| Author | Message | ||
| doug yes (Dougg)
Registered Member Username: Dougg Post Number: 62 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 71.30.224.248 Rating: N/A |
You will start seeing these on the road, the new BCI 45' Chinese Bus that sells for aroud $100K less than the big four. It looks alot like a MCI-J on the outside, but it's what's underneath that counts. Everything is easily accessable for repair. Even the fender skirts fold up for wheel and suspension access. The deseign is truely maintanence friendly. Comes stock with a Cat 450hp and a Cat 8 speed auto, American made rear end, brakes and axels, Jake, cruise, self diagnostic system, and a bunch of other stuff. The BCI looks like a excellant conversion coach because of the open layout. We test drove it aound Winter Garden and it handled well. Cons? Well, the steel body and frame may not do well in the rust belt and the fit and finish is not as nice as the Van Hools or MCI. But that extra money saved will pay for the conversion and some fuel to spare. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 219 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 74.244.14.221  Rating: N/A |
There was a post earlier on here asking about the initials BCI. Someone had seen one on the road. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 570 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.46.157 Rating: N/A |
I looked at the BCI Falcon over a year ago in Vegas where the main office is located, they are built on a Scania chassis, the Cat engine is made in Brazil, the seats from Spain, the brakes and rear end are a american manufacture but made in Mexico,It has the CAN electrical system which has been a problem Lnizar use it and it never worked and like you say rust is going to be a major problem even with the steel being imported from Australia.Demming is the driving force behind the bus.I wasn't impressd with the bus myself but it looks good | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 115 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 12.180.53.193  Rating: N/A |
I looked at one at the UMA convention last winter. Wonder what they intend to do about a powerplant with Cat now leaving the highway engine market?? You get what you pay for. I suspect there may be a few startups get into them, but I doubt a legitimate carrier would. Part of the equation in purchasing a new coach (operators, not motorhomers) is: what will it be worth in five years? You can hardly give away a used Dina, Neoplan, Irazar, etc. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 571 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.46.157 Rating: N/A |
Mark, are you coming to Quartzsite in Jan so we can all see your beautiful red Eagle, Mark if you have time could you come over to the Eagle board @ www,eaglesinternational.net and post some photos of you fan setup in the Eagle Tech thanks (Message edited by luvrbus on November 07, 2008) (Message edited by luvrbus on November 07, 2008) | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 116 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 12.180.53.193 Rating: N/A |
Hope to get there if the timing is right. Heading to San Felipe around that time. Will get set up on the Eagle site as soon as I have time. Hope to get some pictures up on the Silver Eagle collection too. Good news: today's price at Flying J, Ehrenberg, AZ is 2.659. Diesel in Mexico should be about half that if last winter is any indicator. | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 129 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.239.202.82 Rating: N/A |
2009 is the last year Cat is putting engines in over the road equipment and that will be a sad day indeed. TRAGIC I do not believe that would be a good reason not to get one. Quite the contrary. I doubt they will be going anywhere soon and they will continue to stand behind and service these motors for decades to come. The cancellation of the 8-V hasn't seemed to stop DD from supporting them, or enthusiasm for that matter, and that was 15 years ago. I'll bet you that 2009 will be a good year to be a truck salesman for all those who love and appreciate the engine who will be trying to get one before they exit the seen. Sorry for the thread creap. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 572 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.46.157 Rating: N/A |
Mark, fuel in Juarez was about $2.50 a gal last week I don't think it is going to be much cheaper than the USA now good luck | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 275 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 76.246.254.144 Rating: N/A |
Geeez, A brother-in-law has been a manager at CAT for decades and they haven't been financially well for some time. I have an account with MCI and I come back from a two month trip in our mini bus (van) to start work on the big bus, and I have several letters from the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware that MCI has filed bankruptcy. And I've got a real nagging feeling it's going to get worse before it get better. | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 117 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 12.180.53.193 Rating: N/A |
Larry Plachno, editor of National Bus Trader wrote an excellant article for the November issue of his magazine documenting the history of MCI's financial problems. Larry is extremely knowledgable about the industry in general, and MCI in particular, and has published his magazine for over 30 years. According to him, the trouble began way back in the early 80's when Greyhound's ownership shenanigans created mountains of corporate debt that MCI has been servicing all these years. To quote: "In more recent years, it has cost MCI approximately $80 million annually to service this debt". That money could have gone for R&D, infrastructure improvements, etc. Seems miraculous they're still in business, much less an industry leader. The question I have is; when the music stops, who is not going to get paid ?? | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 377 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 75.93.55.100  Rating: N/A |
BCI.....Bad Chinese Invention.....Sorry, couldn't help myself...;) | ||
| Tony Gojenola (Akbusnut)
Registered Member Username: Akbusnut Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 208.98.151.220 Rating: N/A |
See it here: http://www.bcibus.com/home.html | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 527 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.90.229.178 Rating: N/A |
BCI.....Bad Chinese Invention.....Sorry, couldn't help myself. The last Chinese invention was pasta or perhaps gun powder,since then its COPY < COPY < COPY. BCI is probably Bad Chinese Imitation. A real shame since engineering talent is as cheap as Cuban doctors , a few dollars a day , and a MODERN bus would be a world beater. Think a bus copy of a Boeing Dreamliner , carbon shell, fiber optic controls , anti-skid , breaks , suspension, all the stuff the modern coach has been missing for 3 maybe 4 decades. FF | ||
| doug yes (Dougg)
Registered Member Username: Dougg Post Number: 63 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 71.30.224.248 Rating: N/A |
BCI is moving to Cummins/Allison when the Cats run out. The Cat/Cat combo is used in small trucks also. Parts and service should be around for a while. The Orlando office of BCI is having an open house on Nov.19. The owners will be there to answer questions. After looking at the BCI and even the Van Hool, I realized what a solid coach an old MCI is! | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 530 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.90.229.99 Rating: N/A |
"I realized what a solid coach an old MCI is!" If you like a semi monocoque coach, go for a ride in a genuine monocoque! Superb stiffness and no squeaks or rattles, all at the lightest weight (so far). FF | ||
| David B. Sweet (Sweets4104)
Registered Member Username: Sweets4104 Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 71.195.101.200  Rating: N/A |
Our 4104 is a 1957, 51 years on the road, still smooth and quiet, except for the stuff in the cutlery drawer, that rattles a little. Good call Fred! Blessings, David |