(09 Nov 2017, 12:54 am)James101 wrote I thought an SPD was up to 43 seated, and Streetlite Max 45 - surely both ‘full size’? Yet the built quality etc of an SPD wasn’t all too different to a SLF or MPD?

Yeah, the SPD was full-sized.

Got this from wiki:
'In 1997, the Dart SPD (Super Pointer Dart) was launched with the length of 11.3m (about the same length as a long Leyland National). It has a more powerful engine and a more heavy duty Allison World Series B300R gearbox, but also with an option of a Voith gearbox. Originally offered only with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork (hence the 'P' in the name) this larger bus was later offered with other bodywork such as East Lancs, the Alexander ALX200 and a few have also been bodied by Marshall.'

As you say, the build quality wasn't too different.
The Plaxton SPD's were prone to sagging at the rear.

I don't know much about any other operators examples, but take S363 ONL (a GNE SPD 8163). Registered in 1999, with a 5.9l engine, it should have lasted 15 years. Maybe head in to the driver training fleet afterwards alongside some of its similar sized sisters (just like a handful of National's did years prior).

The majority of that batch and others like it, ended up scrapped. A few were traded on.
Not many gave the 15 years service a full sized single decker is designed for. Unlike the R Reg Renowns, which came before and were still hanging around after.

If we compare the V reg SPD intake to GNE's similar sized/capacity/aged Solar's, again there is only one winner in terms of life-span and durability.

edit:
Ironically 8163 is/was on the rally scene!