We looked at both your choices and were really leaning towards the bus ourselves and then we stumbled onto a really choice deal on eBay for a used MADP 4528, it was the best deal in the country and I've never even seen a close deal to it since.
I suggest you spend a lot of time watching for excellent used deals and try to stay no more than one or two years old. Essentially, you'll get a new coach at a used price. We purchased from a private party and had a great experience. There was no commission or a greedy salesman involved.
Bottom line: Wait for the right deal and then don't waste a lot of time deciding. Good deals go fast.
2007 Mountain Aire 4528
2006 CRV SE
Based in Memphis area
You really cant go wrong on both manufacturers, It would be,for me, a tough choice. It depends on how much youre willing to spend.
When I purchsed my Ds in 04 they had a 3 year warrentee. Now they dont. DS now is about 100,000 more than when I purchased mine. The way the market is right now a good used DS or Tiffen is probably a real good used unit to buy . Good luck on whatever you decide. Chuck
Donna and Chuck
2004 Dutchstar Model 4009 tripple slide
Spartan chasis and 370 ISL Cummins
2003 Saturn L-300 (toad)
1998 Hi-Line Park Model trailor up in Maine
2 chihuahua one female (chi-chi) one male (Alabama)
When we were looking for a Class A we looked at Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Country Coach, Nemar and Tiffin. These were our top 5 companies. Then we decided on models. We compared all the models in the product lines from 40-42 feet. We talked with owners, we toured their coachs and listened to them talk about issues and how the company resolved them (or not). We visited the local dealers to talk with the Service Managers. These are the folks you will be dealing with after the sale. Will you be just a number or a name and a face? Can they work on the interior structurs and workings of the coach? How long will you have to wait to get service?
After all was said and done we decided on a Tiffin Allegro Bus. We found one on the lot with 99% of what we wanted. We made the deal and have put 10,000 miles on it since July 2007 on three trips. We have had our share of problems but each and every one were fixed by the local dealer or the chassis local service center. We are happy with the coach and plan on keeping it for a long time.
Make a table with the "must haves" and the "want to haves" on each coach. List them and then see where they fall. Price is a consideration but if you compare similar models the price should be close. Talk with the local dealers if there is one. One of the major reason we went with the Tiffin was the local dealer who is 15 miles away. The nearest Nemar dealer is several hundred miles away.
If you want a brand new one and can wait see if you can get a good deal with a distant dealership but check with the local one to see if they will service it; some won't anymore.
Good luck and take your time. Learn all you can before you buy. Don't expect perfection...it does not exist in something built on an assembly line. That is why a local dealer or other repair location was important to us and we have been happy with them so far.
2008 42' Tiffin Allegro Bus, Xantrex RS3000 Pure Sine inverter, Garmin 2730 GPS, Cobra CB, Toad-2001 Acura MDX, Blue Ox base, Blue Ox Alexus LX towbar, SMI Silent Partner.
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