Hybrid Bus?

[EmptyCinema]

Yes, they all mean the same. Also you will find Simba and Minnie Mouse too.

I like the Nova best of all but I don't think we will see any more new ones. The Gillig seems to be the new bus of choice. While I don't dislike the Gillig, I would rather drive the Nova.

Are there significant differences in drivability?

Also, is it true that if someone passes you all over a double yellow line, you take the license plate # and report them to OCSD? (Or are at least supposed to) I was told this by another MK driver, who was an awesome guy.

[Cranbiz]

Well, there is not a significant drivability issue.

The Nova has a shorter wheelbase and can turn on a quarter (I would say dime, but no bus turns on a dime) It has a faster top end and IMHO a better braking setup. Because of the shorter wheelbase, it has a larger tail swing that a lot of drivers did not compensate for and had Signal 4's because of it.The jake brake on a Nova works in conjunction with the accelerator, the Gillig, with the brake. The Nova's setup makes a driver with a good feel for a Nova brake sooo smooth and e-stops are less frequent (unless SG's do something really dumb.

It really does come down to a drivers preference, I know drivers that absolutly refuse to drive a Nova, there some who don't like the Gillig, come thet would rather have a really good RTS over a Nova or a Gillig.

I had heard that the Nova's started out fine but then had major maintenance issues. Of course that was about the same time as a full scale BioDiesel test. The things that went wrong on the BioDiesel far outweighed the benefits.

I haven't heard of the turning guests into OCSO for crossing a double yellow. I would think that the deputy would have to witness the incident in order to write a traffic citation.

I could see Disney discouraging CM's from doing this.

[Big Wallaby]

My personal preference is the Nova as well. It takes a lot more thought to drive than anything else, again because of where the wheels are on the bus. I have heard of a Nova having a transmission problem on World Drive and the front bumper hitting the ground. This could be simply rumor, but I could see it in a hard enough, transmission-created E-Stop. However, this is very rare; I have only heard of it happening once. However, the upside, as Cranbiz said, is that if you compensate for the fact that your wheels all touch the ground about eight feet or more from their closest bumpers, you can put that bus almost anywhere. As far as power, I am fairly sure you could get it to at least 80 mph, based on what it takes to get it to 50.

The RTS's are solid buses, and occasionally you will find one that is nice to drive. The RTS was built with longevity in mind... you can take it 500,000 miles, gut it and rebuild the engine, then take it down the road another 500,000 miles. Two or three times of that and your bus has outlasted most people out there. Doesn't mean it has a nice ride, though.

The Gilligs are okay buses, but not my favorite. The go down the road pretty nicely, they turn fairly well. However, they are still not as maneuverable as the Nova.

[Tiny Tim]

Just hope that orion gets a ideal to send one of there 07 hybrids to test for you. Nyc has a bunch of them and more problems (fires,traction motors failing after a week, major electrial problems ramps not working) than any other models.(inculding the Grumman-Flxible deal of the 80s) Also the nova lfs failed the test in ny.And wasnt too well liked by the drivers. CNG is on the way out except in CA. I know the big thing is hyrids now. In the past they have used propane(chicago with a great success) also lng and methenol. Hybrids seem to be the hot thing now and low floors also.

[hhsrat]

Please no Orions! Please! Pretty Please with Sugar on top?

[EmptyCinema]

For the transportation industry-challenged, what's wrong with Orions?

[nbodyhome]

I thought I was the only person in the world that ever put those two words together...but I agree in this case.

Sorry, it took me a while to respond! But it is certainly the only case where I'd consider a Disney bus a "motorcoach" and a snazzy one at that.

I worked at DRC a number of years ago, and they wanted us to call the buses "motorcoaches." I stopped it the day a guest on the phone got all excited, saying "they have MOTORCOACHES now? The last time I was just on a bus!" I didn't have the heart to tell her differently.

I do like the new sound system, except for the part that some of the bus drivers are actually quite entertaining in their own right.

[Zazu]

Anyone know if Disney has ever considered going CNG rather than diesel?

Didn't you know? At WDW we've been using CNG for bus power for over 35 years now!

Also jitneys, horseless carriages, fire trucks, and Jungle Cruise launches -- all from the same compressor station out behind City Hall.

I'm sure some day the Transportation Department will catch up with Main Street, but probably not soon. :D:

[EmptyCinema]

Didn't you know? At WDW we've been using CNG for bus power for over 35 years now!

Also jitneys, horseless carriages, fire trucks, and Jungle Cruise launches -- all from the same compressor station out behind City Hall.

I'm sure some day the Transportation Department will catch up with Main Street, but probably not soon. :D:

I knew Main Street and Jungle Cruise were... I can smell it there.

It's interesting to look at WDW on Google Earth... quite revealing. I believe I've found the WDW power station... bunch of HUGE fans on the roof.

[Zazu]

I like the Nova best of all but I don't think we will see any more new ones.The Gillig seems to be the new bus of choice.

You'd choose the Gillig too if you knew how many of the Novas caught fire during their first three months. Or if you knew those fires had put them out of production for the US market in 2002.

They're still sold in Canada, where I guess they never get hot enough to burn.