Why does every fucking discussion have to turn into a
fight?
Anyway, the XMQ6121G pdf that someone linked looks very different
from this XMQ6121G.
The model in the PDF is the exact model that Arriva Malta
purchased. That is the European market model with all the bells and
whistles - ZF axles, ZF/Voith gearbox and it comes with airbag
suspension which is probably an industry standard in the EU by
now.
This one here is probably the Asian domestic market model - the
rear is very different and since Asia does not come with air
suspension requirements, this probably cheaps out with leaf springs
instead.
At the end of the day I highly doubt that this will be the final
model that is purchased. The air suspension ones ride fine, but
we're going to take a step all the way back to UD and Hino days if
SBST were to order this one.
Additionally, I don't see the issue with MIC buses. Have you guys
taken a ride in them before?
Sure, they make crap like those purple/blue coloured Golden Dragon
midi-coaches.
Then again I don't see how Japanese buses are better than these
actually. The suspension is crap (Japanese buses still using leaf
springs), the engines are noisy and weak (sounds very Japanese,
doesn't it?) and the gearbox grinds gears.
I challenge you to take a ride on the ones that conform to EU
specifications.
Those with 10 wheel nuts (10 EU arrangement, not the American
one; check out Wikipedia or go observe it yourself if you don't
know the difference), air-suspension and integrated AC instead of a
roof-mounted pod.
One does not simply make a sweeping statement that all MIC buses
are bad, especially when you consider there are King Long coaches
in Singapore that have Denso A/C units, Italian FAINSA leather
seating, a 330+ HP Cummins engine which sounds absolutely smooth
even at the rear and a ZF 6-speed manual box.
And yes, those coaches have self-levelling air suspension as
well.
A leaf sprung suspension would not be possible on a low
entry/floor bus due to the space required to house the parabolic
springs. The bare minimum would be a single step. Of course, do
highlight any examples if u find any, as it's a breakthrough for
disabled access in many parts of the world if a low entry/floor bus
could be developed with just leaf springs.
Click and expand the image in the first page of this thread.
It's very clearly shown in the photo that the axles are by ZF, and
thus air suspended.
