KI Kevin Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 There are many manufacturers, but only a few are regarded as the best ones in the industry. So, what are your favorites? They can be current or past manufacturers. They can have coasters and/ or flats. This will probably be a head to head battle with B&M and Intamin, but some like Arrow and others. I'd have to say B&M over the rest. I've only ridden 4 (Diamondback, Raptor, Chang, Mantis), but they've all been perfect from start to finish. PS: I searched and couldn't find a thread like this. If there is one, delete this one. I'm hoping that's all the choice people will want. Reply if there is another one. Quote
Wooden Roller Coaster Fan Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 The Gravity Group!!!!!! but i think everyone will say its B&M and yeah make it a poll Quote
KI Kevin Posted July 28, 2009 Author Posted July 28, 2009 It would be better if this was a poll. I was thinking about it but there would be SO many choices. I'll try to do it though. Quote
RailRider Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Well fine I will play along. Some of my favorites. B&M - Many many many glass smooth creations that are just a notch above the rest. Premier - Awesome launched coasters. Mr. Freeze, Batman and Robin, and The Mummy all come to mind. Great Coasters International - I love a good woodie and GCI delivers every time. Thunderhead, Lightning Racer, Prowler, just to name a few. Honorable mention. Intamin - Numerous creations like the Giga and Accelarator coaster Giovanola - They receive mention because of Titan at SFOT and also they were subcontractors for a lot of early Intamin work, especialy my favorite bob, Screamin Delta Demon. Quote
Fear the Four Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Name as many as you can then when your done just make one option other. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Current manufacturers? Past ones? Must include the latter since you included companies like Arrow Dynamics and CCI. Therefore, I vote for John Miller, Carl E. Phare, Herbert Schmeck and Harry Traver...and of course Prior & Church. If I have to pick one, I pick Prior & Church. Quote
KI Kevin Posted July 28, 2009 Author Posted July 28, 2009 ^I guess that would fall under the "other" catagory. And, just a question, but weren't some of those you named actually just designers, like John Miller? Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 In those days, designers often delivered a finished product. John Miller sold many turnkey projects. The same was true of CCI. Miller also worked for both PTC and Dayton Fun House and Riding Device Manufacturing Company, which later became NAD. Quote
sheikra_rocks Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Kumba, Montu, SheiKra, Kraken, Dueling Dragons, Hulk, Goliath(sfog), Batman The Ride, Raptor, Mantis, Diamondback, Dominator, Apollo's Chariot, Alpie, and Griffon are all in my top 15 favorite steel coasters. ALL B&M! Quote
fcbaseball Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 GCI all the way. No need to break records, just deliver solid rides from start to finish. Quote
Tom76257 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 I'm gonna have to say Intamin. They're innovative (as stated above) and Maverick is my favorite steel coaster. The ONLY reason I'm not saying B&M is because I can only think of two coasters off the top of my head by them that have no trims and no MCBR. I will, however, say that Intamin is also my LEAST favorite manufacturer because their rides always seem to break down A LOT. YES, I know I'm weird. Besides Intamin, The Voyage COMPLETELY blew me away and I could ride The Legend all day long. Because of this, I have to say that I really like CCI and Gravity Group. Quote
TOPGUN1993 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Arrow Dynamics.... could anyone of guessed that? Quote
TheCryptRaider Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 I believe I already made a thread like this.. Oh well. Steel: B&M Wood: GCII (From what I've ridden, they're so much fun!) Quote
SonofBeast07 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 some arrows are great like flight deck, but others have awkward and violent transitions. Quote
teenageninja Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Cariprio. Scooby's Ghoster Coaster all the way. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Terpy, just for you... Thanks. I can never get enough of that coaster, and only wish I could have ridden it. And to think, at one time Kings Island had the plans, considered rebuilding it, but decided instead to build a modern looping wooden coaster. One can only wonder many things, from how faithful a modern rendition of that by all accounts splendid ride could have and would have been to who would have built it to how different Kings Island would have been today.... Quote
Beast1979 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 I usually don't like to mix steel and wood: Steel: B&M without a doubt. I have been on 4 (Dominator, Raptor, Mantis, Diamondback) and 3 of them have been spectacular. Not only are they safe, reliable, easy to maintain, and have extremely high capacity, but they are also extremely fun. Butter smooth, brilliantly designed, they are re-ridable to the point where you could live on them. Someone mentioned them having MCBS and trims, and I must point out that trims can often be on the park's part, not the manufacturer. Raptor has 1 mcbs that barely grabs you at all, while Diamondback has a trim and a mcbs that are both very grabby. Wood: GCI. They aren't the biggest, they aren't the baddest, they aren't the longest, but never fail in providing a smooth, fun ride throughout the course of the coaster. They keep the speed going and keep the turns coming, and they're compact design makes it even better. The Millennium Flyer trains are extremely comfortable, and the rides aren't hard to maintain. Very fun, enjoyable coasters. I wouldn't mind a GCI in Mason.... Quote
KI Kevin Posted July 28, 2009 Author Posted July 28, 2009 I wouldn't mind a GCI in Mason.... That's what I'm saying. I would rather have a more modern wooden coaster (GCI, Gravity Group, Intamin) than a B&M Invert. And by the way, haven't you been on more B&M's than 4, because you rode Hulk as coaster #50? Quote
Coaster Kid Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 B&M gave us Diamondback but Arrow gave us Vortex hard choice. Quote
TOPGUN1993 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Steel: B&M without a doubt. I have been on 4 (Dominator, Raptor, Mantis, Diamondback) I thought you went to Universal? Quote
gad198 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 I voted for B&M. Having said that... I am almost always more intrigued when a new Intamin creation comes out. I think Intamin rides usually are more thrilling. I just don't like the "will I go to park X and find this ride down?" routine. This reason alone is why I won't be at Kings Dominion opening day next year, because there's an excellent chance it'll be either down or simply not ready to be open to the public yet. I also won't even begin to rant on about Intamin's safety record. B&M's are superbly engineered rides that deliver the goods. Many of their creations litter my top 10...DB, Behemoth, Montu, SheiKra, Tatsu, Afterburn. B&M coasters when running at full capacity move loads of people through an hour. The best capacity Intamin coaster I can think of is Millennium Force, and even then the capacity on most B&Ms is way better. I can't think of any B&M running at full capacity that averages less than 1000 pph, where there are a TON of Intamins that will never see that even on great days with great crews. Quote
HTCO Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 ... I have been on 4 (Dominator, Raptor, Mantis, Diamondback) ... I thought you went to Universal? So actually you have ridden... 7 (Hulk, DDI, DDF) Quote
TTD-120-420 Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Intamin. They are so different, and so out there compared to B&M. B&M has rather boring layouts with the same elements found on almost all of their other coasters. Intamin changes it up and gives unique, fun rides. Look at Ispeed for example. You can not tell me that doesn't look more fun than any B&M. IMO. Quote
KI Kevin Posted July 29, 2009 Author Posted July 29, 2009 I think I'd rather ride Diamondback, Manta, Tatsu, or Scream! than iSpeed. Just me. Quote
The Interpreter Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Scream? Did someone just say something nice about Scream? The Mean Streak of B & M's? Quote
Beast1979 Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 I wouldn't mind a GCI in Mason.... That's what I'm saying. I would rather have a more modern wooden coaster (GCI, Gravity Group, Intamin) than a B&M Invert. And by the way, haven't you been on more B&M's than 4, because you rode Hulk as coaster #50? Steel: B&M without a doubt. I have been on 4 (Dominator, Raptor, Mantis, Diamondback) I thought you went to Universal? ... I have been on 4 (Dominator, Raptor, Mantis, Diamondback) ... I thought you went to Universal? So actually you have ridden... 7 (Hulk, DDI, DDF) Gah ok I give in, I rode 7 sorry I miscounted! Quote
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