Yahoo Message Number: 18096 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18096)
I am looking for someone who has had experience driving coaches without the IFS and with it. I am wondering how much of a difference IFS really makes on the driviabiltiy of the coaches. I have been looking at a couple of 32' and 36' coaches pre 99. Most owners don't think the coaches handle fine but I haven't talked to one who has owned or driven both and can give me an honest informed opinion. Any comments would be appreciated.
Brian
Yahoo Message Number: 18097 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18097)
Hi. I had a 1993 Magna without the IFS drove it for 7 years 80,000 mi. Last year we purched a 2002 Magna with the IFS so far have driven it about 12,000 miles. The ride is much better in the 2002. But how much of the better ride is because of IFS or other improvements? The greatest improvement and a very big deal for me is the handling and turning radius. I think a 40' with IFS would turn a circle inside a 36' coach. take a Test ride with out the IFS drive strait up to a wall then turn the wheels all the way so you can judge how much room you need to clear the wall then do the same with IFS reducing the distance by 50% then 75% you may be surprised at how much a improvement the IFS makes.
Bill Vincent Magna 6048
Yahoo Message Number: 18099 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18099)
neoott wrote:
Yahoo Message Number: 18101 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18101)
I had an 97 36' Intrigue with a solid axle and put 48000 miles on it.
We recently traded for an 01 40 Magna with IFS. Thus far I agree with the other comment about the turning radius... this coach has a much better turn radius than our Intrigue. It also seems to track better than the Intrigue, but it is a lot heavier coach so that may have something to do with it. The Magna is also much quiter on the road than the Intrigue and that is a very welcome change... probably not due to the IFS though.
Good luck,
Randy
01 Magna # 5991
without
looking
the
driven
be
Yahoo Message Number: 18102 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18102)
randallafox wrote:
Yahoo Message Number: 18105 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18105)
on it.
agree with
much
better
road
not
Yahoo Message Number: 18106 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18106)
Brian,
Our coach has a solid axle, and we have put about 70,000 miles on it for a totla of about 120,000 miles on the coach. We have test driven a 2002 Affinity and a 2000 Affinity, both with the IFS and tag axles. The main difference is the turning radius, which is great, but we are so used to our coach we have no trouble getting in anywhere we want to go with it. On the road we frankly could not tell the difference between our coach and the two test coaches as far as ride was concerned. IFS is a nice-to-have--it should not hold you back from getting an older coach, many of which you can get a great deal on.
Per 95 Affinity
Yahoo Message Number: 18107 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18107)
Brian, I have owned CC's with both suspensions. I prefer the IFS, mainly because of the short turning radius which is more inportaqnt than most people realize, but wouldn't rule out a coach solely because of a straight axle. I have heard the older Intrigues ( I had '97 forty footer ) can be made to have a shorter turning radius by "removing some blocks " but I have no first hand knowlege of that.
Good luck.
Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811
Yahoo Message Number: 18122 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18122)
IFS equiped coaches can turn sharp enough to pinch toad. Maybe a short toad is
safe. A 21' long Silverado is not safe, it can be damaged against rear corner of coach without using full turn angle! $2088 to repair Inspire body plus Silverado repair $. The new custon drawbar extends about 2' from hitch reciever and the coach can still pinch the toad.
Eric Lee Elliott
05 Inspire Genoa 51321
41' coach plus 21' toad
Yahoo Message Number: 18123 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18123)
I had the same problem but less damage when I was pulling my V-nose trailer. Just scratched the coach corner with the trailer since the Inspire can turn so sharply. This can be helped with more distance from the hitch receiver, but the hitch receiver is just so far under the coach with the back of the coach so far out in comparison it is hard to get anything to come out that far whether it is a for trailers or car towing. Too bad CC put the hitch receiver so far under and back from the rear of the coach body work. It is also a pain to get at the receiver when hitching up as well.
Kary
05 Inspire 36'
#51499
short
rear corner
drawbar
the toad.
Yahoo Message Number: 18158 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/18158)
Brian:
The response that really sold me on IFS was from an old truck driver who told me that if you ever have a blow out on the solid axle, you will most likely never be able to keep it in your own lane. The coach will go where it wants. With IFS, he said you can steer straight to a stop without much worry.
Enough for me.
R Uhlich
'04 Intrigue 11699