2020 Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Just saw a story on the news this evening regarding Obama's newest acquisition two Prevost X3-45 coaches. Seems some of Americans have an issue with the amount of Canadian content even though a US company completed the interior. Would love to see inside this coach. Also surprised Secret Service allowed media to actually get that close for photographs. Something tells me I would not be as lucky though . http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/canu...9k5MyKNS4B7Qp7O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michel Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 The story says the bus is an H3-45 when it's actually an X3-45. The all black look is quite ugly IMO. They should have made it look more like a band bus with some brown in there so it blends in with all other buses on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bus_Medic Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Interesting. They forget to mention that there really is no "all American" coach on the market. Clearly if the Hemphill bros. Can do a popemobile, they can do a "greyhound 1" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
* Mr. Black * Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Interesting.They forget to mention that there really is no "all American" coach on the market. Clearly if the Hemphill bros. Can do a popemobile, they can do a "greyhound 1" lol... i just commented about that on that thread.... lets see if i get flamed by the americns.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Board Admin A. Wong Posted August 18, 2011 Board Admin Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 In one of the pictures I thought I saw a red H3-45 trailing the black secret service X3-45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 If they went with Vanhool, it would be built by ABC Group, which is made in the United States. Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bus_Medic Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 If they went with Vanhool, it would be built by ABC Group, which is made in the United States. Right? I thought they were basically imported from Belgium, possibly unfinished. Maybe I'm wrong on that. Isn't ABC really just the registered dealer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCT-3122-D800-10240 Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Isn't ABC really just the registered dealer? I believe you're correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 I believe you're correct. So would an MCI bus have more US Content? I thought they were built in Canada...Since Setra is pretty much imported from Germany... that doesn't leave much. I believe seeing an article somewhere that their Mid side bus was built from the ground up in the United States and fully developed by ABC Group. (3035RE) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD 50 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 If he's going to spend that much on a coach, why not buy a Newell? If I'm not mistaken I believe it is built in North America and it is one of the most luxurious coaches you can buy. Here's the link:http://www.newellcoach.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlo86 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 If he's going to spend that much on a coach, why not buy a Newell? If I'm not mistaken I believe it is built in North America and it is one of the most luxurious coaches you can buy.Here's the link:http://www.newellcoach.com Simply put....it is not a Prevost that's why. Hate to be picky, but Canada is part of North America too. The issue is not whether or not it's built in North America, it's whether it was built in the United States. And really if Hemphill Brothers did the conversion, that's an American company and half the cost of the bus anyways. Prevost above any other manufacture is known for building entertainer coaches (either complete or shells only) to top quality. There is a reason why the majority of entertainer coaches on the road being used by various VIP's are mostly Prevost models, and that is because they have a reputation for quality and luxury that has not been matched on a large scale by other builders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD 50 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 Simply put....it is not a Prevost that's why. Hate to be picky, but Canada is part of North America too. The issue is not whether or not it's built in North America, it's whether it was built in the United States. And really if Hemphill Brothers did the conversion, that's an American company and half the cost of the bus anyways. Prevost above any other manufacture is known for building entertainer coaches (either complete or shells only) to top quality. There is a reason why the majority of entertainer coaches on the road being used by various VIP's are mostly Prevost models, and that is because they have a reputation for quality and luxury that has not been matched on a large scale by other builders. Ah I see that makes sense. I should have known that. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlo86 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 Ah I see that makes sense. I should have known that. lol Sometimes brand name really counts that's all. Those Newell coaches actually look pretty comparable, specification and picture wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD 50 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 Sometimes brand name really counts that's all. Those Newell coaches actually look pretty comparable, specification and picture wise. I actually heard of them in Car and Driver magazine. I mean, it looks really good on paper but no one has really heard of Newell. Prevost on the other hand a lot of people have heard of them. I guess in a way its like Prevost being an luxury car company like Cadillac or even as far as to say BMW while Newell is more like Maybach. I could've described it better possibly but that's the best I can come up with to compare it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2044 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 It's worth mentioning the Secret Service claim Prevost could best handle the weight of all the security features. I'm sure where the coach was manufactured was not on the top of their list of priorities when they decided to order the coaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpio7 Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I thought they were basically imported from Belgium, possibly unfinished.Maybe I'm wrong on that. Isn't ABC really just the registered dealer? All Van Hools are built in Belgium, then shipped to North America. When they leave the plant in Belgium, they are finished except for the decals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL-H345 Driver Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 All Van Hools are built in Belgium, then shipped to North America. When they leave the plant in Belgium, they are finished except for the decals. They are complete without engine and transmissions. This way they are imported as a "part" and not "complete" vehicle for tax purposes. Keeps the purchase price to the consumer lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpio7 Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 They are complete without engine and transmissions. No, engine and transmission are installed at the factory in Belgium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL-H345 Driver Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 No, engine and transmission are installed at the factory in Belgium. May I ask your source? My employer who purchased 4 says shells arrive in Florida, then the Detroit Diesel engine and ZF transmission were installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpio7 Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 May I ask your source? I'm from Belgium. I live 15 minutes away from the main Van Hool plant. I regularly pass new Van Hools for the US market on test drives (in fact, saw a TD925 for Megabus on a test drive just today). On top of that, my brother works for Van Hool, and actually installs the engines. There's also this youtube video, taken at the Van Hool factory by a delegation from the French city of Metz (which ordered 27 double-articulated Van Hool low floor buses) earlier this year. Towards the end, you can see several C2045s with the engine compartments open, and you can see the engines are installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL-H345 Driver Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I'm from Belgium. I live 15 minutes away from the main Van Hool plant. I regularly pass new Van Hools for the US market on test drives (in fact, saw a TD925 for Megabus on a test drive just today). On top of that, my brother works for Van Hool, and actually installs the engines. There's also this youtube video, taken at the Van Hool factory by a delegation from the French city of Metz (which ordered 27 double-articulated Van Hool low floor buses) earlier this year. Towards the end, you can see several C2045s with the engine compartments open, and you can see the engines are installed. Then I have to wonder why the 2 stories? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpio7 Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Then I have to wonder why the 2 stories? Well, your employer was misinformed. To be honest, it's the first time I've ever heard the story of engines and transmissions being installed in the US. Wonder who told your employer that... Anyway, if you're still in doubt, you can of course always contact ABC or Van Hool directly. They'll confirm what I said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL-H345 Driver Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Well, your employer was misinformed. To be honest, it's the first time I've ever heard the story of engines and transmissions being installed in the US. Wonder who told your employer that...Anyway, if you're still in doubt, you can of course always contact ABC or Van Hool directly. They'll confirm what I said. It could be a mus-conception from years ago. MCI was rumoured to move bus shells from Winnipeg to North Dakota to install engines there; getting around tax duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Board Admin A. Wong Posted November 17, 2011 Board Admin Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Bus shells are still moved around regularly - especially between Canada and US plants, sometimes to meet the "Built In America" regulations for funding... New Flyer and Orion both have plants in Canada and the US, and shells are regularly shipped between them for completion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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