Why not gasser rear enging?

-Gramps- wrote:
When idling I have to look at the Tach sometimes to know that it is running at all.

This is the same for me with the FMC and was also true of the 1987 Vixen 21 that I had for several years. The Vixen initially came with a BMW 4 cyl turbo diesel and a manual transaxel all in the rear. That was a Vixen TD.

Later production, which included the one I had, changed the power system to a Buick V6 and auto trans axel (along with some other changes). What was in the front of a front wheel drive Buick was put in the rear of the Vixen. Was very, very quiet and got 20 mpg. On the gas version the engine was in the rear, but the radiator was up front and used ram air. No cooling issues. The diesels get 27 mpg. About 850 Vixens were made in the 80's. A neighbor has one of the diesels now. Most are still on the road. I see one every now and then.

The Vixens suffered from the same problem as the FMC in that the custom chassis and drive train made them uncompetitive from a price standpoint relative to mass produced frames. While the Vixen was a foot wider and got significanf better mileage than the van conversions, the advantages couldn't over come the price differential.

Having had two rear engined coaches, I will never have a front engined coach. That is from both a sound standpoint and a flat floor in the front standpoint. Both of mine also have low floors which enables easy entry in the main living area, but that is also achieveable with a front engine/front drive unit.