Mahindra Tourister i vs Tata Marcopolo & others - Need a School Bus

Transsenger · 7th April 2010, 20:47

Tata Marcopolo buses are built on LP709, LP909, LP712, LP912 platforms by Tata Marcopolo at Dharward, karnataka. These platforms have been there in the market for quiet a long time now. Unlike Tata Starbus Skool series, these Marcopolo buses are build at one of the most modern bus building plant in India. And these are sure to stay!

Meanwhile, Mahindra Tourister is a new entrant (comparatively) and has been doing well in markets like Kerala. The body of tourister is built by private players like HMM Coaches, MG-Alma Motors etc as per company specifications.

Both these buses are designes as per existing norms in CMVR. The only factors that should bother you is the Maintenance Cost, Service/spares support avaliability, performance etc. The colour of lights, position of speakers, number of window rails etc are all secondry!

teamveevee · 7th April 2010, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finject

Looking at the current information I have i'm v. much tilted towards tourister but still I'd like to know if there is more to know..

From the post itself it is some what clear that you are biased towards Tourister

. But this is the busy time of the year for School bus manufactures, and not sure any one you pick will be able to deliver it before the school opens (June?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Transsenger

The only factors that should bother you is the Maintenance Cost, Service/spares support avaliability

That is one area where Tata consistently scores over competition (May be performance others could match) and that is the exact reason competition concentrates on other simple aspects (such as color of the indicator) leaving the main aspects.

Finject · 8th April 2010, 12:22

Thank you all for your valuable inputs..was surely more helpful than the dealers that i had to deal with. Although I'm still skewed towards tourister. I will provide all sides of the story to my uncle to help him out. thanks again.. TeamBHP rocks! [

]

Amartya · 22nd April 2010, 01:52

I know that the MarcoPolo buses have emergency exits, and it is such utter baloney that the competitor claims otherwise. The very fact that the Mahindra presentation (whether from the dealer or the company is immaterial) cites bogus things as being advantages totally makes me side with the Marcopolo bus.

It's funny that I have a relative who owns a school as well, and all his buses are from the Skool range (Tata). I have myself checked them out (but I didn't actually have a say in the purchase) and found them to be of pretty good quality and it has had some ideas borrowed from school buses in the west. My relative also took the trouble of putting in impact absorbing foam in the last row, instead of using it to seat children. That really is a very nice idea, in fact one that makes the parents really happier.

aravind BS · 8th June 2010, 02:24

Hi Teambhp,

Please help me on deciding a school bus

requirements are
1) 32 - 36 seaters
2) Safety
3) good mailage
4) good after sales services.
5) VFM

I have shortlisted
1. Tata Starbus Skool 36 +1 - 12lks on road
2. Eicher 10.75 H [COLOR=#ff0000]SKYLINE SCHOOL 34+1[/COLOR] price almost same as Tatastarbus
3. Swaraj Mazda - (not aware of the model) 32+1 around 11 lakhs
4. M & M - MAHINDRA TOURISTER 32+1 around 11 lakhs

teamveevee · 8th June 2010, 10:15

I think there is already a thread that talkes about this. In Kerala which is dominated by AL buses, Tata is the preferred bus of choice for schools. I have seen Starbus/Skool and 909 buses in Kerala. This is just an observation..

Transsenger · 8th June 2010, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by aravind BS

Hi Teambhp,

Please help me on deciding a school bus
I have shortlisted
1. Tata Starbus Skool 36 +1 - 12lks on road
2. Eicher 10.75 H [COLOR=#ff0000]SKYLINE SCHOOL 34+1[/COLOR] price almost same as Tatastarbus
3. Swaraj Mazda - (not aware of the model) 32+1 around 11 lakhs
4. M & M - MAHINDRA TOURISTER 32+1 around 11 lakhs

Hey, why no AL??? Check out AL latest "A+" range of fully built school buses also! Check "Milestones" in the below link:
Automobile News Magazine | Online Automobile Magazine

binaiks · 8th June 2010, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Transsenger

Hey, why no AL??? Check out AL latest "A+" range of fully built school buses also! Check "Milestones" in the below link:

Did not know that "A+" was their brand! Here is one A+ recently bought by Amrita Vidyalayam: (They have taken 10 of these, all on Lynx platform)

Mahindra Tourister i vs Tata Marcopolo & others - Need a School Bus-image0110.jpg

Apologies for the poor pic - was shot on the mobile phone in badly underlit conditions.

7th April 2010, 20:47	#16
Transsenger BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KOCHI Posts: 368 Thanked: 96 Times	Tata Marcopolo buses are built on LP709, LP909, LP712, LP912 platforms by Tata Marcopolo at Dharward, karnataka. These platforms have been there in the market for quiet a long time now. Unlike Tata Starbus Skool series, these Marcopolo buses are build at one of the most modern bus building plant in India. And these are sure to stay! Meanwhile, Mahindra Tourister is a new entrant (comparatively) and has been doing well in markets like Kerala. The body of tourister is built by private players like HMM Coaches, MG-Alma Motors etc as per company specifications. Both these buses are designes as per existing norms in CMVR. The only factors that should bother you is the Maintenance Cost, Service/spares support avaliability, performance etc. The colour of lights, position of speakers, number of window rails etc are all secondry!
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 12:22	#18
Finject BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 99 Thanked: Once	Thank you all for your valuable inputs..was surely more helpful than the dealers that i had to deal with. Although I'm still skewed towards tourister. I will provide all sides of the story to my uncle to help him out. thanks again.. TeamBHP rocks! []
	() Thanks

22nd April 2010, 01:52	#19
Amartya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Evanston Posts: 1,748 Thanked: 736 Times	I know that the MarcoPolo buses have emergency exits, and it is such utter baloney that the competitor claims otherwise. The very fact that the Mahindra presentation (whether from the dealer or the company is immaterial) cites bogus things as being advantages totally makes me side with the Marcopolo bus. It's funny that I have a relative who owns a school as well, and all his buses are from the Skool range (Tata). I have myself checked them out (but I didn't actually have a say in the purchase) and found them to be of pretty good quality and it has had some ideas borrowed from school buses in the west. My relative also took the trouble of putting in impact absorbing foam in the last row, instead of using it to seat children. That really is a very nice idea, in fact one that makes the parents really happier.
	() Thanks

8th June 2010, 02:24	#20
aravind BS BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NA Posts: 31 Thanked: 4 Times	Which School buses to buy Hi Teambhp, Please help me on deciding a school bus requirements are 1) 32 - 36 seaters 2) Safety 3) good mailage 4) good after sales services. 5) VFM I have shortlisted 1. Tata Starbus Skool 36 +1 - 12lks on road 2. Eicher 10.75 H [COLOR=#ff0000]SKYLINE SCHOOL 34+1[/COLOR] price almost same as Tatastarbus 3. Swaraj Mazda - (not aware of the model) 32+1 around 11 lakhs 4. M & M - MAHINDRA TOURISTER 32+1 around 11 lakhs
	() Thanks

8th June 2010, 10:15	#21
teamveevee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kottayam Posts: 1,081 Thanked: 155 Times	I think there is already a thread that talkes about this. In Kerala which is dominated by AL buses, Tata is the preferred bus of choice for schools. I have seen Starbus/Skool and 909 buses in Kerala. This is just an observation..
	() Thanks