Any opinions on Setra?
Anyone seen a S 431 DT in person...?
Curious & Dreaming :D
Jerry H
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.setra.de%2Fimages%2Fomnibusse%2Fprogramm%2Fbusse%2Fs431dt.jpg&hash=f7aed4ef5d2c203cd7a7700a77ec5f3e0cbd71f5)
My daughter lives in NC close to Greensboro and I've seen there US sales lot. I'd love to have a new one. Sharp ride.
Setra is part of the Mercedes/Benz-Freightliner family. You'll have many service outlets to choose from. Good Luck, TomC
There are plenty of Setras / Kassbohrer's running around over here; as far as I am aware they are not regarded as anything particularly special, but no doubt have their devotees. I believe they were one of the first fully monocoque coaches, which certainly isn't a feature I would want in a bus conversion. The exterior design and styling is very conventional, at least compared with many new coaches on the market today, but I have no idea about what they are like under the skin or performance-wise etc. I don't know the different model numbers so cannot say if I have seen that particular version on the road
Jeremy
That model isn't listed on the Setra USA website, so it probably isn't sold in the USA. Only the S417 is listed. The S417 looks REALLY nice on the outside, though I have never been in one. Setra is putting the Mercedes-Benz logo about 4 foot high on the back.
Personally, if I could afford to buy new, it would be a MCI or Prevost since everybody knows how to work on those. I'll bet if you brought a new Setra to most Freightliner dealers it would the first one they ever saw and they wouldn't have any parts or trained mechanics.
The older Setras have a lowered aisle that would be a challenge to work around. They also have some parts that are German and need to be ordered from Setra. The A/C compressor is not a Carrier like most.
Brian Elfert
QuoteThere are plenty of Setras / Kassbohrer's running around over here; as far as I am aware they are not regarded as anything particularly special, but no doubt have their devotees.
The same could probably be said about MCI ... but I have MCI's and certainly an happy with them. I was intriqued with the S-431 DT model for sure.
QuotePersonally, if I could afford to buy new, it would be a MCI or Prevost since everybody knows how to work on those. I'll bet if you brought a new Setra to most Freightliner dealers it would the first one they ever saw and they wouldn't have any parts or trained mechanics.
The older Setras have a lowered aisle that would be a challenge to work around. They also have some parts that are German and need to be ordered from Setra. The A/C compressor is not a Carrier like most.
Brian: Well, this is the 'dreaming' ... looking for something different and unique thing ... and that Setra model is that. My 'dream' doesn't revolve around an RV-type conversion. I think the Germans offer some interesting engineering. One doesn't have to look much further than BMW, Mercedes, Bosch, etc.
Again, I am an MCI diehard and if money were no object, I'd take an MCI D4505 (newlook) and have Marathon do something to it.
Jerry H.
Hey Jerry - I haven't seen one of the new ones - but I do have a 92 Setra and I love it - It drives real nice and rides like no other bus I've ever driven - I picked it up in southern Oklahoma and drove for at least 8 hours a day and I wasn't all that tired when I did stop - and as for the lower isle - I'm just gonna put a 2 by 4 frame in there and cover it with ply wood and call it a flat floor - It works for Momma and me - But that new one is nice - and Yor right - dreaming is what it's all about -
Harry
Quote from: TomC on October 15, 2006, 10:16:49 PM
Setra is part of the Mercedes/Benz-Freightliner family. You'll have many service outlets to choose from. Good Luck, TomC
I am new to the board, but I wanted to offer my two cents here. As a retired trucker with ALOT of experience with Freightliner, I want to warn you that -- as a general rule -- their level of service sucks. Most of their shops are so backed up that you have to wait sometimes as long as a week to get in, and there seems to be no set standard on training -- some of their so-called mechanics have virtually no diagnostic skills. Basically, if the computer can't tell them what is wrong, they don't know how to tell.
There are certain exceptions to that rule, such as Stoops Freightliner in Indianapolis -- but that is fuel for another topic!
Happy Bussing!
John E. Smith
1982 Thomas TransitLiner ER Conversion
Shop Mechanic, Tejas Coach Works
Mineral Wells, TX
How tall is an S 431 DT? Looks waay up there. Also appears that it would require extreme mods to build into a conversion coach....if that's what you have in mind?
Sure a fine looking thingy! If you buy it and don't like it, feel free to leave it here...for a while.
You can get a good looking "tall bus" with an H3...and they are in the market and parts and service are widespread. Prevost even caters to RV conversion owners.
BTW, WELCOME JOHN SMITH, Shop Mechanic! A real live bus mechanic! Hope you stick around a while! Post some pix of your coach! :)
Cheers, JR
Jerry,
1st off I love my Setra and I am currently shopping for another 1 ! But then again we are in the charter biz, not conversions! The S215 & 217 models that Harry & I have are the "old style" which have the drop center isle in the floor, which most converters tend to want to avoid! But as Harry has done if yer not real tall you can just cover the drop (and use as extra storage & or a utility run compartment. Or you could do as Wayne from MI did and widen the ilse on each side and build up from it and nobody would ever know the difference! Personally I thing the Setra's have the best ride/handling of any bus I've ever had the opertunity to operate! Now as for the 431 DT I beleive you'd have to import it, as the only ones available in the US are the "old style S215/217" or the new 417's which are awesome! and would be a converters dream with being 102" wide & 45' foot long with a flat floor and the Mercedes engine and all kinds of other fancy options such as the see thru roof (I forget the option name for it, but it's COOL!) and many other Setra Quality features! Just my 2 cents worth! BK ;D ;D
Hey all,
Looked the Setra website, and it looks like the S 431 DT is 4000 mm high, or 13.1232 Feet. So it is under the 13'6" bar. It's also 45.57 ft long....that would be one cool double decker conversion.
Keith
Hey BK - I'll second that - It is without a doubt the best bus I've ever driven - and I've driven just about every one there is (Bus driver and tour operator) ;D
1 Cool Bus
Thanks for posting it.
You probably wouldn't have to weld on this one ;D
Bill Glenn
Hey Bill:
Howdy ... fun bus huh?
So ... how was Delaware Bus Rally Pt II ??? Sorry couldn't make it -- just wasn't in the cards.
BUT we are heading south to FL.
Linda's dad (Jim) and I will be at Arcadia. Linda, her mom and the kids are heading to Orlando.
I couldn't twist her arm to come down (if even for the day) ... but there's still time.
See you and Roberta down there, be cool if we could time it so we get there about the same time.
When are you guys arriving?
Jerry H.
Quote from: Homegrowndiesel on October 19, 2006, 08:56:03 PM
1 Cool Bus
Thanks for posting it.
You probably wouldn't have to weld on this one ;D
Bill Glenn
Hey Jerry we usually get there on the 29th. We visit the family in WV. and leave there on the 27th take a leisurly trip, and generaly stay somewhere in SC or GA before heading down. There was some talk of some of us meeting up somewhere before FL and heading down together. What time are you planning on. It will be good to see Jim again.
Bill
Hey Bill:
We're heading out and south on 12/25.
Lady Lake, FL on 12/26.
Arrive in Arcadia, FL on 12/28, stay 2 nites.
Leave to head back to Lady Lake on the 30th.
That appears to be the plan.
Like everything ... it's subject to variation.
:)
Jerry
I am looking to covert a bus into a motorhome with two staterooms, a full bathroom, kitchen/dinette, and livingroom. Staterooms will feature wall beds (Murphy) that when up will be a desk. So, a minimum 40-foot bus length is needed with 45-foot likely being what I get. I am leaning toward a Prevost with Detroit Diesel Turbo 60-series engine and Allison automatic transmission. However, I have seen Setra 217s, VanHools, and MCI buses for sale.
1) What engines do the Setras come with (hp, torque)?
2) What is Cummins ISL?
3) Which is the better choice?
The early(1980's and 1990's) SETRA's in use here in the USA used the DETROIT DIESEL 6V-92 and 8V-92. They then switched to the S60 as the sole engine and never offered any other engine choices. That's long academic since DETROIT DIESEL and SETRA are both part of the DAIMLER empire.
The CUMMINS ISL has for the long and short of it been around forever. It started out as the L10 in the mid 1980's and the same block was the foundation for the ISM which was long the standard engine in MCI buses as well as standard or optional in VAN-HOOL's USA line. It's up the customer which engine they want. They both have their strong and weak points but I'm not objective since I'm the resident CUMMINS stock holder. :)
PREVOST used DETROIT DIESEL as the sole engines as well until about the late '00's when they switched to the VOLVO engine PREVOST is part of that empire. I've heard many good things about the VOLVO engine and some bad.
I'm droolin' here ...