Put me in the camp that think that RV Consumer Group is a TOTAL waste of money. Great marketing, sounds good but ........ when you get the goods, you know you've been 'had'. At least that's the way I feel.
By FAR FAR FAR FAR, the best information on DPs (only vehicle that interests me) is right here (and maybe some owner's forums). Great folks, lots of opinions - many backed up with facts not just opnions. Great resource.
Save your money.
And about the "sophisticated" computer program ..... what a JOKE!!!
Rick & Bette & "the girls"
Lucy - refugee from the animal shelter -- almost all Black Lab
Holly - Golden Retriever who graciously shares her home and bed with us
There are only three organizations seeking to help the consumer to evaluate RVs, to rhe best of my knowledge. They are: Consumer RV group, Motorhome Review online, and a new group called RV America Assoc. RV Consumer group has been a one man vision of J.D. Gallant. There is a small office staff who appear to be volumteers. There are a few volunteers who visit RV shows and do visual evaluations and pick up brochures. The did put out a quarterly bulletin and had regularly apppearing bulletins appearing on their Website. However the quarterly newsletter has stopped and there are no more bulletins. They still sell some books and make their yearly evaluations available on CD. It appears J.D. Gallant may be in poor health and his wife and part time staff seek to carry on. The web site changed some time ago and little new info. is posted.
HOWEVER, J.D. Gallant is to be commended for what he has done. Many of the criteria he attempted to apply to RV evaluation were very good. Manufacturers resisted him. We should expect that. The RV industry is a scandel. Bad information in brochures, coaches over built for the chassis. Suspension systems that were poorly designed for the job they must do, Poor warranties, little consideration to safety. Now I recognize that some are better than others. Thor and Newmar are offering 3yr. Coach warranties to match the chassis. Chassis desiegn is improving. But there is a very long way to go in manufacturing technique and quality control. Some FMCA officers have started to speak to these issues and are advocating FMCA start to take a cinsumer advocate role. You may not agree with some of JD Gallants criteria for evaluation, but the average buyer has no criteria. Most automotive engineers would say the criteria is sound but not complete in some respects. Any wise RVer should read the Consumer RV material and then do their own evauation and compare to RV Consumer group. It would be a very naware or lazy person who would not read RV Comsumer Groups material as part of a broad research before puchasing a coach.
Those who think the posts by owners are evidence of a good coach, really do not understand thre difference between gathered evidence and volunteered anectdotal evidence. Most of the criticisms on this board regarding this matter are exxagerations and careless.
noRVtoheaven wrote: Any wise RVer should read the Consumer RV material and then do their own evauation and compare to RV Consumer group. It would be a very unaware or lazy person who would not read RV Comsumer Groups material as part of a broad research before puchasing a coach.
Those who think the posts by owners are evidence of a good coach, really do not understand thre difference between gathered evidence and volunteered anectdotal evidence. Most of the criticisms on this board regarding this matter are exxagerations and careless.
Well said! If you are a first time RV buyer, do yourself a favor and gain some education by these materials. Then make your own decision as you evaluate the RVs yourself. Just because some other people decided these materials were "worthless" doesn't mean they will be a waste of your time.
Someone has suggested that in research something needs to be proved or disproved. Actually, things are not proved or disproved. The Null hypothesis is either ACCEPTED or REJECTED - not proved or disproved.
The points about statistical packages and there use have merit. Unless one reviews a study closely (data collection, analytical tools used, etc.), it is hard to know how much creditability to place in a study. One can make a set of data say almost anything they want.
If you want an education about RV's, Tires etc why not spend the $30+ for something like www.rvsafety.org or RVSEF's material to get a basic knowledge about RV'ing en general which is well respected and backed by the industry and does not seem to have an "axe to grind" like RV Consumer Group.
We found that going to an owners rally of the brand you are interested in and talking to long term owners who are usually pretty loyal to the brand a much more creditable source of information. You can go to places like www.monaco-online.com go to the brand then the web site of the owners club such as www.baeaveramb.org and get a rally schedule from their magazine and contact the rally master or go to the webmaster and they can post your request for comments on their bullentin board.
Richard and Babs and a Bob Tail Cat
97 Beaver Patriot 40 Kitchen Slide
330 HP Member FMCA, BAC, Good Sam, CAT RV Club
Toad 04 Durango HEMI
RV Comsumers Group [RVCG] is only one of a number of places/areas/organizations/clubs from which one should obtain information about RVs. I can only speak to the information RVCG provided on the handling/drivability aspect of GAS powered MHs in 2001. Drove a large number of GAS MHs and found that the RVCG information about handling and drivability to be very accurate. Highway handling and drivability were paramount in our decision.
Spoke to owners of two brands that told me their particular model MHs handled far better than RVCG ratings indicated, but, when I drove those brands/models/lengths/wheelbases I found those MHs to handle poorly. I found that most MH owners, when asked about their MH, tend to rave about what they own unless there have been many expensive problems.
Recommend that RVCG information be reviewed prior to any MH purchase, and also recommend that all MHs be given a lengthy test drive that includes quick/emergency lane changes at highway speeds and other quick highway maneuvers that will regularly be required.
Only you are responsible for your purchases so you should review ALL information sources.
Speedy, Jackie, Scooter [Min Schnauzer]
2002 Coachmen Mirada 340MBS
Saturn Vue [drag along]
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Ames wrote: If you want an education about RV's, Tires etc why not spend the $30+ for something like www.rvsafety.org or RVSEF's material to get a basic knowledge about RV'ing en general which is well respected and backed by the industry and does not seem to have an "axe to grind" like RV Consumer Group.
It seems to me that some of you have a "axe to grind" with JD. Their materials don't include safety info that you get from RVSEF, they DO include a consolidation of info such as make/model/year, length, weight info, CCC, engine/chassis, basic MSRP, typical discounts, etc. NO ONE ELSE PROVIDES THIS IS ONE PACKAGE!!! And yes, they do prvovide a rating system. Even if you ignored them, the other information is easily worth money. Why look at a hundred different make/models and have to talk to dozens of slimmy salesmen to get this kind of information!!
Ames wrote: We found that going to an owners rally of the brand you are interested in and talking to long term owners who are usually pretty loyal to the brand a much more creditable source of information. You can go to places like www.monaco-online.com go to the brand then the web site of the owners club such as www.baeaveramb.org and get a rally schedule from their magazine and contact the rally master or go to the webmaster and they can post your request for comments on their bullentin board.
I found just the opposite. The key word here is "loyal". I did talk to many at shows and rallies and found them to be too brand loyal and would always claim their problems were "typical" and "everyone" had them. misso4 is a perfect example of a loyal customer who praised Deamon, while secretly going through hell with them. How many people did they steer towards their brand choice?? I also talked to customers who finally admitted that they were not satisified with the quality of their rigs, but kept purchasing them because they wanted to stay in the same type club with their traveling friends
Purchasing a coach is a HUGH decision. Such decisions should be made based on as much information as possible. RVCG is just another GOOD source of information, not the sole source for your decision.
Kevin & Angela Behrent
2 kids (Dylan 12, Max 9), dogs (Lucky, Roxie)
2005 39' Newmar Kountry Star DP (KSDP3907) - Triple slide
2003 Honda CRV - Toad
2006 Corvette C6 Convertible - Toy
FMCA #: 355250
[quote=BaldyD1]RV Comsumers Group [RVCG] is only one of a number of places/areas/organizations/clubs from which one should obtain information about RVs. I can only speak to the information RVCG provided on the handling/drivability aspect of GAS powered MHs in 2001. Drove a large number of GAS MHs and found that the RVCG information about handling and drivability to be very accurate. Highway handling and drivability were paramount in our decision.
Spoke to owners of two brands that told me their particular model MHs handled far better than RVCG ratings indicated, but, when I drove those brands/models/lengths/wheelbases I found those MHs to handle poorly. I found that most MH owners, when asked about their MH, tend to rave about what they own unless there have been many expensive problems.
Recommend that RVCG information be reviewed prior to any MH purchase, and also recommend that all MHs be given a lengthy test drive that includes quick/emergency lane changes at highway speeds and other quick highway maneuvers that will regularly be required.
Only you are responsible for your purchases so you should review ALL information sources.
Speedy, Jackie, Scooter [Min Schnauzer]
2002 Coachmen Mirada 340MBS
Saturn Vue [drag along][/quote]
Couldn't agree more!
Note: Due to invalid formatting, all formatting has been ignored.
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