I travel on Nakhonchai Air Gold class buses quite frequently between Pattaya and Northern Thailand and I just returned yesterday from my most recent trip.

I have tried first-class ( which only goes from Bangkok ) but I actually prefer Gold class because the leg room is better without the space taken up by the plastic seating modules that accommodate the individual entertainment screens in each seat on the First-class buses.

Yesterday the journey was on a brand-new Gold class bus which wasn’t the familiar Mercedes-Benz bus with the instantly recognisable three pointed star at the front and back. In fact the manufacturers logo on these new buses (and at the centre of the steering wheel) is totally unrecognisable to me.

Had the driver been sitting there when I got on and off I would have asked him which company is providing this new bus which I would estimate now comprises 30 to 40% of the fleet and this has occurred since only February when I went last time.

Has anyone else been on this new bus and if so any idea who the manufacturer is just as a matter of interest ?

It’s still the single deck bus but it is slightly taller and the internal configuration is quite different with completely new seat designs. I have to say unfortunately I don’t like it as much as the Mercedes and the leg room isn’t quite as generous. The new buses still have a smooth changing automatic gearbox and I would say that the ride itself in this new model was slightly smoother with better suspension.

But the small compartment right at the back of the bus for the substitute driver has gone!

It is a rather momentous event for a bus company to change brands and I was wondering what would have made them do that when they have had such a huge Mercedes fleet.

Edited April 22, 201511 yr by Asiantravel

Probably Chinese King Long bus. They are getting very popular here. The Bell Bus use them as do the tour group transporters. Many are LNG powered.

Look like this? https://www.google.co.th/search?q=Sunlong&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=l3Y3VebOGs-cugTUqYHQDg&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643

Green Bus uses Sunlong buses exclusively. I imagine they are half the price of Mercedes.

Look like this? https://www.google.co.th/search?q=Sunlong&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=l3Y3VebOGs-cugTUqYHQDg&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643

Green Bus uses Sunlong buses exclusively. I imagine they are half the price of Mercedes.

Well there ya go ! Thanks for clearing that up .

Yes that indeed is the logo I was talking about and this is even the bus I was talking about.

Is it only me that considers this a huge departure from German engineering and reliability to Chinese engineering? I mean at least you can rely on Mercedes to get you there but I wonder how durable these Chinese buses will end up being. I would love to hear the feedback from the NCA mechanics as to how they feel about this change over?

I am definitely going to miss the Mercedes fleet as it is slowly replaced. No comparison.

"Sunlong" are a popular view in Pattaya e.g. driving around Chinese tourists in Chinese buses.

Makes sense to me

This being Thailand I have no doubt that they will only look at the upfront purchase cost, whereas they should of course be looking at whole of operational life costs and residual values.

I recall that we once made fun of Japanese cars too...

This being Thailand I have no doubt that they will only look at the upfront purchase cost, whereas they should of course be looking at whole of operational life costs and residual values.

It is still not possible to buy bus tickets Buriram - Pattaya on their website?

I have always wondered about using Nakhonchai Air but never done it yet as I was put off by the video advert of a beer bellied driver trying to do gym exercises to prove they have good drivers. I don't suppose it goes to Pattaya from Bangkok does it?

I might try it from BKK to Chiang Mai - where does it take off from in BKK and CM? How does it compare to the VIP (24 seat) VIP buses from 999, which I always find very good?

I recall that we once made fun of Japanese cars too...

Some of us still do!