10
Transit-Liner C2 TEST RIDE
Thomas Built Buses delivered the demo model Transit-Liner C2 to Auto Safety House, Phoenix, AZ, where BUSRide conducted this Official Road Test. Celebrating 75 years in business, Auto Safety House serves a variety of operators in Phoenix, Tucson and throughout the Navajo and Hopi Reservations in northern Arizona. Auto Safety House has represented Thomas Built Buses for many years. “We have always held Thomas Built Buses in high esteem and we appreciate our relationship with the company,” says Del Anderson, bus sales manager at Auto Safety House “We are thrilled to introduce the Transit-Liner C2 to our customers. We believe this bus can realistically meet the higher expectations of motorcoach operators running more expensive equipment for specialized applications.” Options, Options, Options Fully customizable, the Thomas Built business model is to outfit each unit to the specific needs of each customer. This allows Thomas Built dealers to work with each customer individually to accommodate their needs and preferences in a configuration that meets the price point each operator has in mind. Standard amenities include: Power outlets USB ports at each seat Upgraded overhead lighting Fully-integrated audio-visual entertainment system The available options can include: Coach-style seating Overhead storage
The Official BUSRide Road Test To put the Thomas Built claims and objectives to the test. Mark Ashcraft, safety and training coordinator for Arrow Stage Lines in Phoenix, agreed to test drive the Transit-Liner C2 – and to comment on his experience and observations. Heading east out of Phoenix on U.S. Route 60 and turning north at Apache Junction, Ashcraft maneuvered the bus down a rural, narrow and twisting two-lane highway featuring one-lane bridges and myriad blind curves. The route runs beyond Arizona’s famed Superstition Mountains to Tortilla Flats, a popular stop on the road near Canyon Lake, 35 miles east of Phoenix. The second leg of Ashcraft’s test track is through downtown Phoenix. “Again, this is a tight and narrow route, but with the addition of sharp turns on city streets, stop-and-go traffic and hotel entrances with minimal clearances. All of this is near busy sports arenas with pedestrians, road construction and city traffic as distractions,” he says. Ashcraft says it only took a handful of turns in the first few miles to realize the Transit-Liner C2 was far beyond the bus he expected. “I have driven buses on truck-style chassis and can say with certainty that this chassis is much more stable,” he says. “From where I was sitting in the driver’s seat, the quality of the ride was smooth and stable. In terms of maneuverability and gain, the turning radius is excellent — even with the front axle in front of me rather than behind me. After a couple of turns, I found the Transit-Liner C2 very responsive and accommodating. “This chassis carries the Thomas Built logo and is built solely for this bus by its own team of engineers,” he says. “The suspension is designed strictly for a bus carrying passengers.” Ashcraft noted that other buses he had driven that were comparable to the Transit-Liner C2 did not offer the same safe feel. Ashcraft says he can easily see motorcoach operators using the Transit-Liner C2 for local shuttles, in-town charters, and perhaps an occasional overnight trip. Clearly, the Transit-Liner C2 received a positive reception from Auto Safety House, as well as professional, safe driver Mark Ashcraft. No doubt this will serve as an indication of what Thomas Built Buses can expect, as more coach operators preview this exceptional new entry into the midsize bus market.
Video systems Tinted windows Onboard restroom Underfoor storage bay • Rear-storage compartment • Lane departure warning • Crash avoidance technologies • Fire suppression system • Pv360 camera system • Tire pressure monitoring
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease