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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Sebulba on April 20, 2021, 10:05:32 AM

Title: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on April 20, 2021, 10:05:32 AM
Hello all,

I've never heard of New Flyer Buses.  In researching them a little, They are a Canadian made bus.

So any of you know anything about them?

Mostly, I curious about quality of build and materials.  IE. Stainless steel or aluminum, or steel that rusts.

Any other insight is very welcome.

Thanks

Seb
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: TomC on April 20, 2021, 11:44:28 AM
I'm running an AMGeneral 10240B that is basically a Flyer D800 that has been converted from the straight T-drive of the Canadian version to V-drive that was what all transit companies in the USA were using in 1977. The bus is steel with aluminum skin protected by stainless rivets and mylar sheeth. There are a couple of places where the aluminum skin is bubbling out from corrosion, but then again, the bus manufacturers were not anticipating these buses to still be on the road after 44 years. My bus is still very structurally sound. Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on April 20, 2021, 12:01:06 PM
Quote from: TomC on April 20, 2021, 11:44:28 AM
I'm running an AMGeneral 10240B that is basically a Flyer D800 that has been converted from the straight T-drive of the Canadian version to V-drive that was what all transit companies in the USA were using in 1977. The bus is steel with aluminum skin protected by stainless rivets and mylar sheeth. There are a couple of places where the aluminum skin is bubbling out from corrosion, but then again, the bus manufacturers were not anticipating these buses to still be on the road after 44 years. My bus is still very structurally sound. Good Luck, TomC

Thanks Tom, Good info.  Your bus looks to be a low floor transit type of bus, if my Google search is correct. 

Wonder how coach style stack up?

Thanks so

Seb
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: RJ on April 21, 2021, 10:22:27 PM
Quote from: Sebulba on April 20, 2021, 10:05:32 AMI've never heard of New Flyer Buses.

Seb -

Well, as a quick overview, this article might help:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFI_Group

For most bus folk, when you say New Flyer, their transit buses are the first thing that comes to mind. I'm not familiar with their transit build quality, but most are built to meet the FTA's 12-year life-cycle requirements.

Their motorcoach division, MCI, builds their models out of stainless steel, and they are considered the industry's rugged workhorses, and dominate the charter, tour, and line-haul segments of the intercity market. The MC-9 was the most popular model (over 9,000 built) up until recently, when the "J" series surpassed in it. (Most folk don't realize that MCI is now a division of NFI_Group.)

They also own Alexander Dennis, who manufactures the double-deck transit buses you see running around Las Vegas, as well as other cities. (The double-deck Megabus highway coach is manufactured by VanHool, a totally different company.)

Does that help?
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on April 23, 2021, 03:55:59 AM
Quote from: RJ on April 21, 2021, 10:22:27 PM
Seb -

Well, as a quick overview, this article might help:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFI_Group

For most bus folk, when you say New Flyer, their transit buses are the first thing that comes to mind. I'm not familiar with their transit build quality, but most are built to meet the FTA's 12-year life-cycle requirements.

Their motorcoach division, MCI, builds their models out of stainless steel, and they are considered the industry's rugged workhorses, and dominate the charter, tour, and line-haul segments of the intercity market. The MC-9 was the most popular model (over 9,000 built) up until recently, when the "J" series surpassed in it. (Most folk don't realize that MCI is now a division of NFI_Group.)

They also own Alexander Dennis, who manufactures the double-deck transit buses you see running around Las Vegas, as well as other cities. (The double-deck Megabus highway coach is manufactured by VanHool, a totally different company.)

Does that help?

Yes, that does help.

So if I'm getting this right, if someone lists a New Flyer bus for sale and it is a Coach bus it's an MCI.  I guess I would say that they are doing a poor job of labeling their listing.

When I looked at the picture, I sure thought it looked like an MCI.

Ya learn something every day.

Thanks a million.

Seb
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: buswarrior on April 23, 2021, 05:00:06 AM
No.

Flyer tried to market a highway coach style bus before they bought MCI aimed at the commuter/regional transit market. They didn't sell very many of them.

Even though the parts distribution has been consolidated under a New Flyer name, which makes some sence, with their varied product line scattered across the continent, there has been no sign of the various new vehicles being identified by anything other than their subsiduary manufacturer, MCI, Alexander-Denis, and New Flyer transit buses.

If anything, i would have given the parts distribution system a unique name...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on April 23, 2021, 06:43:24 AM
Quote from: buswarrior on April 23, 2021, 05:00:06 AM
No.

Flyer tried to market a highway coach style bus before they bought MCI aimed at the commuter/regional transit market. They didn't sell very many of them.

Even though the parts distribution has been consolidated under a New Flyer name, which makes some sence, with their varied product line scattered across the continent, there has been no sign of the various new vehicles being identified by anything other than their subsiduary manufacturer, MCI, Alexander-Denis, and New Flyer transit buses.

If anything, i would have given the parts distribution system a unique name...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Hello BusWarrior and All

Well, I guess if I want to make sure I should have them send me a pic of the registration or the vehicle tag or something.

So, if it is, in fact a true New Flyer Coach, I'm thinking it's probably a bad purchase choice due to the failure of that line.

I have been amazed at the strange and sometimes flat out wrong names that people will list a bus as in ads.  I've found MCI buses called GM Bus, Detroit Bus, Prevost, just to name a few. 

Thanks BusWarrior.  I always give your insight on this forum a great deal of weight since it seems you've been around this game a while.

Seb

Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: belfert on April 23, 2021, 09:55:07 AM
New Flyer (NFI) only bought MCI in the past few years.  I have no idea why anybody would label an MCI, especially an older model, as a New Flyer.

I always thought New Flyer only sold transit buses.  I have ridden hundreds or thousands of times in a New Flyer articulated transit buses.
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on April 23, 2021, 10:36:52 AM
Quote from: belfert on April 23, 2021, 09:55:07 AM
New Flyer (NFI) only bought MCI in the past few years.  I have no idea why anybody would label an MCI, especially an older model, as a New Flyer.

I always thought New Flyer only sold transit buses.  I have ridden hundreds or thousands of times in a New Flyer articulated transit buses.

I'm not sure where I saw the ad.  If I run across it I will post it here.

Seb
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: luvrbus on April 23, 2021, 10:51:54 AM
It's probably a Western Flyer Canuck bus they look like the MCI they were made into the late 60's they are nice neat looking buses
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on April 23, 2021, 11:05:22 AM
Quote from: luvrbus on April 23, 2021, 10:51:54 AM
It's probably a Western Flyer Canuck bus they look like the MCI they were made into the late 60's they are nice neat looking buses

Huh, that is a nice looking bus.

This is what I like about this community, so much knowledge, and so helpful.

Thanks

Seb
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: freds on April 23, 2021, 07:48:32 PM
I have a hard time imaging a bus that doesn't have storage/luggage bays as a true motorhome/tiny home given what we expect it to do in the long term...
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Jim Eh. on May 02, 2021, 07:59:36 PM
Here is a link for a nice rebuild/conversion of a 1966 Western Flyer "Canuck". You get a nice chance to see the "skeleton" of these buses as George went above and beyond on this build. Turn off or disable your adblocker if you have one to be able to click on the pictures.

https://www.angelfire.com/rnb/eagleweb/bus/bus.html
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: luvrbus on May 03, 2021, 05:06:16 AM
I always liked the Canuck a nice bus 
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: TomC on May 03, 2021, 09:25:14 AM
My AMGeneral 10240B is a high floor transit that does have wheel wells. The under floor is 22" which gave me enough room for my 2-8D deep cycle batteries, 85 gal gray tank, 45 gal black tank, 25 gal propane tank, storage area that is 22"h x 98"w x 66"L to store much more than what you'd think, and a 18"x22"h x 24" cubby for my oils. Then next to the driver's seat is where the 10kw generator is like a front engine with the radiator remote mounted under the driver's seat. Has all worked well since the first time I used it in 1995. Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Dave5Cs on May 03, 2021, 11:22:17 AM
Might find some answers here Seb....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Flyer
Title: Re: What do think of a 1994 New Flyer
Post by: Sebulba on May 04, 2021, 02:55:03 AM
Quote from: Dave5Cs on May 03, 2021, 11:22:17 AM
Might find some answers here Seb....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Flyer

Yeah, I saw that.  Good info there.

Thanks

Seb