Easiest to drive

last SG · 2007-02-14T10:30:05+00:00

Ya me too...I love the VSO (B10TL) only for its suspension, super soft! However the Voith gearbox makes it crawl in acceleration..But its still a nice bus, e...

ZYX2005 SG

this is where i point out the fact that merc buses r not so high powered as u think at lest if u go ustralia n sit some.

take for example the O 405 NH CNgs in austrlaia. man those things r loud and when climbing hills they cna hardly move. Dave can vouch for me on that one.

it is the similiar case
for the OC500LE CNG in austrlaia. slow moving things on hills. cant acc fast things.

my point is if u have traveled lot overseas and taken mercs overseas which are of newer production models, u'll know that some of their reliability has somewhat..dropped . it may not be a wise move for SBSt to buy mercs.

still like computers and other stuff. the older the more reliable. lately stuff made these days just dun last,.
the other day my frens plasma tv of one yr spoilt. lagi best. new product also spoil so fast. same for the newer mercs at least in aust.

no accounts of them failing or being bad things from london ( not read about it either).

certainly in Singapore because our merc r reliable n old fellas, they will see more years to come in singapore roads.

ZYX

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Erh.....both the buses that you mentioned are CNG buses... I thot theres performance differences between a diesel and CNG engine? Im kinda confused.

The_Bus_Guide SG

I don't quite agree with ZYX. The O405 and its variants (O405N, O405N2, O405G, O405GN, O405GTZ) are widely used in Switzerland. There is also a NAW bus; which in essance is a mid-engined O405. In some parts, the buses are required to make long climbs up a mountain road, with sweeping bends and hairpin turns. The O405 does this quite well. The newer Citaros were never seen on the mountain route but there was once I saw a Scania L94UB 6x2.

I especially enjoy a ride on the O405 in Switzerland because it reminds me of home. I can just shut my eyes, listen to the engine and picture myself in a SMRT/SBST bus looking past at all the places I know.

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Does the O405s in Switzerland sound more like SMRT's O405 or SBST's?

CS Pang SG

i think Nissan UDs and Hino RKs are the best to control....
Surprised

$mrt and SBS should buy hino buses, from a private bus uncle's comment, he say hino can withstand long journey driving Very Happy

stooper SG

Maybe because he only drive before the old old NAC Hino, nvr drive before Mercedes, Volvo, etc... Laughing

iveco SG

I think the MAN can do better than the Hinos. Many long-distance coaches in MY are MAN ones.

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Scania as well. Wink Mr. Green

SBS3625D SG

I should guess SBST. The 0405s there use W3E also I think.

The_Bus_Guide SG

According to a Malaysian Bus Forum, the Hino RK or AK doesn't handle well. If it goes too fast, it will start to wobble. If you would recount the many bus accidents that occured on the highways, you will find that they are mostly the Hino AK or RK. The Hino RM has better control and more comfy too as it has air suspension. The newer Nissans (eg. JP251S, or something like that) are smooth riders too. But alas, the Jap buses lose out trememdously to the Scanias and MANs who can easily outrun them.

The best coaches in MY I would say, are the Scanias. Smooth, stable and very fast. The MAN is comparable in power but not as smooth and the engine is loud. For MB, the 1627L are still the best.

The_Bus_Guide SG

Where I live (Zug Canton), the O405Gs have MB gearbox. It could be a W3E or even a W4E. They sound like a cross between the SMRT and SBST buses. There's not much O405 rigids around in Zug but the ones I rode all have ZF boxes; these sound like the SMRT buses. Same for the ones in Luzern. Its O405N/N2 all have ZF boxes. I experienced the O405 trolley bus (O405GTZ) in Zurich. It feels weird as there is no engine sound, just the whirring of wheels and the hum of the traction motor.

iveco SG

Hmm, what are you doing in Switzerland and how long will you be there?

Feel free to contribute tyour thoughts here.

Anyway, what other types of buses can be found in Switzerland?

Scania N113CRB luver SG

I remember someone did mention a trolley bus of O405 or O305, cant remember which one. Embarassed Citaros and Citaro Gs are also found there. There's also a pic of a special bus whereby a trailing section was attached to the back of a bus.

See here

The_Bus_Guide SG

I was in Switzerland for job training between March - July 2006. Now, I'm back in Singapore. During the 4 months there, I have experienced many types of buses. I work and live in Zug Canton, one of the smallest Cantons (province) in Switzerland. The buses I usually ride to and from work was the Scania N94UB 4x2, MB O405G or O530. Other buses include the Scania L94UB 6x2, MB O405 and O530G, NAW and a pair of Volvo B10M and B7L.

Luzern also have a wide variety of buses. Among them are the MBO405N/N2, MB Citaro(G), MAN NG313, Scania L94UA, Volvo B10M(A), B10LA, Irisbus EuroPolis and 1 or 2 Neoplan buses of unknown model. Luzern has a network of trolleybuses, manufactured by NAW-Siemens-Hess. I didn't get a chance to catch the new 23m bi-articulated trolleybus (Vossloh-Hess). Tourist coaches abound in Luzern and I have spotted the MAN Lionstar, VanHool, Neoplan, Bova, Setra etc.

Another city that I visited was Zurich. Zurich has an extensive network of trams in addition to the MBO405GTZ trolleybus. I rode the oldest trams, made in 1967 with wooden seats, as well as the latest model, designed by Pininfarina. Riding the tram is quite a fascinating experience. Zurich is also where I had my first ride on a Neoplan bus, the Centroliner, which is quite abundant here. I also bumped across a MAN Lion's City in one of its suburbs.

It was very fascinating and I enjoyed my joyrides in Switzerland. I have seen what the buses are really capable of and dispel many of the myths. A real eye opener.

SBS9888Y SG

u all are like talking so technically that u hafta understand the person who was the topic starter of this thread only understand lay man terms... yea... so u can give all the specifications and the performance of different engines, models, vehicles etc.. but u have to make it less chim for these people

MS SG

It is good to share technical knowledge which helps to sharpens another person's knowledge.

However, it will not be productive if insults have to be integrated into the explanations. Everyone is in the learning process.

I'm a professional in this field but still am not surprised to be able to learn plenty of new things everyday on my job. From my boss, subordinates, suppliers etc. The moment I think I am qualified to put down someone with insult, I'd be done for. So my learning curve must always have a gradient in order to keep upgraded. There will always be someone good enough to show me that there's a higher mountain greener pasture out there.

This also applies to everyone. We all make stupid mistakes and remarks. So long it is based on good faith, it'll not be too wrong to learn.

If you're unsure, seek to clarify the doubts. Healthy discussions omitting the insults will breed productivity.

off_service SG

I love the Ciratos in Luzern. Too bad I didn't know you were there when i went there for holiday.

The_Bus_Guide SG

It is very easy to go bus joyriding in Switzerland. All you have to do is to buy a 1 day pass, get a free copy of the bus timetable and you’re all set. Just be sure you stay within the stated fare zones and you’ll be OK. You don’t have to show your pass to the driver. Just hop on board from any door, sit down and relax. You open the door yourself except for the front door which is controlled by the driver. But before you get any ideas about free rides, be warned. Travelling without a valid ticket is subject to a CHF80 (S$101.6) fine.

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