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Old 06-20-2014, 09:20 AM   #1
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Newer is Not Necessarily an Upgrade

I have an old (not vintage, old) 1990 25' Excella that my wife and I have fallen in love with. A few months ago I was looking at someones 2013 something or other and he made the off-handed comment, "When you're ready to upgrade...". It was a well intended comment but the inherent assumption was set in concrete: newer is an upgrade.

It ain't necessarily so Joe. I like my old used trailer better than I like new ones. I don't want a new one. It would be a downgrade for me personally to trade for a newer one.

Nothing at all against the newer ones - they're beautiful and shiny and I really like them. I just like my old homely and not-so-shiny one better. Now something from the 60's, that would be an upgrade.

Poppy
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:04 AM   #2
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That does seem like an unnecessary insult. Perhaps he meant a longer/larger trailer?
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:12 AM   #3
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Newer is not always better, ask anybody using Windows 8...
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:15 AM   #4
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I don't see anything on the new rigs that I would consider an upgrade when compared to my '74 Argosy. Other than a huge price tag.
I have oak and hickory cabinets; 3 stage converter; 1100 watt inverter; air conditioning; black and grey water tanks; furnace; micro wave; television; cable; new bath and galley fixtures; solar; PEX plumbing throughout. And the list goes on.
Mine has some dents and an aging paint job. But it works for me.
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:15 AM   #5
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Newer is an upgrade????

Newer diesels are complete crap compared to the 30+yr old Isuzu TD I have in my 310.

Newer classic motorhomes had OSB board floors instead of marine plywood.

Newer trailers have all the amenities but no lasting quality. How many slabsides will last or are designed to last over 10 years?

Newer appliances are far more prone to fall apart that old ones, (Maytag should have never sold out to the big boys).

New furniture is far worse quality than old vintage furniture, (I'm a cabinetmaker, so I should know).

New cars are better in ride, handling, acceleration and gas economy BUT I'll take a good Caprice Classic over something new any day, (I at least know how to fix, as they have no sensors).

I could go on and on. Newer doesn't mean better.

Companies like Airstream have been decontenting for years. If you can see it, it's all blinged out and nice; if you can't see it or touch it, it's crap and the cheapest material they can buy.

Keep the devil you know as opposed to spending big bucks on the devil you don't.

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PS I'm in my late 40's and have had enough of throwing crap away….That's why I bought my 1983 310 turbo diesel. It will last forever. Or at least outlast me.
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:51 AM   #6
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At least they are still using aluminum for the skin.
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:16 AM   #7
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My intent here is not to demean newer Airstream products. I don't have any first hand experience with them and they sure look nice. I'm just so *comfortable* with my old trailer, it seems to handle everything so well, and it has such a nice patina, that I can't see how a newer one would be an "upgrade".

Now if I could trade in this old body for something newer, that would be an upgrade.

Poppy
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:25 AM   #8
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New ones don't leak though - oh wait - crap
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:32 AM   #9
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At least they are still using aluminum for the skin.
Even that could be debateable

The new skin can't be polished and if you have to replace one it will never match properly. At least with the old stuff you could camouflage it.

I also agree that a 50's/60's would be an upgrade. I like my 1975 warts and all, the 80's and 90's are okay, but they can't hold a candle to the earlier ones.

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Old 06-20-2014, 11:32 AM   #10
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You can't help but feel sorry for people who've been conditioned thru consumerism that new somehow equals better quality and more features. Particularly on the quality aspect.
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:42 AM   #11
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I saw an 80's model excella last month that had been re-clear coated for about 6k I'm told and it looked nearly brand new - inside was also renovated - looked like an 80's time capsule

Newer ones are nice too - often shiny interior aluminum walls - nice features for modern conveniences here and there - different interior designs

Seems like it's all apples and oranges

I am not an expert but I am a bit skeptical that newer = lower quality compared to old - but that would not necessarily surprise me if it was the case

I've seen many on this forum debate such points

I love them all - they all turn heads

People should not be quick to assume superiority - it seems to me both old and new requires TLC and maintenance to keep things nice and so the owner may determine much about the product over time than anything else?
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:44 AM   #12
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All things considered, we consider our 1964 Avion an upgrade from our old 2005 FB Airstream. If you have to ask you would not understand! Jim
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:48 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TG Twinkie View Post
I don't see anything on the new rigs that I would consider an upgrade when compared to my '74 Argosy. Other than a huge price tag.
I have oak and hickory cabinets; 3 stage converter; 1100 watt inverter; air conditioning; black and grey water tanks; furnace; micro wave; television; cable; new bath and galley fixtures; solar; PEX plumbing throughout. And the list goes on.
Mine has some dents and an aging paint job. But it works for me.
I enjoy sarcasm as much as the next guy.. right?

3 stage converter, inverter, separate grey, microwave, flat screen, cable, solar and PEX were most definitely not available on a "better" '74 model.

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Old 06-20-2014, 01:30 PM   #14
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The three things I really like about the new ones are the ducted air (heard about but have not seen it yet), wide body and the nice shiny skin.
My old 94 is just great otherwise. It has corian counter tops, much more oak cabinetry - not a whole lot different than a new one.
I also look at my trailer as a fun project to upgrade the worn out pieces with improvements. This year it has gotten a new skylight and currently I'm in the process of an axle upgrade. Two years from now or when funds are available I hope the have the upholstery reworked. When inside storage becomes available I hope to have the exterior refinished.
Maybe at retirement I'll treat myself to a newer one with ducted air but that date is at least 20 years from now.
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Old 06-20-2014, 02:03 PM   #15
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Perhaps you could staple $60k to the walls and call it an upgrade

I kiiid I kiiiiid. I'm sure he meant nothing by it but I can certainly see where it could rub you the wrong way.

I've run into a few people with newer Airstreams that have been snobbish but far more that have loved talking about my renovated '78 and taking the tour. It's the few snobs that give Airstreamers a bad name as elitists. Don't let them get you down though.
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Old 06-20-2014, 02:35 PM   #16
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I started with a 1970 safari, then bought a 2005 30 classic, and also a 1986 Sov.

I can tell you without any doubt the while I like the vintage, I will take the new one any day and twice on Sunday.

Maybe it's just me, but my classic is more comfortable, cleaner, everything works, and it is gorgeous inside. I feel like a millionaire Airstreamer in it. Is it perfect? Nope. But it is far more perfecter than the others!

This isn't meant to draw a challenge, but how many people on this thread have really camped for a couple of years in a new one then said, "Naw, give me my 1980 back." I suspect some, but I bet it's a small minority. And I bet it is also a substantially renovated one, not stock.
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Old 06-20-2014, 06:50 PM   #17
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I have an old (not vintage, old) 1990 25' Excella that my wife and I have fallen in love with.
Pssst....in six months your trailer WILL be "Vintage"!

Welcome to the club!

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Old 06-20-2014, 07:38 PM   #18
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Now something from the 60's, that would be an upgrade.

Poppy
You got it! I will take my 1961 Corvair truck, 1961 Serro Scotty, 1962 Corvair van, and 1964 AS BAMBI II over anything newer. I just like old stuff. The '60s must have been a crazy cool decade..I was not born yet
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Old 06-20-2014, 07:42 PM   #19
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Newer is not always better, ask anybody using Windows 8...
Ha! I have spent most of today with my new HP laptop with Windows 8.1. It is driving me crazy trying to do the simplest things. I am going to have to buy a 3 inch thick book for some guidance.
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Old 06-20-2014, 08:19 PM   #20
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Perhaps that is why there is such a low adoption rate moving from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Years ago there was a version of Windows called NT - which stood for nice try, but that version missed again.

I gave up on Windows before the year 2000 and have told all family members two years ago I will only help with the Mac computers and operating system. They will have to hire Windows help.

The Apple eco-system works for me and my wife and all the step-kids, grandkids, children....
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