Temsa TS 35

[ArlieandEdie]

New to all of this.  I've been lurking on the BB for about a year or so gathering info.  The DW and I won't be getting our bus for a while but we've got our eyes on the Temsa TS 35.  Looks like the right size for us and specs say it has plenty of power.  My question is does anyone have any experience with or heard tales about any problems with the Temsa?  We won't be doing anything for a number of years but we figure by then the US Temsas will be coming onto the used market and we might be able to pick up a deal.  Hope someone out there has some info.  Thanks in advance.

[luvrbus]

A casino in Laughlin has 2 -2009 models for sale with Cummins and Allison for 40 grand each I never knew of any problems all the running gear for the TS 35 is American made only gripe they had was the head room so they went with new VanHools with the DD13 engine 

[georgemci102a2]

I see a bus conversion for sale that looks like what you are talking about,not sure.Its on Atlanta Ga,Craigslist,and type in bus conversions for sale.  ....George.

[wildbob24]

That's Ruthi and Ken's Dina:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/rvs/4622124973.html

It's a nice one.

Bob

[Seangie]

I'm looking at the Temsa 35 possibly for our next build .  I think the engine might have been slightly underpowered for a fully loaded coach but I'm sure that might differ from coach to coach.  Ill be keeping an eye on them though.

-Sean

[belfert]

A casino in Laughlin has 2 -2009 models for sale with Cummins and Allison for 40 grand each I never knew of any problems all the running gear for the TS 35 is American made only gripe they had was the head room so they went with new VanHools with the DD13 engine 

Are these buses well used or something?  $40k seems dirt cheap for a 2009 bus even if it is only 35 feet.  Jefferson Lines has been buying some of the Temsa buses for their fleet.  I was told they are made in Turkey.

[luvrbus]

40K seems high to me they paid less than 150k ea and did their 5 year write off and they are clean little buses with about 300k on the little Cummins and they are made in Turkey and China the Cummins is Chinese made

[TomC]

I believe these are built on a Freightliner chassis. We see similar buses in the shop all the time. While the chassis, Cummins engine and Allison transmission are good (you can turn the ISL up to 450hp and 1250lb/ft torque), the reason they are in the shop so much is the wiring is junk. You wouldn't believe the rats nest of wiring when you open the dash or the side electrical panel. Good luck, TomC

[belfert]

These sound more like a motorhome than a bus if they are only $150,000.  Are they really any better built than a motorhome with a Freightliner chassis?

I can understand why long haul bus companies are buying them as the cost per passenger mile should be less than a traditional coach bus even with shorter life figured in.

[Jeremy]

The TS35 is unique to the American market and I don't know what the spec is, but the other Temsa models have all-stainless monocoques - definitely not motorhomes pretending to be buses. Turkey is very much a low-labour cost country but that doesn't necessarily mean the things aren't well-built - I don't know whether they are or not, but Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Ford and various other all have factories in Turkey so they have a decent automotive industry at least

Jeremy

[ArlieandEdie]

I believe these are built on a Freightliner chassis. We see similar buses in the shop all the time. While the chassis, Cummins engine and Allison transmission are good (you can turn the ISL up to 450hp and 1250lb/ft torque), the reason they are in the shop so much is the wiring is junk. You wouldn't believe the rats nest of wiring when you open the dash or the side electrical panel. Good luck, TomC

TomC, is that a problem with the newer TS-35s say from 2011 on also or just the older ones?  In your opinion are they a lost cause or can their deficiencies be corrected reasonably?

[chessie4905]

Here is a brochure for anyone that is curious:

http://chbussales.com/Temsa_TS_35_Brochure_2014.pdf

[CrabbyMilton]

In case some didn't know, TEMSA hasa 45' model now too. TEMSA is becomong very popular due to the fact that they are built from the ground up as buses(like MCI, PREVOST, VAN-HOOL, SETRA) but they offer 35 or 30' models. Until they came along, you could only get a smaller bus if it was built on a FREIGHTLINER chassis. As many have said, those seem to have trouble but because they are all but a monoploy with that type of design (excluding school buses), they probably became lax.

[Jeremy]

Just about all the European manufacturers offer lengths from 8m to 13m because, compared to America, there are very many more locations in Europe where having a more compact bus is an advantage, if not even a necessity - you still don't see many about though as operators need to have a pretty good reason to order a bus with an obviously lower earning potential per trip yet pretty much the same costs. But later in life they make ideal conversions for many people (such as myself)

Jeremy

[belfert]

The brochure says the structure is "Frameless monocoque chassis in stainless steel".  It doesn't sound like a Freightliner chassis.

I should ask the local bus repair place what they think of them when I see them next week.