Mandalay Valencia
Avg. Rating

This is a solid mid-grade coach; much like a Jeep is to vehicles. Built solidly (minimal popped screws and loose things) Quality components (Freightliner, Allison, Dometic, Flexsteel) Great insulated glass (double pane, and only one fog in 8 years) Solid wood cabinets, not pressboard. tons and tons of storage. What you won't see are the glitz and glamour items that cost another $40,000, like granite counters, fireplaces, ceramic tile flooring (all of which can be added to the Mandalay if you wish)

This is a great entry level diesel pusher motor home. It has a very comfortable floor plan even with only two sldes. The living room slide is 13 feet long and a big 36 inch depth so it really expands the living area. The basement storage has three bins with full width pass through. Handling is nimble with little oversteer. Air brakes, air suspension and engine braking make handling even easier. With the Banks Power Pack installed, mileage has improved by 5% to 8.6 mpg. The lack of full body paint means a little more exterior maintenance, but multiple applications of PoliGlow have really brought out the shine. All in all a very nice coach with many amenities and solid performance.

We purchased a used 2006 Valencia as our first motor home. We have put about 11,000 miles on it since the spring of 2013. It has a great floor plan with plenty of space for my wife and me. The basement storage is spacious with the two middle bays having a pass-through the full width of the coach. I opted to install a Banks Power Pack on the Cummins 5.9L diesel engine and it provided plenty of torque and HP as we toured the Ozarks and southern Appalatians towing our Honda CRV. I don't think there are many of these coaches on the market, but one that is well kept can be a steal for a first time buyer or someone looking to move up from a gas powered coach.

Comparing to cars, the Mandalay 36A is a nice Jeep or Buick. Better than most, without the bells and whistles that add bling instead of function. Solidly constructed on a Freightliner chassis, powered by a Cummins 300HP engine, and mated to an Allison transmission, the ride is very good. I haven't driven a Newell or Country Coach, so can't compare to the finest, but it doesn't wander, and gets 9.5 MPG at 62MPH. The big guys can't say that... Inside is nice without being flashy. Solid wood cabinets, 2 13,500BTU A/C units, a 40,000 heater, separate toilet room from the main bath, and LOTs of storage, both inside and underneath. Room and hookups for a washer/dryer, and for a TV in the basement area, large awning, backup camera and a full set of gauges. This looks, feels and drives like a solid motorhome.

Comparing to cars, the Mandalay 36A is a nice Jeep or Buick. Better than most, without the bells and whistles that add bling instead of function. Solidly constructed on a Freightliner chassis, powered by a Cummins 300HP engine, and mated to an Allison transmission, the ride is very good. I haven't driven a Newell or Country Coach, so can't compare to the finest, but it doesn't wander, and gets 9.5 MPG at 62MPH. The big guys can't say that... Inside is nice without being flashy. Solid wood cabinets, 2 13,500BTU A/C units, a 40,000 heater, separate toilet room from the main bath, and LOTs of storage, both inside and underneath. Room and hookups for a washer/dryer, and for a TV in the basement area, large awning, backup camera and a full set of gauges. This looks, feels and drives like a solid motorhome.