Newmar 2021 Motorhomes General Discussion

[Neal]

I'm creating this thread for discussion of the 2021 Newmar Motorhomes for a general discussion and not specific to any coach or floorplan.

Share your opinions, shopping experiences, etc. here as you wish.

 

[Neal]

I think Newmar is getting a bit over priced and maybe the current times will curtail some of this. We all know the coaches are suffering quality issues and some are thinking twice about newing up wondering if new is going to provide equal or better quality than the old. I wonder if we'd all accept 6 month build times if they would slow down and pay closer attention to detail. The problem is not so much production rates IMHO but how they are produced. Slapping together and high use of low quality/care self-tapping screws is an example of not caring that coaches last longer than a few years at best before they start coming apart. I don't trust the electronics and lack of control in Silverleaf and the tech that the RV industry just can't seem to grasp. I look at even the 2021 King Aire video and it all looks like lipstick to me, once the doors are opened it's the very same on the other side as my lowly Ventana. I have a very hard time seeing the differences in a low end DP and high end DP other than SPACE. Yeah, some things are upgraded like upholstery but is it going to flake? I don't trust it. Are these glossy cabinets going to be as glossy in 5 years or are they going to start fading where touched? Is the "dishwasher punch fonzerelli open action" going to leave a mark in time? Is it going to need to be hit harder two years from now vs. now?

I like the new push to open pantry sliders, soft close drawers, and much improved cargo space and presumably living space. Newmar and whoever the ceiling designer is seems to be struggling with concepts there, the Mountain Aire ceiling gets all the attention of late as being too busy. Cockpit areas still seem non pilot friendly with too much reach but I do like the larger monitors, just not what's driving those monitors.

The floor plans from bottom to top all seem to be the same, no original concepts with curved wood corners other than the traditional same woodworking across the board. I realize KA has the new Euro look with no door hardware but it's still all squared off and not unique shapes. They seems to go crazy with lighting, at least in the KA video, I wonder if that's going to drive people crazy. Newmar seems to struggle with their trying to be different but in the end it's not different, to me.

All I know is Newmar, this is my first coach and a really great coach. I didn't shop much, I was not an educated buyer, I got reasonably lucky. Next go round I need to take a step back and really consider shopping better and consider other brands and take advantage of rallies and shows like the Tampa Super Show, FMCA events, to really look at other brands. I think Newmar is over the peak and on a downward path.

 

[sheridany]

I agree with what @Neal says 100%. I was considering moving up this year to either a MADP or DSDP and there are just too many negatives for me right now that I feel it will be an issue down the road. I will hang onto my Ventana for a while until I stop working when i can justify an upgrade and have the time to work on it.

 

[Neal]

One thing I do think Newmar is tops at is their paint job. While I have seen a few not so great paint jobs I think Newmar's do stand out at Campgrounds as some of the nicest paint jobs. Granted most CG's I go to I don't see Newell's and Prevost's where those are truly tops but for the Newmar price point I think they do a great job in this area.

 

[RKins]

So does customization not play into the Newmar consideration? I am not privvy to any competition's customization options. I have read that most don't allow much, whereas Newmar does.

 

[Neal]

So does customization not play into the Newmar consideration?

It is a big part of it obviously as well as their customer service, service center, etc. However, personally I need to do a lot of homework and shop better next time around. My VTDP is stock, I wasn't made aware of specials by my salesman, probably a good thing, and it's fine. I also wonder how specials are going to be affected in 2021 as I heard a comment somewhere that you weren't going to be able to put King Aire things in lower models now. Does that mean those nice floors are no go for other DP's?

 

[jmltech]

So does customization not play into the Newmar consideration?.

When we were at the Tampa Show looking at the Entegra’s, I asked about some simple customizations. The answer was no, no, and no.