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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
 Posted - 08/22/2005 : 1:56:40 PM
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| The FS-65 was never redesigned and it was INTRODUCED not sold in 1998, it was put on the market in 99. And the ER was re-designed FINALY after a million years! That is what I like about IC, they always have a "new" product, and they just seem more futuristic! |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 2:15:27 PM
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The FS-65 was introduced in 1996, and began full production in 1997. Thomas redesigned the control panel on the FS-65 in 1999, and changed the control panel and added an electrical panel in 2003.
The ER was introduced in 1980, and modified a number of times in the 80's, redesigned in 1991. It was a winning design, and really didn't need much. There were only slight modifications until 2000, when the HD was unveield, which is the current look of the HDX. Even when the AmTran RE was unveiled, the Thomas ER still had better visibility, and a nicer control panel, even though it was a 1991-layout essentially.
IC doesn't have a "new" product by any means compared to Thomas. I'd say that Thomas advances their products further, and more often then IC. Just look at the HDX, and now the C2. Much more revolutionary, compared to IC's evolutionary.
IC right now is playing the catch up game with their conventional, and are working on their next transits to come up to Thomas' level, or try to beat them. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 2:52:56 PM
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IC has made several really good improvements over the last few years. Their buses get better each year.
Atleast in my opinion... |
Edited by - IC RE 1629 on 08/22/2005 2:55:11 PM |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 5:28:34 PM
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| I just meant that IC's exterior appearence is continually changing, and it is more sporty, and well, I like it! As far as thomas, the rear of the ER remained the same from 1980 until 2002 or 03? that is 22 or 23 years! WOW, I do like the HDX, don't get me wrong, but I have been riding AmTran- IC RE's since 99, and I am only 16! |
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 6:44:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by IC-RE
I just meant that IC's exterior appearence is continually changing, and it is more sporty, and well, I like it! As far as thomas, the rear of the ER remained the same from 1980 until 2002 or 03? that is 22 or 23 years! WOW, I do like the HDX, don't get me wrong, but I have been riding AmTran- IC RE's since 99, and I am only 16!
WOW! Some people just don't get it, yes the roof caps, windows, and doors were the same from 78-00/01, however the interiors had modifications as Richard mentioned and also a new winshield in 91, that is a redesign. AmTran did not even have a rear engine product until 1995.
I also think Thomas did a pretty good job of selling that FS-65 once they stopped building on the 3800 chassis. International came out with the "IC" conventional but Thomas made modifications to keep up to some extent. I found it somewhat impressive since the C2 was already on the drawing board, some people just let the old products go and don't bother to update. They are doing this with the EF to some extent however they don't sell many of those units. |
If you have an International, you NEED customer service. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 6:54:03 PM
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| NO NO, don't get me wrong, I am just saying, this year there was a drastic change on the IC RE's and FE's, the RE change was big like the MVP to the HDX, I know what you mean, I personally like the looks of the IC CE over the C2, but it is growing on, I like the HDX, in fact I like it a lot! I know the interiors have changed, in my county we have HUNDREDS of Thomas MVP ER's, and Saf T Liners ranging from the years of 1994 through 1998, they are not bad, however they all seem to look the same with a FEW differences inside and out, and some of ours are high headroom, most are not. That is all I meant, but if you look at our first AmTran RE and our latest IC RE, there is a lot of changes, (a 1996 model, and a 2006 model) inside and out, it is A LOT different! They are my favorite, but our 1994 Thomas ER and our 1998 Thomas look a lot alike, and the sides and rears are just like the 1980 model, do you know what I mean? I know IC is a cheaper product, and that is why they win our bid! plus we like them! |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 7:03:55 PM
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| The RE change was peanuts, just a new roof cap, and a new rear door. Nothing else. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 7:06:13 PM
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| It was big around here, higher seat back, side doors were alligned with windows, VT365 engine, rescessed cleearence lights, single rear access door, we like them! |
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GMCBlueBird83
Top Member
USA
1478 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 7:14:37 PM
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| I don't see what is so significant about the changes to the 2005 IC FE and RE. If anything I think both looked better before, the new roofcaps are too large. The interiors are not much different then they have been since 2000 or so. Thomas has made more improvments to its line overall excluding the EF or course. And I also believe from what I've seen myself and heard from others that Thomas just makes a superior product overall. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 8:15:25 PM
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| I personally like the look of the new roof caps IC produced, but hey that is just my opinion. hehe. I do like Thomas, I don;t know why everyone is accusing me of not liking Thomas, I see pros and cons with them just like any other school bus, I just have more wonderful things to say about IC, because I am around them so much! I DO NOT like the Thomas's my county has (1994-2001) ERs and EF's, but I DO like the new HDX, and the C2 after seeing in person is growing on me. I am just saying I like the LOOKS of the IC's better than that of the Thomas, I know a Thomas is more expensive, and is probably better quality, I just am accostumed to the IC, and I like it a lot, I am sure if my county had all Thomas's I would like them better, that is probably the same situation with most of us? |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 04:10:42 AM
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| Arlington County had their Fair this weekend at TJ Middle School, and they had one of their brand new Thomas HDXs there. They have been getting IC for the past two years, and its cool to see them go back to Thomas, which they had been getting since atleast 1990. Their last three years of buses (including the last year for Thomas), they had gotten high head room. Wierd, that this year they have gone back to the low head room. They also went with storage under the bus, and the same LED package that Fairfax went with this year with the strobing warning lights. They also got that cool LED stop sign that Prince William County gets. Ive noticed that the new Thomas buses in VA (coming out of Sonny Merryman) all have the higher profile strobe light on top. I thought that VA required a low profile strobe, but I'm guessing the new strobe is more effective. Anyway, the bus looked like a super nice bus, inside and out. It would have been cool if Arlington County had stayed all Thomas. Regular ed is 100% RE buses, and they havnt changed much as far as specs go since 1991. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 05:03:30 AM
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| We will all have to wait and see what IC has in store for us when the RE and FE get redesigned. I can't wait to see what happens. |
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B. Busguy33
Top Member
USA
3444 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 2:38:17 PM
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quote:
We will all have to wait and see what IC has in store for us when the RE and FE get redesigned. I can't wait to see what happens.
I am sure whatever happens, they will closely resemble their other relative: the CE. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 2:57:57 PM
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| If I am right, the 2007 model year RE and FE will be the redesigned ones? |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:01:00 PM
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| like B, Busguy said earlier, 2007 might just bring the door and drivers window as well as windshield level with the passenger windows. In an article in the post though, it said FCPS would be getting IC's this year with door and warning light controls in the steering wheels, and it couldn't be a CE because we don;t order conventionals, so maybe this is the year? |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:02:14 PM
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Sounds like 2007 will be the year, although I wouldn't be shocked if the new models get unveiled at NAPT in November.
I wouldn't expect much to be changed on the transits, except the larger windshield, door, and driver's window, along with a new driver's area. I suppose they'll also work on the headlights and front area as well, but probably nothing behind the driver's seat will be touched.
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Edited by - Rich on 08/23/2005 3:02:50 PM |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:53:25 PM
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| That is enough for me LOL |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 5:21:19 PM
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| All I can say is, I can't wait to see what happens! |
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B. Busguy33
Top Member
USA
3444 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 7:48:21 PM
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Hard to believe, but NAPT is only about two months away! I am sure we will see the changes for the 2006 model year on the ICs they have on display there. Then we will have a better idea of what the 2006 ICs will look like.
In 2007, there will be another round of emissions requirements for the engine manufacturers to meet. This may impact all of the bus manufacturers -- most if not all will have to reconfigure at the very least the engine compartment of their buses to accommodate the modifications for the new engines. Remember how the TC/2000 was discontinued mainly due to the fact that the Cummins ISB wouldn't fit in that bus anymore? (That was part of the reason for discontinuing the TC.)
I think the 2007 model year will be a big year for the bus manufacturers. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2005 : 05:17:07 AM
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| Is the DT466 avaliable for the RE 200? |
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GMCBlueBird83
Top Member
USA
1478 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2005 : 06:05:20 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by IC RE 1629
Is the DT466 avaliable for the RE 200?
Nope. Anything with a 200 is a VT365 or T444E if its an older model. The 300 series ICs are what have the DT466, or DT570 if its a fully loaded to the gills RE |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2005 : 07:34:51 AM
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| I wondered. I was told that our 2007 RE's will have DT466's in them. So I guess that they will be RE 300's instea of the RE 200's that we have bought since 2002. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2005 : 5:58:51 PM
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| Nice, I love those old clunkers! (except 1255, there is a thread about this bus) |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 06:09:48 AM
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| I will have to so some searching of past posts to see what I can find about 1255. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 3:46:39 PM
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| Thank you sharing that. Very interesting I must say! |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 05:28:32 AM
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| Does any other VA district have any TC/2000 RE's? I know Loudoun has two or three. My buddy in Loudoun was telling how they plan on getting rid of them. I was wondering if anyone else in VA might have a few? |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 10:43:14 AM
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| Newport News has many many TC2000 REs. Virginia Beach City Schools has a few 99 AA REs, and Sufflok City Schools has new AA REs. Im also pretty sure that James City County has some kind of Blue Bird RE. |
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poor_driver
Senior Member
162 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 11:24:00 AM
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vabuslover
sorry for the delayed response. The markings that i saw on that New Kent bus was just the standard yellow & black (you know). It did have tinted windows but i'm not sure if it had a white roof or not. the sun was facing my way and i didn't want to run off the road for staring at that bus for soooo long:) |
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vabuslover
Advanced Member
United States
246 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 12:32:54 PM
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Thanks poor_driver. I have only seen one c2 but it was from Maryland.
BusFreak we have a lot of TC2000 REs in Newport News. In Fact, we were mostly BB until 1997 when we started with AmTran (now IC). But we have some 2005 Visions from last year. Wmsbg/JCC has AmTran/IC REs. Never saw any BB REs there yet. |
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Drew19
Top Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2005 : 03:54:13 AM
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| Loudound County start there school today. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2005 : 07:13:08 AM
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| We've got another week until we start. Though the week will fly by really fast. |
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vabuslover
Advanced Member
United States
246 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2005 : 1:21:58 PM
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| I Think Newport News has finally let go of their 89-91 BB TC2000 FEs and REs. I cannot confirm this, however I have heard bus numbers that were once spares going out for everyday runs. These were the oldest buses in the fleet yast year. However, I do not know which buses are replacing them. I hope it is some sort of IC product. BB would be ok, but definitely not Thomas, unless its c2s they went after. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2005 : 3:55:15 PM
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| I hope you guys get some nice IC's. |
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Topic |
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Official Virginia School Bus Thread
