[BelowThePeak]

Hopefully this thread is okay to be posted, although I can definitely see a lot of (blank) vs. (blank) threads appearing as a result which could really clog up the forum.

So it's pretty much universally agreed that Fury 325 is the best coaster in the park, but when it comes to what people think the second-best coaster is, opinions are mixed. I'm curious to see which coaster this forum prefers overall.

For me, I'd lean towards Afterburn. Before Fury was built, Afterburn and Intimidator seemed more or less on par with each other, but after Fury arrived at the park, it made me realize how much Intimidator paled in comparison to both Fury and Afterburn, at least in terms of intensity. I could see this being the case for many enthusiasts because Intimidator used to be the tallest coaster in the park, thus making many feel obligated to declare it their favorite. Since it's no longer the tallest, though, people are starting to look at it from a more objective viewpoint and see that it does have its flaws.

At the same time, though, I think it also depends on what you like - for me, I definitely prefer intensity over airtime, but there are definitely riders who prefer airtime over intensity. I'm just interested to see what you guys prefer.

[tarheel1231]

http://www.lifeisarollercoaster.org/carowinds/ if you scroll down about halfway, you'll see this guy's review. I hate to say it, but I kind of agree with him. Intimidator is good, but the airtime isn't as sustained as on other hypers (unless you're in rows 1 - 4). Fury and Afterburn are pretty consistent in all seats, but you have to sit in a particular seat before you can compare Intimidator with the other two B&Ms. It's not a bad ride, and you can always expect to have fun, but Afterburn is the definitely the more exciting ride.

[coasterdave]

I really like Mustard Biscuits but really enjoy the taste of those Fried Potatoes. I men it is so hard to choose my favorite but maybe if I combined the Mustard Biscuits with the Potatoes then I could have the best of both worlds but then there is Chocolates. They are like life but just in a box cause that is what Maw always said and I tend to run towards it cause it happens.

The real question is taking xy=z so that zx=y after taking out the E under the T. I know it is complicated but that is the one I like the best.

[aoriole19]

Yeah, it really depends on what I want at the time. I think in general I like airtime better than "intensity" but I wouldn't want Intimidator to be the ONLY coaster I rode. They're good in different ways, but I would pick Intimidator as my favorite.

A more interesting question would be: If the park could only keep one of the two rides, which would you rather stay? In that case I'd choose Afterburn! Because Afterburn is my favorite inverted coaster I've ever been on. It is more unique. Even though in general I'd prefer hyper coasters, Intimidator is probably my third favorite hyper, not a clear #1 like Afterburn.

[RollerBee]

^^
I respective toss in my opinion that Intimidator is better than Afterburn.

[theintimidator]

Although my name is, "Theintimidator," in my opinion, AfterBurn is more thrilling than Intimidator. I don't get much air on Intimidator unless I'm the front 2 cars and even then, I don't feel much. AfterBurn just feels more intense because of the positive G's, the quicker pacing, and the whipping feeling you get while riding in the back. The roar may or may not have something to do with it too.

[Chris]

Rows 4 and 5 are the prime spots for the most air time on Intimidator. You float for the longest, by far, in those two rows.

[tarheel1231]

^ I rode in row 4 last month and it was awesome! If all rows were like that, Intimidator would win easily. Could probably give Fury a run for its money too.

[Jonathan]

Gotta say I'm pretty stunned by the results so far. Intimidator all the way for me but I'll take a hyper over a looper almost every time.

[psychoticbiotic]

Intimidator never took the number 1 spot for me, even before Fury. Afterburn is one of the very best coasters I've ever ridden.

[LocoDriver]

Intimidator.

If Afterburn had Montu's layout then I would have voted for it. To me, it packs a great punch but it's over with way to soon.

[kirkgun]

I agree that Afterburn is too short. That would/could be my only complaint about it. But they sure packed a whole lot of fun into that little course. Heck, if they had put a couple more elements into Afterburn, it might be better than Fury (my opinion, of course). I don't care if I'm upside down or not (note: Fury is my #1 in the park). I just want fun. Afterburn is really freaking fun.

The only air-time that I detect on Intimidator is from the back seat, getting pulled over and down the first drop. I've had several rides in the front row, and many many rides from the middle. And despite the numerous big camel-backs, I get no air-time whatsoever on those. It just doesn't go fast enough over the camel-backs to lift me out of the seat. I still like the ride. It's not thrilling, but it is very enjoyable. I look at it as a a big, long, smooth roller coaster "chill ride". It goes faster, but it never feels faster.

Just like the OP, Fury somehow has lowered Intimidator in my opinion. That's probably not fair. I know that, but that is just honesty kickin in. I get so much more air time on Fury, from all seats, that Intimidator feels lacking in the very thing that people usually praise it for.

Afterburn is just all exhilaration. The more I ride both, the more it is clear that I like Afterburn more.

#teamAfterburn

[LocalYokel]

These are my number 2 and 3 coasters. The order varies depending on which train I'm strapped into. I picked Afterburn because it is often a walk on while Intimidator always has a line. Also, Afterburn gets a slight bump for not having a seat assigner when the lines are short.

[KenB]

I've flip-flopped over the years about where the good B&M loopers (Kumba, Montu, Afterburn, Dragons, etc.) and hypers stand in my rankings. Sometimes I'd rate Kumba number one, others I'd rate Apollo's Chariot or Goliath SFOG or Superman SFA there. Due to lack of forces, Millennium Force never rated higher than any of the above rides for me, although I quite enjoy the ride. Intimidator had somewhat swayed me back to the hyper camp and flirted with my number one at times, but something was just missing from that coaster.

Fury had what was missing in spades. Intensity, direction changes, and a wide variety of forces in addition to airtime. These were the things I also loved in the loopers.

Riding Intimidator and Afterburn after Fury reinforced to me that Afterburn is the better ride vs. Intimidator, although it's short. Intimidator has that one trick - airtime - and it's a really nice trick that I enjoy, but Fury and Afterburn are more complete, more varied and more interesting rides for me.

[tarheel1231]

Fury to me is the best of both worlds between Intimidator and Afterburn. Fury has the comfort and 4th-5th row airtime of IntImidator (more so than its older brother Timmy), and the smoothness, directional changes, and intensity (though it's not quite as intense) of Afterburn. Fury also packs on the length that Afterburn lacks and the consistent, excellent flojector air that Intimidator lacks.