(22 Jul 2013, 6:44 pm)BJ10VUS wrote(22 Jul 2013, 6:37 pm)aureolin wrote(22 Jul 2013, 6:23 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Bad move by GNE by getting Versas for the 58 ,...Edit Reason: Offensive comments removed.
That's is an extremely harsh (and in my opinion inaccurate) comment to make. The sort that could get the site into bother. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the same MD who has brought in the Gemini 2's for the TTX and the TEN? and the Hybrids for the Angel... all quality buses without question.
I've got my reservations about Versas, like others will have. The batches for the Orbit, SimpliCity and Drifter were nothing but trouble, and apparently led the former MD to have crisis talks with Optare about the quality of vehicles they were getting. They did have it on demo for quite sometime, so they're obviously confident it works and provides benefits over the Streetlite demo they've got. They wouldn't be able to make a business case for the finance otherwise...
I'm a fan of the ones on the 'Orbit', as they're very powerful on the hills. However, I was disappointed with the performance of the 'Saltwell Park' Versa I used when one strayed on to the 51. Hopefully they'll be ordering the Cummins engined ones
I agree there nothing wrong with the Geminis, My fave bus other than the Citaros on the Silver Arrows etc
That's basically the reason behind my comment as it seems to me to be a constant problems with the reliability of the Versas, I mean what is the point in buying a product again which has been problematic in the past, Even the Streetlites due to come in I have heard the Drivers don't like them. Thats despite having 3 demos in the Past 2 years.
Surely it would make sense testing out more than 2 Buses on the 58 before making a quick judgment.
I apologize if my comments came out a bit wrong, but everyone has there own opinion, i've been following GNE for 17 years and i'm now 20 so you can't really say I know nothing about the company, I would say I know more than most about the company.