Contessa’s Appeal Stretches Wide

The 2008 Beaver Contessa is a luxury motorhome with floor plans to fit just about any lifestyle—full-time RVers, young families who like to go camping, older couples traveling with grandchildren, and much more.

Beaver spokesman Ryan Lee said the Contessa’s appeal cuts across age groups and interests, and so floor plans have been ingeniously designed to serve different groups. For example, if you are a gourmet cook, you can choose a model with an enhanced kitchen. If you have a large family, you can opt for extra sleeping space. If entertainment is of primary importance, you can choose a plan with bigger TVs and an exterior entertainment system.

What all Contessa buyers have in common, Lee said, is the desire to acquire a high-end coach at a value price. The Contessa is offered in five models from 38 feet to 42 feet in length, all powered by a Caterpillar C-9 diesel engine and Allison six-speed transmission. The suggested retail base price starts at $287,000 but the Contessa has many features found in coaches selling for $400,000 or more.

Like all Beaver motorhomes, it carries an abundance of wood cabinetry and trim. “We make all of our own cabinets in-house,” Lee said, and the craftsmanship is reflected throughout. High-gloss rustic cherry wood is the standard choice, but tight knot walnut and white maple are also available.

Beaver is part of the Monaco Coach Corporation family, and the coach is built on Monaco’s Roadmaster chassis. Since Roadmaster’s entire focus is on luxury motorhomes, that means the chassis is built to high standards and is seamlessly integrated with the coach. An outboard mounted airbag suspension system assures a smooth ride.

For 2008, the Contessa has added Villa furniture, a redesigned cockpit, increased storage space and other new features.

The cockpit has a one-piece Panaview windshield for an unobstructed view, and the instrument panel has been redesigned for an updated look and better ergonomics. Other features include a lighted VIP Smartwheel, audible turn signals, six-way Ultraleather seats, and a rear vision system. You can add a GPS, 10-disc CD changer and interior privacy sunscreens.

Plush carpets are standard, but you can upgrade to a full-tile living room. Lee said most buyers are taking that option because of ease of maintenance.

Most floor plans have a 32-inch Sony LCD television over the cockpit, but one plan has a 40-inch TV installed in a hutch in the living area, and it can be viewed from the cab seats when they are rotated. The furnishings can include a computer desk, recliner chair, love seat and hide-a-bed sofa.

The bedroom comes with a queen or king bed. Air mattresses from Select Comfort are an option. A decorative headboard, solid-surface nightstands and independent fluorescent reading lights surround the bed. Bedside switches control lighting for the inside ceiling, bathroom and outside docking lights. A 23-inch Sony TV is included.

The bathroom has a one-piece round shower with a showerhead that can be adjusted for height. A bathtub is also an option, and one plan has a bath and a half.

The contemporary kitchen has a high-output cooktop with an oven, a convection microwave and a 12-cubic-foot refrigerator and icemaker. You can upgrade to a 14-foot refrigerator with a water dispenser in the door. There is also a stainless steel refrigerator and microwave package that is a popular option. New this year is a countertop extension that rolls back into place after use.

Exterior features include full-body paint with blend and fade graphics, keyless entry and automatic awnings on the patio and front door. Optional pass-through slideout trays make it easy to access the storage areas.

For information, contact Beaver Motor Coaches, a division of Monaco Coach Corporation, by calling (800) 650-7337 or visit www.beavermotorcoaches.com.