On the fence - buying 2024 Aria?

[joe@theporters.net]

Hello- I’m new to the forum. Wife and I are strongly considering a purchase of a 2024 Aria 3401, built after 10/2023 which means it has a bunch of mid year upgrades like AquaHot 250d system. We really love the floor plan and modern color and features. However, we are more than a bit spooked by all the negative reviews about Thor warranty services and quality of build. I am paying a certified RV inspector to help us look over the coach in detail and yes I know he will find stuff on any make, model of RV theses days, but I am looking for price of mind from happy Thor owners (not trolls) who can provide perspective before we sign the sales contract. Again, I know there will be issues, and we have already identified items such as torn slide seals and seals that are not properly secured to the coach. That stuff while very sad a new coach from Thor has shipped a product without properly addressing items that failed Quality Control, it is still fixable, and we won’t accept delivery until addressed by the dealership.

I would really appreciate thoughts and any insights from this community before this weekend when we are likely to sign the contract.

Thank you, potential new Thor Aria owner

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

We were definitely green horns buying our 2020 class C... and we were VERY lucky there were no factory induced problems. We got a well built motorhome.

But WOW have I learned a ton in the nearly five years since. If I were buying today, I would...

Go over EVERYTHING with a fine tooth comb
Take as long as I needed... If the dealer started rushing me, I'd walk away.
If ANYTHING major was wrong (warranty or not) I'd walk away.

You seem to have a pretty good handle on just how bad quality has fallen. Warranty service has become a joke. Hopefully you have the discipline to NOT fall in love with a particular motorhome... sales staff can read that and you will pay.

Take ALL THE TIME you need to thoroughly inspect the coach with your private inspector. Remember !!! As soon as you sign on that dotted line that motorhome is YOURS and there's NO taking it back if more problems are found.

That scenario is all over the Internet. While it's impossible to guarantee a perfect coach, make certain there are no major issues. Just pretend there is NO warranty... can you fix the found niggling issues? Are you handy? If you take your NEW motorhome back for "fixing", be prepared to wait an eternity. You AREN'T buying a car.

Most importantly, be prepared to walk away IMMEDIATELY if anything doesn't seem right.

 

[dkoldman]

Repeat from the Chateau Nomad 100%

Go over EVERYTHING with a fine tooth comb
Take as long as I needed... If the dealer started rushing me, I'd walk away.
If ANYTHING major was wrong (warranty or not) I'd walk away.
​

Your post sounds like me 6 years ago. Having a Certified Inspector is bonus, but no way I buy without checking everything I am capable of checking myself. How long the RV has been on the lot is factor in the number and type of issues it may have or gremlins that later surface.

For me, I may have been a newbie on PDIs for the 1st coach we looked at, but by the time I actually bought our RV, I was an expert on the process. We walked twice on a PDI, and passed on a 3rd one where a PDI was not needed. In our cases all of the issues we encountered were items caused by sitting on the dealers lot. Dealer would not commit to fixing all issues and some of which they would fix they would only do after the sale. I felt the Sales Manager starting to pressure us by scare tactics such as the RV was about to be sold or to appeal to thinking about what the purchase would do for my family to enjoy life versus showing me how they would fix the problems we had identified.

Ultimately it should come down to signing ONLY when you are 100% ready to take ownership of that Coach. Should issues surface later spend your energy on the processes & resource available to you to get fixed versus being one of those trolls you refer to that seem to care more about finding fault, blame, and social media bashing.

 

[ducksface]

I am a completely happy thor owner.
It is all my fault and has nothing to do with brand.
I'd have made myself happy with a 1963 Thames.


If there is a person happy with an rv who hasn't made dozens of considerations and mods and repairs:
They either need to cut the pill in half or take two, because the meds are no longer working.

Consider all of the below regarding the near future and post purchase.
The biggest hate and discontent comes from those who considered nothing of the now and later of it all.

Use an app called rvchecklist.

Make them throw in FIVE priority first in line service hours with the deal.
If you don't need the hours, it costs the dealer nothing. Make them believe in themselves.

Beau famously spent a night or two in his on the lot before he accepted delivery.

Understand that taking your rv back to the dealer for a loose screw on your valance makes you a childmind or chronic malcontent of some sort.

Youtube is your very best friend.

To own a yacht sized boat it costs 10% minimum of sales price to maintain. $100,000,000 yacht is $10,000,000 a year to operate.
An rv can be the same, maybe even more including insurance and park fees.
Don't say: 'it was $200,000 and the ac doesn't work!'
We all paid the same. You overstepped a financial boundary and that statement just makes sure we all know you're out of your league.

However handy you think you are, divide it by five. You are now in a different realm from standard woodwork and electrical and automotive.


GET LOTS OF SEAT TIME BEFORE YOU START COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RIDE.
Realize you own a cardboard house barely attached to a breadtruck assembled by people who never ever wanted to be an assembler of cardboard houses ruled by people who never ever prayed to be in qc but their probation officer made them take the job.

If we ask you a question answer the question.
If you ask us a question Make it concise and clever and complete.
When reading our responses here learn to discern.

Take the blame for what is your blame to have.
If you take delivery with the ac not working, what should we think of you?

A misquote from SuperChicken
'If you're dismayed You'll just have to overlook it. You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.'

If it distresses you to a point of distress, sell it.
It will never be worth more than it is the day you decide the hate is real.

An rv is not an escape from your home-based reality. It is something that magnifies emotions, is a lifestyle, is a hobby, is a constant constant ongoing repair needed.

It's a kit. They lend you a cheap microwave and stereo for your use until you decide what is adequate and what isn't. You get no complaints of the quality of what Thor themselves didn't build. If you don't like the $13 faucet, install the one you do like.

ALL of this needs considered before purchase.

 

[EA37TS]

We were definitely green horns buying our 2020 class C... and we were VERY lucky there were no factory induced problems. We got a well built motorhome.

But WOW have I learned a ton in the nearly five years since. If I were buying today, I would...

Go over EVERYTHING with a fine tooth comb
Take as long as I needed... If the dealer started rushing me, I'd walk away.
If ANYTHING major was wrong (warranty or not) I'd walk away.

You seem to have a pretty good handle on just how bad quality has fallen. Warranty service has become a joke. Hopefully you have the discipline to NOT fall in love with a particular motorhome... sales staff can read that and you will pay.

Take ALL THE TIME you need to thoroughly inspect the coach with your private inspector. Remember !!! As soon as you sign on that dotted line that motorhome is YOURS and there's NO taking it back if more problems are found.

That scenario is all over the Internet. While it's impossible to guarantee a perfect coach, make certain there are no major issues. Just pretend there is NO warranty... can you fix the found niggling issues? Are you handy? If you take your NEW motorhome back for "fixing", be prepared to wait an eternity. You AREN'T buying a car.

Most importantly, be prepared to walk away IMMEDIATELY if anything doesn't seem right.

Agree with this with one exception and that is the use of “major”

If anything is wrong, walk away. Do not accept any type of IOU for anything.

Something that is minor can become major 3 miles down the road.

We walked away twice. The second time the dealer was notified they had 72 hours to get it right or the deal was off and we would do another full PDI prior to delivery.

There was one issue the dealer said was a Jayco quirk. We required a Telecon with Entegra/Jayco, the dealer Service and Sales managers. The dealer was wrong, Jayco authorized the repair and we gave them 72 hours. During the same call we made an appointment with Entegra factory service for our one year anniversary to fix any issues, provided we accepted delivery on the third attempt.

As a disclaimer, this was right before the COVID panic and resulting quality issues.

 

[dkoldman]

Agree with this with one exception and that is the use of “major”

If anything is wrong, walk away. Do not accept any type of IOU for anything.

Something that is minor can become major 3 miles down the road.

We walked away twice. The second time the dealer was notified they had 72 hours to get it right or the deal was off and we would do another full PDI prior to delivery.

There was one issue the dealer said was a Jayco quirk. We required a Telecon with Entegra/Jayco, the dealer Service and Sales managers. The dealer was wrong, Jayco authorized the repair and we gave them 72 hours. During the same call we made an appointment with Entegra factory service for our one year anniversary to fix any issues, provided we accepted delivery on the third attempt.

As a disclaimer, this was right before the COVID panic and resulting quality issues.

This is great point, I think we had great salesman, but he had to work for his boss (The Sales Manager from Hell), on all of our PDIs the points that were raised the Salesman contacted TMC and we covered every issue we had identified. In our cases 100% of them were Dealer caused or post received issues from TMC while sitting on the lot. i.e. loose ladder than look like it had 2 if not 3 previous attempts to fix. Sales Managers confidently flat out said something they would not fix and others they would fix after the sale. I hadn't seen or heard from Bob in a while, but I remember Bob one of many way by then telling me to run as fast I could and don't look back. It is very hard to do when you are staring at a brand new shiny toy and you have told people you have bought an RV. But there are other RVs, find the one that passes all of your tests, or simply accept to fix the flaws that you see.

 

[joe@theporters.net]

Wow - Great community response, very much appreciated! All very solid advice and we are loving all the terrific insights from everyone. Some of the insights I took to heart are:

* If anything is wrong, walk away
* If the dealership is pressuring you to sign before things are fixed, walk away
* "'If you're dismayed You'll just have to overlook it. You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.'"
* Once you buy it, there is no going back.
*"In our cases all of the issues we encountered were items caused by sitting on the dealers lot" (I calculated that this coach was built after 10/2023 and probably has been on their lot since December. It was shipped winterized). The tires are already 1yr old. Chassis was built in June 2022 by Frieghtliner).
* Buy it with the mindset of having no warranty support from day 1 (I think this is very THOR specific as my friend has a Dynamax and he has seen great response)
* "An rv is not an escape from your home-based reality. It is something that magnifies emotions, is a lifestyle, is a hobby, is a constant constant ongoing repair needed."
* Download the rvchecklist app - did that.
* ..."there are other RVs, find the one that passes all of your tests, or simply accept to fix the flaws that you see"
*"Take ALL THE TIME you need to thoroughly inspect the coach with your private inspector."
* "If anything is wrong, walk away. Do not accept any type of IOU for anything." (If it is very minor or something I plan to change out anyway like a valence, then it will be ok. If the AC or Gen or Inverter does not work, then no way I am accepting an IOU.)

My thought is that the dealership makes a big difference. I have a 2021 Lance trailer now, and when I needed new parts, the deal was on top of it. I had slide issues, the dealer fixed it quickly, but of course I had to pay for that.

The Thor sales person and sales manager at this dealership have been awesome. Even the finance person, parts person and lead mechanic are very patient and straightforward. Taking time to answer my multitude of questions without eye rolls. Very customer focused so far, and we have made several "visits" now, taken a lot of their time, and every time has been a great interaction. For example, the parts person was very transparent to say that getting Thor to ship a part can be challenging, but he stays on them and told me a few recent stories to back that up.

The inspector is doing his diligence today and the dealership set everything up just like we asked them to, including making ice in the fridge which takes ~12hrs to setup ahead of inspection.

Thanks again for the quick and detailed thoughts. Please keep the insights coming. Fingers crossed we got a solid built coach to consider here. If not, we will walk away and wait till the next buying season on 2025s.

Joe

 

[ducksface]

The repsonses are because we're a bit enthralled by you finding us before your purchase and your ability with making a keyboard ask pertinent and involved questions.

We are subjected almost daily to drivel beyond imagination.
You did not. A true bright-spot.


Thanks for finding us.
We'll answer everything from the advantages of stuffing a baked chicken with cubed red potatoes to intricacies of lithium battery chemistry IF we're given the chance.

Welcome and please stay.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...wqsBegQIERAF&usg=AOvVaw3aWjX1Eqrrn6YsEOZ6VUqT
(Some of us occasionally speak of generational knowledge things that are trivia to some, unknown to some, life defining pillars to some)

 

[Beau388]

Hello-
[snip}
I would really appreciate thoughts and any insights from this community before this weekend when we are likely to sign the contract.
Thank you, potential new Thor Aria owner

Search for a good dealer there are several out there. Search for a RV dealer like would for a proctologist or gynecologist to remove some special parts. Thor MC usually will give you permission the use a private, non-dealer RV repair place and reimburse for the warranty repairs. Jayco and Entegra give two year conditional warranties. Thor MC has a factory repair place in Wakarusa, IN.


The RV dealers I have done business with that I would recommend: Youngbloods RV in KY, MHSRV in TX, Shaggs RV in Elizabethtown, KY, Wagner's RV in TX and NIRVC in Lewisville, TX.


MHSRV is the largest Thor MC dealer in the world and has 3 24 Arias in stock in Alvarado. Ask for Mitch Bennett; he sold us our coach Jan 2017. Two warranty repairs: awning lights and electric relay for the water heater. MHSRV fixed the two items during our 32 hour stay in the delivery barn of the post delivery inspection.

 

[joe@theporters.net]

Aria 2024 inspection went really well

My inspector spent from 9am-5:45pm going over the rig with a fine-tooth comb. I joined him around 2pm. We found nothing that was a showstopper. The dealer agreed to fix everything before delivery and because most of the items were minor, we hope to have it ready in the next three weeks or so, maybe sooner. The biggest issues were related to seals around two of the slide outs. There is a tear in one seal under one of the dinette slide out and another side seal on a different slide out was not glued properly all the way down. The most minor items were "detailing" items such as cleaning of valences that were stained a bit. Overall, I was very pleased that no major issues were discovered. The dealer had a team of people taking notes and answering questions. It was a slow day I guess because I was given a lot of attention by multiple techs, parts guy, sales and service techs.

In summary, I got the peace of mind I was seeking so we will likely be singing the papers tomorrow once we work through the final details and "PDI fix it list".

Thanks again everyone for the help and advice.

Joe

 

[ducksface]

Take tacos or pizzas with you to the signing as a thank you/bribe for the service guys.
My service guys would come to the parking lot the moment the saw me pull onto the lot.
Overnight shipping on my parts, closeout deals from the backroom, smiles, handshakes, freebies. Pizza and tacos won the year.
Make friends in high places.

 

[ducksface]

Well?
Are you an owner?

 

[joe@theporters.net]

We are a new owner of a 2024 Aria 3401

Well, we pulled the trigger and signed the papers. Handed them 13 pages of repairs and they didn't blink an eye. Fairly basic stuff they say.

We did not buy any of the extra extended 7 yr Warrantees or EcoRVPro. They also were selling Monster Seal for RV tire and Wheel protection. We didn't bite, so they gave us a couple of days to "think about it". We are on the fence about the EcoRVPro as it is supposed to help with mold and stains, even on the awning which is pretty useful here in the Pacific Northwest.

Does anyone see value in these products?

Thanks all,
Joe

 

[dkoldman]

13 pages of Repair?

Out of curiosity, what % of the 13 pages are due to TMC issues? Any thing on the list that if they ( Dealer) don't repair, that will cause you hardship, calamity, difficulty, grief, misery, sorrow, torment, trouble or worry?

Regardless, congratulations on your new RV. It is yours for good or bad, richer or poorer until you sell it to the next soul.

 

[Jimbo56]

The one thing that I’ll add is this:

If they tell you they fixed something, check it for yourself.

If they tell you they checked it out and found nothing wrong, don’t believe em.

If they tell you that it’s supposed to work that way, walk!

Never, ever, ever sign the paperwork with the dealer’s promise that they’ll fix something when you bring it back in.

 

[joe@theporters.net]

Overall - I would say that TMC is responsible for about 18 of 25 items discovered. However, some are super easy/minor to fix like the solar panel had sealant drippings on the surface from the factory. Another small issue with part of the screen on the door was pushed out and the gasket for that was hanging down (a 5min fix). One of the backup lights had moisture in the light assembly.

Other items that are more involved. The biggest issues were related to the slide out sweeps gaskets, a very small sealant tape curling up, slide out roller wheels not calibrated correctly at the factory. For example, on two of the slide outs, the bottom sweep gasket had tears in them when you could easily observe from inside the coach when the slides were out. Outside, there was two sweep gaskets that clearly were not glued on properly and could easily leak. There was also a minor Front Cap issue with the trim where 1ft approx it needed to be re-attached/glued and sealed. Not a big gap really and not easy to see actually, but something where I could see driving rain penetrating over time. Another issue I would never have seen was the top left hand side of the roof tape is curling up, exposing the metal T-Molding. Finally, on the very left side end and very right side end rollers under the big non driver side slide out were not in full contact with the subfloor. I spoke to the head mechanic about that, and he indicated that it was not uncommon. Finally, there was an extra, flat bracket, left on top of one of the slide outs. It had not caused any damage but could have over time. The factory people must have just left it there.

Every single item the inspector found was entered into the contract as to be fixed/repaired or replaced prior to accepting delivery.

Of course, I will check all these things before accepting delivery. If I suspect any issues, I can have the inspector come back out for $200 to check everything for me.

 

[Scubawise]

Overall - I would say that TMC is responsible for about 18 of 25 items discovered. However, some are super easy/minor to fix like the solar panel had sealant drippings on the surface from the factory. Another small issue with part of the screen on the door was pushed out and the gasket for that was hanging down (a 5min fix). One of the backup lights had moisture in the light assembly.

Other items that are more involved. The biggest issues were related to the slide out sweeps gaskets, a very small sealant tape curling up, slide out roller wheels not calibrated correctly at the factory. For example, on two of the slide outs, the bottom sweep gasket had tears in them when you could easily observe from inside the coach when the slides were out. Outside, there was two sweep gaskets that clearly were not glued on properly and could easily leak. There was also a minor Front Cap issue with the trim where 1ft approx it needed to be re-attached/glued and sealed. Not a big gap really and not easy to see actually, but something where I could see driving rain penetrating over time. Another issue I would never have seen was the top left hand side of the roof tape is curling up, exposing the metal T-Molding. Finally, on the very left side end and very right side end rollers under the big non driver side slide out were not in full contact with the subfloor. I spoke to the head mechanic about that, and he indicated that it was not uncommon. Finally, there was an extra, flat bracket, left on top of one of the slide outs. It had not caused any damage but could have over time. The factory people must have just left it there.

Every single item the inspector found was entered into the contract as to be fixed/repaired or replaced prior to accepting delivery.

Of course, I will check all these things before accepting delivery. If I suspect any issues, I can have the inspector come back out for $200 to check everything for me.

Great job! Good luck.
Hopefully soon you are sipping wine & camping.
Keep us posted..

 

[dkoldman]

Overall - I would say that TMC is responsible for about 18 of 25 items discovered. However, some are super easy/minor to fix like the solar panel had sealant drippings on the surface from the factory. Another small issue with part of the screen on the door was pushed out and the gasket for that was hanging down (a 5min fix). One of the backup lights had moisture in the light assembly.

Other items that are more involved. The biggest issues were related to the slide out sweeps gaskets, a very small sealant tape curling up, slide out roller wheels not calibrated correctly at the factory. For example, on two of the slide outs, the bottom sweep gasket had tears in them when you could easily observe from inside the coach when the slides were out. Outside, there was two sweep gaskets that clearly were not glued on properly and could easily leak. There was also a minor Front Cap issue with the trim where 1ft approx it needed to be re-attached/glued and sealed. Not a big gap really and not easy to see actually, but something where I could see driving rain penetrating over time. Another issue I would never have seen was the top left hand side of the roof tape is curling up, exposing the metal T-Molding. Finally, on the very left side end and very right side end rollers under the big non driver side slide out were not in full contact with the subfloor. I spoke to the head mechanic about that, and he indicated that it was not uncommon. Finally, there was an extra, flat bracket, left on top of one of the slide outs. It had not caused any damage but could have over time. The factory people must have just left it there.

Every single item the inspector found was entered into the contract as to be fixed/repaired or replaced prior to accepting delivery.

Of course, I will check all these things before accepting delivery. If I suspect any issues, I can have the inspector come back out for $200 to check everything for me.

Great. I misread the above comment when you said "Well, we pulled the trigger and signed the papers." I assumed you meant it was done deal and you had the RV.

I have been exactly where you are right now twice. Had deposits both times, some papers signed but not an owner just yet pending PDI Acceptance. I was able to get my deposits back both times because of issue I had cited that they failed / refused to repair.

I remember a tactic used by the sales manager when they were telling me how common some of the issues was, he said I need to make my mind up because if I didn't buy other people will. He was trying to make me feel uncomfortable as if I was wasting his time. Ultimately he was right, they sold both RVs I walked from shortly I had walked and I am sure they didn't fix the things I was complaining about. So you may see one perspective why RV Owners perpetuate if not create the very problems they complain about it. If no would buy the RVs with issues, the Dealers would have to fix and factory issues would have to be repaired.

I bought a new car for my daughter about 2 months ago. It did not have the Front License Plate holder so they said they would send to me later. I said no I will just pick it up when it was ready, no rush on my part. Next day they called and said it was ready. I didn't bother to inspect it was just a front license plate, so I pick it and drive it home. Then I noticed that they had taken a used plate off another Jeep and out on our car. I actually would not have noticed but it way off center from front bumper. Sales guy tried to work it through but ultimately I had to do all the leg work to get the right OEM part and install by drilling new holes in the bumper myself.

That kind of stuff just happens, I can't really blame Jeep but it just shows that even when you try hard it can still be months before everything is perfect.

 

[joe@theporters.net]

We are a new owner of a 2024 Aria 3401

Thanks for the response and guidance @dkoldman. Still have a few weeks, I suspect, before they complete the repairs we contractually agreed to. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they do the work promised. Everyone I interacted with at the dealership from sales to service to parts to technicians have been super people.

FWIW - I don't think there are a line of people buying these big RVs at this time due to high interest rates. It's a 100% a buyers market right now in the Pacific Northwest and most dealers have a ton of inventory of new and used. Now that Thor has revealed the 2025 models, dealer really need to move all their 2024 inventory out.

Joe

 

[joe@theporters.net]

Next question - What are your thoughts about extended warrantes?

Now we need to decide on new owner protection packages they want us to buy.

What do you think about the following:
1. 7yr RV Service Protection? It even includes mobile RV repair services, "virtually" all factory or dealer approved RV components, nationwide coverage.
2. What about the EcoRV High Performance Exterior and Interior protection package? 5 year proection against rain, pollutants, and stains. 99% bacteria, virus, mold and mildew protection.
3. 7yr Monster Seal that promises tire and wheel protection, instant seals punctures?

Combined, all these packages would cost an additional $10k!

Joe