(12 Nov 2020, 7:41 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Personally, I think had Wrightbus not been in trouble, StreetDecks would have been the choice for the X1, be it the 4 or 6 cylinder variant depending on trials with the 6 cylinder.I think the 6 Cylinder StreetDeck is a great idea by WrightBus to fill the void left by the B9TL and provide a heavy duty competitor to the Scania ADL E400MMC.
To me, the purchase of the E400s were ordered as they were the only option and new buses were needed. But in the end with the new interworking patterns it was probably the right choice, even if they ended up in a different place than originally planned
But........the integral ADL E400MMC can handle most jobs that an OM936 StreetDeck or Volvo B9TL can. Plus also the fact that the ADL E400MMC qualifies for BSOG (now with both gearbox variants) makes it a no brainer over the OM936 StreetDeck. Yes, granted the interior & bodywork is not as solid as WrightBus products but they do what they say on the tin considering Arriva & Stagecoach have ordered a load of Classic E400 and E400MMC vehicles over the last decade.
Irrespective of the StreetDeck allocation on the X1, I doubt GNE under the current management would've considered the OM934 StreetDeck for the X1 as a first point of call if things had've been all good at WrightBus.