Passengers - Bus Reviews & Opinions

[Adam 404]

1930 - Finally got on this one - along with 1929, I have managed to ride all YW's original Scanias now.
Excellent bus, had it on the 27 today. Suspension very smooth and rides out the road imperfections excellently. Virtually no rattles. Engine and gearbox smooth running. Externally and internally in perfect condition - well done YW and Scania.  10/10

1929, 1910 - 9/10 for both of them. Good suspension, few rattles and smooth running. That's about all there is to say, but in this case that's a good thing.

4089 - 49 (YW) Good for its age - Whiny ZF gearbox, but smooth. Suspension fine and few rattles. Interior and Exterior in good condition.  8/10

4674 - 11C  Nice Gemini - engine and gearbox smooth riding. Suspension was excellent - as most of the AG Geminis are. Rattles are minimal, and being a 2012 refurb, is well presented. Paintwork is vivid red and NX Grey Dot scheme inside, which is smart. Be good to have all the Gems in this refurbed state. 9/10

The same can't be said for CV Gemini 4695! Terrible interior that is a mess and as for the exterior... 4695 is easy to notice with its big large fleet number at the front!

[andyr]

Would be interesting to see some additional comments on the cleanliness of buses in this thread and also about heating systems working or not as the case may be.

[Stu]

The Omnilinks at AG definitely have working heating; been quite toasty on the 37 all last week! Unless you're unlucky to get one that's just entered service having been parked outside the garage all night, as I did one Saturday early morning last year!   :o

[Liberator9]

Love warm buses in a morning - 1928 was excellent a few weeks ago, and 1896.

[JoNi]

You usually hear 4695 before you see it!

[Ronnoc]

4382 is a perfect ALX400 with a perfect chassis. No rattles at all, engine perfect, suspension excellent, clean and tidy, 1 year since refurb and the seats are in the grey moquette, the bodywork perfect. Nothing bad to say about this bus. 10/10

[Ashley]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

[Ronnoc]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

The heating on the Enviros are just plain rubbish. I actually feel something on the ALX400s, I actually feel something on the Plaxtons.

[don]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

The heating on the Enviros are just plain rubbish. I actually feel something on the ALX400s, I actually feel something on the Plaxtons.

As an occasional bus passenger (but regular train traveller) the last thing I felt on an ALX400 was water pouring on my knees and dripping on my head - front seat passenger on a very rainy day. I might be doing it a disservice as there is a possibility it was a chop shop special as one of the batch of 3 or 4 was completely de-roofed and fixed about a year ago.

[Ronnoc]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

The heating on the Enviros are just plain rubbish. I actually feel something on the ALX400s, I actually feel something on the Plaxtons.

As an occasional bus passenger (but regular train traveller) the last thing I felt on an ALX400 was water pouring on my knees and dripping on my head - front seat passenger on a very rainy day. I might be doing it a disservice as there is a possibility it was a chop shop special as one of the batch of 3 or 4 was completely de-roofed and fixed about a year ago.

Was that one 4234? That's one problem though, but I suspect that on most buses, most of these windows were probably replaced as I don't really see Alexander Dennis on the front windows of the ALX400s. National Express may need to do something about that area!

[Stu]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

The heating on the Enviros are just plain rubbish. I actually feel something on the ALX400s, I actually feel something on the Plaxtons.

After popping into work for a few hours yesterday, I went a slightly different way home; took in an Enviro400 on the 3 down to Swanshurst Park, which was relatively warm upstairs, then changed onto a President on the 11A, which was quite cold inside. So my experience is sort of in contrast to yours.

[CL]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

Which E200s are these then? I got on one of the first batch ones, 804, I think it was on the 24. Good grief, it was almost like Antarctica in those things.

[Trident 4194]

E200's are probably the warmest buses I get in the mornings. Most Tridents and B7TL's are just iceboxes and it hasn't snowed yet lol

On the flipside E400's and E400H's are nice and cool in the summer , well upstairs they are

Which E200s are these then? I got on one of the first batch ones, 804, I think it was on the 24. Good grief, it was almost like Antarctica in those things.

The smaller the bus the warmer it should be

[j789]

In the winter, as long as the heater knob hasn't fallen off and is stuck on cold air (it has happened!) Optare Solos are the best buses to drive. They warm up really quickly and don't lose it when the doors are open. In summer however, they are like driving around all day in a large greenhouse with that massive windscreen.

[don]

Was that one 4234?

No it was an Arriva Southern Counties one. I've read other people on this forum have similar experiences with certain NXWM ALX400s. Bodywork leaks aren't restricted to road vehicles - take a look at the carriage roof/cab joints on class 319 units!!