RV Park near Atlanta

[David Brady]

Bruce,



Congratulations on your new coach and I wish you many happy

miles.



My '02 has a DVD, CD, GPS, Satellite with flat panel TV, a

Bose surround sound system (with subwoofer), a CB radio, and

side and rear cameras, all from the factory. The 6 changer

CD/Radio/GPS is an Alpine combo unit. The floors are a laminate

style like Brad's, but you have to look close to believe it. There is

a radiator bracket in the engine compartment that is dished and does

collect water and debris. Of course it's an easy fix, but I understand,


for the money you'd expect a better solution (at least some drain
holes).

This area is thick steel and won't rust thru but looks a lot better

with a drain hole and a layer of POR.  My interior is strikingly

similar to Brad's. It's a stained maple done by Mary Hurly(sp)

of Prevost Royale after Monaco bought Royale and she went

to work with BB. Here's some pics:



http://picasaweb.google.com/dmb2000/BlueBirdLXI



I do have the plastic cabinet latches, but the heavy drawers use

a spring loaded steel latch, these are also used for the sofa drawers.

Brad, the spring tension is adjustable. Maybe you can tighten yours

up a bit. Mine stay closed and we do load them up. Maybe I don't

take the corners like you! But... I long for the aircraft style latches

used in the pre 1990 coaches.



My ideal coach would be an '86 PT40, zero-houred, with a slide

(probably done by Valid), a 4-stroke diesel (Cummins or

Detroit), and a 6-speed Allison. Might throw some modern day

airbags on her too, the hour-glass shaped piston style of the LXi,

(Goodyear 1R11 series). Those years with the true school bus

All American Chassis are truly classic. Greg, you wanna talk slides in

an old BB?



But for now I rest assured knowing that I have the best of the LXi's,

since I've been told that the '03's and newer really aren't so great
and

the truly best were built before model year '03. Ha ha, LOL, this is all

tongue in cheek of course! Seriously though, there is a natural human

tendency to believe that his/hers is the last of the great Birds. When
in truth,

they are all wonderful, I appreciate each and everyone of them,
including

the 380 and 450, and the Premier XL, and get a real charge out of

seeing one on the road coming my way. In truth, these Birds, all model

years, have far more in common then they have different.



Best of luck Bruce,

David,

'02 LXi, NC





brad barton wrote:

Bruce,

>From what I heard from a BB rep before I ever saw my coach, 2000
and a few 2001 models were the last really "built" Wanderlodges in the
design and production pipeline from the management group that worked
with the Luce family.  Apologies to anyone who disagrees.  A BB owner
in Kansas has had all sorts of trouble with his 2002 and 2003 BB's. 

I liked the mid to late 90's coaches too, but we wanted to get away
from all