rcdude Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Looking only at rides I've been on both before and after refurbishment... Best: X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The ride used to be really rough, break down all the time, and have horribly low capacity due to operating only one train almost all the time. It is still somewhat rough, but it isn't as bad as it used to be. It is also much more reliable and I've never seen them running fewer than two trains (and on occasion, all three). In addition, audio and fire have been added to the ride, along with a much better color scheme. Runner-ups include Disneyland's Space Mountain (although I consider this a replacement instead of a refurbishment), Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Hollywood (only a few things were changed, but I like the new ending better), and Superman: Escape From Krypton (until one car is turned around to forwards, it is difficult to compare the ride to its original version). Worst: Manhattan Express. The ride recieved new trains and new brakes, but is still just as bad. In addition, the price increased from overpriced to extremely overpriced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jynx242 Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Cheetah at Wild Adventures - after retracking ran AMAZING last year. It went from a big headache machine (one ride was it) to a re-ride machine. NTAG was just an amazing re-creation (not as much of a refurb.) Don't really have a worst re-furb at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayzle Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 i've never been on it but no love for boulder dash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAWKIN_coaster38 Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 All of the refurb coasters I've been on, I never went on before the refurbs. Like I rode X2 the year they made it X2 and from what I've heard, the refurb is MUCH better. X2 is one of my favorite coasters. I never rode V2 before they took the height down and made the 2nd spike 45 degrees... I rode a clone of it at Cedar Point... Neither were really spectacular, but they are both very different rides. I think I prefer V2 because of the 45 degree barrel roll with a great view in the front row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Phantom's Revenge is a spectacular ride now. I don't know what it was like as Steel Phantom (never rode it), but I don't imagine it was that pleasant. I guess if you want to count 305, you can. It's been #2 on my steel list from day 1, and that never changed (even after the trims were added). New Texas Giant obviously looks a lot better than when it was a sh*t fest the last time I rode it in 2009. Can't think of a "worst" refurb. I mean, SOB sucked after it reopened in 2007, but I never rode it with the loop. I imagine it couldn't have been much better or worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movieguy Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 The New Texas Giant is certainly impressive to see, but I've yet to ride it. Phantom's Revenge definitely stands out as one of the all time best refurbs. Morgan really took a good, long look at what we coaster fanatics want from a ride like that, when they took apart the old Arrow death machine, and put it back together with their improvements. I can't really think of a refurb going wrong for a coaster at this moment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 While I thought they did a really great job referbing the mountain, queue area, and other effects on The Matterhorn. I also should mention that the single rider line is awesome. Does anyone else agree that the new trains were a huge step back from the old ones? At least on re-opening day, the trains had absolutely no padding on the seats or backs. My back felt pretty much every jarring bump on the coaster. I used to find the old trains very enjoyable, even though the ride was always a bit clunky. It might be because I am a taller individual that I had a rough time in these new trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boardwalkbullet91507 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 The iron rattler renovations are going to be killer! That will take the winning spot hands down! Although not mechanical, Shockwave and La Vibora at SFOT both got a fresh coat of paint and look mighty fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
australianalex Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Worst - Revolution (SFMM), I know it was a while ago that it received the trims and OTSR's, but Schwarzkopf didn't build it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlover420 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Son of Beast's new refurbishment this past week is pretty nice, I must say! I do like the X2 refurb. While it doesn't really improve much on the shakiness, it does make for a better ride experience. The Voyage track work is also pretty wonderful! My dad was only able to ride it once because it was so bad before...Timberliners will only make it that much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFChris Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 While I thought they did a really great job referbing the mountain, queue area, and other effects on The Matterhorn. I also should mention that the single rider line is awesome. Does anyone else agree that the new trains were a huge step back from the old ones? At least on re-opening day, the trains had absolutely no padding on the seats or backs. My back felt pretty much every jarring bump on the coaster. I used to find the old trains very enjoyable, even though the ride was always a bit clunky. It might be because I am a taller individual that I had a rough time in these new trains. I agree...when I try to put my feet in the designated slots, it tries to bend my legs in a way that is just not natural and feels awful. I end up cramming my feet right in front of my body which works a lot better. I guess I should add that I am an 'average' size/weight person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhman93 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Am I the only person who liked Bizzaro better as SROS? On the new trains the view is blocked by the speakers in the row ahead that work about half the time and the park has removed or shut off most of the effects anyways plus the lap bars have much more padding which leads to less airtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryce Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 I don't know if it would be called "refurbishment", but when Dueling Dragons was changed to Dragon Challenge, it all went downhill. It no longer duels, the amazing queue is now just a long and dark tunnel, the dragon statues are missing and now you just walk under an arch and the name isn't as cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacoaster09 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Apocalypse: The last stand (Iron Wolf). The ride definitely rides smooth like it's new. It's smooth a lot quieter and certainly has an excelent theme and awesome fire effect. So i'd say this was one of the better refurbishments (overhauls). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Worst for me has to be SFNE's Cyclone. They neutered the first drop and the ride is still rough as hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Phantom's Revenge is a spectacular ride now. This. ...Without a doubt it's at the top of my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRHcoasterki Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 ^ I need to get to Kennywood! My sister is in college in Pittsburgh so it is possible I could get there sometime soon! They don't have the biggest coaster selection, but what they have seems great! Anyway, back on topic. Best: Probably New Texas Giant, and iRat for next year. Rocky Mountain took/is taking 2 pretty bad wooden coasters and making them awesome. Can't complain! Also, while this wasn't really a refurbishment, when the older Premier coasters had the OTSR's replaced with lap bars. I heard that the OTSR'S were pretty terrible and I always love seeing companies trying to improve their rides, and making pretty good rides great rides. Worst: I'm not sure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Am I the only person who liked Bizzaro better as SROS? On the new trains the view is blocked by the speakers in the row ahead that work about half the time and the park has removed or shut off most of the effects anyways plus the lap bars have much more padding which leads to less airtime. No, I too also preferred the old trains. The lap bars were more comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Am I the only person who liked Bizzaro better as SROS? On the new trains the view is blocked by the speakers in the row ahead that work about half the time and the park has removed or shut off most of the effects anyways plus the lap bars have much more padding which leads to less airtime. Add me to the list of people that were a little disappointed with the new trains/re-theme. Personally, rehabbing the old trains, repainting the coaster with the old colors, and adding music just to the lift hill would have been just fine by me. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and as a result Bizarro has now fallen behind Phantom's Revenge as my favorite steel coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Favorite: New Texas Giant Least Favorite: Bizarro. Such a bad idea. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 The new 4 across train on Goliath at SFNE... it made the best ride in the park the second worst ride in the park. What a rough piece of crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Powder Keg deserves a mention. Buzzsaw Falls was both a terrible water ride and a terrible coaster. It tried to be both and just failed totally. Powder Keg, on the other hand, is a fantastic launch coaster full of airtime and has enough headchoppers to make a woodie jealous. Couldn't be happier about that refurb. As for the worst, SFStL's attempt at a stand up mine train has to be one of the worst ideas ever conceived, with execution on par with the concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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