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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: skipn on June 25, 2008, 08:55:54 AM

Title: Zonda
Post by: skipn on June 25, 2008, 08:55:54 AM

Knew about them and figured there probably are some in the US but first time I have seen them on e-bay.

It will be interesting to see if this changes anything or am I just way behind the curve?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Buses__Lot-Of-3-New-Zonda-Coaches_W0QQitemZ320267335123QQadnZBusesQQadiZ2802QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320267335123& (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Buses__Lot-Of-3-New-Zonda-Coaches_W0QQitemZ320267335123QQadnZBusesQQadiZ2802QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320267335123&)

Skip
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Dreamscape on June 25, 2008, 09:00:53 AM
I just saw them on eBay also and was about to ask some questions.

I've never heard of them before. Where are they made?

Paul
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: skipn on June 25, 2008, 09:05:43 AM

 China I believe


http://www.zonda.com/enzonda/products/bus/index.htm (http://www.zonda.com/enzonda/products/bus/index.htm)

Look familiar in design................there was a lawsuit between them and a euro manufacture.

Skip
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: TomC on June 25, 2008, 09:06:06 AM
Chinese made with Freightliner motorhome chassis.  Seen them at our dealership-actually don't look that bad, but who knows how they're really built? Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Dreamscape on June 25, 2008, 09:09:13 AM
So, where is the Freightliner chassis being built? China too?

Paul
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Jeremy on June 25, 2008, 09:19:27 AM
They are Chinese. There was a thread on here some time ago about them, specifically about the fact that they have a model (the A9) which is a carbon-copy rip-off of the Neoplan Starliner design.

I've no idea what the build quality is like or if they use bought-in or propreitory mechanical parts. Presumably they are cheap to buy, but selling new ones on Ebay is a bit strange unless it's just a way of publicising them

Jeremy

(Added after 3 replies posted as I was typing this) - TomC - isnt it the new Stallion coaches that use the Freightliner chassis? Or do Zonda use them as well? I wouldn't have expected that the A9 model could be based on a motorhome chassis as it is a huge triple-axle thing

Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: skipn on June 25, 2008, 09:22:44 AM

  Built in China................in the future maybe a moot point

from their press release in 2007
"Through the business investigation and further discussion with Mexico’s partners, two parties are planning to invest 20 million US dollars in Mexico to set up a bus assembly factory with an annual output of 2000 buses by the end of 2007, which will greatly boost the cooperation with Mexico."

Skip
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: DrivingMissLazy on June 25, 2008, 11:47:50 AM
The new Freightliner chassis  that I am aware of is the Sprinter. Being used as airport shuttles as well as vans. My SIL has a new van that U-Haul provided him for his use  as a Regional Area Mgr. It is diesel and he is averaging better than 20MPG here in the hills of WV. Somehow the name Dodge Sprinter also comes to mind, but I do not remember what the association is.

Richard
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Bob Gil on June 25, 2008, 11:56:12 AM
From things I have read I understand that China does not respect copy rights, and have reproduced the big 4 door Jeep and many other items that we have here.  I am not sure of the quality I am sure it is not what you would expect here.
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Lin on June 25, 2008, 12:11:09 PM
They basically steal anything.  It's considered a reasonable business practice.  There are even companies that make counterfeits of counterfeits.  All the emphasis in on appearance and getting it out the door.  They'll sell "new" machines that were constructed out of used parts.  Unless the product comes from a known, reputable manufacturer that is assembling in China, it is likely to be crap.  Every time I take another chance on a Chinese tool, I am disappointed.  The last one was a wire wheel I bought at a flea market.  I figured, "what could go wrong with a wire wheel?"  Well, when I tried to use it, it made the grinder and table shake so much that my little parts draws were dancing open.  I was considering getting a Chinese plasma cutter, but that incident reminded me not to.  Incidentally, I bought another wire wheel at Home Depot that was also made in China, but this one was fine.  So, if you can buy a Chinese made bus from MCI or Freightliner, it would probably be okay.  If it's from some importer or a Chinese company, you'll be sorry.  Zonda, Batman!  Sorry, I couldn't help it.
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: luvrbus on June 25, 2008, 12:16:30 PM
Richard, FWIW Freightliner is the owner of Oshkosh/John Deere and build a lot of motor home chassis for different buses and S&S motor homes.Scanica supplies a lot of the Chinese made buses with chassis like the new BCI bus they have a large plant in China
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Dallas on June 25, 2008, 01:51:30 PM
To Paraphrase the Beach Boys,

Help Me Zonda,
Help, Help Me Zonda,

Help Me Zonda, Yeah,....Get it Out of My Yard!
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: HB of CJ on June 25, 2008, 02:09:57 PM
Dallas....that was a good one.  Hee hee hee.  I was going to ask what the name meant.  Like...is the bus an unnatural offspring of Godzilla and Honda Motors Ltd.?  Or, maybe it is just payback for all the times Godzilla has flattened the Yokohama-Tokyo Metro area?  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: bubbaqgal on June 25, 2008, 03:12:42 PM
Dallas....that was a good one.
Just what I need, you guys encouraging him.   ;D
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: junkman42 on June 25, 2008, 03:19:50 PM
Dallas You have made My day a lot brighter.  Please can We have more?  John
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Sean on June 25, 2008, 04:09:58 PM
Knew about them and figured there probably are some in the US but first time I have seen them on e-bay.

Note that the ones you pointed out on eBay are not in the US, they are in Malta.  And while it says they will sell "worldwide," you will not be able to import these particular coaches into the US, because most assuredly they do not have DOT lights or brakes, nor EPA emissions.  You'd be lucky if they were CE.

The barriers to selling motor vehicles in the US are formidable.  I'd think Zonda would need to see a much larger market than currently exists before they would invest the kind of money required to make these US-legal.  The vast majority of Chinese equipment and durable goods sold in this country are in much less heavily-regulated categories than motor vehicles.  (There are notable exceptions, including many scooters and some motorcycles, where the barriers to entry are somewhat lower.)

So, no, I don't think this changes anything.

FWIW.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Nissan_DownUnder on June 25, 2008, 07:25:27 PM
Gidday

Zonda have been selling here in NZ for a couple of years.  One of our top quality motorhome builders is using them as the basis for their 9 to 11 metre motorhomes (30' - 36' ).  So far they have a reputation for good quality.

One of my friends (with more money than me) has recently purchased one.  He shows dogs in agility, taking them all around the country.  The coach has been specifically fitted out to his design.  He is very happy with the quality.

If Zonda are willing to make right hand drive vehicles & also to meet the requirements of the EEC,  I think they will be willing to meet the USA regulations, if there is a dollar in it for them.

Cheers
      Peter
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Jeremy on June 27, 2008, 01:57:04 PM
Malta is part of the EU, so if Zonda are importing to Malta then they presumably have met the European standard, which must be pretty formidable on a PSV - and as has been said, if they can meet that standard they can probably meet any standard if they want to. That's assuming they are actually being used on the road in Malta rather than just sitting in a compound somewhere waiting to be shipped somewhere else.

I am as wary as anyone buying Chinese-made stuff, but I think it's dangerous just to write-off any product just because it has a Chinese label on it - the truth is that there is some extremely advanced stuff made in China now, and the standard of even the mass market stuff is improving all the time. 40 years ago people were very dismissive of stuff made in Japan. 20 years ago it was Taiwan. 10 years ago it was Korea. Etc.

As some of you may know, Rover and MG were bought by the Chinese last year, and have been added to what is apparenty a very large and active car manufacturing industry in China - but so far almost all the output goes to the (vast) home market. I cannot think of any Chinese-built cars I have seen on the roads here, but I know there are some very cheap Chinese motorbikes out there.

Finally, this website has various pictures of Chinese copies of other manufacturer's vehicles. The Rolls Royce Phantom 'copy' is especially nice!

http://gemssty.com/2006/10/29/top-10-copycat-cars/ (http://gemssty.com/2006/10/29/top-10-copycat-cars/)

Jeremy




Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: Dreamscape on June 27, 2008, 03:22:33 PM
We face in the industry I work in the same challenges. They have been making copies of our block machine and handling system for several years. You can hardly tell them apart. That just goes to show that they are pretty good at stealing others ideas and making them work. Not funny. >:(

Paul
Title: Re: Zonda
Post by: jackhartjr on June 27, 2008, 07:55:09 PM
A lot of the Freightliner chassis are built in Gaffney, SC.  It was an Oshkosh (spelling) plant until Freightliner bought them.

I don't thing Deere has anything to do with them as another post said.

Jack
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