Airstream in Delta's Sky Magazine

[Aviator]

I was reading the May Sky Magazine and found an article on Airstream and Bob Wheeler.

Below is a link to the page.

iMirus Online Digital Reader

[bassfiddler]

The last comment about realizing new Airstreams are out of many people's price range and looking for other "price points" is an interesting one. I'm looking forward to seeing what direction they go.

[Wsmith]

Originally Posted by bassfiddler

The last comment about realizing new Airstreams are out of many people's price range and looking for other "price points" is an interesting one. I'm looking forward to seeing what direction they go.

There isn't much change in the Airstream price. I bought my '79 Excella for around 24,000.00. There is 224.2% inflation which puts somewhere in adjusted price to around 81,000.00 it fairly close to the old days price when adjusted. The were never built for a poor mans RV. I believe you can probably even buy one right now for that price. Also if you remember there was a big slump in RV sales at the same time I purchased mine.

[fmr.capt.evi]

Speaking of "price points" (bassfiddler's post, #2), there is disturbing evidence that compromises are currently being made at Airstream just to maintain TODAY'S prices. While my present trailer is the best yet in terms of initial quality and "fit & finish", I notice some corrosion starting on some edges, and have already had to replace some items (supplied TO Airstream by vendors) due to extremely poor quality.......and this one's not even a year old yet (manufactured last June).

I think Airstream is now facing the dilemma of whether to keep their products affordable to a larger market (by cutting corners wherever possible and just hoping that enough people keep buying them anyway), or to spend whatever is necessary to insure providing a better quality, and yes, a more expensive product, to perhaps a much smaller (maybe even shrinking), "niche" market.

So let's hope that 1), my recent experiences are not a disappointing clue that that decision has already been made, and 2), that it's not a slow, painful death for Airstream either way!!