[sandeepmdas]

Saw (apparently the same 9700) bus y'day in Trivandrum; belongs to Karnataka State transport corp. The name of the bus is Iravat.

White elephant?

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by Liverpool_Red

Volvo buses at the hands of a good driver are hard to catch up. Im absolutely amazed as to how small their turning radius is.

I think the small turning radius is because the steering angle of 50 degrees makes it too good. My technical knowledge is very limited to give you the exact term.

Damn now these 9400 and 9700 have projector headlights, a total of 3 pairs (6) lights makes it too good on the highway for the bus driver and worse for the on coming traffic

[rajakumar]

Mods, Can we merge this thread with the already existing thread.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...-9400-6x2.html

This thread has wide ranging discussions on the various versions of Volvo bus.

[aaggoswami]

I think internationally this bus is available with 420 and 460 bhp versions, but for Euro 5, the version is 340 bhp. Euro 4 maximum output is around 460 bhp. And the engine is 12 ltr., 6 cyliner engine.

380 bhp and 1850 nm, 420 bhp and 2000 nm and 460 bhp 2200 nm are the versions of the engine.
I dont know which is available here, but it looks like thees are very very powerful machines. Can easily out do the usual truck based buses.

Recently on expresshighway no.1 I came across a truck chassis based bus that was doing around 120 kmph. I dont know what the chassis are capable of, neither I am aware of max speed these volvo buses do, but there must be some limiter for speed. The State transport buses running on CNG in Gujarat have a limiter related with rpm. Go beyond a specific rpm in any gear, a red led will flash on a box installed under instrument panel. That box is control unit for CNG I think.
My point is that buses doing these high speeds is not very good considering the unpredictable indian highways.

But its nice to see buses that are not struggling and are comfortable to travel in.

[Dippy]

Note from Support: Threads merged.

[Transsenger]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

thanks amit for the help.

is the starbus available with air suspension? if the starbus is available with air suspension & AC, it seems to be a better option than the globus, isnt it?

for my usage, air suspension is a priority over AC!

Well, if you are looking for Fully built buses only, then you have the only option of going for Tata Starbus/Globus range. AL has only the following fully built buses Stag -32/36 seater and Lynx 45seater.
Considering Intermediate buses, your options are 40 seater - Tata starbus/Marcopolo, Eicher Skyline, Swaraj Mazda and Leyland Lynx.

Comming back...Tata starbus / Globus are the only FB heavy buses presently avaliable. Answers to your qurey as follows:
1. Body - Starbus body is built by ACGL - Automobile Corporation of Goa Ltd(subsidery of Tata Motors) or HMM etc based on the standard designs of TataMotors. The Asthetics, quality fit & finish is good. But comparitively not easy to maintain in the Long Run. Issues like welding cracks, rattling front & rear FRP defects etc may be encountered.
2. Air Suspension - its not really required for non a/c bus. You can either get factory fitted system from both AL & Tata or else get it done thru supplier dealers. For example Wheels India. Tata buses usually comes with Wheels India make system as OE fitment. It will be an optional fitment in case of standard Starbus. AL offers its own air suspension system also.
3. Weveller Suspension - It is normal leaf spring system but rubber springs replace the mechanical shackles. It is widely used in Leyland vehicles. Tata has started fitment of the same recently. It offers better comfort & low maintenance.
3. Retarder - It is not the "engine exhaust brakes". Its mainly used in a/c & luxuary buses. It improves travel comfort, safety, brake lining life etc. It is costly. Leyland vehicles usually comes with electromagnetic retarder whereas Globus is fitted with hydrodynamic retarder. Its again, not a mandatory fitment.
4. Fullybuilt bus advantage - put to use from day one, 1 year warranty on body, service support from dealers etc.
5. Fullybuilt demerits - Standard designs, less customisation, costly to maintain after may be 2 or 3 years and the parts avaliablity is not assured as the design changes. The front & rear ends will be made of fiber.

And in case of picking Starbus, ask for Cummins engine, radial tyre and Annual Maintenance contract.
For A/c bus its better to go for a chassis. The a/c can be of ThermoKing, Carrier or Sidwal etc. Good quality customised buses can be made thru reputed body builders.
If possible try to aviod BS3 models, as all models presently avaliable are with electronics integrated fuel systems. Its costly to maintain in long run. Please not we dont get quality FUEL everywhere, hence no point in BS for the time being....purely practical! (critics welcome)

Finally visit AL & Tata dealer and see the bus/chassis personally. Check out what they offer.

[vrprabhu]

Any of you remember the late 1980 movie "Over the Top"?

I am a die-hard Stallone - Rocky & Rambo are not what I meant - mean ones like "Escape to Victory", "Cliff Hanger", "Cop Land" et all... My daughter loves the song "This is the way to wash the gun, wash the gun.... wash the gun, early in the morning" in "Stop! Or my mom will shoot!"

OK, OK - I will get to the point...

Ever since I saw the monster in "Over the Top" - I mean the truck & not his biceps! - I got thinking, what kind of engines these trucks must be using - and may be you needed biceps like Stallone to the turn the steering(I was in early 20s - and hadn't seen a power steering till my college mate's dad bought a WagonR!)

Yesterday, I was reminded of those good old days - thanks to TATA - kudos to them for thinking big!! They have arrived on the scene, and am sure will progress up the ladder pretty fast!! Anyone has any doubt, take a look at this - 6 x 2 x 2 = 24 wheels at the rear!!! Are two stepneys enough?

I had to tone down the pictures to fit the limit - anyone interest can PM me.

But I was floored looking at the headlights and mirrors (second time I am going ga ga over the lights and mirrors!) - two mirrors - can this guy really look behind so far? Why do tata's use the same set of tail lights on their vehicles - skimping for a truck of this size?!!

This truck had none of the strain (relatively less noisy) going up the slope, kept up easily with the rest of the traffic - of course, it is a new machine and there was no load - but pretty sure that this guy was not pushing it to the limit!!

Are there any truck owners here? Could not find a dedicated thread for them!!

Sorry for the poor quality pictures - had to over take him (on my bike on the highway!) and go ahead and stop for a quick snap - still learning the panning trick.

MODS - Please merge this thread with something appropriate, if I am off track - search option gave countless pages of threads with some mention "about trucks" and nothing "on trucks"

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

you are saying- buy the chassis & get the body built from outside? any specific reasons for this?
if i get an aftermarket AC fitted, will the fit & finish look good?

I guess you are planning to purchase a bus and not a car. The bodies built by companies that specialise in bodies are much much better than the ones put together by auto makers. Plus, you have the advantage of being able to design your own layout (which meets RTO specifications, of course) and also design your own design for the bus!

Body builders like Prakash, Veera, etc build much better bodies that ACGL - else, why on earth do tour operators not purchase Starbus or Globus?

Originally Posted by raj_5004

wont the starbus have the advantage of a completely built body from the factory? i guess it will have better looks & fit-finish than aftermarket built bodies.

Absolutely not. The ones put together by companies like Prakash, Veera (just some examples) are better than the ones from ACGL. The ACGL design by itself does not have good finish, and the over use of Fiber in the body design means a lot of chances of ending up with a "leprotic" face.

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas

Saw (apparently the same 9700) bus y'day in Trivandrum; belongs to Karnataka State transport corp. The name of the bus is Iravat.

I am sorry, but there is NO product called a 9700 in India. Volvo sells only 8400s and 9400s in India. What you saw is a B7R. The body design is called 9400 - and that is shared between a B7R and a B9R.

Originally Posted by nkrishnap

Damn now these 9400 and 9700 have projector headlights, a total of 3 pairs (6) lights makes it too good on the highway for the bus driver and worse for the on coming traffic

Not really. The lights are not too heavy on oncoming traffic - they are just a bit better than normal buses - thats it. The light is focussed so well that the driver gets good light, but does not fall directly on the oncoming vehicle.

[raj_5004]

@ Transsenger: thanks for all your help mate. i will keep you updated.

@ binaiks: thanks for the suggestion buddy. i'll keep that in mind.

[Trapezio]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Body builders like Prakash, Veera, etc build much better bodies that ACGL - else, why on earth do tour operators not purchase Starbus or Globus?

Its because of tax reasons that tour operators avoid fully built buses.

[vrprabhu]

Originally Posted by vrprabhu

Anyone has any doubt, take a look at this - 6 x 2 x 2 = 24 wheels at the rear!!! Are two stepneys enough?

Please pardon my over enthusiasm - the wheels should read like this = (6*2) + (2*2) = 16 and not 24. Realised this today, because promised amitv8 to keep an eye open for clicking the truck on test.

So today evening, went outside Pune - towards Bangalore - hoping that the indigo and tata truck would be returning after another trail.

I was right - but unfortunately the truck was a different one on test - with a lesser pair of wheels at the rear. That's when I realised my mistake. Didn't feel like chasing him - what with wife and daughter thinking that dad has become loony!!

But I did catch something - refer to VW Polo thread!!

[amit V8]

Originally Posted by vrprabhu

Please pardon my over enthusiasm - the wheels should read like this = (6*2) + (2*2) = 16 and not 24.

@ vrprabhu, i can see 18 wheels, are you saying 16 by excluding the front wheels??

Realised this today, because promised amitv8 to keep an eye open for clicking the truck on test.

thanks so much for keeping my small request. hope that does not create a problem to you.

[vrprabhu]

Originally Posted by amit V8

@ vrprabhu, i can see 18 wheels, are you saying 16 by excluding the front wheels??
thanks so much for keeping my small request. hope that does not create a problem to you.

Yes, excluding the front wheels of the cab - which is a separate unit. That was what got my attention - in the movie "Over the Top" the competition is held for the cab and winner takes it all. So Stallone as "Hawk" is after the cab and life with his son. The TATA CAB looked great - real trailer moving monster. I have seen a few TATA buses used the MSRTC between Pune and Mumbai, and they can sure keep with the Volvo's and Merc's buses - so what I was hearing about the CV expansion by TATA (due to the acquisition of Daewoo arm) is true.

No trouble - have a couple of Pune-Mumbai trips next week - so if you are lucky I will get good pictures. Nowadays don't venture out with the camera - and making sure my daughter is fully concentrating to see anything new on the road!!

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by vrprabhu

I have seen a few TATA buses used the MSRTC between Pune and Mumbai, and they can sure keep with the Volvo's and Merc's buses !

You mean this Tata Hispano Globus?

[Transsenger]

Here is one of the new Volvo B9R, introduced by Kallada Travels in Cochin-Chennai service.