[Jim/Chris]

You will have a much larger support circle with a Prevost. I like Prevost and while it does cost more, it’s also worth more. See how many entertainers are driving Newells. Their life depends upon it.

How much power do you need. You only need to be able to go 75 or so and you only need to be able to get up and down the hills at a reasonable speed. Prevost does that as well or better than any bus on the Planet.

If you like the Newell floorplan, buy a Newell. If you like a Prevost floorplan buy a Prevost. Yep, the cost more but what are the added benefits? What are the side walls of a Newell made of? How does that compare to Prevost? Understand that I could care less what you buy. I only want you to do a fair comparison and not just drink the Newell Kool-Aid that cheaper is better.

[Clifford]

We currently have a 425 hp engine and weigh just over 40,000 lbs. We go slow up hills. A Prevost that weighs 50,000 lbs. and has a 500 hp engine would go fairly slow I would assume. Will there be a different force of power? The Newell has a 600 hp engine and weighs about 50,000 lbs., you do the math.

Before I let loose of nearly $2M, I want to make sure I don’t make a mistake. The Newell’s exterior looks just like a H3 with very robust components.

I’m just trying to compare all options. Newell’s have windows in the 1/2 bathroom, Prevosts do not.

Since Prevost Car out of Canada knows that many of the coaches are converted to motorhomes, I just wonder why they don’t offer a larger engine.

I’m not giving up on Prevost just yet, I have a lot to think about.

MM.

[Archived]

I think the current production Newells weigh more like 56-59K pounds.I have heard that Prevost will be announcing a new engine soon,I can only assume that it will be a response to the competition from Newell.The Volvo motor has not proven to be what Prevost had hoped from a service standpoint buy has proven to be very good as far as fuel consumption.I suspect we will see 600 horse with at least 1950 Tq in the near future.

[Corey]

Mr Mark Unless your in a ass kicking hurry to get some where, I don’t see the need for a larger motor.

I drive 62 mph, mostly because I find it more relaxing. Yesturday a Heritage passed me doing the

the speed limit of 70. When I was pulled into Riverbend guess who was in the staging area?

Yes you can get some where faster but when you figure it out it really is a mear few minutes.

Just my 2 cents. Rick

[Davy]

I don’t care what anyone says about how wonderful a Newell is, or how much it is like a Prevost. The folks from Newell can do all the comparisons they want but here is the bottom line:

The Prevost chassis we all enjoy is a bus. Newell makes a big deal of that fact. There claim in fact has always been the Prevost is a bus, but a Newell is a coach. But think about that for a moment. I know that my bus that happens to be a motorhome conversion has billions (not millions) of miles of experience behind it. The chassis has developed over many decades in use for commercial purposes with both seated coaches and entertainer conversions. In those applications they rack up miles ten times faster than the average motorhome conversion so we benefit greatly because as Prevost learns of improvements that can be made to the chassis we get the benefit.

Those of us who have had a range of Prevost conversions are very likely to say their first Prevost was a dream to drive and as reliable as an anvil. But each succeeding coach drove even better and had even more improvements to the strength of the chassis. My first coach tracked down the road as straight as an arrow with little or no effort. The next one which was a decade newerdrove even better. Now I have one with holes cut in the side for slides and I expected that Prevost may have compromised the chassis to do so, but the reality is my coach which is almost a decade newer than my second coach not only is the quietest coach we have had with absolutely no noises coming from the chassis despite the big holes in the side, but it drives so much better than the previous coaches it amazes me.

I have never driven a Newell. Don’t intend to. Don’t need to to know if they squeak or rattle going down the road, or if the coach is affected by the crown in the road, passing trucks, or side winds. I know what I have has been the result of engineering and development that has been the result of more miles of experience in a year than Newell likely has with its total lifetime production of coaches.

If a Newell was so good they wouldn’t be comparing themselves to a Prevost. How many Prevost owners compare their coach to a Newell?

[Charles]

[Bill]

I have to admit I love the looks of the Newell,,,, guess I am one of those guys that likes the smooth one color style. Same with my hotrods, no chrome and all one color. Our Eagle bus conversion was the same, all white and smooth sided, similar to the Newell. I will say there are lots of race car drivers using Newell for what that is worth, and maybe it is the larger engine. I am a fan of more power not for racing 90 MPH down interstate, but just for the feel of being able to get out of the way or passing when needed. But our double stroken 92 series does that just fine now that we have the boost signal corrected.

After buying this Prevost, which by the way I originally did not like the stainless and thought it looked pretentious. I would never turn back, and that is what I feel we would be doing by trading for any other coach.

There are short awnings for the door area if that is your concern, but the door up front gives you so much more room in the rest of the living area I think it is worth the trade off.

I still think Newell makes a fine coach and so does Wonderlodge. But for all the reasons Jon outlined above Prevost is our choice, even though I still appreciate the Newell style.

My advise is to ask folks on this forum their opinion and you will get the Prevost advantages, Ask on the Newell or Wonderlodge forums and get their opinions, then you can make an educated decision based on all the points that are important to you. I do not think there is a right or wrong choice.

[Bernie]

I think the initial question about power has morphed into a host of advantages and disadvantages of Newell-Prevost comparisons.

Just to address the power issue alone, I went from a 40 foot – 400 HP coach to a 45 foot – 600 HP coach. Looking at the power, I find the driving experience to be significantly improved. On-ramps, hill climbing, and the ability to seamlessly flow with traffic has greatly improved my driving experience.

I’m almost always on a schedule and I do not have the luxury to stop and smell the roses. I cruise at the posted speed limit if conditions permit. The more powerful engine makes that possible.

I would think that a star bus driver would appreciate more power since they too are on a schedule and are probably less concerned with fuel mileage. The more casual “RV” driver that moves along at 62 mph, just barely staying in high gear, would be less interested in the power.

I’m guessing that there would be a market for a more powerful engine in the Prevost line.

[Bernie]

We took a 2014 Newell out Tuesday for a test ride. My friend wanted to drive one after driving my bus to compare. I ended up driving it more than him so he could walk around and feel the coach going down the road. We drove the same road so we had a good comparision. In 5 mins he looked at me in disbelief and the difference in ride and handling was evident. I’m not going to run Newell down but I’m a bus guy and to me the Newell is a coach.

Mark you need to understand the differences on how there built. The basis that they are built on are apples and oranges. Prevost is a bus and Newell is trying to make one. If you want a trailer park queen by all means buy a Newell. If you want a machine that will out live you by a bus.

I’m glad it will be your last purchase because once your in a Newell you can’t get out. The only option you will have is to buy another Newell because no converter in the US will give you more than 80% wholesale for it.

The reason Nascar guys are buying Newells is because they don’t drive them. I run across them all the time and the drivers want there old buses back.

After what you have been driving, 1750 ft lbs of torque will feel like a speedboat to you.

My friend is ordering a new X-3.

Later

bv

[Archived]

Asking about a Newell on a Prevost board lol I have friends with both they all like what ever they own, Karl Blades is friend of mine I buy his Prevost trade in sometimes he builds a nice coach but he had problems when he tried to use the ZF 12 speed it was a nightmare for him

I have friend here that has a Newell with the C-15 Cat 650 hp engine the problems he had with the ZF tranny was about to do him in and he was going to buy him another Prevost but Karl stepped up and replaced the ZF with a new Allison transmission at no cost to him and he has been a happy camper ever since and he loves his Newell better than he did his H-45 so he says

I hear stories about the Volvo auto shifts in some Prevost some people are not happy with those either, both the Newell and Prevost use a lot of the same ZF supension parts so I don’t see where the ride and handling could be that much difference between the 2 it what ever dressing you prefer on your salad I like both the Prevost and the Newell

[Greg]

Great post Bernie, finally someone that has driven both and can make an accurate comparison of the handling.

[AL]

Thank you everyone for your reponses.

First let me say, the salesman was not focused on comparing a Newell to a Prevost. He basically talked only about the Newell. ‘I’M’ the one who is making the comparisons to a Prevost quietly in my head as I’ve read so much here and other places.

The only time he mentioned Prevost was when I asked them why Newell doesn’t use an Onan generator, he said they use a Martin which Prevost also use.

The reason why power is a concern to me is because when I get stuck behind a very slow truck on a hill and I too begin to lose power, I can’t pass that truck. Even though I could maybe only go 5 mph faster, unless I pass him before I slow, I’m a dead duck.

I don’t want to race to each destination, I don’t want to creep up hills if I don’t have to. It’s a little bit of a safety concern for me too.

As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t want to leave a stone unturned.

I know that many of you are die-hard Prevost guys, so are the people on the Newellguru site (die-hard for Newell’s).

I’m not a die-hard for either YET, that’s why I’m asking questions and reading everything that I can.

MM.

[William]

You need to drive one to feel the difference, then talk to me. Center of gravity is difference.

Also need to run your generator for the roof airs on the Newell, come on.

Later

bv

[Archived]

Mark, asking a Newell or Prevost guy the difference between an Onan and the generators we run is like going into a 5 star resturant and ordering a hambuger.

[Clifford]

Bernie,

I asked that very question about the air on a Newell. The Salesguy said that generally no, the airs are not wired up to run without the genny running but they could certainly do it if I want it.

On the generator, I really know nothing about them and the salesguy explained how nice and industrial the Martin’s are built.

Mark