08-09-2015, 07:08 AM
Hi Chuck,
I will take a stab at a few of your questions. I have an 02 that shares some of the systems of one a few years newer.
my 02 has a gvrw of 55k lbs. the 500hp detroit does just fine. will i go up a 7% grade at 65mph, no. it will downshift. but it doesnt crawl either. i can be at freeway speeds by the time i enter the freeway from an onramp. there is plenty of power. my 500hp 8v92 on my previous 90 would slow down more as you would have to downshift to keep the rpms up to keep it cool.
i have kept my series 60 on cruise going up steep hills and once the engine temp hits 205, the high speed hydraulic fan kicks in and you can watch the temps go down into the 190's. as with any piece of machinery like this, we all monitor temps and pressures and most of us use silverleaf on our laptops.
i can only imagine what a 650hp cat would be like. like a race car.
when i bought my first newell, prevosts were on the list as well and have always commanded a premium. they just do.
just like the wanderlodge forums are biased towards wanderlodges, we will be biased towards newells here.
i do as much of my own service as i can and take the rest to a good buddy bus shop locally. when he needed parts to fix stuff (like brakes, air systems, etc, he would go to his parts room and get them) and they service overa 100 prevost tour bus's.
you are an experienced bus buyer so you know the drill. pictures can often be misleading and you have to know what you are getting into. parts for these babies (and wanderlodges/prevosts) are crazy expensive. and labor rates are about the same everywhere.
on mine all the suspension part are dana. on one with a steerable tag they are ZF. my 02 has 205k miles and drives like a caddy. a big one beit....
i have not driven a prevost of the same age. there are several here who have and hopefully they will comment. i imagine both to be a great driving experience.
as my dear friend wally would say......thats my two cents worth and i am stickin to it
tom
I will take a stab at a few of your questions. I have an 02 that shares some of the systems of one a few years newer.
my 02 has a gvrw of 55k lbs. the 500hp detroit does just fine. will i go up a 7% grade at 65mph, no. it will downshift. but it doesnt crawl either. i can be at freeway speeds by the time i enter the freeway from an onramp. there is plenty of power. my 500hp 8v92 on my previous 90 would slow down more as you would have to downshift to keep the rpms up to keep it cool.
i have kept my series 60 on cruise going up steep hills and once the engine temp hits 205, the high speed hydraulic fan kicks in and you can watch the temps go down into the 190's. as with any piece of machinery like this, we all monitor temps and pressures and most of us use silverleaf on our laptops.
i can only imagine what a 650hp cat would be like. like a race car.
when i bought my first newell, prevosts were on the list as well and have always commanded a premium. they just do.
just like the wanderlodge forums are biased towards wanderlodges, we will be biased towards newells here.
i do as much of my own service as i can and take the rest to a good buddy bus shop locally. when he needed parts to fix stuff (like brakes, air systems, etc, he would go to his parts room and get them) and they service overa 100 prevost tour bus's.
you are an experienced bus buyer so you know the drill. pictures can often be misleading and you have to know what you are getting into. parts for these babies (and wanderlodges/prevosts) are crazy expensive. and labor rates are about the same everywhere.
on mine all the suspension part are dana. on one with a steerable tag they are ZF. my 02 has 205k miles and drives like a caddy. a big one beit....
i have not driven a prevost of the same age. there are several here who have and hopefully they will comment. i imagine both to be a great driving experience.
as my dear friend wally would say......thats my two cents worth and i am stickin to it
tom
2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608 Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH