| Author | Message | ||
| doug yes (Dougg)
Registered Member Username: Dougg Post Number: 35 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 71.30.225.176 Rating: N/A |
Just talking to some professional drivers this summer who drive for various tour companies. Most say they are having alot of breakdowns with the new MCIs, even fresh from the factory busses. Many electrical issues, heat turning on for no reason in the middle of the summer, rear bumpers falling off, other parts falling off, 2 week old busses not starting etc. When I inquired about Van Hools and Prevosts they had no such complaints. What have you all heard? | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 235 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 67.126.200.104 Rating: N/A |
Prior to purchasing our 102A3, we talked to a few tour bus drivers at the local casinos. One lady drove a nice new slick E series MCI. She could raise the front and rear (not at the same time) about 20 inches for clearance issues, had a steerable rear axle, etc. She also showed us several cracks in the big sloping renaissance windshields due to chassis flexing. It had no less that five computers on board for engine, tranny, leveling, and climate control. Her company's biggest problem was poor connectors. Stopped her dead more than once. But she said the Provosts they had also had their own negative issues, mostly drive stability and comfort from her standpoint. Some time later, I read in a bus industry magazine that MCI came out with a "less electronic, no frills" bus, the G series due to complaints from some of the large customers like Greyhound about electric reliability problems with the E series buses. Of course, from our standpoint it was just interesting information because we could not afford either. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1299 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.189.94 Rating: N/A |
The "G" model MCI has got the WORST reputation of any coach MCI has ever produced. Built primarily for Greyhound, they wanted the cheapest bus MCI could build, and they got exactly what they paid for (or leased, in this case, since GL doesn't own any of their fleet anymore). If you want some entertaining reading about the G's, join the "Greyhound Through Express" group on Yahoo. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member Username: Cowlitzcoach Post Number: 160 Registered: 4-2001 Posted From: 204.245.250.174 Rating: N/A |
The 'J' model is the less fancy model of the 'E' coach. The visual clue is the 'J' doesn't have the small windshield over the top that the 'E' coach has. Even though the 'J' doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the 'E', it still has electronic issues that stops them dead. The'G' coach is a warmed over Dina design. It is junk from start to finish. Among the nice features are side window glass that pop off as you are driving down the road, luggage doors that fall off allowing luggage to dribble out as you drive along, all in addition to the other nice features already mentioned. When Greyhound first put them into service MCI had six bays in the Dallas Greyhound garage dedicated to dealer service for the 'G' models. If you haven't noticed, Greyhound is refurbishing a lot of their MC-12's and taking the 'G' out of service. It wasn't very long ago a 'G' left the garage in Seattle to go the five blocks to the terminal. Halfway there the driver was barely able to bail out before the bus burned down to the axles. The cause was determined to have been caused by moisture getting into the front panel under the windshield causing an electrical short. And then there is the 'F' coach, another Dina design. Underpowered, overweight, and electrical problems. Not anywhere close to being able to be compared to the MC-5 other than it is a 35' coach with two axles. Just my two cents worth. Mark O. Castle Rock, WA | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1075 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 74.12.83.122 Rating: N/A |
They all have electrical issues. Depends on the fleet maintenance, as to the rate of re-occurence. Welcome to multi-plex wiring.... And an "E" model is able to raise and lower closer to 4 inches, not 20! happy coaching! buswarrior |