I actually quite liked the older Darts Arriva had at Darlington depot and was rather sad to have my last ride on 1616 on service 8 on Saturday, I think I liked them as I have ridden them since I was a little kid, they were mainly used on Newton Aycliffe services when they were brand new and regularly appeared on Aycliffe services until the X reg examples arrived at Darlington depot, I was less of a fan of the R reg examples. I can't stand the X reg examples as they awful, they are knackered and have no leg room and recently they have mainly been confined to Darlington Town services while the 8/8A has had to use the older Darts and an MPD today.