The Best/Worst Engineered Coasters

This topic can too easily turn into a down right flame fest (it really already has).

There are too many variables that need be taken into consideration. The thought that some of you believe that a coaster is just thrown together (just because it is rough) is down right nutty! The time and age of the coaster must be considered. Some of you are comparing coasters that were built nearly 10 years apart. Also, everyone is claiming that good coasters and well-engineered coasters are the same thing. I could create the smoothest coaster ever created and it could be a boring ride. While some other company creates a slightly rougher less engineered coaster that is extremely fun. Some of the best wood coasters were designed using pencil and paper – hardly what I would call sophisticated engineering!

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The Other Siebert

How do you know for sure that Arrow mega loopers where trown together?.The way coaster where built then ,and are built now is the use difrent computer programs etc, now designers are abel to know a ride before it is even built. I think The worst designed coasters, I have ever rode where Hercules at Dorneypark,Viper at SFGAdv,and prop Hyper Sonic XLC at PKD , that dosent mean that they are bad coaster becuase I love rideing any coaster trown at me,but Herculies is has been slowed down so much its not fun,if the ride was built better there wouldent need trim brakes all over the place almost stoping the train,and a banked turn should be taken at over 20mph,On Viper, the trasitions in the track curve,and bend in every direction it amazes me that Togo let SFGAdv buy that ride ,and the trains are the most umcomfortable inverting steel coaster I have ever rode, as for Hyper Sonic, you have to hope it is open when you visit the park,and im sure it breaks down more then 2 times a day as it broke down over 2 when I was there. The best running coasters I have seen have been from all difrent companys, if you ask me an Aroow loopers capicty,and Nitro or Medusa even out if all 3 trains are being run at the same time.

I'd have to say that Viper at SFDL is probably a well-designed ride. It's an Arrow looper that still doesn't feel uncomfortable after all of the years it's been in service. Granted, its not the smoothest ride, yet it seems to run better than than the two Vekoma loopers at the park.

*** This post was edited by wnycoaster on 8/12/2002. ***

A great coaster and the best engineered coaster and not necessisarily the same.

As an engineer, I particularly admire B&M's coasters as well as Morgan's Phantom's Revenge. PR is the only recent Morgan that I have ridden. I really haven't looked at the engineering of wooden coasters as closely, but I have been impressed by John Allen's designs and GCI's Lightning Racers. If you really want to know about a woodie's real engineering as opposed to design though, you should ask the guy who has to maintain it, not the guy who rides it.

In an interview with the president of Arrow, he mentioned that, in the past, Arrow HAD cut corners, and they were in the process of fixing this. Of course, that was before all the porblems with X happened, so we may never see if these "improvements" were for real. The thing is, Arrow was able to cut corners back then. There were hardly any other companies out there that built the amazing rides that Arrow built, so if a park wanted a true record breaker, they called Arrow. Then companies like B&M and Intamin came into the picture. With their far superior rides, Arrow was left in their dust. Since no one wanted their rides anymore, Arrow had no chance of proving that they could produce a smooth and fun ride. Just goes to show you that no matter what, if you cut corners, you're going to get screwed in the end.

As for well engineered rides, I would have to say Vortex at Paramount't Kings Island. Before it's "upgrade" I found Vortex to be almost unbearable. But then PKI gave it some TLC, and it is now, in my opinion, very smooth. Other well engineered rides, of course, are all B&M and Intamin rides I have been on. Great capacity, smooth ride, and good uptime. Well, maybe with a twisted little excepetion at the park on the lake...

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Intelligence is a God given gift: Know how to use it.

ide have to say B:TDK at SFNE is a coaster with excellent engineering. The ride just flows with grace. Just my opinion.

Medusa is a great ride with only one problem...

What? I can't hear you, the train just went by!

Wow...I'll also include Vortex, but in the not-so-well-engineered category. There are some spots on Vortex where the track levels out too quickly or twists too sharply, and the result is getting your legs slammed into the car (if you're in the front seat) or getting thrown against the OTSR. Compare coasters such as Vortex and Magnum (which has some of the same "problems") to newer ones such as just about any B&M or Intamin, which are much smoother and transition between elements much better. Of course, this is all just my opinion and I'm not saying the coasters are bad -- in fact Vortex is very underrated IMO -- but I think their engineering leaves something to be desired.

But overall I think Schwarzkopf was the best designer ever. Even though they were designed in the pre-CAD age I've never been on one that's rough and they're withstanding the test of time very well. Proof that engineering doesn't need to be sophisticated to be great.

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PLEASE READ: This post wasn't meant to offend or anger anyone; I apologize in advance if it does. So please don't post a reply just to rant about it. :)

Rides I have ridden that I felt are 100% flawless: Montu, Fire Dragon, Georgia Scorcher, MF.

Rides that I have ridden that I have felt had more than a few flaws (not to say this prevents them from being top on my favorites list): The Hulk, B:TR, WT, Mantis, Magnum, Gemini.

I think B&M is by far the best. I am disappointed in Intamin's seats on their suspended style coasters. I am a large person, but have no trouble on any ride other than Intamin's seats on rides like WT.

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The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

of corse i haven't been to every park in the country, but i strongly support the "King Cobra" at pki. It is a shame that it is cleared away for something new. I was very pleased that cwl had an exact track design in their park. If the change occurs...ride it.

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You can never give out too much AdReNaLiNe

You know, until some of you dill-holes actually try engineering ANYTHING, I would suggest that you lay off the "piss-poor engineering" remarks. I think that most of the coaster companies have done exceedingly well with the tools at their disposal!

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"To get into this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do

The best engineered ride of all time has to be the original B&M invert, Batman the Ride. A decade of operation and still as smooth as glass. Not to mention they are still being added to some parks as new rides. B&M took a completly unique concept and executed it perfectly.

For worst engineered rides I would have to say something like Drachen Fire. But this list can go on and on, Deja Vu, Wicked Twister, Hypersonic, X, The Bat, and SOB all jump into mind.

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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner

Jeremy, well said.

Ask Comatose what it's like to engineer a coaster. ;)

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/rollercoastertalk

Go to files, then "Elijah's Chariot" and look at some pics.

No one mentioned GCI at all. Boodley did a really great job on all the GCI's I've ridden. I love seeing the structure flex as the train flies by.

I'll also have to admit, as much of an Arrow basher as I am, MOST of the things they did weren't poor engineering, just primitave construction. Toomer may have had some funny ideas, but Early arrow (Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon) were extremely innovative. (OK, I'll admit it, even Toomer was somewhat innovative.)

oh well...what can one say?

--Josh

Woody Woodpecker's Nuthhouse Coaster is by far the best engineered coaster in the world.
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TOGO!

What exactly is a "dill-hole" [ref: Hostyl's post]. Is that some Chicago slang or somehting?

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God is Good!

Raven-Phile:

I did specificly mention Lightning Racers by GCI. Of course one thing that GCI's and B&M's have in common is suberbly engineered control systems from Consign AG.

What do you mean RTCneedsTLC when you say

I would say your Medusa comparo is rather flawed. Let us know how it rides in 12 years before making that assumption.

I would assume it will be a little rough. Wouldn't any coaster? Why would Medusa be any different?

Raptor and Batman are the only flawless inverts. Montu had the trim added before the batwing, and alpengeist has the one right at the top of the lift.

So far, Talon seems to be a winner, minus the capacity issue. I havn't ridden Top Gun at Paramounts Carowinds or PGA, but PGA's looks well done.

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How much more floorless can they get?

I have not ridden Batman but I have to say that Raptor does have one flaw, the final stop. It whips you around a curve and then changes direction immediately afterwards causing your head to jerk. I do not mind it too much but I do feel that it can be considered a flaw.