(13 Feb 2020, 7:17 pm)Big O wrote Might I add, that a lot of the reason the Sunderland routes are unreliable is due to stagecoach trying to run the least amount of buses on the route as possible with unrealistic journey and turn-around times. It used to be a nightmare, the 39xxx are terrible batch of buses and with their borderline legal brakes,  when driving those things you often have to go much slower which looses even more time.

I read somewhere that Ex Hartlepool's 39671-5 are the worst / least liked ones out of all of Sunderland MAN E200s.

There is a photo on Flickr of 39707 in South Shields depot missing its front axle, front bumper and front destination screen & glass cover. 39715 (at Sunderland) & 39724 (at Slatyford) are also apparently long term VOR with engine failures according to the Stagecoach Bus Depot website.

I think its about time the North East got a decent batch of new short ADL E200 MMCs to replace a lot of the MAN E200s. 39723-32 at Slatyford will definitely need replacing this year due to the upcoming clean air zone in Newcastle.