(29 Aug 2016, 7:12 pm)S813 FVK wrote If there is a difference then it will certainly be a minor one - i have never been able to pick one out anyway (always assumed VDL is DAF since they carried on with the DB- and SB- models.
There isn't any difference between a Merit and a Cadet, Bar maybe a different seating layout which is to the buyers spec.
As all DAF Bus ( Now VDL ) products were sold through the Arriva Bus and Coach dealership, Some precedings went to the said operators pockets, Which some bus company's didn't want.
All Merits were sold by Volvo, These will have been bought by them from Arriva and sold to the operators without any of there moneys reaching a rivals pockets.
GNEs Merits despite being 04 reg, Are actually on DAF chassis as they were built around late 2002 ( Woudnt be surprised if they were built in sinc with GNEs 52 reg Cadets.
Any Cadet/Merit built after late 2003 was built by VDL, As they acquired the Buissness around the same time, And feature there watermark.
A good example will be the recently withdrawn 04/54 reg Cadets, Which had VDL chassis plates.
