(02 Oct 2022, 11:32 am)F114TML wrote Pretty much all the ones at Deptford (note the amount of times I say 'apparently' here; I have no first hand experience of driving a GNE bus). Apparently StreetLites in general (not just GNE examples which actually appear to be in much better condition than Arriva's) are not pleasant to drive; noisy and heavy steering (and have a fancy for breaking down it seems), some of the Ciaros are falling apart (I was on one last week and the front panel that houses the clock and interior mirror was just about holding on - the clock was working though), and on some of the Versas, the turning circle is apparently horrific. One of them did say the Yutong's are nice to drive though. Probably because they're new.

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Compare those StreetLites (which I think is what you refer to) to the gas buses though. From nearly new the SLs have felt like they were tied together with string. I'm not going to sit here and say the gas buses are perfect - they aren't and some definitely show their age, and let's be honest a lot of the rest of the fleet is a bit meh at best, however from my own experience and speaking to others, SC Sunderland has a better fleet than GNE Deptford and Arriva Durham, even if GNE and Arriva have higher spec buses.

As a passenger perspective I think Solo's and Citaros are the best types of buses at Deptford. G2's could be if the USB's worked as advertised (tho some do work). 

However the Streetlites, especially the 15/16/17 plate ones just rattle like hell and its soo loud, I haven't been on the 66' ones, however 63' ones don't rattle as bad. 

The versa's in general have a awful interior outside of the seats (tho a lot of the seats on the versa's and older streetlites are rock solid). 

Deptford definitely need some investment, all the Versa's/Citaros must go.