Ooooh, look what’s happening with LaPalma! In preparation for the calendar rollover to 2003, LaPalma has undergone a bit of a makeover. Two new floorplans have been added, giving new owners an expanded choice of ten different plans, ranging from 30 to 36 feet in length. Plus, a bunch of new standard features have been added to LaPalma’s already impressive equipment list.

For me, as a coach reviewer, the question arises about how the folks at Monaco can come up with ideas for upgrades year after year. At this year’s Oregon Come Home Rally, it all became crystal clear. One of the seminars was for ladies only. The only man in the room was Pat Carroll, vice president of product development. For more than an hour, the group of women told Pat what they thought should be changed about their coaches. Some of the recommendations were big and others were small, but to the owners, every recommendation was important. Things like light switches, cup holders, skylights above the shower, cabinets, computer desks in the cockpit, and more. At the end of the session, the man from product development had benefited from lots of owner input. That means future owners will also benefit as many of the recommendations are implemented.

Along that very line, the 2003 LaPalma reflects improvements both big and small, but every one important. Most of the changes from last year’s model are inside, but even from the outside, the LaPalma has a new look, with fresh exterior graphics, flush-mounted windows and larger 2-panel sideview mirrors.

LaPalma features a side entry door that lands you either in or adjacent to the living room. It’s a convenient arrangement that allows you to walk right in and sit down to enjoy one of the nice entertainment upgrades, a new 27-inch TV that replaces the earlier 25-inch unit. The TV in the bedroom has also grown to 19-inches from the previous 13-inches. One of the other new standard items in the bedroom is a radio with single-disc CD player.

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“From the outside, the LaPalma has a new look, with the fresh exterior graphics; flush-mounted windows and larger two panel side-view mirrors.”

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The kitchen is one area that received a lot of attention insofar as new standard equipment is concerned. A new Princess model 2277 recessed black cooktop with two sealed burners has replaced the earlier stove and oven. Poured marble countertops in both the kitchen and bath are not only attractive but also help make it easy to keep things clean. In contrast to the solid surface countertops, the dinette and the bedroom nightstands are made of laminate materials with a lovely wood edge. The dinette table itself has been redesigned with a rounded front edge and integrated cup holders. Those coaches with booth dinettes now have added storage space provided by 32-inch drawers beneath the seats. The built-in wooden cutting board is a new feature, and so are the fluorescent lights beneath the kitchen overhead cabinets. The kitchen also has upgraded faucets and a separate faucet for filtered water. And ventilation has been improved by the addition of Fantastic Fan ceiling vents in both the kitchen and bathroom.

As I go over the menu of upgrades, I can almost hear a chorus of owners’ voices shouting, “Thank you for listening to us.” But LaPalma has received far more than what I’ve already mentioned. The bathroom enclosure has been upgraded to include a solid wood raised-panel door. In the shower is a new dispenser for shampoo, conditioner and gel-type bath soap. And while you’re all soapy, look up and enjoy the new glaze tinted skylight. In the bath and kitchen areas are new toe kicks with rope lighting, and the cabinetry hardware has all been upgraded to very attractive brass and chrome.

From cockpit to bedroom, the upgrades continue. Up front, there are new Soft Touch vinyl pilot and co-pilot seats. The instrument panel now features an in-dash compass and outside thermometer, and a high-tech carbon weave dash panel replaces the former black Santex look. Deeper cup holders have been installed on the passenger side console. A new privacy drape with a braided rope and hook fastening system replaces the earlier version that had Velcro fabric straps.

Functional upgrades include the standard winterizing line to cycle anti-freeze through the plumbing system. That used to be part of the optional Cold Weather Package, but now it’s a standard feature. Metal floor registers replace the former plastic ones. Auxiliary power generators have been resized to more closely satisfy the typical needs of the size of the coach, but you aren’t stuck with the standard generator if you want to upgrade. For example, if you order the dual roof air conditioner option, you will need to upsize the generator to handle the extra load.

Well, I could go on with the list of new standard equipment, but it’s apparent that the folks in Product Development have been listening. I had an opportunity to spend some time with a 2003 LaPalma 36PED, getting a feel for the comfort level and conveniences offered by this coach. Before going aboard, I did a walk-around to check for any obstructions that might come into play when expanding the slideout rooms. Then I stepped inside and repeated the process, making certain the pilot seat was not going to interfere with the slideout process. Satisfied that everything was okay, I pressed a couple of switches and the coach woke up and stretched out to its full width.

I found the living room to be wide and comfortable, and that feeling extended to the dinette area, because it was right across from the sofa. This fabric sofa, by the way, is very comfortable and offers pop-up footrests at each end. As part of the test, I stretched out on the couch, and even my 6-foot length fit nicely.

One of the attractive design elements of this floorplan is the angled entertainment center, just forward of the dinette and behind the co-pilot seat. It visually separates the passenger side of the cockpit from the living area, but both front chairs can be turned to face into the living room for cozy conversation with sofa-bound visitors. The dashboard on the passenger side has a very large sliding desktop to enable the navigator to work on a laptop while traveling or even in camp. All the necessary plug-ins are conveniently positioned on the curbside wall.

The wraparound windshield is split in the middle by a divider post and by the windshield wipers while at rest, but the view is wide and otherwise unobstructed. Huge side windows with screened sliding panes provide a great view and allow more than ample fresh air ventilation. All the windows are dual pane for thermal efficiency and tinted for visual comfort. Day/night shades are quiet while traveling and offer maximum flexibility of privacy and sun blockage.

I found the L-shaped kitchen to be quite compact, with limited counter space for spreading around ingredients for something as complex as my exclusive breakfast burrito recipe. Fortunately, the designers included a flip-up counter extension that helps a lot. Cabinet space was also pretty limited and would call for creative storage of utensils and foodstuffs, if the trip were to be of long duration.

In the bath area is a corner shower, and the small vanity suffers from nearly non-existent counter space. Luckily, I don’t carry many cosmetics, so that doesn’t matter to me, but for the gals it’s going to be a challenge. To compensate, there is another semi-vanity area across from the foot of the bed. Actually, this is a built-in dresser with two huge drawers (2 more drawers are located to each side), but the dresser top will work for applying makeup under the light of a 3-bulb fixture and hinged double mirror. When the mirrors are closed, the bedroom window is covered and the room becomes very dark. If the bedroom wants for anything, it’s more daylight. The slideout end-wall windows are small to accommodate the overhead cabinets. A skylight or rear-wall window would be welcome. Fortunately, the rear wall is largely covered by a mirror, which visually enlarges and brightens the room.

With all due respect to those full-timing LaPalma owners out there, my overall impression of the 2003 LaPalma is that it’s the ideal coach for the part-timer. The upgrades for the new model year are impressive, going a long way toward eliminating the need for an extensive options list. For anyone thinking about a Class-A coach in the 30- to 36-foot range, the LaPalma should be on your must-see list.

Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He has 25 years experience as a professional editor with several automotive and RV publications including TrailerLife and MotorHome.