Top 5 Worst bus orders WMATA has made

[Chargerdodge9]

What do you think were WMATA's 5 worst bus orders they made since 1973?

[Antozilla]

The AM Generals

Flexibles since they rusted out

Those Funky small Orion IIs

The Orion Vs even though I like them best

The Orion VIIS  They suck!

[Chargerdodge9]

I have to disagree with the Orion VII comment. Those buses are awesome! Ride them almost everyday. Mines are:

-1979 GMC RTS's (WMATA hated these buses and never brought another fleet of them sadly).
-1970s AM Generals (Heard these buses were dogs).
-1999-2000 Orion IIs (Those buses only last about 10 years before retiring in 2009).
-2000 Orion VIs (Had too many problems even though I liked them).
-1992 Orion Vs (Again, too many issues. I miss these buses though).

[WES]

Really?  The 1992 Orion Vs had their problems when they got their engines replaced to that god awful DD50 EGR system, other than that they were pretty good, and if it was the Flx New Looks, I rarely saw those things have mechanical problems, and when they did it was later in their lives they had them.  Cosmetic flaws shouldn't make a order bad, mechanical problems do.  I can't stand the 2100s, but I am not going to make them the among the worst bus order WMATA ordered.  These are truly IMHO were the worst bus orders WMATA made.  I can't officially say why the Orion IIs were retired prematurely, but I don't think it had anything to do with mechanical or other issues.  Someone can confirm this but since they were bought by the DC government and purchased without Federal funds, along with possible route changes, bus purchases, they were probably deemed as surplus and since DC bought them and they couldn't be run in any other jurisdiction other than DC they were deemed surplus, that's my only reason.

5)RTSes(Rear doors were the main problem, they had to be sidelined for months till the problem got fixed)

4)AM Generals (These has something wrong with them, because they were replaced only after 13 years, when they had at that time 20 year old GM New Looks still running-a few lasted past the original Neos)

3)The NABI BRTs (Constant problems with them, one getting rehabbed, reportedly, already)

2)Orion VIs (Though I like them, they have had problems ever since they went into service and the rear wheel fires sealed their fate0

1)Neoplan AN440s (You all forgot this one, problems with the frames, engine cradles-reportedly- most were pulled off of the road in the early 90s, went into service in 1983.  They actually had to be pulled from service after they went into service in 83, because of reported frame problems)

I would have to include the first batch of Xcelesiors also because most are falling apart already, if you rode 7014, you know what I am talking about.

[Chargerdodge9]

Personally, I love the DD50 series engine and it's spinoffs. I would guess that DDs don't go well with Voith transmissons (if WMATA was smart, they would of gotten Alisons for the 1992 Orion Vs with the series 50s). As for the Xcelesiors, these buses are just junk in general. Have you seen NYCT's XD40s? Those buses are being runned to the ground in Brooklyn. Also, it sucks that the NABIs are having problems because of this up coming order of 654 new 42 and 60 BRTs in the near future. I'm also going to guess that if the NABI are getting rehabbed, then the older DE42LFAs can't be far behind.

[Chargerdodge9]

Didn't WMATA also hate their 1988-1989 Gillig Phantoms as well? Those buses retired in early 2001 from what I've read.

[Chargerdodge9]

The Orion VII OG CNGs are good buses. I've never had one break down on me neither here, nor in NY.