2003 Panther: Dangerous Beauty. Irresistable Allure. No Claws.

It was during the excitement of the Safari Homecoming Rally on the Oregon State Fairgrounds that I had an opportunity to review the new 2003 Panther. This is the first year for the Panther since the marriage of Safari to Monaco Coach Corporation, and from what I saw, this relationship is yielding some great offspring.

The day was hot, and shade provided by the broad expanse of the Girard awning, that appeared to magically hover in mid-air, was welcome relief from the insistent sunshine. While enjoying the cool shade, I took a few moments to admire the coach’s flawless exterior paint. Every Panther is treated to full body paint, applied by the hands of true craftsmen during a process that layers one color over another and takes days to accomplish. Meticulous inspectors search every square inch for flaws. If any problems are discovered, the coach is sent back to the paint booth to make things perfect. For final protection, a glasslike clearcoat goes on to produce the glistening effect that makes the color look like it’s a mile deep. For 2003, four different color schemes are available, but each graphic design on the lower body is a waveform, with a bit of wispy cirrus drifting across a portion of the upper body slightly aft of the mid-section. From the outside, the Panther is stunning.

Then I stepped inside and my mouth quietly formed a “Wow!” Magnificent. Wall to wall, ceiling to floor, magnificent. But let’s start with the little things. I love the entry door. Its position amidship allows entry and exit without disturbance to the co-pilot’s position, eliminating traffic flow through the cockpit, and it puts you inside on either a wood or tile floor where you can remove shoes before stepping onto the elegant sculpted carpet. The mid-entrance also provides convenient movement between the galley and the “patio” area, which makes life easy when you’re enjoying snacks or dinner outside. The door is rounded at the top, which is both attractive and completely eliminates any chance of snagging the awning on a sharp corner.

When traveling, a fold-down step cover conceals the entry stairs. This hinged cover is raised and locked in an upright position to expose the steps when entering or exiting the coach. When raised, the cover forms a solid vertical partition with a grab handle.

I enjoyed the bright and cheery interior. Alder cabinetry, the lightest-hued wood of the three available (the other two being Oak and Walnut), filled the overhead regions, as well as the space below countertop level in the kitchen. Pleasing fabrics, decorator wallpaper, liberal use of beveled mirrors, and lots of windows all combine to deliver a cheerful and welcoming interior ambiance. The whole atmosphere was so pleasing to the senses that I immediately felt right at home. So I headed for the sofa, kicked back and soaked up the feeling of what it would be like to live here. Surrounded by such a high level of comfort and convenience, I could easily imagine the luxurious experience of long-term travel and living in a Panther.

Three slideouts expand interior spaciousness. The largest of the three spans the entire street-side wall, adding enormously to the square footage of the living room and kitchen. One of the nice things about Safari’s approach to the slideout room is that the expansion is virtually invisible. The floor is flush, there are no intrusions, the interior feels perfectly natural and the thought barely enters the mind that this is an expanded room.

Still, the benefits of the slideout are ever-present. From my position on the sofa, I could stretch my legs out and not worry about intruding on someone seated across from me on the classy Euro-style recliner. It’s a living room where you can truly live in comfort. When I finished admiring the comfort of my outstretched legs, I looked up and saw an awesome sight – a 42-inch plasma TV, angled slightly rearward for ideal viewing from the sofa. At first, I thought the position of the TV would exclude viewing ability for everyone except those seated on the sofa. But moving around the coach and testing a variety of positions, I discovered that the screen is perfectly viewable from the pivoted driver’s seat, as well as from the recliner (if shifted slightly and rotated toward the front). A fully automatic digital satellite system is available as an option, so there is no excuse for missing a favorite program while traveling. A large lamp table cabinet is positioned next to the recliner, with doors that open to a large storage space for books and magazines or a hidden box of chocolates.

While I was sitting and taking notes, a trio of ladies stepped into the coach and shared their enthusiasm with each other as they explored the interior. As she pulled out a couple of huge cabinet drawers, one of the gals said, “My kitchen at home isn’t this big.” She was examining the cavernous pot/pan drawers beneath the L-shaped portion of the counter, where it seems that acres of Corian stretches to the horizon. What she said is a reflection of just how user-friendly this kitchen is. There is no shortage of storage space or countertop preparation area in this galley. All the right tools for cooking are there, along with a huge 4-door refrigerator/freezer with ice maker and raised panel doors, Spacesaver microwave/convection oven, and recessed 3-burner stove with cover. Just show me where the food is and I’m ready to roll.

Across the tile floor is a free-standing dinette that cantilevers out from the wall so you can slide in without knocking your knees on a table leg. The dinette can be expanded by simply grabbing the table top and giving a tug, then adding a leaf. The two comfortable dinette chairs can be complemented by the addition of a pair of folding chairs stored in the basement.

The tile floor extends from the kitchen and dinette areas into the bathroom. This is an elegant space, with gleaming Corian stretching across the wide vanity, providing more than ample area for spreading out all the cosmetic necessities. The sink is an integrated component of the countertop, the oval basin dropping gracefully and seamlessly below the surface. Three separate mirrored medicine cabinets show you how pretty you look and hold a lot of stuff to boot. The shower and toilet share a separate room, offering ideal privacy.

At the rear of the coach is the master suite, with double slideouts expanding the room into perfect proportions. The queen bed, nightstands and overhead cabinets move out to street-side, while the 9-drawer dresser and TV cabinet move out to curbside, leaving enormous walking space around the foot of the bed. A nearly full-width wardrobe stretches across the rear of the coach, interrupted only by the cabinet that is home to the optional laundry center.

I came away from my time in the Panther with one overall impression – this is a wonderful coach, perfectly sized, with rooms that are ideal for easy living. Quality is evident throughout. In the end, it made me want to run away from home and enjoy life on the road in a 2003 Panther.

Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. Rich has over 23 years experience as a professional editor with several automotive and RV publications, including TrailerLife and MotorHome.