Airstream - New Class A

[crazeevw]

to all Die-Hard Airstream Classic Motorhome owners. Given the chance, 'IF' Airstream would choose to re-enter the Motorhome market, would you buy a New Airstream Classic Motorhome?

[gaiaenviro]

Yes

[mayco]

I'm sure we couldn't afford one but I'd love to see it happen anyway. Plus, I'm all good with my '82 310TD

[markdoane]

Nope.

Airstream lacks the engineering expertise to design a modern motorized RV. They would outsource it to one of the other Thor units and you'd end up with a poor hybrid like the Cutter or Clipper.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Nope.

Airstream lacks the engineering expertise to design a modern motorized RV. They would outsource it to one of the other Thor units and you'd end up with a poor hybrid like the Cutter or Clipper.

Ditto.

[AWCHIEF]

Heard they will be in the $300K plus range. So no I will not be buying one.

[PeterH-350LE]

No, not sure what I would do with a NEW Motorhome?????

[bobmiller1]

My 2007 396XL had a sticker price of $277,000.00 so I'm sure a 2018 would have a tariff of around $400,000.00 plus the DEF and all the emissions crap, so no thank you.Regards Bob

[tevake]

I prefer the size of the older classic motorhome
If they did make a new one It would probably be large, and out of my price range anyway.

Cheers Richard

[PKI]

A low profile coach with a large enough battery bank to power the electric motors for a 250 mile range and enough solar to recharge them over a two day stay in the sun would be an interesting addition to the RV MOHO world. And if it was shiny aluminum, that would be just perfect. And if it was as affordable as a 30 plus a TV, that would be relatively priceless. Pat

[bkahler]

Interesting statistics so far. 12 No's and 2 Yes's.

I think that what this is saying is in general the owners of the Classic style motorhomes are more interested in buying cheap (relatively speaking of coarse!) and working on the coaches themselves rather than spending the big bucks and having someone else maintain their coach.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Nope.

Airstream lacks the engineering expertise to design a modern motorized RV. They would outsource it to one of the other Thor units and you'd end up with a poor hybrid like the Cutter or Clipper.

Ditto. With the roll out of the new Basecamp being fraught with so many embarrassing quality control and design issues, on such a simple trailer with limited appliances and systems, can you imagine Airstream designing and fabricating a new motor home?

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Interesting statistics so far. 12 No's and 2 Yes's.

I think that what this is saying is in general the owners of the Classic style motorhomes are more interested in buying cheap (relatively speaking of coarse!) and working on the coaches themselves rather than spending the big bucks and having someone else maintain their coach.

Brad, you are speaking for many of us. I am not a fat cat who would buy a new Rig every few years AND I have way to many bad experiences with third party bad work, if I dare to take it somewhere. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

[jdalrymple]

Tough room.

Unless one is employed by Airstream, I would supposed one's knowledge of their capabilities is purely speculative.

The Classic MHs were no better, or worse for that matter, than others of the time. As with the trailers, I don't see other brands of the same vintage still on the road. Remember, these coaches are at least 20 years old.

If Airstream chose to build a new Classic styled coach, I expect cost would limit sales to some degree, but who would have thought a travel trailer would fetch $150k. It takes some looking to to find a fifth wheel that is that spendy, but an AS can do it easily.

Airstream admits their faults in a market this is really quite poor in initial quality from all manufacturers. They are improving, but tough when every trailer manufactured is already
sold.


Would I buy one? Probably not. A coach is a neat way to travel, but not much different upon arrival. Towing something is not out of the picture. A driver of some kind is required. A four-down capable car must be chosen or modified and $3-5k more to prepare. Then managed, hooked up and unhooked.

For us, the motor home is fun but no handier than the trailer, which we find more versatile.


Regards,

JD

[Dennisr]

It Would depend on the size and price for the size. Also the lay out. I'm not crazy about the flying cloud lay out

[betteleal]

Why are some people not allowed to vote?

[crazeevw]

Since I'm the one who set up the poll, I did not set up any restrictions on who was able to vote, and who was not able to vote either. The only restriction was that the Poll was open for 45 days. I'll see if I can't check poll again.

I'll be honest as far as new Airstream Classic motorhome. If $$ were no object, and I could have some sort of input on floor plan layout, I would say yes to keeping old, and buying new. We all know that the ONLY gas chassis available is Ford F-53 chassis with the V-10 motor. My work truck has that motor with 6sp transmission. Of course, it's an empty box truck, with barely any weight in it except for mail and packages, so that thing will HAUL! 2017 model, with well over 300 hp. Now, with well over 16,000lbs of motorhome, I'm sure that it would slow down considerably. As far as diesel chassis, there aren't many options.
With THOR being parent of Airstream, I have a feeling that the Engineering of a Classic Motorhome would be 'farmed' out, but construction would be completed at Jackson Center. I truly believe Airstream would never again allow Cutter, Clipper models to be produced with an Airstream badge again.
If a Class A were to be produced it would most definitely be a wide-body aluminum model. Whether front engine gas, or rear engine diesel, I'm certain that would depend on how deep the pockets of the purchaser.
Feel certain that most Airstream Classic motorhomes were pre-sold to buyers. Seriously doubt that Airstream ever produced these models for 'spec' on a dealers lot. With production numbers around 20 to 30 a year, doesn't seem that 'spec' models were rampant.
Of course, now that it appears I'll be selling my home without wheels and moving into my Airstream by end of this year, doubtful I'll ever be able to afford a new Airstream either.
Nice to dream, but playing Lotto/Powerball is a waste of money to me. Not that I was raised to believe gambling was evil, but throwing your hard-earned money at something with little to no return was just stupid.

We've got well over a month to go on this Poll, we'll see where it ends up.

Thanks to all who've participated so far, Derek

[kendrick.l.j]

I would certainly consider IF I felt the quality and craftsmanship were there but I would be expecting that to new Airstream Motorhome to compete with Newmar, at the least or better, like a Prevost or other high end coach. I would hate to see AS produce a mid-range Motor Home, I mean why bother? Part of why I bought my AS was because of the Iconic brand AND because I really did feel like I was getting my money's worth. I certainly could have purchased a much cheaper travel trailer but the ones I looked at, at any price point, just didn't have the same feel as my Classic 30. So IF Airstream could produce a high quality product in a new high end coach I would seriously consider buying one. But it could not look like just another big ol honking motorhome. I think what I would want to see is pretty much impossible....

[Isuzusweet]

Hmmmm....Kim Kardashian (new, high maintenance, very blingy and very expensive); or Ann Margaret (mature, patina but very classy and sexy)......I'll stay with Ann if you all don't mind.

Cheers
Tony

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Since I'm the one who set up the poll, I did not set up any restrictions on who was able to vote, and who was not able to vote either. The only restriction was that the Poll was open for 45 days. I'll see if I can't check poll again.

I'll be honest as far as new Airstream Classic motorhome. If $$ were no object, and I could have some sort of input on floor plan layout, I would say yes to keeping old, and buying new. We all know that the ONLY gas chassis available is Ford F-53 chassis with the V-10 motor. My work truck has that motor with 6sp transmission. Of course, it's an empty box truck, with barely any weight in it except for mail and packages, so that thing will HAUL! 2017 model, with well over 300 hp. Now, with well over 16,000lbs of motorhome, I'm sure that it would slow down considerably. As far as diesel chassis, there aren't many options.
With THOR being parent of Airstream, I have a feeling that the Engineering of a Classic Motorhome would be 'farmed' out, but construction would be completed at Jackson Center. I truly believe Airstream would never again allow Cutter, Clipper models to be produced with an Airstream badge again.
If a Class A were to be produced it would most definitely be a wide-body aluminum model. Whether front engine gas, or rear engine diesel, I'm certain that would depend on how deep the pockets of the purchaser.
Feel certain that most Airstream Classic motorhomes were pre-sold to buyers. Seriously doubt that Airstream ever produced these models for 'spec' on a dealers lot. With production numbers around 20 to 30 a year, doesn't seem that 'spec' models were rampant.
Of course, now that it appears I'll be selling my home without wheels and moving into my Airstream by end of this year, doubtful I'll ever be able to afford a new Airstream either.
Nice to dream, but playing Lotto/Powerball is a waste of money to me. Not that I was raised to believe gambling was evil, but throwing your hard-earned money at something with little to no return was just stupid.

We've got well over a month to go on this Poll, we'll see where it ends up.

Thanks to all who've participated so far, Derek

Hi Derek, if the pole was meant to say new classic motorhome.....not new class A then you will get a better indication if you edit it.

I for one had read the title as new fibreglass flat-front hence my 'not a chance' vote.