[GhettoMAX]

Originally Posted by prmd_cochin

The main reason Volvo got such a head start is because of its looks. A lot of its performance is attributed to its look. I know so many who travelled in fake volvos and said the journey was 'smooth'.

The 3-pointed star logo on the side view mirrors looks so cheap. It looks like its shouting out unconvincingly 'hey look im a Benz'.

How true, in fact the first time I saw these pics of the Benz bus I thought it was a fake one like the fake Volvos.

[TheARUN]

Look at the MERCEDES cars, and then look at the bus. The bus looks like a rip-off. I think the chassis is from BENZ and they've let loose SUTLEJ for the body. They haven't even provided them nameplates! The one in the front is the only one that looks original

[Glifford]

Originally Posted by Mpower

That just my guess. it can work to exhaust the air that flows out of the rad.

I still doubt that. Because of aerodynamic wake.

When a large body (like this bus) moves quickly through a fluid (air) it creates a vacuum in the area it vacates (behind it). This is filled violently by surrounding air that rushes in. This is wake!

That's the reason why in the rainy season backs of buses, and vans and station wagons and hatches are so muddy. Saloons get away because of the boot!

Heck, that's the reason why even backs of bikers get spattered even though they have sufficient mudguards to not let the splash come up!

[royalbirdy]

Originally Posted by hanmust

Mercedes-Benz Buses has expanded its footprint to cover south India as its intercity luxury coach is operational in Bangalore and adjoining areas. To offer service, spare parts and aftersales support onsite, Mercedes-Benz has appointed Advaith Motors to represent the company in that region. The Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, Dr. Wilfried Aulbur inaugurated the service center today along with Mr.S.V.S Subramanya Gupta ,Mr.M.P Shyam and A.C Krishna Raju, partners of Advaith Motors.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Aulbur commented: “The southern region with good road network and strong intercity connections has tremendous potential. We are delighted to partner with Advaith Motors in extending world class service for our demanding customers. Our first customer for the buses was M/s Sharma Transport from Bangalore and we are keen to exploit the further potential in this region. The Mercedes-Benz buses have been very well received by our customers and the three pointed star is now truly the mass carrier for India.”

Advaith Motors, built on an area of 44,000 sq.ft is situated near Biocon Pharma in the Industrial suburb of off Bangalore-Hosur National Highway on the Jigani Link Road. A team of 12 people including a service specialist from Mercedes-Benz will be responsible for the efficient working of this service centre which would cater to the increasing requirements in the South.

Source: Mercedes Benz India

Hey Nevertouchme, nice pics there. BTW you may want this 'silent fnd' of yours to share some experiences too.LOL, I am inded breaking my silence with this post.

[Mpower]

Globally, Mercedes enjoys a 70% market share in buses, while Volvo has a 5% share, the head of Daimler Buses, Harald Landman, points out. So they will be aiming for the number one slot in India too. Fleet owners are already switching loyalties despite a premium pricing over the Volvo. Three of the leading Volvo buyers in India have lined up to pick up the first buses rolling out of the company’s plant in Pune with the body made by Sutlej Motors.

Neeta Tours, a travel company based in Mumbai and amongst the largest Volvo bus fleet is trying out the luxury bus on the Mumbai-Pune stretch. Konduskar Travels of Kolhapur that runs services to Bangalore and Mumbai and Sharma Transports of Bangalore have invested in the Rs 80-lakh intercity coach. Sunil Sawla, promoter of Neeta Tours, which has a fleet of 150 buses, of which 110 are Volvos, says despite the higher pricing, he opted for buying 10 Mercedes buses, as it has the fuel efficiency that was higher by 0.5 litre, at three litre per km, while the bodyline was stronger, downtime less, better speed and a more powerful AC. This takes care of the extra pricing and we will also charge a 10 to 15% premium on bus ticket fares, says Sawla. The payback will take about four years instead of three and a half years for the Volvo, adds Sawla.

More info on Neeta's assesment on Merc vs Volvo.
Source: FinExp

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Mpower

More info on Neeta's assesment on Merc vs Volvo.
Source: FinExp

The article quoted above, appeared just after the bus was released. Even when Volvo was released, many tour operators had praised it superior quality, 'better' mileage and even better returns. The same guys turned around in three years and slammed Volvo for have a very 'poor' body quality, poor mileage and high maintenance costs.

How on earth could an operator 'say' that the bus has better mileage and a "good body" even before the bus hit the road?

Trivia: The news article quoted above, seen here, was published on September 02, 2008; while Mercedes-Benz released their bus on September 01, 2008. So technically, the article is nothing but opinion based on the company literature.

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by binaiks

How on earth could an operator 'say' that the bus has better mileage and a "good body" even before the bus hit the road?

Both these vehicles are sold in other international markets. Maybe thats where he got the data from. Maybe they are going by the company's presentation. I can give you examples of airlines that booked the 787 and the 380 even before the the thing flew.

Of course, I am just guessing here but I would like to give MB the benefit of the doubt. You cannot become the world's No.1 busmaker and maintain that position for decades by putting out crap products. I guess time will tell.

[Glifford]

[quote=Mpower;1096010
Of course, I am just guessing here but I would like to give MB the benefit of the doubt. You cannot become the world's No.1 busmaker and maintain that position for decades by putting out crap products. I guess time will tell.[/QUOTE]

But then again MB here is basically a Sutlej built body. Let's see how it holds.

Then again, Sutlej was definitely the best body builder before the Volvos came in! And when the Volvos came in with Azad, I seriously preferred they did with Sutlej.

Back then, Sutlej commanded a premium and brand recall even within travelling passengers. They would refer to it as "Setlite"!

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Of course, I am just guessing here but I would like to give MB the benefit of the doubt. You cannot become the world's No.1 busmaker and maintain that position for decades by putting out crap products. I guess time will tell.

Oh sirjee.. I am not calling the product as a Crap anywhere in the post. I am only contesting the claims made by the operators. The conditions or driving style is totally different in each country, and their 'world leader' tag cannot do wonders with our drivers. They'd continue driving like any other bus, and the bus would behave in the worst possible way.

Originally Posted by Glifford

But then again MB here is basically a Sutlej built body. Let's see how it holds.

It is only another Sutlej bus. The body is rather horrible and looks like a box mounted on a chassis (what other buses are!)...

[deepclutch]

may be MB have opted for karur body!

[Cyberdoctorind]

Kaleshwari Travels have recently booked a Mercedes Benz and the quote they were saying is 1.3 crores.

Volvo B7R is around 82 lakhs, According to Kaleshwari Travels, the returns that they get on luxury brands is negligible, the silver lining here is the vehicle when sold after 5 years fetches them around 40 Lakhs.

On a different note, do I see an analog odometer in the Mercedes ?

[siedo]

Recently travelled by mb coach from Rajkot -ahmedabad . The bus is really fast it covered 230 km in flat 3 hrs.
Swings are less compared to the volvo but noise levels are much higher. Doesn't feel like travelling with star. Build quality definatly not as per the standards of mb. There are huge gaps on glass panels (even Azad built coaches were much better, some other coach built by sutlej itself are better than this e.g. Lexia , simba coach) there is huge scope for improvement ...

[loving_alaap]

One of the travels in Ahmedabad, Eagle travels, claiming to have Merce bus, on Ahmedabad-Rajkot-Jamnagar route.

Cost almost similar to volvo, but it takes Half hour less than volvo to reach the destination (300km).

A'bad-Jamnagar: 300km
by conventional AC bus: 7 hrs
by 2*1 volga bus: 6.5 hrs (most comfortable for seating, wider 2 by 1 seat arrangement)
by 2*2 volvo: 6 hrs
by 2*2 volvo non stop: 5 hrs
by 2*2 mece non stop: 4.5 hrs
(all approx, personal experience)

Next time, try to get pics.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by loving_alaap

Cost almost similar to volvo, but it takes Half hour less than volvo to reach the destination (300km).

The Merc has a 305hp engine, compared to a 290hp engine on the Volvo. Can 15hp difference result in a saving of 30 minutes in running time? I doubt it.

This could more be due to the driving style of the driver. For the sake of explanation, I would quote an example here:

The distance from Thrissur to Bangalore via Coimbatore and Hosur is approximately 470 km. A considerable part of the road is two-laned, and traffic is pretty heavy. A Private run Volvo takes about 8.5~9 hours for this distance (including one break for refreshment at night).

Government Run volvos take approximately 7.5 ~ 10 hours. (Kerala SRTC Volvo takes 7.5 hours, and Karnataka SRTC about 8.5 ~ 10 hours). At the same time, Tata Globus (built on LPO1616TC chassis) covers the same distance in 8~9 hours! This bus, which as a 160hp engine, takes just half and hour more than a Volvo - which has a 290hp engine!

So, Volvo, with 130 horses more, would reach only half an hour earlier than a TATA Globus! This in itself proves that times are completely dependent on the driving style. An aggressive driver can take the juice out of any engine, while a relaxed guy would go at a slower pace, irrespective of what ever happens!

The fare difference in the route quoted is: Volvos: Rs. 490 ~ 750 (Lowest for Kerala SRTC and highest for Private operators. B9R costs Rs. 830 for this section) , TATA 1616: Rs. 430.

[hanmust]

Got a confidential news from a relaible source; Mercedes' three axle coach has successfully undergone brake & ABS test from TVS Chennai as part of its homologation. The new tri-axle coach is said to have a more powerful/new engine & gearbox. I was also said that the engine quiter than the present one. However the basic design & facia will remain as the presnt model.