Hello Group, I am looking for some wisdom on a question about whether to buy a gas or diesel Class A motor home they are basically the same price one is a 2013 Tiffin open road 9k miles and the other 2006 Newmar Ventana 29k miles. From what I have seen online the gas has made progress catching up with the Diesel but smother ride and heavier chassis on the Diesel. Just want your thoughts. Thanks Rick T.
2013 Gas tiffin or 2006 Diesel Newmar same price
- Thread starter Rickyet59
- Start date
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I have been making that decision for months. I have gone back and forth as far as which was better. Usually I am thinking the exact opposite as my DW. The 06 will be quite and ride better but lots to break and expensive when it does. The 13 isn't immune from breaking either but probably cheaper and simpler.
I haven't found many that I am watching to be selling. What about you?
I haven't found many that I am watching to be selling. What about you?
I will add this. If you are traveling to a destination then home, consider the gas. If you are like me and you are here 2 days, there 3 days and still moving on, consider the diesel. The more you drive the better the diesel. I used to have a diesel and now have a gas wishing I had stayed with a diesel. Mileage used to be 9-10 and now it's 5.5 -6mpg. There are other differences. The diesel engine is rear mounted and much quieter during travel. The diesel offers air ride and air brakes which are superior to a gas coach.
That said, a diesel will cost $200+ for oil changes vs $60-80 for gas. Diesels seem to be much more costly to work on than a gas coach.
Finally, a 7 year old coach or a 14 year old coach will be determined by the care and maintenance each have had. A well cared for 14 year old diesel coach may be the better buy against a poorly maintained 7 year old coach...or vice versa. Review the available service records and paperwork.
Good luck.
That said, a diesel will cost $200+ for oil changes vs $60-80 for gas. Diesels seem to be much more costly to work on than a gas coach.
Finally, a 7 year old coach or a 14 year old coach will be determined by the care and maintenance each have had. A well cared for 14 year old diesel coach may be the better buy against a poorly maintained 7 year old coach...or vice versa. Review the available service records and paperwork.
Good luck.
Finally, a 7 year old coach or a 14 year old coach will be determined by the care and maintenance each have had. A well cared for 14 year old diesel coach may be the better buy against a poorly maintained 7 year old coach...or vice versa. Review the available service records and paperwork.
Good luck.
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Very much agree about the care. In looking I have seen people with chairs literally destroyed. How much time do you think they are putting into changing the fuel filter if they let their chair get destroyed. I like to think I respectfully use my equipment meaning that I take care of it but dont have the 70's plastic covers on the furniture. I ask the kids to put keep their feet off the couch but dont lose my mind when they do it anyways. My stuff seems to last just fine. I dont know what people do to some of these coaches!
They are a descent amount of work if you only want to pull it out for partying or if you live in without reasonable care.
Good luck.
[/quote]
Very much agree about the care. In looking I have seen people with chairs literally destroyed. How much time do you think they are putting into changing the fuel filter if they let their chair get destroyed. I like to think I respectfully use my equipment meaning that I take care of it but dont have the 70's plastic covers on the furniture. I ask the kids to put keep their feet off the couch but dont lose my mind when they do it anyways. My stuff seems to last just fine. I dont know what people do to some of these coaches!
They are a descent amount of work if you only want to pull it out for partying or if you live in without reasonable care.
thelazyl
Well-known member
I was faced with the same decision last year. For us I will amplify the benefit of the smoother, quieter, and cooler drive of the diesel. We like to travel and only stay in one place 1 or 2 nights before moving on. I am older and like to be comfortable - noise and vibration drains my energy. Given 2 units (one gas and one diesel) with comparable maintenance health and floor plan - we picked the diesel and I can't imaging anything else. Regardless of which option you pick there is good news - you will be traveling in a motor home which I think is a hoot!
I don't think there is a "right" answer. So the diesel and gas thing is not debatable to me - diesels are far superior BUT when you bring in a limited budget that makes the decision interesting.
I have to remind myself though that the journey and time is less about the coach and more about the family time. All being equal I still would rather spend family time with air suspension UNLESS the 2013 gas coaches are driving by while my 13 y/o coach is in a shop in an unfamiliar town being worked on by who knows??? ??? :-\
I have to remind myself though that the journey and time is less about the coach and more about the family time. All being equal I still would rather spend family time with air suspension UNLESS the 2013 gas coaches are driving by while my 13 y/o coach is in a shop in an unfamiliar town being worked on by who knows??? ??? :-\
WILDEBILL308
Well-known member
Rickyet59 said:
The biggest point is "they are basically the same price" Think about this, the Newmar is a better built coach. It is/should be pre emissions. This means it doesn't have the particulate filters or need DEF. It will have bigger tanks, more storage, more towing capacity. That is on top of a better ride, better brakes and I am pretty shure that model comes with "comfort drive". That is a Newmar system that makes driving even better, easier.
What is your budget? There are a lot of good coaches out there.
Bill
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
There are lots of debatable points, several of which have already been mentioned. How much weight you give to any difference is often a matter of personal preference. Some may even classify as a CON what others consider a PRO.
The market's opinion is reflected in the price - the diesel pusher is worth the same as the much newer and lower mileage gas model. That's a summary of all factors but an important conclusion.
The diesel engine & fuel are a relatively small piece of the difference. Engine horsepower is about the same and diesel fuel no longer has a cost advantage vs gas like it did 20 years ago. Nowadays the transmissions are much alike as well, 6 or more gears, automatic downshifts, etc. The significant performance advantage of the diesel is largely that it produces its full horsepower at low engine rpms where it is most needed. Few drivers are ever willing to rev the gas engine up enough to deliver its max horsepower. The penalty for that diesel performance advantage is extra weight, higher initial cost, some additional maintenance expense, and potentially greater repair expense.
The rest of the DP mechanical advantages are in the chassis design choices. Heavier duty axles and steering, greater GVWR and GCWR, air suspension and brakes, more robust frame rails, bigger cooling system, etc. The combined effect is somewhat better ride and handling plus greater durability. However, that comes at a $$ cost, both up front and long term.
It has been suggested that gas chassis have much improved over the past 15 years and the gap between gas & diesel motorhome chassis has narrowed. I think that is unequivocally true, but there is still a gap. The superior capabilities of the more expensive mechanical components found in most DP chassis (as mentioned above) still yield a better overall experience. A gas engine chassis with those same attributes could be built, of course, but if you are going to upgrade all the rest of the chassis, why not upgrade the engine as well? It comes down to cost. A gas engine on 22,000 lb frame rails plus spring suspension and hydraulic brakes performs decently at a price that can be swallowed by many potential buyers. The somewhat better and somewhat more expensive DP chassis narrows the field to more affluent buyers.
Once the decision is made to build on the more expensive DP chassis and market to more affluent buyers, it's an easy step for the coach builder to also select better but more expensive cabinetry, furnishings, upholstery, etc. The buyers in that price tier expect more and are willing to pay for it, so generally the DP models will be better built. There is still a range from low end to high, but the starting point is near always higher.
The practical effect is that an entry level diesel pusher (DP) is typically built to be equivalent to a high end gas model. The price is moderately higher and usually a few extra features are included to give more visible value. Then the rest of the DP models move upscale from there.
The market's opinion is reflected in the price - the diesel pusher is worth the same as the much newer and lower mileage gas model. That's a summary of all factors but an important conclusion.
The diesel engine & fuel are a relatively small piece of the difference. Engine horsepower is about the same and diesel fuel no longer has a cost advantage vs gas like it did 20 years ago. Nowadays the transmissions are much alike as well, 6 or more gears, automatic downshifts, etc. The significant performance advantage of the diesel is largely that it produces its full horsepower at low engine rpms where it is most needed. Few drivers are ever willing to rev the gas engine up enough to deliver its max horsepower. The penalty for that diesel performance advantage is extra weight, higher initial cost, some additional maintenance expense, and potentially greater repair expense.
The rest of the DP mechanical advantages are in the chassis design choices. Heavier duty axles and steering, greater GVWR and GCWR, air suspension and brakes, more robust frame rails, bigger cooling system, etc. The combined effect is somewhat better ride and handling plus greater durability. However, that comes at a $$ cost, both up front and long term.
It has been suggested that gas chassis have much improved over the past 15 years and the gap between gas & diesel motorhome chassis has narrowed. I think that is unequivocally true, but there is still a gap. The superior capabilities of the more expensive mechanical components found in most DP chassis (as mentioned above) still yield a better overall experience. A gas engine chassis with those same attributes could be built, of course, but if you are going to upgrade all the rest of the chassis, why not upgrade the engine as well? It comes down to cost. A gas engine on 22,000 lb frame rails plus spring suspension and hydraulic brakes performs decently at a price that can be swallowed by many potential buyers. The somewhat better and somewhat more expensive DP chassis narrows the field to more affluent buyers.
Once the decision is made to build on the more expensive DP chassis and market to more affluent buyers, it's an easy step for the coach builder to also select better but more expensive cabinetry, furnishings, upholstery, etc. The buyers in that price tier expect more and are willing to pay for it, so generally the DP models will be better built. There is still a range from low end to high, but the starting point is near always higher.
The practical effect is that an entry level diesel pusher (DP) is typically built to be equivalent to a high end gas model. The price is moderately higher and usually a few extra features are included to give more visible value. Then the rest of the DP models move upscale from there.
