Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 16, 2025 ...

The slowest coach I ever drove .

October 22, 2013, 10:09:07 pm

                     In 1997 was driving through Miami , Oklahoma when  the thought hit me to go check out the Newell coach place . Pulled in , was given a campground spot . A sales guy comes , knocks on our door etc . We got a guided tour of the Newell plant . Very impressive , clean , neat and well organized . When finished was offered a test drive on a new coach that had been ordered but something fell through and it didn't get sold . So off we go , headed to Kansas which is just a few miles East of there . I drove first , what I noticed was it was very slow to gain speed . It was quiet , handled good . Turned around In Kansas and Phyllis drove back to the plant . While diving back the sales guy's cell rang , when done talking he said "folks --Jeremy Mayfield -- just bought this coach ". So the NASCAR driver bought the slowest coach I ever drove .So , what do I remember most about that Newell --It took a long time to get up to 60 MPH  My present coach would run rings around that 45 ft Newell .              Brad Metzger

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #1 – October 23, 2013, 12:42:47 am

And Jeremry Mayfield is no longer a NASCAR driver. So I guess that makes him slow also.

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #2 – October 23, 2013, 10:05:58 am

The latest Motorcoach mag did a Newell review. 600hp and 1950 fltlbs. Wow. But it weighs sooooo much! What was it.. 1200 lb of freeboard left on the front axle? Really? ) I am still surprised that the one you drove was that slow though. I always thought your typical Newell was the sort of thing for which things like mountain passes are a non issue. I'm jealous, love to give that thing a go.

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #3 – October 23, 2013, 05:02:33 pm

         I don't remember what engine it had at that time , but now  we, "Foretravel" use the same engine in the I-H as Newell .But--- boy do they have the tonnage to haul along with it . The weight is the dividing issue .What does that do for their MPG . There has to be some bite along about there when it comes fill up time .  No thanks .  Brad Metzger 

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #4 – October 23, 2013, 05:23:36 pm

I would say a heavy coach like a Newell would be slow but I bet very smooth.  My urgent coach us slower then my old 36 foot U320 without a slide. 

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #5 – October 24, 2013, 06:24:35 am

               Yes , it rode good , just like any other heavy coach . My present coach is not a lightweight by any means , but it rides really smooth , handles great and has that extra snap in the horse power  department that would be hard to live without . Now the question comes up , do you need all that power . Well of course the answer is no-----but---- when it comes right down to it , we , you etc don't have to have a coach in the first place . So where does this leave us ? It is what we want , period . I think of it as a reward sort of thing . I like the rest of us , have worked my tail off my entire life , stacked up some coins , and am driving what I like . I could buy any coach with wheels on it but chose a Foretravel and horse power to weight ratio is one of the many reasons . I have not , and will not own any other brand .I am aware that there are some other ok coaches out there . If there is another coach in my life it will be a Foretravel . As it stands right now, I'd have a tough time getting DW out of this one , she really loves it .  Brad Metzger

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #6 – October 24, 2013, 10:19:51 am

Ain't no way I'm gonna knock a Newell. But I had to go back and look it up; 57,660lb. Ye gods, close enough to triple what a u280 weighs.
A much fairer comparison of course would be to an IH45 which comes in at 49k, same drivetrain and more'n 15% less mass. I bet it makes a difference. Golly, wouldn't it be fun to testdrive both back to back and find out?

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #7 – October 24, 2013, 10:34:53 am

Drag strip, new class!

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #8 – October 24, 2013, 03:33:58 pm

Anyone under 18 sec 0 to 60 mph?  my lil toy will surprise you with the 500 @ 1550 & 30,000 lb, Wanna play ?

Quote Selected

Re: The slowest coach I ever drove .

Reply #9 – October 24, 2013, 04:03:32 pm

OK, ready? 3-2-1-GO.
(20k,250hp/600ftlb if I'm real lucky).......................................................through the trap
(30k,500/1550)......................through the trap

Dave M. moves onto the next round

Next! 

Quote Selected