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Who is your favorite bus manufacturer in North America? |
New Flyer |
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17% |
[ 5 ] |
Gillig |
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20% |
[ 6 ] |
Orion |
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6% |
[ 2 ] |
NABI |
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17% |
[ 5 ] |
Nova Bus |
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20% |
[ 6 ] |
ElDorado |
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3% |
[ 1 ] |
Millennium |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
Blue Bird |
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3% |
[ 1 ] |
Optima |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
Other (specify) |
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10% |
[ 3 ] |
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Total Votes : 29 |
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Rt4957
Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 28
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Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Can I put in a "Was" the best manufacturer??
NEOPLAN!!
We still have a few 45-4695s left and are now slowly phasing out the 4700-4794 seies,,built around 1995-1997.
Dang if after 12-15 years on the property,,through hell and the hood,,these buses are still the most comfortable suspensionwise on the Los Angeles streets still to this day.
Going to miss them when they are gone,,already an occasional tear in the heart when an old friend ends up on "Death Row" (our Back wall at the Division).
The people at Neoplan were a class act to deal with as well,,we got many a request filled when asked for stuff.We dressed up a couple buses with some special swag.
Rt4957 Phil |
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OCTA3053
Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 22 Location: Wilmington, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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This posting is based on my experiences on what Ive driven
NABI 40LFW ( old and restyle )
I like the NABI low floors when it comes to drivers comfort. Lots of room in the compartment, just like the Orion low floors ( which i havent driven ). The 2001 NABIs I used to drive always tend to bottom-out...while on the 2000 NABI 40LFWs had a better suspensions.
NewFlyer 40HF
Ive driven NewFlyer 40ft High Floors...and they seem to be solid. They tend to sway from side to side too...just like the Orion 5 and NABI 416. The diesel low floors I used to drive are solid. Sucks that OCTA had to retire most of these.
Neoplan
Heck I own a 40ft CNG High floor. Its real solid. Great suspension and everything.
Gillig
Ive never driven a Gillig low floor. I like the older Gilligs made prior to 1993, ...when Gillig changed around the suspensions on the Phantom. Im not too fond of the operators compartment. You sit low and at the end of the day, your knees hurt. |
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UTC Bus Fan
Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Also vote for one not listed: GMC
Bill |
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Hart Bus
Age: 73 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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UTC Bus Fan wrote: | Also vote for one not listed: GMC
Bill |
Me too ! No one has mentioned MACK.
Of course, if we reverse the question and ask what was the worst bus
manufacturer, has to be AM General.
Alan |
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UTC Bus Fan
Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a Mack fan too, altho the local areas I have any knowledge of never bought any. But if they made their buses anywhere near as good as their trucks, they were pretty good machines.
I am a little familiar with Mack buses through some pictures I have seen through the years. Some of the car and truck sites I belong to will post a bus now and then.
Bill |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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UTCBF,
That was the one glaring problem with the Mack Bus - it was built on a Mack Truck chassis and, while they were the strongest, heaviest and toughest buses ever made, they eventually fell apart from vibration.
They also insisted on a completely hydraulic operation including the doors which was another sore spot.
GM coaches, on the other hand, were built without a chassis and depended much more on compressed air for driving accessories.
Despite Mack's faults, it gave operators many years of reliable service and will be remembered as a major player in U.S. transit history.
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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UTC Bus Fan
Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting info on the Mack. I did not know about the hydraulic system they had.
I liked the Air Pressure that the GM's had. Did the Mack have Hydraulic Brakes too?
Bill |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Bill,
No, I believe they had air brakes - hydraulics would never have stopped that weight!
They were also way ahead of every body else with hydraulically assisted steering which was necessary again because of weight factors.
The average 44 passenger Mack bus (pictured below) weighed in at nearly 20,000 pounds or over 2,000 pounds more than the comparable GM Model.
Regards,
Mr. 'L'
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UTC Bus Fan
Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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Good looking bus.
Were they Manual Trans buses?
Also wondering if they were Diesel Powered and did they supply their own engines?
Bill |
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Gilligboi
Age: 34 Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Posts: 9 Location: In your city, riding your buses
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:12 am Post subject: |
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I bet you will never guess! |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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UTC Bus Fan wrote: | Good looking bus.
Were they Manual Trans buses?
Also wondering if they were Diesel Powered and did they supply their own engines?
Bill |
Bill,
Sorry I couldn't get back to you more quickly but I must have missed your original post.
Jamaica Buses number 504 was a C-45-DT (Diesel) with automatic transmission and one of ten (500 to 509) purchased by the company in the spring of 1949.
It was by this time that most Mack buses coming off the line that were Diesel equipped were equipped with Mack's own 'Thermodynes.
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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UTC Bus Fan
Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reply. Being from "All Detroit Diesel Territory" I never heard a Thermodyne in a bus. If anyone ever trips over a video on Youtube, I wouldn't mind hearing one.
Bill |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:59 am Post subject: |
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Bill,
No Mack bus, regardless of what make of Diesel engine powered it, ever sounded anything like a Detroit 6 or 8V-71 - they were in a class by themselves!
The best part was when they were combined with mechanical transmissions as in the SDM's.
Their revving up and down through the gears was as thrilling to a bus fan as was an aria from Verdi's Rogoletto to an opera lover!
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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fishbowl
Age: 76 Joined: 01 Sep 2010 Posts: 62 Location: Detroit
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Mr. Linsky wrote: | Bill,
No Mack bus, regardless of what make of Diesel engine powered it, ever sounded anything like a Detroit 6 or 8V-71 - they were in a class by themselves! |
So... you weren't impressed with the sound of the Mack diesel, huh? You haven't lived until you've heard the sputter/putter of a Mack C-49 rumbling by on propane fuel. Vespa scooters sounded (and probably were) more powerful!
P.S. Of today's buses, I think I like the Gillig low-floor the best. Nothing like your basic, unadorned box for hauling people around.
Even got me a pewter one for my desk, in case I forget what a box looks like!
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dsevil
Age: 50 Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Louisville, KY
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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fishbowl wrote: | P.S. Of today's buses, I think I like the Gillig low-floor the best. Nothing like your basic, unadorned box for hauling people around.
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If you look at that photo from a certain angle on an LCD monitor, you can tell that the headsigns used to say "AVIS".
Also, change that blue-ish gray stripe to a more saturated blue and repaint the area along the windows white, and you almost have one of TARC's older Gillig buses! Almost:
http://gallery.bustalk.info/displayimage.php?album=76&pos=14
Go for the flush window treatment option on a Gillig (I *guess* that's what they call it), and you have something that looks *way* better:
http://forum.bustalk.info/viewtopic.php?p=9878 |
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