Call it this year's mane attraction. Call it a proud pride addition. Whatever you call it, the 2004 Simba (Swahili for lion) has already generated a buzz as Safari's newest motorcoach and is sure to raise eyebrows at its upcoming release.

Some will get to see it in person when it's unveiled in December at the 41st RVIA National Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, but I was lucky enough to tour the first model in mid-November and it's a pleasure to share it with you now.

Outside Looking In

I'm eager to talk about all the exciting things going on inside the Simba, but I'm going to restrain myself because the exterior deserves mention and you deserve an overview.

The outside is Safari quality you've come to expect - fiberglass front and rear caps, optional fiberglass sidewalls, three color schemes with quality paint on the mask and skirt and nice looking vinyl graphics. Think of a plus-size Trek. In fact, the gas powered Simba rides on the same Ford and Workhorse chassis, carries the same 6.8L V10 or 8.1L V8 engine and is supported by the same intelligent Alumaframe Superstructure as the Trek.

Safari National Sales Manager Joe Zurbuch says this is no coincidence because the sales and product development teams went after the same look of the Trek in slightly larger coach. "Obviously, a lot of people love the Trek , we've had great retail success with it again this year," he said. But we also get a lot of people who like the feel of the Trek, but they want the option of a rear bedroom instead of the Electro-majic bed or they want more storage. We think there's been some business we're missing, so we're hoping to fill that niche with the Simba and have the same success we've had with the Trek.

And presto, each of the four Simba floorplans has a rear bedroom and each is slightly larger than the Trek. At this writing, it is offered in a 33PBD, 34SBD, 36DBD (bath and a half) and a 37PCT (bedroom behind French door and a rear sitting area). The pricing for the 2004 Simba, will not be released until the RVIA show in Louisville, however, it will replace the Trek as Safari's entry-level coach. Zurbuch guessed it would retail in the $79,000 to $100,000 range

The increase in storage Joe was talking about is readily visible in the lighted outside storage compartments. Although they are not yet fully pass-through, there is ample storage in these easy-to-clean bays.

The wet bay is intelligently designed, with a hot/cold shower and self-contained storage area for the sewer hose. The water heater is a 10 gallon LP gas/electric with electronic ignition and an Onan 5.5KW gas generator is standard.

The coach I reviewed had the optional exterior entertainment system with radio, CD player and speakers - a great idea for tailgating enthusiasts or anyone who wants to entertain under the optional awning. The optional exterior gas line hookup prep for your favorite gas barbecue is a fine complement to this package.

Electrical system options include 50 amp service with energy management system, 130 watt inverter, storage compartment tank monitor gauges and a 50 amp 120 volt distribution panel and cord.

Magic Time

As much as there is going on outside and underneath this coach, the real magic happens when you step inside. All floorplans have side entry, where you'll be greeted with plenty of handrails inside and out. The linoleum landing wraps around into the kitchen, making muddy feet less of a disaster, although the upgraded nylon carpeting with Scotchgard can probably fend off any stains.

A lot of thought went into designing a unique interior for this motorcoach. It's apparent immediately. I usually write reviews from the cockpit back, but with the Simba I'd like to start with the bedroom. This is where I found one of the best examples of a strong interior theme that runs from the front privacy drape to the beveled rear mirror. That theme is really more of a feeling, and that feeling is one of  handcrafted quality.

In the bedroom, it's apparent in the ornately carved wood headboard, the etched wallboard or wainscoting, and the unique slideout fascia with great vinyl inserts that have an appearance and texture reminiscent of alligator skin. (In a very tasteful way.) The decorative wood you'll lean against at night was crafted with electric tools in a plant, but it looks so unique you can almost picture it taking form under the chisel and weathered hands of a tribal artisan.

The handcrafted theme continues throughout the rest of the coach, but before we move on I'd like to mention a few other bedroom bonuses. The first is storage - the Simba's bedroom is a cozy size, but between the wardrobe, the deep dressers and the underbed area, if your storage needs are not met, you must be hauling a mounted water buffalo.

The second bonus is the standard 19-inch TV across from the bed. That's an impressive standard for a coach in this price range, especially in it's first year of production. It's also a signal of another big theme in the Simba: tremendous value. Digital thermostats instead of analog are a smaller example.

The bathrooms in the 33 and 34-foot floorplans are not big enough for two people to move around, so you may have to budget a bit more time for dinner party preparations or bump up to a larger floorplan if this is really an issue for you. There is a good amount of storage for towels and toiletries in and around the bathroom.

Continuing into the bedroom hallway, you'll begin to see more evidence of the handcrafted feel. Virtually all of the standard vintage oak cabinet (optional cherry and maple) doors outside the bedroom have woven raffia inserts, which gives the appearance of tightly woven wood or grass like you might see in the baskets of a local African marketplace. The wall treatment lends a plastered effect, combining effortlessly with the rest of the interior and adding another wonderful layer of texture. In the living area, theres more of that cool vinyl on the slideout fascia.

All in all, out of the hundreds of coach interiors I've seen, I think the Simba's is one of the most successful in using color, fabric, light and texture. The artistic theme set by the raffia is reflected in the fabric inserts on the vinyl cockpit seats and the base of the couch and its armrests also get the decorative wood touch. Even the fridge is covered with an optional raffia insert.

What's Cooking?

When you're in the kitchen, look up. The tinted skylight above the sink, flanked with fluorescent lights, is an element of both style and value. It's just something you won't find in any similarly priced competitors. It can be covered with a day shade, providing complete control and various options in the lighting department. In addition to providing a tranquil ambience with diffused lighting, it also provides a little temperature control in the heat of the day.

The kitchen comes standard with high-output three-burner cook top with bi-fold range cover, space saver microwave (convection microwave optional) and a large double-door refrigerator (icemakers and four-door optional).

Storage and counter space is decent, but fans of the giant stir-fry may have to leave their enormous woks at home. Depending on the floorplan, some kitchen tool overflow could be picked up by the large cabinets in the hall across from the bath (provided you don't have the washer/dryer option), or in the drawers of the booth dinette.

In the dinette area, a computer hookup with phone jack will come in handy for those who like to snack and work.

Live It Up

In the living room, the standard RCA 24-inch flat screen was just another feature I didn't expect to find in an entry-level coach. And when you're sitting on the couch enjoying the game or a movie on this top-shelf appliance, the built in cup holder will make it that much better. The television is also prepped for a digital satellite hookup and VCR, and it has exterior preps for a dish and cable. The Home Theater System with DVD player is an option and comes with the television wired through the ceiling speakers.

The availability of great amounts of natural light was one thing I noticed right away about the living area and kitchen in the Simba. From the large floor to ceiling windows (all with day/night shades) to the kitchen skylight, fluorescents, halogens and incandescents, every corner is well lit. The bedroom is a bit darker in the smaller floorplans, which I personally prefer, but if you are a fan of early morning light in your eyes, the mirrors above the cabinet can be opened to reveal a window of decent size, (which also happens to be the rear emergency egress).

Speaking of windows, they come adorned with a small black disc that took me a while to figure out. The disk is mounted to the inside of the screen in all the windows, and a flat black strip of rubber is mounted on the outside, which looks a bit like a squeegee. This contraption is a clever window crank - it will open the window from the bottom up as you turn it. The dual benefit of this design is that it allows you to crack the windows for ventilation even when it's raining. For additional control of climate and ventilation, optional 12 volt attic fans can be added in kitchen and living area on select floorplans.

Furniture options in the Simba include a freestanding dinette table with leaf, a fabric hide-a-bed sofa with air mattress, a bedroom desk, swivel recliner chairs and a fabric electric sofa.

More Surprises

The cockpit area looks great and functions better. The fiberglass dash has the appearance of brushed metal and the Roman Bronze instrumentation panel gives the coach a high performance feel. The windshield wipers lay flat at the bottom of the windshield instead of vertical - a big plus in my book. Although I prefer the mobility of side mounted snake lights, the directional map lights above the center console were effective for task lighting.

I like the wood-framed glass panels on the entertainment center above the cockpit better than some of the wire grills and plastic panels I've seen in other motorhomes. The radio is operated with ease and the Sony speakers in the ceiling throughout the Simba put out a consistently great sound from front to back.

Cockpit options include six-way power pilot and co-pilot seats, a rear vision system, power sunvisors, roof mounted air-horns and a driver's side door.

I was again surprised when I saw the new optional Atwood electric leveling system in the Simba - definitely something to talk about. I went to Joe Zurbuch to get an answer for how a new coach in this price range could come with all this heavy-duty equipment. He stressed that, when compared to the rest of the industry, the Simba will be considered an affordable, high-end coach. Zurbuch says Safari's position as a luxury motorhome manufacturer allows the company to build much more value into entry-level coaches because they already work with luxury features and equipment. "We don't know how to build anything cheap because we're a high-end manufacturer", he said. "You get a lot more equipment for your money."

It's hard to argue with Zurbuch's assessment that the Simba will be very competitive. "It just has a lot more desirable features, more equipment, more desirable storage," he said. "All around I think you're going to get more value for your money. It will measure up with the best coach out there at this level."

After a thorough review of the new Safari entry-level coach, I agree,
and I think they could have named this coach with other Swahili words, like ndaniya bora jambo - a great deal. Okay, maybe that's why I'm not in product development, but when you see it, I'm sure you'll agree that artistic style combined with great value is the essence of the 2004 Simba.