If GNE went for the Streetdeck or E400MMC, these would be the pros and cons:
E400MMC pros:
- Robust, fairly reliable, good life span if well looked after, excellent bodywork, excellent interior and comfort, good support from ADL, reasonably fuel efficient, easy to maintain, powerful, can cope with most challenging routes, good R&D gone into the vehicle and far better than the legacy Dennis Trident 2 products including the classic E400 and good support from Cummins owing to the Streetlite despite the different engine.
E400MMC cons:
- Frosty relationship with ADL, previous stick from the 1999/2000 batch of Lolynes, new engine type being introduced.
Streetdeck pros:
- 'Supposedly' Fuel efficient, some commonality with some of the fleet that Go North East have, good relationship with Wrightbus, experience of Mercedes Engines through other vehicles.
Streetdeck cons:
- Cheap and tacky, underpowered, won't be able to cope with challenging routes as well, will burn more fuel in the long term due to the higher RPM, interior and comfort nowhere near E400MMC (even in bog spec), smaller wheels, doesn't hold the road as well, new engine type being introduced, more breakdowns, risk of competition (Arriva X2), poor reputation for reliability, higher spare vehicle ratio required, shorter life span particularly for challenging routes and most importantly, unhappy drivers and passengers.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - July 2015