Intamin Accelerators

[MrSum1_55]

I have ridden all four in the US, and my order goes reverse order by height:

 

Stormrunner: This ride is so awesome! Powerful launch, unique inversions, good airtime over the top hat, (and has another good unexpected moment of airtime). This ride packs so much into its short length.

 

Xcelerator: This one has the most powerful launch of the four, and the airtime over the top hat is good in the back rows. It is short and sweet.

 

Top Thrill Dragster: I love how the launch on this one seems to go on for so long. The view at the top is the best of any of the accelerators, and one of the best on any coaster in general. Sit in the back few rows for a bit or airtime at the top. The airtime is not that strong, but a small lift off your seat while facing down at 400 feet is insanely exhilarating.

 

Kingda Ka: This is not only my least favorite accelerator, but I think this is also my least favorite big Intamin coaster. It is inferior to Dragster in almost every way, including the restraints, the nasty rattle during the launch, and the view (it is a parking lot). I do not really get excited about riding this when I plan trips to Great Adventure, and I really only plan on riding this once or twice. It suffers from that "nice, but there is a prefab right next door!" view. Kanonen and Desert Race can relate to these problems.

[coloradocoasterguy]

Knott's needs more rides but really has no room to expand so instead of removing rides to make way for new ones I say revamp Xcelerator to be more like Storm Runner. Keep everything the same through the top hat, but then replace the figure eight over banked turns with inversions including a big loop. This way Knott's isn't removing the part of XLR8R that really matters and at the same time is essentially adding a new coaster at the same time. Right now XLR8R is only 398 feet shorter than SR and is going over 70 MPH when it hits the bottom of the drop and is still going over 65 MPH when it hits the brake run. With that kind of speed it easily be a longer ride. It could wrap around Supreme Scream and even the Sky Cabin tower.

[n1ch0las]

I hadn't realized how many of these I've actually been on before reading this thread. It was close between Storm Runner and Superman: The Escape for myself. Superman had a great pre-show and theming attached to it, but overall Storm Runner had a far superior layout and is just crazy re-ridable. I think I rode it at least 10 times in 1 1/2 days at Hershey last year. Xcelerator is solid as well, but would rank #3 layout wise.

 

Dragster gets an honorable mention because the first time we hit it in a year or so it still blows me away with its launch, but then that eventually wears off.

[Physical]

Stormrunner. The airtime in the back seat over the top hat is unmatched on any accelerator I've ridden.

 

Kingda Ka makes for a great thrill ride, but it's too short overall for my tastes. Great kick of adrenaline though, almost always warrants a ride.

[canadianparkfan]

How good is Stormrunner's airtime compared to Skyrush's?

[boldikus]

^ From my experience Skyrush has relentless, scary airtime, but the scary has to do with the seats/restraints. Storm Runner only has some airtime over the drop and an unexpected pop into the flying snake roll (or whatever its called). I love both of them, but they are totally different types of rides if you ask me.

[rcjp]

Storm Runner is a great ride! It might be quite short but it packs a lot (^that unexpected pop of air is great), the inversions are fun and I also like that funky bit before the brakes.

[blk_mamba]

My vote was for Storm runner in part because I have only be on that one and the two strata coasters. However I still feel like Storm Runner is really unique because like most coasters at Hershey Park is it is not confined to just a plot of land cleared for the ride. The coaster interacts with the park and other rides as it blast off with a great viewing area for the launch while going under the monorail but over the Trailblazer coaster during the ride.

[PixelRush]

I voted Storm Runner because I have been on it, and I did like the suspense and the "Now get ready... here we go!" (it's synched!). The inversions are probably the only ones you'll find, and though it's a short ride, it's quite a rush!

[DirkFunk]

Been on 4 of the rides listed (was denied Kanonen); overall, the best is definitely Formula Rossa (which is one of my favorites anywhere), but on this list it would be Dragster. I could see Storm Runner with new restraints supplanting it, however.

[DoinItForTheFame]

. . . TTD and KK are the exact same ride. . .

 

Well except for TTD having a launch that is super smooth, where as KK's launch feels like you are riding a giant vibrator down the track.

[coasterer]

I'm really happy Storm Runner is running things in the poll. That ride is so badass.

 

YES! Badass is the perfect word for it. Storm Runner is a masterpiece, and (imo) generally under-appreciated. None of the other accelerators have come close to its originality and badassery.

[rcjp]

. . . TTD and KK are the exact same ride. . .

 

Well except for TTD having a launch that is super smooth, where as KK's launch feels like you are riding a giant vibrator down the track.

Well I guess it's a matter of opinion but I find KK's launch more forceful and if you're riding in the front (which is the only place really worth riding on these coasters) it's not really rough