WMATA Orders Gillig Advantages?

[LandoverDivision]

The return of the 87/88/8900s LOL

Best Flxs EVER! I had a dream 6428 was a Landover bus. Wierd.

[Annex4421]

DE42LFA?

[LandoverDivision]

DE42LFA?

Yeah Express scheme.

[Annex4421]

Although a Gillig Advantage would look sick in the new paint schemes. Anyone agree

[Tritransit Area]

I could see a Gillig BRT in the new scheme, but not the regular design...unless it had frameless windows.

[LandoverDivision]

I could see a Gillig BRT in the new scheme, but not the regular design...unless it had frameless windows.

Exactly. I think they do have frameless windows.

[LandoverDivision]

Man I could definilty see this in the new Ride On paint scheme

[Annex4421]

Man I could definilty see this in the new Ride On paint scheme

Why that favor's a Van Hool?

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Gilligs wouldn't hold up on DC streets, keep dreaming everyone...

[rideonrulez]

Gilligs wouldn't hold up on DC streets, keep dreaming everyone...

Oren, are you on the "Gillig sucks bandwagon" from Buschat or have you not ridden any of there newer products as of late? I personally think Gillig is one of 2 manufacturers that make a solid product right now. They did have there bad times in the mid 90's but I think they have come a long way since then.

[Annex4421]

Gilligs wouldn't hold up on DC streets, keep dreaming everyone...

Oren, are you on the "Gillig sucks bandwagon" from Buschat or have you not ridden any of there newer products as of late? I personally think Gillig is one of 2 manufacturers that make a solid product right now. They did have there bad times in the mid 90's but I think they have come a long way since then.

Agreed. Let's see something besides New Flyers NABIs and Orions.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Gilligs wouldn't hold up on DC streets, keep dreaming everyone...

Oren, are you on the "Gillig sucks bandwagon" from Buschat or have you not ridden any of there newer products as of late? I personally think Gillig is one of 2 manufacturers that make a solid product right now. They did have there bad times in the mid 90's but I think they have come a long way since then.

The newest Gilligs that I rode extensively were the TCAT hybrids that were part of the NYS Consortium order.  I was not impressed with them, and while Ithaca is no sprawling metropolis, the upstate New York weather takes a big toll on those streets.  The Gilligs did not provide a comfortable ride in my opinion, I generally preferred getting a New Flyer, Nova LFS, or even an Orion I (and you all know what I generally think of those buses) over a Gillig.  Also, according to my contacts at TCAT, they've had maintenance issues with them and the drivers aren't huge fans of them either.

[WES]

If you think about it RIDE ON is probably as good of a test you got other than Pittsburgh.  Some of the routes RIDE ON runs see crush loads on a daily basis and granted Montgomery's Road isn't as bad as say a Baltimore, or New York City, but when you have even New Flyers having their problems on Baltimore streets, Gillig isn't looking too of a manufacturer as it used to be.

WMATA has had a policy of forgive and forget, remember WMATA had a bad relationship with Neoplan because the 40 footers were crap, but years later, WMATA bought more Neoplans.  WMATA has had a bad relationship with Gillig also, but that doesn't mean that WMATA will never go back to Gillig for an order.

Gillig has found a good niche in only taking orders from smaller T/As, it has worked well for them, and I don't think they would want to change that to prove themselves they can make a bus sturdy enough to handle large city streets.  Gillig likes things the way they are it seems.

[aznboy4305]

I'm not sure why everyone has such a negative view of Gillig, they're one of the only two manufacturers who are still producing quality buses today. Yes, they may have taken a huge dip in the mid-1990s, but their products have been VERY well built in the recent years. Not only are they assembled well, but they are VERY ergonomical and functional as transit buses; switches well positioned, FAST and RELIABLE doors, powerful powertrains, etc.

And for those who don't believe Gilligs will hold up in DC streets, we operate Gilligs in a podunk town in the midwest where you will find streets that are unmaintained concrete slabs that are in WORSE condition than anything you will find anywhere in the DC area and they hold up perfectly fine here

[Tritransit Area]

The Gillig Low Floor significantly improved Gillig's image.  I'll agree with Oren that they aren't as smooth riding as, let's say, a New Flyer, but boy are they solid.  PG's newest Phantoms are outstanding as well.