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97 vs 98
11-04-2013, 15:27
Post: #1
97 vs 98
Everything else being equal, which coach would be preferable; a 97 43 or 98 LXI? I know, probably a tough question.
Thanks
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11-04-2013, 15:59 (This post was last modified: 11-04-2013 18:22 by travelite.)
Post: #2
RE: 97 vs 98
You can't go wrong with either. They're virtually the same - some folks even refer to the 97 as an LXi. The 97 has the same dropped engine frame rail chassis as the LXi. The mechanicals are identical. The real difference is slides. To satisfy the market demand for slides BB needed a different body/frame construction. They found it in their LTC40 touring bus. Both buses are great. It comes down to availability, price, condition, and taste preferences.

david brady,
'02 Wanderlodge LXi 'Smokey' (Sold),
'04 Prevost H3 Vantare 'SpongeBob'

"I don't like being wrong, but I really hate being right"
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11-05-2013, 03:58
Post: #3
RE: 97 vs 98
(11-04-2013 15:59)davidbrady Wrote:  You can't go wrong with either. They're virtually the same - some folks even refer to the 97 as an LXi. The 97 has the same dropped engine frame rail chassis as the LXi. The mechanicals are identical. The real difference is slides. To satisfy the market demand for slides BB needed a different body/frame construction. They found it in their LTC40 touring bus. Both buses are great. It comes down to availability, price, condition, and taste preferences.

As much as I like our LXI, there is just something I love about the look of the WBs. There are pictures in the gallery of some true beauties. The '97 would have been the last and most refined year as well and they had the Detroit 60 Series.

As David says, I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

Mike and Tracy - near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1999 43 LXI, "Maddy" - 60 Series Detroit
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD (Diesel) or Jeep Rubicon 4 Down Toad

Rolleyes http://www.challengerwest.com Tongue
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11-05-2013, 09:21
Post: #4
RE: 97 vs 98
We've had both a '95 and a '00. Love them both. I'd be happy with either. The question is one like slides or no slides, or brand of tire, or paint scheme. Everyone has an opinion; like bellybuttons, everybody has one.

Ron & Dorinda Rueckwald
2000 LXi, Single Slide
Summer in St. Joseph, MI
Winter in St. Petersburg, FL
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11-05-2013, 11:08
Post: #5
RE: 97 vs 98
I think the 97 was the last year the body was riveted together. Folks on the line at BB said it was the strongest coach BB ever made. FWIW.

Charlie Vaughn
1999 LXi
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11-05-2013, 13:00
Post: #6
RE: 97 vs 98
The LXi hides its rivets - they're there. I could go into detail but I'll spare the readership. :-)

A fact that I can add is that the LTC40 (the body/chassis that the LXi is built on) has been third party tested by Penn State's Altoona bus testing center (STURAA). They performed their 500,000 mile 12 year test and the LTC40 experienced no Class 1 (physical safety) or Class 2 (road call) failures. This is a test that would shred your normal run-of-the-mill motorhome. I'll post the test results in a moment.

david brady,
'02 Wanderlodge LXi 'Smokey' (Sold),
'04 Prevost H3 Vantare 'SpongeBob'

"I don't like being wrong, but I really hate being right"
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11-05-2013, 15:34
Post: #7
RE: 97 vs 98
Since the OP started his question with "Everything else being equal" then it's do you want the last of the WB's or the first of the LXi's? There's really only styling differences if layout, no slides, and colors are equal.

John Mace
06 450LXi bigger bird
living in the wild hinterlands of the north
free to roam without the man getting me down
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11-06-2013, 10:54 (This post was last modified: 11-06-2013 10:56 by pgchin.)
Post: #8
RE: 97 vs 98
"if everything else being equal" is your use case, then I'd go for the one that is most esthetically pleasing to you and your spouse, the most useful interior layout to you, and the best price!Wink If you want a slide, make sure the interior is "usable" with the slide in as you will need it at some point.

Pete and Donna Chin
95 42' WLWB
On The Road Always! :-)
" We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing,
Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses!"
-Toby Keith & Willie Nelson
- The bridge from Toby Keith's title album track "beer for my horses"
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11-10-2013, 23:56 (This post was last modified: 11-10-2013 23:57 by davidbrady.)
Post: #9
RE: 97 vs 98
Here's a link to the Penn State Altoona Research and Bus Test Center (STURAA). It's enlightening to see how some of the buses fared at the STURAA testing grounds.

I've attached the 500K mile, 12 Year, test reports for a 2000 Blue Bird LTC40, a 2000 MCI Renaissance, and 2012 Prevost X3-45. Compare the number of Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 failures, the obstacle avoidance speeds, the acceleration speeds, the static structural stiffness tests, and the failures that occurred during the endurance test.


Attached File(s)
.pdf  STURAA 2000 Blue Bird LTC40.pdf (Size: 5.1 MB / Downloads: 532)
.pdf  STURAA 2012 Prevost X3-45.pdf (Size: 4.56 MB / Downloads: 514)
.pdf  STURAA 2000 MCI Renaissance.pdf (Size: 6.95 MB / Downloads: 478)

david brady,
'02 Wanderlodge LXi 'Smokey' (Sold),
'04 Prevost H3 Vantare 'SpongeBob'

"I don't like being wrong, but I really hate being right"
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