2006 model year quality.....

Silvertwinkie · 04-14-2005, 01:51 PM

Here we are again, near the beginning of the next model year, 2006. If anyone picks up a 2006, please post any of the good, bad or ugly that you may find.

It is important that you provide the build month and year. You can find that info on the streetside front of your coach on a little metal plate that is riveted to the outside shell. On that plate you will also find your GVWR and serial number. All we need off that plate is the month/year of manufacture.

Remember, this thread is ONLY for units that are titled as a 2006.

If you have a 2004 comment to share, please post it here:

http://www.airforums.com/foru...95627#post95627

If you have a 2005 comment to share, please post it here:

http://www.airforums.com/foru...95627#post95627

Hopefully we can continue track the quality improvements, identify trends and continue to share the information.

Thanks in advance for your participation.

Silvertwinkie · 06-15-2005, 05:03 PM

Just thought I'd unearth this thread to see if there are any folks out there with some feedback on a titled 2006 Airstream....anyone...anyone....

alanvol · 06-23-2005, 06:15 PM

No reviews yet, but my wife and I are ordering a 2006 Safari 25 FB with the LS & new SE packages next week. This will be our first RV, we're moving up from car camping and we're excited. I have E shopped various dealerships for the last two months and wound up with what seem to be deep discounts below MSRP.
I do have a question for the veterans. The FB model does not have a seperate microwave. There is a stove drop in with a convection/microwave oven as an available option. Neither of us have any experience with a convection oven but we use a microwave fairly often for the usual things. Any thoughts on this? Little off the 2206 review topic but I promise one in about 8 or 9 weeks.
Alan in SLO

redeagle313 · 07-03-2005, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanvol

The FB model does not have a seperate microwave. There is a stove drop in with a convection/microwave oven as an available option. Neither of us have any experience with a convection oven but we use a microwave fairly often for the usual things. Any thoughts on this? Little off the 2206 review topic but I promise one in about 8 or 9 weeks.
Alan in SLO

We have the combo convection/microwave oven in our '05 and we think it is works very well.

I see that on the '06 models that there is now a 600 watt inverter, so that you can run the LCD TV on batteries. Darn, I wish we had that.

Westfalia · 07-03-2005, 10:13 AM

Where have you seen this info, and is the inverter included with the 19' Bambi?

alanvol · 07-04-2005, 01:08 PM

Canoe,

The Vista View windows for the 25'FB/SE come installed in the rear around the dinette. The dealer that we have purchased from did not know, so I called the factory to confirm. For an additional $ 1050.00 +/- they will add Vista Views to the front also. Let there be light!!
Alan in SLO

bschnebr · 12-12-2006, 01:41 PM

Hello From Oregon!
We too have a 2006 25' Safari FB SE!
Purchased it in Feb'06/ Big learning curve for Rookie Airstreamers!
Keep in touch... bschnebr@comcast.net / Salem, OR

silverback · 12-12-2006, 06:03 PM

After 6 months of use the bathroom door wouldn't close anymore. There were pretty good gaps around the frame. We had to tie it shut during towing. Oasis RV fixed it. They said some bracing was missing from the factory. It seems much sturdier. We also had them rivet down the bathroom cabinet mirror trim.
K & L

jbird · 12-22-2006, 11:00 AM

hello,
We have a 2006 Quiksilver Bambi 75th anniversary edition that we bought last christmas and have taken it on around 10 trips since our purchase. We have had to call every trip almost with little questions,some were things we just didnt know but mostly they are problems. The first being the fridge and then the fan in the bathroom, the curtains contiue to stain with two sets from factory. The rivets come out, the shower leaks into floor. We just went to hook up to go today to florida on vacation and the battery wouldnt allow the hitch to rise so there is no backup way to hookup..so at three in the morning we are trying to charge with battery cables to no avail, so i take battery home and we go back to sleep while it charges. We go out again at 930 am in the rain to hook up...ok no problem we are hooked up gas turned on and go to turn the fridge on but no power to the unit... I call again as usual and they walk us through checking the fuses, the voltage the connections outside and then we look to the solenoid under the seat and they said we could over ride the solenoid by putting the connectors on one pole but that doesnt solve the gas issue with the fridge. we try the gas and cant get gas to the stove. they say they have had some bad solenoids and bad regulators...this is just not satisfactory to me. I have spent 46 thousand dollars on this supposed top of the line Airstream that is just a nightmare every time we try to experience camping. I think its poorly made and not consistent at all, however our dealer is accomadating with the issues now under warranty but they are three hours away. I hate this thing and I want my money back so I am going to sale it or maybe they will buy it back who knows, but I sure would not purchase an rv again because this is obviously a market with poor quality workmanship and cheap components. So now that I got that off my chest. I will be offering this brand new bambi for sale soon.
I have made every effort to try and enjoy camping but the bitter taste of poor quality lingers in the air every time I hook up and use this brand new Bambi Quiksilver 2006 75th anniversary edition. I know that man made stuff breaks and I have tried to keep that in check but every time it is something and I am sorry but that is just not acceptable to me when I payed a premium for what I thought was going to be first class quality trailer that has just turned into a huge disappointment. I hope that this helps someone for the future consideration in purchasing an rv from airstream or anyone for that matter because I think they say, they all have problems but airstream is suppose to have less of them. If this is true I must just have a LEMON.

Too many problems for me!!

Minnie's Mate · 06-23-2005, 08:48 PM

We have a convection oven and my wife likes it. We plan on purchasing a 2006 30' Bunk Safari. It does not have a built-in microwave either so we plan on ordering the micro/convection. My wife actually does plan on using the oven as well as the microwave. She plans to make biscuits, quick-breads, cassaroles, etc. Knowing her, she'll also bake bread in it, too.

**CanoeStream** · 07-02-2005, 02:15 PM

Eric, I would start a 2007 thread but I'm sure the moderators would claim this territory is yours!

Visited a dealer this morning and they couldn't even figure out if the Safari 25' FB came in Special Edition. (comment deleted before I even typed it!) Interesting news is that the entry door has been switched to front hinges from now on. I saw a newly-delivered 'sold' 2005 25' FB LS that has this change.

I looked at a rear hinged 2005 25' FB and the mechanism to keep the door from running into the awning strut needed to be operated manually -- nothing to keep the door from swinging -- even into the awning at up position! This manual hook fits into a bracket on the door only inches from the hinge -- not very good mechanical advantage and the bracket rivets were already worked a little loose.

Anybody know if the Vista-Views are over the front bedroom area or back in the living space? Colonial Airstream in New Jersey looks like it may be getting a Safari 25 FB SE delivered next week -- the site's reference is confusing, calling it both a SS and a FB. Colonial does a very good job with photo views and I can't wait for pictures!!

Westfalia · 07-06-2005, 10:56 PM

Looking at an 06 Bambi CCD in the showroom a few days ago (sorry, no date of production). It was missing several rivets from the roof sections. The cabinets were starting to delaminate in the head on the toilet pedestal. Also, I noticed the light switch next to the stove was standing off the wall with a color matched panel of trim depth. I had never noticed such a stand off in the 05 I was looking at. Upon closer inspection from the closet, they had cut the hole for the switch way too big and crooked, and the stand off was covering the hole! Add in the burned out lights in the overhead fixtures and the patio light, and I was immediately turned off. I'm sure if I kept looking, I would have found more.

Mike Lewis · 08-27-2005, 10:18 PM

PS----one other thing on Laramie's 06 classic---He said when they were drilling into the floor up front they drilled through and through the spare tire. It was delivered with it flat. I have a hard time believing the "driller would not have known they did this at the time.
Pieman

dms4911 · 09-04-2005, 10:16 PM

Just traded in a 2005 25FB for a 2006 28W (Delivery about Oct 15). Reason: No microwave in the 25 and need a walkaround bed since our 2 Chihuahua's let us sleep with them.

Only had the 25 4 months and overall, quality is about 6 out of 10. In the first 3 trips, refrigerator died, Air Conditioning died, bathroom cold water line leak, TV coax line connected wrong, missing screw in bathroom exhaust screen, running light screws all rusted and one amber sidelight leaks. Fabric quality is poor and couch wrinkles when sat on. We're accustomed to large boats (Viking) and expected the same quality with AS, but not even close. Seems like AS would take a lesson from the marine interior guys.

Sadly, AS quality control seems "out to lunch", but we're gluttons for punishment and are moving up to the 28. Dealer traded for a $4000 loss, but not too bad considering.

Will post on the 2006 when we take delivery.