Tiffin Phaeton 42qrh

[tagcat]

We have never owned a motorhome.Over the next 6 months we will be selling everything that will not fit in the motorhome.House is on market now. We have been doing a lot of research and are taking several trip to look at some used ones (20000 miles or less). We looked at a Tiffin Phaeton 42' with a tag axe(not sure we need that)l.This will be our full time home not sure this is over kill or not.We plan to go from Texas to Maine Utah,etc.

I just found this forum so i hope some of you experienced folks will share some advice.Our budget is $125,000--$150,000.

We do not want to spend this kind of money and latter on found we bought the wrong coach.

Looking forward to hear from you folks.

Tim

[hermanmullins]

tagcat,

Welcome to the Forum. Since you have never had a motor home my advise to you is to rent one. If you like it then you can know what you would like in your own. However if life in a motor home does not suit you then all you are out is the rental.

Good luck,

Herman

[ticat900]

At a budget of 150K(max) I would suggest looking at slightly older upper end models of Beaver, Newmar, Country Coach, Monaco or Holiday Rambler.

Now that said you will have to go a couple years older than a Tiffin Phaeton priced at 150K.

What I am saying is you can buy a (for a example) 2005 -06 Beaver Patriot Thunder for 150K which is 3 times the MH a 2008 Phaeton would ever hope to be.

Also 20K or 35K or 50 on these upper end units makes no difference on a unit as well build and anointed as a upper end Beaver (example) same with Country Coach, etc.

2006 Beaver PT 43 tag on RV trader with ask of $155K. This unit blows a 2011 Phaeton out of the water quality wise.

[whiteeagle]

Will certainly get a variety of opinons and reccommendations but to learn more about the Phaeton from Phaeton owners, you should go on the forum for Tiffin owners....

http://www.tiffinrvnetwork.com/forum/index.php

[elkhartjim]

I think Herman has given you some excellent advice, Tim. We have several friends that rv'ed for years, sold most all of their belongings and moved in to their rv fulltime only to find out six months later that regardless of the size rv its not big enough and regretted their change of lifestyle...and disposing of their worldly possessions. Others have adapted quite handily.

My only other recommendation is to buy a motorhome with the floorplan you like and that works for you. For us, the most important feature is the bath and a half floor plan and we also appreciate having the washer and dryer option.

Good luck in your search and your new adventure and please keep us posted.

[tagcat]

Thank you everyone your feed back is priceless.

We will keep you posted.

We are leaving today for Texas to visit my mother for Christmas, so why we are there we will look at motorhomes.

Thanks again.

Tim

[ticat900]

If u go to motorhome specialist of texas be Very carefull and do not deal with a sales guy called cowboy.he will lead u down the garden path

because of your lack of knowledge. just fair warning

Iam not saying don't buy a Tiffin I just want the OP to be aware of whats out there and reasons some are better than others

I own a 08 allegro bus and know tiffin products inside and out and the tiffin in their price range will have problems

The beaver in my opinion was one of the best built coaches in 2006 era. there is no comparison between the two when you shine them side by side (eg) 2007 tiffin pheaton verses a 2005/2006 beaver PT or marquis

all that being said all units will have failures along the road one thing or another

[medico]

The Phaeton is a mid range coach from Tiffin. It is their best seller because of it's price. I suspect you could find a Phaeton in the 2008 range for less than $150K. That seems high for a coach that sells new for about $250K (MSRP $330K but no one pays MSRP) for a 2013 coach.

The Tag Axle will give you a much better ride (I have driven Phaetons in 40 foot non-tag and 43 foot tag and the ride is very different). You will also get more carrying capacity with more storage area.

For $150K you can probably find a Country Coach Magna in the 2004 to 2005 range. This will get you a High End coach in your price range.

[gtony]

I have owned both an Allegro Bay and Bus not to mention several others....I bought both used and Tiffin's service can not be beat!!! I f you buy a Tiffin schedule

a service with them for a later date and make a list of what you need as you travel and when your date for service comes you will be ready....I have been full time

three different times over the last 20 years so you may need a plan B also????

Gtony F162560

[HenryPatterson]

ticat900 is right....be very very carful if you go to motorhome specialist in texas....they will lie to you in a minute... I bought a new unit from them in 2011 and paid cash for it ...what a mistake!!! their service after the sale is not there... they could care less after they got your money....will never ever do business with those lie'n things again!!! and Monaco wasn't much better! still don't have things fixed that should have been taken care of under new motorhome warranty.. Herman is right..rent one first then see if you can find one from a private party..If you deal with a motorhome dealer make sure everything they say is in writing!!! or better yet TAPE everthing..Let us know how everthing goes!

[ticat900]

MY POINT WAS and IS simply this: Don't just simply go out and buy a Phaeton 42tag based on a budget of 150K max because there are MANY better units out there for the same value / spending limit you have set for your selves.

[five]

You are getting lots of advice, much of which is slightly biased because the poster has the type MH he/she is praising. I'm not saying the units discussed are not good units, it's just that there are a great many very good RVs out there from different manufacturers. Don't fall in love with the first one and don't run out an buy one because somebody on here says it is wonderful.

Good luck.

[ticat900]

Allegiance40C, that's exactly what I was saying.

I have bought/sold/ owned and worked on several different makes and models of diesel pushers so I am talking from BIG time experience nothing at all to do with what I currently own.

Its real world findings from a person in the business over the years.

[BillAdams]

Several different makes and models.

To the OP, please take the advice "way above" and join the Tiffin forum. You will find "real" expertise here by those who currently own Tiffin products. You have gotten advice that it's better to purchase products from companies no longer in existence. That might be OK but I can assure you that Tiffin is NOT one of these companies and Bob Tiffin is still there and still working very hard for his customers.

By the way, I do not own a Tiffin but I would not hesitate to own one.

In case you missed the link to the forum: http://www.tiffinrvnetwork.com/forum/

[ticat900]

I offered some solid guidance in my opinion about what a new buyer should be well aware of.

One being that there are lots of better buys and better built motor homes out there than what he has suggested as his first buy. One being the Beaver Motor home. It matters not if Beaver is not in business.There are tons of parts available and most stuff is generic in nature... Just so your aware I own a 2008 Allegro bus for 2 years. My point was and is don't just take a set dollar amount and a certain model without being aware there is a very good possibility that there is a better MH available for the same or less money. I think the newer Phaetons (2012 and newer) are superb units and there huge market share shows(reflects) this position.

What I suggested and firmly stand by it is (for example) a 2006 Beaver PT motorhome at $150K is so far above the quality of a 2008 Phaeton its not even comparable. I have owned and worked on several different Diesel pushers. In fact I still own and have owned a large RV dealership since 1985 and have been in the general automotive/RV repair business since 1969.

[medico]

I also have nothing but praise for Tiffin. I spent an hour talking with Bob Tiffin at Hersey 2 years ago, and was seriously thinking of a new Phaeton. These are fine rigs. And Tiffin service is top notch.

That said, with the OPs budget, he can definitely find a higher end coach than the coach he mentioned. If he were talking 2008 Allegro Bus for that budget, then perhaps, but not the Phaeton for that money. But then again, perhaps a strong negotiation might get the Phaeton for less money. I would not say no to a Phaeton for the right dollars.

The statement about buying brands no longer in business is somewhat out of line. As stated, parts are pretty generic on most of these coaches. Country Coach for example is still very much alive and well with parts and service and consignment sales. They have not made new coaches since about 2009, but are looking to start building coaches again next year. Others have simply been bought by other manufacturers.