Scania KUB OR Mercedes-Benz Citaro?

last SG · 2011-09-26T20:51:15+00:00

Citaro AC is worst than Sunlong AC?? Almost the same.But Citaro rides are way better than the Sunlongs...

SBS5010P SG

personally, i like kubs better,
1. colder acs
2. bigger
3. nice headlights
4. when you stand beside the bus, you dont feel the heat much

why i hate citaros :
1. warm-cold acs (sometimes a/c not working)
2. lesser seats
3. hot engine when you stand beside it

SBS2601D SG

Irrelevant question to me....cos they are above my likes and dislikes as they are my necessities.

But I generally dislike non-aircon air-conditioned buses, teeth-chattering buses, and jerky rides (you should ask instead which BCs to avoid and I'll gladly point them out).

The main thing that sets them apart in my opinion is the layout, in that respect, I'll pick the KUB over the Citaro. Its more roomy in general....but thin sheets of aluminium just don't cut it.

SMB92U SG

Why I like KUBs:

Why I hate KUBs:

SBS5013G SG

KUB Likes

KUB Dislikes

CITARO Likes

Citaro Dislikes

sbst275 SG

The steps is irrelevant as the Citaro's steps is thrown to the sides.

Now gotta carry small kids up to the respective seats...

Powerless?? Try the Euro 5 climbing the NTU YOG routing upslope....

nfshp253 SG

I'd pick the Citaro anytime. The KUBs are just horrid, even the Euro 4 ones. I rather suffer the stuffiness of the Citaro then risk falling everytime I'm on the KUB. Its rocking suspension is just the tip of the iceberg. The radiator's damn loud and irritating (gives the impression of being powerless), the gearbox changes too early, making the bus vibrate as the RPMs are too low and the whole bus just feels cheap. Somehow the radiator howling also gives the feeling of increased inertia and gear jerks. I know there are bits on the Citaro that aren't working, but the Citaros exude class, elegance and refinement, which the KUB lacks. The only time when the KUB can try to redeem itself is when it's being revved high. I like the turbo whistle at about 2500rpm.

Bus Stopping SG

Well, the beauty of a bus chassis is very well shown in the kub, you can customise everything that u would like. Dont like Scania? take a MAN, else, take a Mercedes Benz, or if not, take a Volvo. Full Low floor for accessiblity, or Low entry for seats, up to you to pick. And also the engine and drivetrain can be selected.

At the end of the day, you just need a coachbuilder to build a suitable body to what you would want. Just for the kub, you can already choose from a very wide variety from something that's solid like Hispano, or Caetano, Custom Coaches, Volgren, Gemilang, SC Auto and etc. You could also have all sorts of different makes and models, and just have a single coachbuilder to build it all, using the exact same specification so the most can be saved from maintaience. And also all the interior layouts you'd want.

But compared to a integral product, its not easy to find a body that fits as well. Some examples, OC's mirror are too high and the sl has to always look up, or the dm body on lances, etc.

An analogy to put this, compare a diy PC built from components at sim lim square and a complete product from apple, hp, dell, acer, etc. You can get a very customised casing and components when u diy, but in terms of support, will it be as hassle free as a complete product?

Bus Stopping SG

As for the citaro, i do believe the air conditioning issues will be resolved soon.

And for the layout, smrt/sbst have a choice to change it to something better, just that they are not using this choice.

If you want a rear similar to the kub, they could pick a Citaro LE which is basically something similar to a integral OC500LE, but with the front independent suspension that gives the Citaro the smooth turns.

This is a example from Qbuzz taken by some chap on imageshack.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/341/dscf6089.jpg/

Otherwise if u want more walkway space at the front, this is another example from the new 2011 Citaro.

Notice the seats on the door side are only single seats, similar to some of our O405Gs.

Image from MB's press kit.

So as you can see, the operators could well modify the seating layout, but its not being done yet.

wsy1234 SG

sbs should modify the air-con system maybe by adding a guide along the air-con output just like the old 405. citaro is import direct from german compare to kub which is bulid locally. sometime is good to import the whole bus direct from factory just like car. but i refer sbs bulid the bus locally so that the bus can tailor to local needs. Kub suspension is no good at all the bus very rocky in fact most of the kub is very rocky.

SBS2601D SG

I second that.

But I think suspension is half the story only.

The K230UB's weight distribution is not good with most of the weight at the rear giving it a rocking horse effect. The only advantage of this is when the K230UB crosses a hump at high speed: You don't feel it at all.

If you try the same thing with a B10M we would suffer a massive jolt to our spines, particularly at the rear!

And this shows when the K230UB undergoes heavy braking, front axle tends to skid and the ABS activates with very loud and violent BONK BONK BONK because of the rear-biased weight. B10Ms hardly have this issue.

AEW5001 SG

I second that.

But I think suspension is half the story only.

If you try the same thing with a B10M we would suffer a massive jolt to our spines, particularly at the rear!

u will suffer a massive jolt on a kub when it goes over a hump from a inperpendicular position.

SBS2601D SG

u will suffer a massive jolt on a kub when it goes over a hump from a inperpendicular position.

true true.

But then if you do the same with say........a B10M you'll probably get skull fracture and broken window.

nfshp253 SG

I've only taken one KUB on 27 that doesn't have the loud radiator problem. Are the engines always close to overheating due to the hot climate or are the radiators just malfunctioning? SBST's apathetic disregard for the radiator problems on the B9TLs, Striders and the KUB is are questionable.

SBS1869E SG

Funny enough, most KUBs I take (Sv 109, 43, 156, 317) do not have a howling radiator.

SBS1869E SG

KUB Likes

KUB Dislikes

CITARO Likes

Citaro Dislikes

Is it me or does the Citaro 1st gear feel kind of 'slow'? I hear the engine working rather hard but the bus doesn't seem to move very quickly. I only feel the acceleration after the 1st gear.

SBS1869E SG

The Citaro gearboxes also seem to change too early (especially to 4th gear) from my own personal observation... I often hear the gearbox going down a gear because the engine can't provide enough power (is this the correct way to say this?). Plus there's a jolt when it goes from 1st to 2nd gear.

I prefer the ZF gearbox because it's kinda nice to listen to :)

SMB128B SG

Funny enough, most KUBs I take (Sv 109, 43, 156, 317) do not have a howling radiator.

and they are all WAB svc u mentioned, which is saying sth...

SBS8673G has this problem where your eardrums will get shattered if you go near it/are on it.

SBS3688Y SG

IMO. I still prefer the KUBs much more than Citaros.

For KUBS, the front space is very spacious and seem to be able to squeeze in many passengers. Also, I find the walkway aisle of the KUB rear a little more spacious than Citaros. And I love the high ceilings of the KUBs and it looks elegant. I don't bother of the steps along the walkway leading to the rear of the KUBs; as I still prefer in this manner than the Citaros where I got to climb up the steps from the walkway onto the seat instead.

When I'm seating on the outer seat that is opposite the back-facing seats, I got a little worried when the bus is moving, because there is no poles or seat handles in front of me to hold on to. Also, as there is a step between the outer seats and walking aisle, I also got a little worried when the bus is turning, as I can't place my legs a little more onto the walkway to better balance myself; unlike the KUBs.

But I dislike the KUBs jerking during acceleration and braking. However, some KUBs have probably been fine-tuned; and combined with good KUB bus captains' driving skills, have made travelling on KUBs much more pleasant. So I hope SBST and Scania can work further together to improve the KUBs and better train the BCs to make our journeys more pleasant.

SMB128B SG

IMO. I still prefer the KUBs much more than Citaros.

But I dislike the KUBs jerking during acceleration and braking. However, some KUBs have probably been fine-tuned; and combined with good KUB bus captains' driving skills, have made travelling on KUBs much more pleasant. So I hope SBST and Scania can work further together to improve the KUBs and better train the BCs to make our journeys more pleasant.

like SBS8743M. The first time i came near it, i had a feeling that KUB is the best maintained.

SBS1869E SG

and they are all WAB svc u mentioned, which is saying sth...

SBS8673G has this problem where your eardrums will get shattered if you go near it/are on it.

Took it this morning! Slightly louder than normal! :)

8672J used to have an extremely loud radiator too...

But I wasn't exactly at the rear of the bus, so I can't really comment ;)