Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[R879 HRF]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(29/08/2015 21:02)SNL 824 Wrote:  I rode this vehiclle a couple of times today. This really is a great looking bus - also sounds great and pulls away powerfully. Stop start mechanism isn't particularly smooth though. Also top deck interior doesn't feel like an Enviro400 - I think the large "stopping" sign detracts from the curvature of the front window. Downstairs is superbly laid out.

I drove this earlier, it does look smart but overall build quality is cheap (as with all buses of today sadly) and in comparison to other buses it is poor. It drives well, nice steering and smooth acceleration, however is slow off the mark but once it's built up some power pulls well. As with all modern voiths the retarder issharp - not as sharp as the Enviro400s rf currently has though, but it does have a habit of randomly banging down the gears when breaking which isn't ideal!

The stop start is notvery smooth and a couple of times it didn't start at all and had to be reset!

Hopefully as time goes by ADL will find solutions to little issues like this but overall is not a bad bus. The cheap plastic used on parts of the interior, eg fire door, really does let it down though.