Fat Lady Sings! Mango's New H3

[Loc]

Jerry,

I would be curious as to your thoughts on the difference between driving the H3 compared to the older XL.

Thanks,

Loc

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Well! We sure know who the crack photographers are. This shows its all in the image and not in the technology!! JIM

[dalej]

Loc, what are you going to do if Jerry says the H3 is so much nicer of a ride? I hope he says the older coachs are still his favorite.

ps...what do you drive?

[Jon Wehrenberg]

The drivers position relative to the road in an H3 is fairly close to the the XL position. The mistaken impression about the driver sitting much lower is fostered by the extra height of the H. When the H came out that was the very first reason stated by owners of an XL against the H.

[win42]

Dynamic Duo: I noticed your badges and figured you two pp's finally came out of the closet after stepping up to the new flagship. Are you going to lower yourselves to attend POG3 or are you headed back into the closet.

[Loc]

Dale,

I drive (as Jon would say) a vintage Prevost. I have a 92 XL Angola conversion which just turned 260K on the odometer. I compare it to my old Fleetwood DP and have no complaints. I keep putting fertilizer on it hoping it will grow to 45 feet, but no success to date. If Jerry says the H3 is a better ride I will feel inferior, but I have learned to live with that disappointment over the years. If he says that his XL is preferred, I am sending a little something for his Christmas stocking.



Jon,

Someone (as in the ubiquitous someone) told me that the H3 seat is about 6 inches lower than the XL. I agree the taller stance makes it seem much lower. Maybe because I cant have one, my subsconcious is looking for justification for my XL. I was curious if anyone who has driven both has any compare and contrast points of view. I like the thought of not having to polish the sides after a rain or water sprinkler attack. Additionally with two young (and boisterous) boys I think the driver's position below the main deck might be a benefit.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Loc,

I think (exterior finish aside) that the differences between the H and XL are distinct. In the XL the driver tends to be a part of the action. He is on the same plain. I have found that to be a good thing at times, and there are other times when it is distracting such as when going into nasty driving conditions.

My wife is not in favor of the H because she does a lot of the loading and it is a killer lugging heavy laundry baskets with food and clothes into an XL, and with the 90 degree turn and the added steps she wouldn't consider an H.

I think guys like the extra bay space. Since the belly of the bus is my domain, I know extra carrying capacity would allow me to pack Lew's True Value hardware store in the bus.

I have never heard anybody say they drive different, but I have often heard the noise is much less in the H. The new style XL may have eliminated that difference however.

[Gary & Peggy Stevens]

Loc,

My wife is not in favor of the H because she does a lot of the loading and it is a killer lugging heavy laundry baskets with food and clothes into an XL, and with the 90 degree turn and the added steps she wouldn't consider an H.

Jon, wait until Peggy talks to your wife about this comment

Either you are lying to us all, or I am hen pecked, cause I load all most all of the heavy laundry, food, and am in charge of the loading of anything in the bays too ! Did I mention I also cook, and do the laundry?

Forget it you guys, you can't afford my service fees and the fringe benefits I get, well that is another story.

But seriously, Peg and I both like the XLII over the H for lots of reasons.

Gary S. still looking

[Petervs]

My 2 cents worth, I prefer the XL so I can sit next to my wife and have a conversation as we drive. In the H she would be sitting behind and above me and I would feel like the hired chauffeur, and she would be bored silly back there all alone. We would need an intercom so I could relay my drink orders on the interstate.

Without measuring, I believe the driving position is a lot lower in the H3, I would say a foot or two, and I like sitting higher for a better view. The main floor is about 8 inches higher than an XL, but the driver sits several steps lower.

Would be interesting to put an H3 and XL nose to nose and compare the drivers eye level at POG III.

I will stick to the XL.

Keep the change!
PetervS
94 Marathon XLV

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Gary,

When I am around I will help lug baskets and load, but there is a different dynamic at work here. I tend to be a minimalist with respect to food, clothes and the like (not tools or spare parts). My wife hates for me to see what she is loading because of the inevitable discussion that usually starts with "Do we need this?" You and you wife can have this discussion, and I will sit back and watch my wife put her spin on this.

Peter,

Two feet? I don't think so. But I agree about sitting in a hole like the hired help.