I just checked the Country Coach web site and they are going back into production in Jan. 2011
WWW.Countrycoach.com (http://WWW.Countrycoach.com)
Dang!
Had you heard a rumor or were you just surfing around when you found that?
Hopefully Ron can live up to his father's reputation, for the sake of Country Coach going forward. I know many folks wouldn't consider a CC unless it was built during the times Bob Lee was actively involved. The Tiffin boys sure didn't do their dad any favors when they tried to run the company.
(edited to add, I assume Ron Lee is Bob Lee's son)
Michelle
The son was one of the reasons that CC and FT did not come to an agreement. I guess we know why now.
I saw this about CC on another forum also. However on close reading I wonder if they are really going back into coach production or are they simply going into the parts and service end of the business ? It will be interesting to see. I would think that a restart of CC would require some really deep pockets. If I was a prospective buyer I would have lots of questions about quality at start up, warrenties, service etc.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Look on the bright side. If CC goes back into business Foretravel moves up in the quality bang for the buck column.
Yea ;thats true . But when your already the top fiberglass coach is hard to move up . If you gave a really close inspection of a new CC and then on a FT , it sorta jumps at you . Been down that road . ;)
My dentist has a Country Coach that has been relegated to a permanent seasonal spot in a local campground. Something about the cost of replacing and installing new rear axles and suspension. Never did really understand. He made one trip and had to be towed back. It was a used coach and he probably got stiffed. I'm told it is a beautiful unit, except it will not move unless towed.
That suspension issue has been written up in Motorhome magazine and affected Monaco and other coaches... It's not a cheap fix, like 2-3k.
The two are not related. The Monaco rear trailing arm issue is unique to the Monaco-made rear trailing arm unique to their 4 air bag Roadmaster (Monaco in-house) chassis found on lower end Monaco Corp products. Here is information on this issue:
http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=569 (http://community.fmca.com/index.php?showtopic=569)
And, maybe I missed it, but I saw nothing about Country Coach building new coaches. From their website:
Our initial goal is to use the power of the IP and factory trained personnel to supply complete coach service, parts manufacturing, paint shop, phone technical service, and consignment sales to help maintain the investment in your Country Coach Motorhome. Brett
There is no such thing as an "investment in your Country Coach" or any other coach for that matter, including Foretravel.
Amen! The depreciation on a motorcoach makes the Great Depression of 1929 look like a bonanza. This has been especially true since the fiasco of 2008. Ask any of us living on a retirement income! One really has to be driven to the life in a motorhome.
Ron Lee is actually Bob Lee's brother. Bob has 2 daughters, no sons. Bob started Oregon Motorcoach Center with one daughter in '08. That company specializes in service and upgrades. Interestingly, I tried to bring up their website and it won't come up. I drove by there a couple of weeks ago and it all looked normal. I heard a rumor that Ron is actually going to build motorhomes - but you know how inaccurate rumors can be.
I don't know George, I sure didn't buy it as an Investment,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but I have an Investment in it !! LOL
Mike
I have this thing all figured out . Invest in a good tent , don.t put much in it , use it 5 years and you don't get much out of it . Keeps all that retirement cash home . Just think of all the mess you don't have to put up with , good mileage , no genset trouble , tires to change ,or slides to worry about .!! :) So it comes down to something like this . [ MONEY ] Might this be the issue .We bought our coaches knowing it was going to cost a bunch . It's so good to have something to bitch about . What else is a old guy going to do . ? To hot to fish , to cold to hunt .?
Brett is right - No where does it say that they are going to be building motorhomes in that announcement. Guess we will just have to wait for the next announcement, if there is one, and see if we can decipher it.
More details from local news:
http://www.kval.com/news/business/111088099.html (http://www.kval.com/news/business/111088099.html)
Looks like their goal is to build again. I hope they do well. It would be great for jobs in the area.
Here you go. You just have to do it the right way. http://www.oregonmotorcoachcenter.com/ (http://www.oregonmotorcoachcenter.com/)
I don't think there will be room for them in the market. Someone will have to die off. There are somewheres around 3000 class a being sold. That fact and monoco getting back in will be interesting to watch. Everything will need new engineering and a trip to cummins for certification. It is not as simple anymore as it was. Theymay try but they will be like FT andNewell factory direct and a shell of what they once were.