Favorite Worst Metro Buses

[Tristan]

Correction, the 2100s and the VIIs are awful (again, try riding VIIs every day and telling me you still like them).

[LandoverDivision]

Correction, the 2100s and the VIIs are awful (again, try riding VIIs every day and telling me you still like them).

I love the VIIs but it would suck to ride them everyday. Tristan, when you first heard them, what did you think about the way they sounded? And I'm not changing my mind about the 2100s. They are awesome buses. Better than the non-suburban 40 ft Orion Vs in my opinion.

[Tritransit Area]

6. ZFs SUCK!

Dude, ZFs are awesome.  It's just strange how they manage to fail miserably in the DC area though.

Up in the Philly area, NJT loves them and SEPTA would continue to love them if they didn't go hybrid. 

[Tritransit Area]

I agree with Tristan.  WMATA's Orion VIIs are just dreadful.  So bland for an Orion VII, and so sluggish at that!

Ride On's are much better, although the ZF series lurch quite a bit...For me, my absolute favorites are the 93/9400 Metro Bs.  I've always loved those buses ever since I was a wee child.

Otherwise, my favorites are:

All of the Flxibles WMATA ran, including the Ds (why does everyone hate them?) and especially the Es (which always had a subtle charm).

The New Flyer D40LFRs - the ONLY New Flyers I don't mind riding in the DC area.

The Orion VIs - just nice, comfy buses.

The NABI 60-BRTs - fast, smooth, and stylish!


I'm not particularly fond of:

The 2100s: every time I rode the K6, they would appear.  I got sick of them rather quickly.  I think now they just deteriorated even further, and with those LED signs, it's harder for me to tell if it's on of them so I can run away!  The 4300s are okay, though.  Still blandish, but really fast and strong.

The Orion IIs - Sorry Tristan, they may be strong minibuses, but they are still hideous and unappealing.  Everything is thrown every which way for it to fit inside.  I do, however, wish to have a farewell ride on these...not everyday you can ride an Orion II.

The SLFs - I never met an SLF I liked anyway - cheap buses, contrary to the Dennis Darts they are based off of.

New Flyer C40LFRs - yes, they look great and have nice seats, but those are soooo sluggish it's ridiculous.  And the fact that they run in DC only makes the issue a lot worse.

I'm indifferent on the Neo artics.  Yeah, they are fast with the DD60, but are also bland because of it - none of the good sounds found in a DD50 Neo artic.  However, they are comfy as Neos outside of the wonderful "feel the road" suspension.  I'm overdue for a ride on one of them, anyway.  Is it just me or does it seem like they are running less artics on the 70?

[LandoverDivision]

I agree with Tristan.  WMATA's Orion VIIs are just dreadful.  So bland for an Orion VII, and so sluggish at that!

Ride On's are much better, although the ZF series lurch quite a bit...For me, my absolute favorites are the 93/9400 Metro Bs.  I've always loved those buses ever since I was a wee child.

Otherwise, my favorites are:

All of the Flxibles WMATA ran, including the Ds (why does everyone hate them?) and especially the Es (which always had a subtle charm).

The New Flyer D40LFRs - the ONLY New Flyers I don't mind riding in the DC area.

The Orion VIs - just nice, comfy buses.

The NABI 60-BRTs - fast, smooth, and stylish!


I'm not particularly fond of:

The 2100s: every time I rode the K6, they would appear.  I got sick of them rather quickly.  I think now they just deteriorated even further, and with those LED signs, it's harder for me to tell if it's on of them so I can run away!  The 4300s are okay, though.  Still blandish, but really fast and strong.

The Orion IIs - Sorry Tristan, they may be strong minibuses, but they are still hideous and unappealing.  Everything is thrown every which way for it to fit inside.  I do, however, wish to have a farewell ride on these...not everyday you can ride an Orion II.

The SLFs - I never met an SLF I liked anyway - cheap buses, contrary to the Dennis Darts they are based off of.

New Flyer C40LFRs - yes, they look great and have nice seats, but those are soooo sluggish it's ridiculous.  And the fact that they run in DC only makes the issue a lot worse.

I'm indifferent on the Neo artics.  Yeah, they are fast with the DD60, but are also bland because of it - none of the good sounds found in a DD50 Neo artic.  However, they are comfy as Neos outside of the wonderful "feel the road" suspension.  I'm overdue for a ride on one of them, anyway.  Is it just me or does it seem like they are running less artics on the 70?

What do you mean Ride-On's Orion VIIs are better? No offense but Ride-On's VIIs are even worse. The C40LFRs are great buses what do you have against them? I don't hate the Ds I just hate the sound of the DD ones. They sound HORRIBLE. Man you have little taste in buses. 

[rideonrulez]

What do you mean Ride-On's Orion VIIs are better? No offense but Ride-On's VIIs are even worse.

I think Ride On's Orion VII are WAAAYYYY better then WMATA's. Ride On's at least have some personality and three different variations (power train/tranny) of the O7 vs WMATA's bland/slow/plain O7's. But this is all personal opinions, so leave it at that.

[LandoverDivision]

What do you mean Ride-On's Orion VIIs are better? No offense but Ride-On's VIIs are even worse.

I think Ride On's Orion VII are WAAAYYYY better then WMATA's. Ride On's at least have some personality and three different variations (power train/tranny) of the O7 vs WMATA's bland/slow/plain O7's. But this is all personal opinions, so leave it at that.

Hater. -_- Anyways, there isn't anything wrong with Orion VIIs I don't get why you all hate them. Ok so they're a bit slow. Most buses are slow due to the fact that they are BUSES.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Hater. -_- Anyways, there isn't anything wrong with Orion VIIs I don't get why you all hate them. Ok so they're a bit slow. Most buses are slow due to the fact that they are BUSES.

Just because they are buses doesn't mean they are slow. It all on how the buses are governed (especially with electronic controls). You'd be lucky to get a bus that can get above 55. Why have the speedometer go up to 90 when most of them just top off around 55 or 59.

[LandoverDivision]

Hater. -_- Anyways, there isn't anything wrong with Orion VIIs I don't get why you all hate them. Ok so they're a bit slow. Most buses are slow due to the fact that they are BUSES.

Just because they are buses doesn't mean they are slow. It all on how the buses are governed (especially with electronic controls). You'd be lucky to get a bus that can get above 55. Why have the speedometer go up to 90 when most of them just top off around 55 or 59.

Knowlegde me a little. Name me a 40ft/60ft bus that can go 55-59. Which is fast for a bus but still slow.

[Antozilla]

Aside from being slow, they ride rough, you can't see out the front, stadium seating oh and that wom wom woom sound they make

[LandoverDivision]

Aside from being slow, they ride rough, you can't see out the front, stadium seating oh and that wom wom woom sound they make

Now that's the sound I love. The brake release sound. That sound is the reason I love Orion VIIs. 

[btconet]

I love the current Metro B's with the Cummins L-10 engines.  The D's are pretty nice too, though they sound a bit less "trucky."  I'm just kind of so-so on the E's.

I guess I don't pay attention to numbers enough, but I really don't notice a vast difference between the 2100s and the 4300s.  I'm not giddy about either, though I do kind of like the 3900's for their novelty.

I wish I could like the Orion VI's better than I do, but the seating arrangement in the back is just a bit too clumsy.  Always someone propped out across the back seats or propped up on the rear wheel "daring" you to enter "their" space.  The whole thing feels claustrophobic compared to a Nova LFS that has a similar arrangement.

I pay little mind to the New Flyers since they'll be around a while, though I do like the rear windows. The VII's - yawn...

Honestly, nothing in the satellite agencies really does it for me either (not a knock, as they all have decent stuff - but my tastes tend toward the "interesting").  About the closest thing are the RTS's at FFX for their novelty, but the catch is having to ride FFX to ride one!

[LandoverDivision]

I love the current Metro B's with the Cummins L-10 engines.  The D's are pretty nice too, though they sound a bit less "trucky."  I'm just kind of so-so on the E's.

I guess I don't pay attention to numbers enough, but I really don't notice a vast difference between the 2100s and the 4300s.  I'm not giddy about either, though I do kind of like the 3900's for their novelty.

I wish I could like the Orion VI's better than I do, but the seating arrangement in the back is just a bit too clumsy.  Always someone propped out across the back seats or propped up on the rear wheel "daring" you to enter "their" space.  The whole thing feels claustrophobic compared to a Nova LFS that has a similar arrangement.

I pay little mind to the New Flyers since they'll be around a while, though I do like the rear windows. The VII's - yawn...

Honestly, nothing in the satellite agencies really does it for me either (not a knock, as they all have decent stuff - but my tastes tend toward the "interesting").  About the closest thing are the RTS's at FFX for their novelty, but the catch is having to ride FFX to ride one!

The 2100s have a meaner sound kinda. About the 3900s, they are nervewrecking. Try living a mile up the street from Cheverly Station. These things live there. I can't stand sitting in them especially when it hits bumps and stuff. These things need to be extinct.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Knowlegde me a little. Name me a 40ft/60ft bus that can go 55-59. Which is fast for a bus but still slow.

The D40LFRs surely can. I've ridden them plenty of times where they reach up to 57. Ride Ons C40LFs have gotten around there. I took a couple on the 55, 70, and the 100. Even some of their Orion 7s can.

[LandoverDivision]

Knowlegde me a little. Name me a 40ft/60ft bus that can go 55-59. Which is fast for a bus but still slow.

The D40LFRs surely can. I've ridden them plenty of times where they reach up to 57. Ride Ons C40LFs have gotten around there. I took a couple on the 55, 70, and the 100. Even some of their Orion 7s can.

You sure about the D40LFRs? Hmm. I haven't been on a single D40LFR that went that fast or maybe it's just me.