It are frequently interesting discussions between the bus folks (converted Prevosts, MCI, VanHool, etc) and Newell enthusiasts. (I won't call them busnuts even though some of them refer to themselves that way.) Realistically, a bus chassis makes an incredible platform for a motorcoach as far a quality of build goes. The downside is that you are taking a vehicle designed for one purpose and using it for another. This puts constraints on modifications and that is where Newell comes in. L.K. Newell, from the beginning, identified a number of features he felt were objectives in constructing a first-class motorcoach. These included:
1) Rear diesel engine
2) Under floor storage
3) Air brakes and suspension
4) Front mounted generator
5) Mid-entry door
6) Systems built into body and chassis during manufacture
7) Flexibility to custom build to customers desires
Note that from the early 1970's until 2005, Newell incorporated ALL of these attributes into their coaches while bus conversions only incorporated #1-3 and to a much lesser extent than Newell, #7.
The advent of slides in motorcoaches modified #4 and #5 and accentuated the differences in #7. Larger slides are possible with a front entry so beginning in the 2005 model year, Newell offered a front entry as an option and by 2009 most, but not all, Newells were being ordered with the front entry at the customers request (remember #7). The front entry reduced the space available for the front generator. That and the increased weight of the slides pushing the limits on the front axle caused some Newells to be built with side mounted generators, using the front compartment for additional storage. However, the real difference between bus conversions and Newells is #7.
A bus is designed to move large numbers of passengers over the highways. Placement and integration of living facilities such as kitchens, full baths, closets, entertainment systems, etc were not a consideration in the original design of the bus chassis. While converters had done miracles in adapting bus chassis into motorcoaches, access to systems, arrangement of floorplans, and more recently, the addition of slides has been hampered by the original design of the bus chassis. Newell brought slides to the luxury motorcoach market years before the converters were able to. Newells were available with 3 and 4 slides before converters were even offering a single slide. Newells offered flat floor slides beginning in 1997. I have not seen a bus conversion with 4
flat floor slides ever built. There may have been but I am unaware of it.
Since Newell builds their own chassis, any floorplan, slide arrangement and length that the customer desires can be constructed. If a floorplan and the owner's wishes dictate a 44' 4" coach, Newell can and will construct it. With a bus conversion you typically can have any length as long as it is 45' or in some limited cases 40'.
Does Prevost make an excellent chassis, yes!! Does Newell make an excellent chassis, yes!! Prevost depends on converters to take their bus chassis and make a motorcoach, with varying degrees of success, while Newell offers the buyer more choices and more flexibility in designing their coach for the purposes they want and need. Have you seen an extended length rear bath in a Prevost?? Newell is now making them available. Have you seen a quad slide Prevost with a Murphy bed, theatre seating and projection TV?? Newell has been offering them for years. Have you seen a Prevost with a 600+ horsepower engine?? Again Newell has been offering them for years.
Most of the bus converters build a number of spec buses for sale (designed in house with no particular customer in mind) while Newell has historically built almost all (typically 90%
of their coaches to a specific customer's requirements. The result is that, from what I have heard, only 2 Newell's have been built identically and those were ordered that way by the owner.
If I were purchasing a bus to transport dozens of people hundreds of thousands of miles each year, I would strongly consider a Prevost (that is their design role). For livability and use as a motorhome (truly a Rolling Mansion on Wheels), Newell offers more flexibility of design and more bang for your bucks.
Building the entire coach from the ground up allows Newell to do things that are just not practical (although virtually anything is possible if you throw enough money at it) when you start with a bus chassis. Compare prices and features on a new Newell with steerable tag, a 625+ HP engine, Spyder Digital Multiplex control system, oversized quad slides and almost an infinite list of options (bidets, outside cooking centers, etc) with the bus conversions and it is easy to see why Newell has so many repeat customers.