When you build some of the most luxurious, richly appointed motorhomes in the business, it
can be a challenge deciding how next to improve upon your products to offer even more than
a discerning clientele expects. But that’s exactly what Country Coach has done with the
First Avenue special-edition versions of its popular Allure and Intrigue lines. Conceived
to pay homage to Country Coach’s founder, Bob Lee, the First Avenue editions are so named
because it was on First Avenue in Junction City, Oregon, that Lee began building Country
Coach motorhomes. “The idea was to take an existing product line and make it more fun,
really,” said Country Coach Marketing Projects Manager Sherry Fanning. “In addition, we
have introduced a 38-foot First Avenue edition of the Intrigue, the first 38-foot floorplan
built in this line.” Country Coach’s entry-level Allure is available in two new floorplans
under the First Avenue moniker: a 36-foot Sunriver and a 40-foot Cascade, both of which
feature living-room and streetside-bedroom slideouts. The Intrigue is available in a total
of four new layouts: a 32-foot Venture, a 36-foot Evening Star, the aforementioned 38-foot
Suite Escape and the 40-foot Suite Sensation. The changes to the interior of both product
lines are subtle, but welcome indeed: larger living-room windows, a Pioneer in-dash stereo
with an optional monitor and an XM Satellite Radio, a 24-inch television (flat screen on
the Intrigue) that is mounted above the driver’s seat and angled toward the living area,
redesigned raised-panel cabinetry, a standard glassware cabinet, an occasional table with a
leaf and a solid-surface top, a larger shower/tub and a host of other interior décor
upgrades. A stainless-steel door-panel package for the refrigerator and microwave is
optional. Outside, First Avenue Allure and Intrigue models receive redesigned front and
rear caps with a stainless-steel trim package and new light packages, additional paint
styles and LED clearance lights. The 38-foot Intrigue Suite Escape features a large
living-room slideout that houses a sofa bed and a galley, opposite a barrel chair/table (or
an optional second sofa bed) and a two-place dining table with leaf, respectively. Aft of
the galley is a bath area that features a shower and lavatory on the streetside and a
toilet enclosure with its own lav curbside. The bedroom features a horizontally opposed
queen-size bed with nightstands, a rear-mounted wardrobe and washer/dryer, a 20-inch
television and a computer/makeup area at the foot of the bed. The Allure and Intrigue are
built on Country Coach’s DynoMax chassis, featuring monocoque construction, a tube-steel
cage and Neway independent front suspension. The Allure comes standard with an 8.3-liter
Cummins diesel producing 350 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque and an Allison 3000MH automatic
transmission; an 8.9-liter Cummins with 370 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque is optional. The
higher-end Intrigue comes standard with the 370-hp engine, with a 400-hp version optional.
The gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) for single rear-axle models is 33,200 pounds and
44,200 pounds for tag-axle coaches. The First Avenue edition of the Allure starts at
$268,800; the Intrigue starts at $302,400. Country Coach Inc., (800) 654-0223,
www.countrycoach.com.
First Avenue Allure & Intrigue
Originally Published in MotorHome Magazine
Please login or register to view archived articles.
Do not have an account? Create New Account