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eicsbus
Senior Member
Canada
126 Posts |
 Posted - 01/21/2011 : 06:54:40 AM
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After buying 19 ic's( junk with no dealer support), now we are demoing c2's, need input,,pro's and con's
any info appreciated |
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RichBusman
Advanced Member
453 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2011 : 12:14:32 PM
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They are greatly improved over the early few years of C2s. Really no major design flaws.
Cummins motor will make you very pleased. |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2011 : 12:31:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by RichBusman
They are greatly improved over the early few years of C2s. Really no major design flaws.
Cummins motor will make you very pleased.
Does all that plastic up there shake like an IC does? With roads with pot holes as big as wash tubs we have trouble with those plastic dashes. The only plastic dash so far that I've seen that won't (at least with a little over 100,000 on it) rattle is BB. Blue Bird's plastic is not like the IC plastic. It's made out of some kind of thick plyable stuff. I'm not sure what it is, it's weird. |
Bryan |
Edited by - bwest on 01/21/2011 12:36:13 PM |
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JustinB
Advanced Member
United States
490 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2011 : 05:55:11 AM
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| The dash holds up very well to the hammering of diret roads. A little clearance for the front 1/4 fenders is advisable. Keep up with the front shocks if the bus does a lot of 3-point turnarounds @ dead ends. |
I may not know the answer but I can usually find who does. |
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tigger2
Advanced Member
USA
470 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 12:06:38 PM
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| The only major con to a C2 is the multiplex wiring, make sure to get the link from your dealer for Service Link and take all the training on their wiring you can get. With a little practice it does get better. Our customer service is very good, but our dealer is in our school district. Busman is right the new Cummins is the best engine yet in a C2. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4559 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 1:41:35 PM
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Buy 2... One to use and one for parts.
Seriously though, the C2 is leaps and bounds above what it was when it first came out and the several miserable years that followed...but progress is still being made.
To echo the above, you need the training and tools and laptop and software for the electrical systems unless you plan to make many expensive trips to the dealer. I want to stress that a good dealer relationship is essential to owning these buses (or any brand for that matter).
My observations:
Old units, the plastic junk cracked. New units SEEM to be holding up. Windows have improved greatly.
For safety sake consider specifying warning light visors, sun glare has been an issue for operators around here.
Mirror mounts and placement leave something to be desired, but once you get used to it, it's no big deal.
LED backing lights (if ordered) suck, many have added auxillery lighting to the rear skirts to help in those pitch black turnarounds, but this may not affect you operation.
Seeing how you are in Canada and know winter quite well, you should know that the #1 driver complaint this time of year are wipers' poor performance, but that came be overcome.
Pay attention to you seatback pans for seperation from frames, that adds up fast when it takes out the edge of the foams.
I'm also a little irritated at the price of replacement LEDs for the brake/tail, turn and backing but will say that the rest of the parts needed have been reasonable in price.
Above all else...READ EVERY WORD OF THE WARRANTY. Rust/corrosion hasn't been getting covered like it used to.
Good luck on whoever you chose friend! |
Edited by - Thomasbus24 on 01/24/2011 1:49:25 PM |
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bcressey
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 4:38:13 PM
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| At one point the LEDs were covered for 10 years against failure. I'll see what I can see for warranty now. |
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RichBusman
Advanced Member
453 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 6:45:43 PM
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Those Weldon LEDs that are on the C2 should be covered under a 5 year warranty.
If you had the first generation C2 LED lights then you're probably screwed. But the newest gen ones are 5 years. |
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JustinB
Advanced Member
United States
490 Posts |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4559 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 10:29:59 AM
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| Weldon warranty doesn't and shouldn't cover stupidity related failures That's all I will say about the matter. :) |
Edited by - Thomasbus24 on 01/25/2011 10:31:35 AM |
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eicsbus
Senior Member
Canada
126 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 05:22:07 AM
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| thnx justin,,,, ,,,, |
I.C. NO FUTURE
formally ,,,,wright11 |
Edited by - eicsbus on 01/31/2011 05:17:18 AM |
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JustinB
Advanced Member
United States
490 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 11:05:48 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by eicsbus
thnx justin,,,,wright11@shaw.ca,,,,
Should now be in your e-mail. |
I may not know the answer but I can usually find who does. |
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flyboy
Senior Member
USA
147 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2011 : 05:27:22 AM
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| Apart from the fact that C-2s are the ugliest thing on the road my tech hate them.Thankfully we only have two but they spend a lot of time in the shop. The Mercedes MBE 900 is a crappy engine. We won't buy the SCR Cummins either. We have at least 100 ICs and they have few problems and my guys love them. |
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eicsbus
Senior Member
Canada
126 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2011 : 05:45:27 AM
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eis - I can email you a pdf tutorial on pulling most of the codes you need out of the dash.
justin,,,,not received yet |
I.C. NO FUTURE
formally ,,,,wright11 |
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JustinB
Advanced Member
United States
490 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2011 : 09:57:32 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by eicsbus
eis - I can email you a pdf tutorial on pulling most of the codes you need out of the dash.
justin,,,,not received yet
2nd time's a charm? = Just re-sent |
I may not know the answer but I can usually find who does. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4559 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2011 : 4:31:20 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Thomasbus24
My observations:
Old units, the plastic junk cracked. New units SEEM to be holding up.
$850 later I wish to retract my earlier statement.
Plastic interior panels: F. |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
354 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2011 : 1:53:30 PM
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| C2s are very common here in Va. We have a good dealer and that means a lot. I hear you cant go wrong with the Cummins either. I dont operate any and I'm just passing along what I hear from colleages at local schools. |
"Hardybusman" |
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Kodie
Top Member
United States
2028 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2011 : 8:43:27 PM
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I've had limited experience with C2's, but what I've seen their interiors don't hold up too well. I got a chance to look at a C2 with 4000 miles on it, and the dash had stress cracks at nearly every mounting point.I'll include a few pictures below.. keep in mind, C2's aren't that old of a bus. You be the judge, I won't tell you what to think. These are all "real world" C2's that do daily route service.
This one was in for electrical malfunction, and was completely dead:
4000 Mile C2.. mainly just grease on the exterior:
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Edited by - Kodie on 03/09/2011 2:50:45 PM |
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JustinB
Advanced Member
United States
490 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 05:16:51 AM
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Nice photos of a 1996 production year Generation I bus.
- Tail lights on #53 have been out of production since October 2006
- An AG-I door that has been out of production since october, 2006
- An emergency window that has been out of production Since Jan, 2008. (I celebrated the ditching J-Dak for Spect-al)
- Sliding the overhead curtains is either sloppy prior workmanship by a mechanic or disingeneous reporting.
- 3-M Relex on the "School Bus" lettering seems to have been blown out by a pressure washer.
- The same lack of pressure washer operator restraint is evident on the side skirts on SB-53. Note the lack of corrosion in the skirts after, by appearence, more than a couple of seasons in operation with the galvanization exposed.
- Judging by the rear door area on #428, the operator seems to be well aqainted with their grease gun. Something many shops seem to ignore. |
I may not know the answer but I can usually find who does. |
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RichBusman
Advanced Member
453 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 07:58:56 AM
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To be honest, I have heard a LOT less about any C2 body issues, particularly when it comes to flooring and corrosion resistance, and paint, versus IC and Blue Bird.
Here in NY, IC buses consistently need crossmembers replaced due to failure. The repair procedure? Cut it out and slide a new one in by adding an access hole on the side of the bus, then covering that up with a new panel piece. Pretty tacky. The ICs also crack at the plastic electrical covers, just like the older C2s.
Then there's the Blue Birds, the late model ones are very familiar with paint shops with no paint on the rivets and fade.
All of the buses have issues these days, but I will say one thing... Blue Bird, IC, and Thomas are MUCH MUCH MUCH more durable than a certain small bus manufacturer. I'll leave it at that.  |
Edited by - RichBusman on 03/07/2011 08:00:00 AM |
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yellowbusjoe
Active Member
16 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 10:59:46 AM
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The lack of paint in that pic. could be a ground issue. I have one that has paint missing in wierd areas, and found out it had a FEW bad grounds.
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
354 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 1:48:41 PM
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| 4000 miles? We run that in two months. Its hard to believe these buses are that ragged with only that little mileage. |
"Hardybusman" |
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C2FAN
Senior Member
United States
114 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 2:40:30 PM
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The C2 has come a long way since 2005....The buses I see rolling in today(since 2009) are really well built with little mechanical or fit/finish issues that plagued earlier models.
Overall I find that districts who have established maintnance routines and competent mechanics have little trouble with the C2. The districts who skimp on maintnance and have very little technical knowledge are the ones who struggle with these buses and seem to have frequent maintnance issues.
Just my 2 cents...... |
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eicsbus
Senior Member
Canada
126 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 4:17:45 PM
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| thanks everyone,,,3 c2's are on their way |
I.C. NO FUTURE
formally ,,,,wright11 |
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Topic |
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DEMOING C2'S,,PRO'S AND CON'S????
