002 Country Coach Affinity 42'
Yahoo Message Number: 92089 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92089)
Bob & Barbara, My wife and I own a 2005 Inspire 330 with the Cat 400 engine. We have owned it for over two years now and have driven it over 15k miles. Overall we like the coach very much. The overall quality build and coach ride is, I feel, better than most in this class. Your coach being a 2009 may not have some of the same issues as our 2005 had, but here are some things to investigate.
1. If the PTO, power take off, wet or dry if it's dry you will need to install a wet kit.
2. fogging thermopane windows.
3. If you have an aluminum radiator it will probable start leaking at some point.
4. The Norcold refrigerator cooling unit is not of the best quality.
5. If your tires are pushing 6 years old they should be replaced.
6. at about 30k miles you will need to have the engine valve lash adjusted.
7. You should also have it fully serviced. All fluids checked and changed as required.
I can give you much more information if you are interested.
Good Luck in your MH purchase.
RJ
2005 Inspire #51264
Yahoo Message Number: 92091 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92091)
The only thing Orphan about CC is they are not building new coaches. Everything I have read they are giving much better support than Monaco that is still building new coaches.
Ray O'Connell
They say wine improves with age! As I enter my golden years, I say age improves with wine! The Born Loser
Yahoo Message Number: 92092 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/92092)
Ron Jacobs - kgingles is the OP not Bob & Barbara.
When I see the phrase "orphan" coach it irritates me a bit as I said in my previous post we have been to the Country Coach factory so seems like the wrong term.
kgingles@ - Congratulations on venturing into the World of retirement. I am in the process of doing that myself. Uncertainty is always a bit un-nerving. One thing I am not uncertain about is that I made a good choice when I bought a Country Coach 4 years ago this month. The one we bought is a very well designed piece of engineering that was also assembled with care, plus the component quality is all first class. I am not an engineer, but my entire career has been in the machinery business and I really like quality vehicles.
Our coach has not had PTO problems, fogged windows, or an aluminum radiator as mentioned by Ron Jacobs this morning. Nor do we have a Norcold fridge. So none of those issues apply to our coach and may not to the 2009 Inspire you are considering. I would think you could call the Country Coach factory in Junction City Oregon and find out from them rather quickly if the coach you are looking at may be subject to those issues.
It is true that Cat recommends adjusting the valves at 30,000 miles. But that is a minor job that many CAT dealers are able to do. I just had mine done at a CAT dealer this last spring.
As far as Country Coach in general being lower priced than Tiffins or Newmars, I am not sure that is the case, but might be on the unit you are looking at. Certainly one of the keys to buying a motorhome is to become familiar with how much you should pay for it. To do that you need to find out what other similar coaches are selling for. You can check the solds on ebay and also PPL webiste has solds on it.
Bob & Barbara 2002 Affinity 42'