Drivers - Bus Reviews & Opinions

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

I ay an expert but I'm guessing the 2015 MMC's feel better to drivers as they feel more powerful? And also maybe the Stop Start technology on the Voiths is a faff to keep restarting the engine at every bus stop? Whereas with a ZF it's Doors Closed Brakes released and off you go

[Gareth]

i had 4744 the other it was average at best for one of these Tridents but still way better any MMC
4477 still going great from my point of view, punters took one look at it on the 82/87s and thought no and catch the USELESS bus behind me, bonus for me

I'm glad to know that the the 82/87 is so incredibly reliable and frequent that your passengers have the luxury of letting a bus they 'don't like the look of' go past them for the one behind. 

[2900]

I'm glad to know that the the 82/87 is so incredibly reliable and frequent that your passengers have the luxury of letting a bus they 'don't like the look of' go past them for the one behind.

Each to there own eh,  I love getting old buses on main corridors, it's like you have some sort of disease when you turn up, the facial expressions just priceless.
I bet Gemini in platinum livery would look ace though, shame will never see one .

[2900]

4687 Wrightbus Gemni Volvo B7TL 
Great solid  all round bus just effortless to drive lovely imo. No nonsense  no stop start malarkey , press umpteen things to get going.

4954 ADL ENVIRO 400 E40D 
Great all rounder nice to drive really goes some all good in my book. its had a refurb they could of cleaned the floors while it was parked at wb while waiting for parts.
New seats grubby floors honestly

[2900]

The 2015 batch are like a totally different bus and are actually nice to drive. The later ones (Voith/Stop Start etc) are rubbish on busy routes. They're okay on quiet routes or late nights where there's not much traffic or passengers. Too much faffing about for my liking and I suspect 2900 is of the same view.

Yes, way to much faffing about its excessive imo annoying as hell, the constant pressing of brake pedal.
When it has a brain fart you have to reset everything just as your about to pull away from a busy stop and get the inevitable banging on the doors etc.
I bet these ADL Enviro 400 mmc in euro 4 spec and the saloon doors interlocking spec of the 4700s  would be a decent bus.
At WB we did have a short term loan of one pennsnett crimson mmc I really didn't much care for that either, the ZF box was awful

[ZF B7]

Yes, way to much faffing about its excessive imo annoying as hell, the constant pressing of brake pedal.
When it has a brain fart you have to reset everything just as your about to pull away from a busy stop and get the inevitable banging on the doors etc.
I bet these ADL Enviro 400 mmc in euro 4 spec and the saloon doors interlocking spec of the 4700s  would be a decent bus.
At WB we did have a short term loan of one pennsnett crimson mmc I really didn't much care for that either, the ZF box was awful

Absolutely hate that manual door brake, but to be fair the platinums are a comfy bus to drive just boring. Really want to try driving a ZF one. There was a temporary transfer of one from Walsall a few months ago which I was chuffed about, but it was only around for a day or two before going back so never got the chance 

[2900]

4690 Wrightbus GEMNI B7TL 

Really enjoyed driving this about the other day just lovely, a breeze to drive and quick to, great all rounder , still in good condition all round to.

[2900]

4484 Wrightbus GEMNI B7TL 

overall still nice solid bus to drive, good suspension as all ways on Volvo products, nice steering to, plenty of umph in the engine still, just one very annoying issue could be transmission related while under braking you almost come to a stop theres jolt that knocks you forward then it stops, its like the transmission is reminding you hello i'm still back here doing my thing, other wise nearly a perfect Gemni

2235 ADL ENVIRO 200MMC  

what do i say, its very rare i get one these to drive, well err its not my type of bus, it drove ok nothing exceptional about it does what its meant to do, but it feels cheap and nasty compared to Scania imo 
 

[ZF B7]

I much prefer the E200MMC over Scanias. Everything about the Scania is awkward, bad handbrake position, bad route setter position, horrible placement of o/s mirror making meeting situations with vans/large vehicles more of a pain than needs be, and just very bouncy and uncomfortable.

4964 - It's got a full repaint and refurbishment but they did not bother giving it a much needed mechanical overhaul.  Still painful slow, jolty and has the emission light on. I still like the 49s though, they sound so satisfying 

[spacecowboy150]

4964 - It's got a full repaint and refurbishment but they did not bother giving it a much needed mechanical overhaul.  Still painful slow, jolty and has the emission light on. I still like the 49s though, they sound so satisfying

am i right emission light means the particle trap is blocked

[ZF B7]

am i right emission light means the particle trap is blocked

Could be. Whatever it is I noticed that most buses that have it tend to be slower than usual

4827 - Glad I had the chance to drive one of the visitors before they're sent off to Go Ahead. Although this is one is a bit sluggish, I really enjoyed driving it. Has a different seat, a very comfy suspension one! The engine on this sounds a bit different to the 57 reg Tridents that I'm used to, sounds chuggier and much nicer. Not sure if all the 09 ones are like that

[2900]

Recent visit to Walsall i took the opportunity to have a look at the ADL BYD milk floats, wow they are tiny buses, seating for 65 that's poor compared to ADL E400MMC , they will be hopeless on Soho rd & Dudley rd services 

[The Real 4777]

Recent visit to Walsall i took the opportunity to have a look at the ADL BYD milk floats, wow they are tiny buses, seating for 65 that's poor compared to ADL E400MMC , they will be hopeless on Soho rd & Dudley rd services

They appear quite dumpy in side profile, the rear is stubbier than the E400MMC and it gives them an old fashioned look in that aspect. 

The folk who can't board on Soho Road and Dudley Road can compare notes on how their sacrifice has saved the planet though, so every cloud... as they say.

[Ronnoc]

Recent visit to Walsall i took the opportunity to have a look at the ADL BYD milk floats, wow they are tiny buses, seating for 65 that's poor compared to ADL E400MMC , they will be hopeless on Soho rd & Dudley rd services

39 seats upstairs is poor for a 10.8m bus, they could add an extra row of seats at least. Downstairs seating is very tight and awkward at the back too.

When these eventually make it to the 50, the total seating capacity per hour would be reduced by roughly 80 seats. It's unfortunate that there will be over 300 of them in NXWM operations, but at least more won't be built.

[Tony]

39 seats upstairs is poor for a 10.8m bus, they could add an extra row of seats at least. Downstairs seating is very tight and awkward at the back too.

When these eventually make it to the 50, the total seating capacity per hour would be reduced by roughly 80 seats. It's unfortunate that there will be over 300 of them in NXWM operations, but at least more won't be built.

Well as has been stated many times these are the last being built for any operator, so no, they won't end up on the Soho & Dudley Road.

As for putting an extra row of seats upstairs, check the advertising the whole point is extra legroom. I don't want my knees in the back of the seat in front