(15 Mar 2016, 8:38 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Isn't it about 15 years for a single decker? Even on the Solo expected useful lifespan of 12 years, an 09 reg vehicle is still not even mid life, yet.
I do find the contrast between solos and versas quite baffling. Arriva's 08 reg solos at Belmont are externally scruffy, but really quite zippy little things and a nice ride on some of the more demanding rural routes (eg the 56). Versas seem to suffer from being a solo stretched out and spread too thin. Mechanically, are they any different from the solos, or do they have the same engine, transmission etc to pull the heavier bodywork around?
Yes its 15 years, But Optare products age faster than the likes of Wrights and ADL Products so id put a 12 year mark on them ( if they can make it till then! )
Versas are a worse product than the Solo, The Chassis/Suspension gets very torn and twisted, and the bodywork quality is comparable to a Wilkos toy car.
The mechanical part of Optare is quite simple but also complicated at the same time because both types have the same engine choices but here it is :
Solos : 4 Cylinder Mercedes ( Arriva have these ) or 6 Cylinder Cummins ISB ( most Scarlet Band ones ) with a Allison 5 speed or in some cases 4 speed Voith
Versas : 4 Cylinder Mercedes ( Same as in the Solo ) or a 6 Cylinder 5.9L Cummins ISB ( GNE Versas ) with the same Allison.
South Tyne Versas's have their Kickdown Disabled ( apart from 8294 ) and their engines have got to the state comparable to a Limp mode Pulsar. and have bodywork problems of a wide variety.
Euro 5 Versas are a lot better than Euro 4s but the bodywork and chassis lets it down.
I'm interested to see how the new Metrocity will be like.
