Raising your private life quality by 300%
Written: Jun 19 '00 (Updated Feb 08 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Build from ground up, excellent conceptional work
Cons: None so far
The Bottom Line: Great value on the road, slick driving - like a family van, Safety and fun, all combined with the big freedom!
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| 401402's Full Review: Archived Autos & Motorsports Reviews |
Introduction
After much consideration and research in the RV market we finally decided to buy a motorhome that could fit our individual needs. Since we can not afford a motorhome as a third vehicle due to all overhead costs and needed to have a unit that can be driven in regular day-by-day traffic as a first car, we were looking for a compact unit that would still offer all comfort of a complete motorhome. So we looked into the Class B camping vans only, because everything beyond that (size-wise) could not be operated easily enough when doing some shopping or picking up our children from school. As a family of four we wanted to have a little hotel on wheels with van characteristics. A dream came true when we found the Winnebago Rialta as it offers everything we could dream about: van engine, wide body, considerably bigger as a Class B van (the Rialta belongs to the Class C group), excellent driving characteristics and most importantly: this unit is built from ground up as a motorhome. Most of the Class B vehicles are developed as vans and for the matter of motorhome features, everything would be squeezed in after lowering the original floor to make it fit. The Rialta is different, Winnebago builds the unit from the view of a comfortable motorhome in the first place.
Buying, Dealer Tip
Buying an RV is a lengthy, intense process. There is a simple rule to the whole thing: if you don't like the dealer for any reason, go some place else! There are plenty of places that run their @.. off to make you happy. But, still try to be fair to them too. As a rule of thumb, the sticker price is about 30-35% higher than what the dealer pays to the manufacturer. They carry their overhead and still want to make some profit. It might be safe to guess that you can try to come close to 15% off sticker price, sometimes even more. Try to pick a unit up at a trade show, they always push prices to the limit there, you might be surprised.
We made an outstanding experience with Mekkelsen RV in Montpelier, Vermont (in fact, living in the South it might not be the first place to look for a good deal), see them at: http://www.mekkelsenrv.com/
They focus very much on customer relationship and do everything to make you happy. Dealing with them was a great pleasure and easy too as they run a lot of extra miles to make the deal real easy for you!
Exterior
As you can see at the picture (http://www.winnebagoind.com/rialta.htm), the Rialta looks quite different from other camping vans as it is designed as a real motorhome from the ground. The cabin is made of fiberglass, which prevents it from the common corrosion issues. On top of this advantage there are no leaks or rust spots to be expected and the lightweight of the material provides another economical plus. There are two windows at both sides of the cabin, plus the door window on the right side and a very big rear window that gives an amazingly wide view in the back of the vehicle. Our former Plymouth Grand Voyager had a view that was worse.
On top of all standard exterior features you would find with any RV (power outlet, sewer hoses, trailer wiring socket) there are some things Winnebago developed in a clear sense of operational excellence and user convenience:
- the side entrance door features a screen door that secures against bugs and mosquito’s while parking
- the fuel fill door is lockable and located right behind the driver’s door, so you don’t have to walk away when filling
- molded, steel reinforced bumpers
- storage compartments
- generator, built-in to one of the storage compartments
- additional power outlets 110V
- lockable fresh water tank access, gravity fill
The TV antenna is roof mounted and can be inflated and operated from the inside very easily. There is a fan built-in the ceiling as well that switches off automatically when someone would close the cover to the roof (prevents the motor from burning out). As an option and additionally to the regular van AC, you can have a second AC (roof mounted) that only works with 110V power from either the generator or the electrical system when connected to power at a campground.
Data: 21’8” length – 7’7” height (8’6” with external AC) – 7’4” width
Floor plans
Winnebago offers this unit with three different floor plans. Depending on your needs you can choose a bigger dinette area in the back and appliances installed behind the front seats or a model with more closets build-in and a couch behind the front passenger seats or the floor plan we have chosen, where four passenger seats give you control over the children sitting nearby while driving. Check out the different floor plans at the Winnebago web site: http://www.winnebagoind.com/2000ria.htm.
Another great feature of the web site is the virtual walk-through tour (you need Quick Time 3 or higher installed on your computer):
http://www.winnebagoind.com/vwtria2000.htm (features the unit described in the review).
Interior
Walking into the Rialta gives you a very good impression on the engineering of this vehicle. They really focused on convenience and value in use! As opposed to the camping vans (Class B) around, this unit gives you a lot of space to walk around, sleep and even play inside on a rainy day at the campground. The entrance is at a very low level – very nice if you have to enter the RV with two children and want to be off the street quickly. With an internal height of 6’2” there is plenty of room for non-basketball players to stand up all the way through the entire vehicle. Entrance and window lights can be operated separately so you don’t have to light up the entire vehicle with the many overhead lights.
Appliances you can find in the unit include a refrigerator that can be operated with either propane gas (the gas unit is located in a compartment on the outside), the coach battery (which is independent from the car battery) or regular power if the vehicle is plugged to a power source. Additionally there is a sink with hot and cold water, gas stove and furnace, microwave, toilet and a shower cabin with another sink. In order to safe space in the cabin, Winnebago invented a clever concept for the shower cabin, which is a pullout unit (see the floor plan graphics). Closets and overhead compartments as well as a shelf in the back of the vehicle give enough space for cloths and other items. There is a dinette area in the back with a put-away table where four people find space. The same area forms a full size bed as the passenger seats behind the driver’s seat do. Unfolding the beds and put them back into the seating position is a piece of cake.
I need to tell you that operating any feature in the Rialta is a revealing of finest engineering art. It’s just a blast to put your hands on everything as it really clicks and seems to be of best quality material. All operations can be monitored with the build-in control panel for all tanks, battery power and pump operation. The TV/VCR combo (option) can be operated with a remote control (so does the Radio/Cassette or CD player) and is prepared for cable TV connection to be found at many RV campgrounds. See a complete list of all appliances, specifications and options at this site: http://www.winnebagoind.com/riaspec2000.htm#AUTOMOTIVE.
Chassis
One of the major arguments that convinced us to buy this RV was the chassis, a 140hp Volkswagen V6. Driving is even more enjoyable as with our former Voyager. Surprisingly the turning circle is narrower as with any Class B camping van and with the very wide rear window there is every control in the world to all sides. The biggest surprise though, came with the gas mileage. Winnebago writes about an average of approximately 16 miles per gallon. On one of our trips where we drove major highways almost exclusively we managed almost 20 gallons! 75 miles/hour don’t feel unsafe at all, even in pretty high winds and curves. The vehicle sticks on the asphalt like glued on. The Volkswagen EuroVan features all elements of convenience as used from any car. The front seats make 600 miles an easy going with the adjustable back support. You can even turn them to the inside to form a little sitting group with the companion seats. The AC unit that blows both into the front area and back into the cabin can be easily operated overhead, several lamps can be directed in different angles.
Safety
As many units and appliances use different power sources there is always a safety concern regarding exposure of gases and fire. If you need to escape the vehicle quickly while being in the cabin, the rear window can be pushed out very easily with a safety mechanism. In order to be alarmed for any case of gas or fire the unit carries two alarm units for carbon monoxide and fire. The Rialta comes with driver’s and passenger airbags, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, Fire Extinguisher and backward movement sound. Especially when you use the unit with a young family you would very much appreciate all the safety considerations and precautions taken by the engineering team from Winnebago that proof again that they did earn their reliability in this industry through creative and hard work.
If you need further tips for buying a used RV, please check out my other review on this topic at: http://thebestof.epinions.com/auto-review-BAD-7311952-3924C1BE-prod2
Thanks you for reading and rating my reviews.
Summary
If you look for a motorhome that can be used as a regular day-by-day vehicle but still provides all excitement of a hotel on wheels, the Winnebago Rialta is the unit to go for. The excellent driving conditions along with the professional engineering of the cabin makes this investment a major quality improvement of any minute on the road with your family. The Rialta starts at about $59,000, but you can find a lot of better deals if you shop around (use the Internet), especially with pre-owned units. Ours was only driven for 5,000 miles and 1.5 years old, we paid $46,000 net for this practically brand new vehicle.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
401402
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