Most Hated Bus

[Driver362]

Some could do with a little more oomph , some still only do 45mph , it also spears you are getting no whare near full boost if the dash gauge is anything to go by

 

[Nammer]

Streetlites - like a microwave oven even with all windows open. Everyone I know who uses the bus complains how hot they are on board

 

[richw]

I drove a BMC 1100 FE school bus last week. It has flown to the top of the list of my most disliked bus.
I enjoy driving Tridents, but dislike them as a passenger!

 

[Driver362]

Any BMC , optare solos , Dennis tridents (poorly set up ones ) , transbus mini pointer dart

 

[Jordan Adam]

Lothians ZF B9TL’s could have there software reconfigured, I’ve never rode on one, are they really that bad?

From what i'm hearing the drivers loathe them. They also keep breaking down, not that it matters as the X27/X28 & 275 mostly carry fresh air from what i can see!

 

[Great_Western]

On the subject of BMC, what happened to them? A few of our local operators had a numerous amount of up to 59 plate examples, but I haven't seen any BMC bus around anywhere in absolutely ages. That said, the Falcons's were attrocious and the Condors weren't much better.

 

[Jordan Adam]

On the subject of BMC, what happened to them? A few of our local operators had a numerous amount of up to 59 plate examples, but I haven't seen any BMC bus around anywhere in absolutely ages. That said, the Falcons's were attrocious and the Condors weren't much better.

Company went Dissolved in February this year.

I actually disagree with your statement. A independent here called Bain's Coaches have a fleet of BMC Falcons, they're literally bomb proof, go at quite some speed, and even at 14 years old there's no rattles.

 

[Great_Western]

Company went Dissolved in February this year.

I actually disagree with your statement. A independent here called Bain's Coaches have a fleet of BMC Falcons, they're literally bomb proof, go at quite some speed, and even at 14 years old there's no rattles.

Perhaps my opinion is slightly skewed by the fact that the ones closest to me were operated by Francis Drake who otherwise operated a knackered fleet of F & H reg Merc minibuses, they were a bit of a cowboy operator and didn't last long.

The others were operated by Glyn Williams and subsequently Stagecoach Cymru, they seemed slightly better but were mainly used on the 90 minute X15 and 2hr plus X18 bettwen Newport and Ebbw Vale which they were completely unsutable for.

 

[Driver362]

Who have you heard from ,that drivers loath them ? , can’t recal anyone saying they loath them ? Remember these buses were bought from another operator erm the one in your avatar , and were off the road for refurb , yes some have Niggels , and yes some need the software updated , but loathsome, mmm show me a service bus without niggels and I will show you whare to buy winning lotto tickets

 

[90019]

Who have you heard from ,that drivers loath them ? , can’t recal anyone saying they loath them ?

Me.
And almost every other Central driver I've spoken to about them.

 

[Neil Urquhart]

I see all of your modern dross and raise you an 'x' reg'd Duple bodied Leyland Cub.

Utter rubbish. I travelled on them as a passenger when they were new and subsequently had some involvement with a preserved example. Everything about them appears to be dire. Slow and noisy to travel on, an atrocious entrance arrangement due to the front engine (reminiscent of a Ford coach) getting into the driving seat is a faff having to squeeze around the cab bulkhead. When you do get into the seat, it becomes apparent that you're sitting at arm's length from the windscreen giving an odd driving position.

The cub was a modified Terrier truck chassis and boy does it show.

Just be b****y awkward they have air over hydraulic brakes and cable operated parking brake.

 

[GusB]

I see all of your modern dross and raise you an 'x' reg'd Duple bodied Leyland Cub.

Utter rubbish. I travelled on them as a passenger when they were new and subsequently had some involvement with a preserved example. Everything about them appears to be dire. Slow and noisy to travel on, an atrocious entrance arrangement due to the front engine (reminiscent of a Ford coach) getting into the driving seat is a faff having to squeeze around the cab bulkhead. When you do get into the seat, it becomes apparent that you're sitting at arm's length from the windscreen giving an odd driving position.

The cub was a modified Terrier truck chassis and boy does it show.

Just be b****y awkward they have air over hydraulic brakes and cable operated parking brake.

We had one on loan from Central SMT/Scottish for a time. Fortunately I didn't have the pleasure of travelling on it, but I recall that it wasn't overly popular with the drivers.

 

[harz99]

You should have tried the WS bodied automatic versions that Lothian had, bits kept breaking off when I drove a second hand one for a year or so..

I see all of your modern dross and raise you an 'x' reg'd Duple bodied Leyland Cub.

Utter rubbish. I travelled on them as a passenger when they were new and subsequently had some involvement with a preserved example. Everything about them appears to be dire. Slow and noisy to travel on, an atrocious entrance arrangement due to the front engine (reminiscent of a Ford coach) getting into the driving seat is a faff having to squeeze around the cab bulkhead. When you do get into the seat, it becomes apparent that you're sitting at arm's length from the windscreen giving an odd driving position.

The cub was a modified Terrier truck chassis and boy does it show.

Just be b****y awkward they have air over hydraulic brakes and cable operated parking brake.

 

[RichSwitch]

The Streetlites really are awful in terms of ride quality and passenger comfort. They were obviously designed with next to no passenger input. The seats positioned over the back wheels are useless unless you happen to have legs that don’t reach down as far as the arches that come through the floor. The very back seat is the most uncomfortable bus seat I’ve ever sat on. As they drive along the road, one feels every little crack in the road like it is a gaping chasm. The ride quality feels like the bus has concrete wheels.
On a hot day riding on a Streetlite is unbearable. They really need aircon, or failing that at least a much better air circulation. Stronger air blowers perhaps.
Awful buses.

 

[RichSwitch]

Another bus that was awful: the ex London Leyland Titans. Stagecoach operated a number of these in Portsmouth for a while in the ‘90s which had been cascaded.
I’m not a fan of the Citaro either. Every time I saw one it seemed to be followed around by a fire engine.

 

[delt1c]

I agree they are ugly, but I would nominate the old London Daimler DMS / DM / D class as being the ugliest ever - they tried to emulate the front end appearance of the Trolleybus, but failed dismally in the attempt...

Have to agree, especially the DMS with auto fare equipment, from a passenger view point the buses had enough rattles but the AFC rattles were almost unbearable even upstairs.

 

[delt1c]

taking it a bit deeper , worked with LT from 70 till 90 and whilst i loved the RM's, they were not all great, regardless of overhaul some just never made the mark. 2 which i will never forget were RM1774 and 1776, if we got either on a Bromley run on the 47's they would crawl up Catford Hill with a full load , so slow it was 1st gear and walking pace, however if you got 166, 763 or 822 they would climb that hill with a full load as though they were empty. So one bad (or good) vehicle doesnt apply to the whole class

 

[ChrisPJ]

I’m not a fan of the Citaro either. Every time I saw one it seemed to be followed around by a fire engine.

What a daft thing to say.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I’m not a fan of the Citaro either. Every time I saw one it seemed to be followed around by a fire engine.

The nail in the coffin is the fact that the fire service in Germany use some Citaros...

 

[Geordie driver]

Resurrecting another old thread, Bristol LH with a manual box, murder round town in service, dreadful Leyland Sherpa, I was embarrassed to be seen driving one.

 

[Statto]

What a daft thing to say.

Why is it a daft thing to say, Citaro's have a reputation for self combusting especially the arctic versions, they're also uncomfortable as anything, the floor isn't level on parts of the vehicle meaning your feet are at an angle upwards when sitting down, they struggle getting up hills.

 

[arbeia]

44 years on buses and without a shadow of doubt, Leyland Nationals. They just didn't like stopping and were lethal in wet/icy conditions.

 

[Geordie driver]

44 years on buses and without a shadow of doubt, Leyland Nationals. They just didn't like stopping and were lethal in wet/icy conditions.

Strange, I loved a good mk2 national, much rather that than an LH!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Resurrecting another old thread, Bristol LH with a manual box, murder round town in service, dreadful Leyland Sherpa, I was embarrassed to be seen driving one.

Spoken like a true NMS driver!!!

United liked an LH and they were concentrated on the rural routes in North Yorkshire and Durham. However, at deregulation, they seemed to gravitate to Teesside (both with United and TMS who bought them to set up a competitive operation to Transit). Memories of my youth.

Mk 1 Nationals were notorious for handling especially early ones. The later iterations and then the Mk2s were generally much better.

 

[Geordie driver]

Spoken like a true NMS driver!!!

United liked an LH and they were concentrated on the rural routes in North Yorkshire and Durham. However, at deregulation, they seemed to gravitate to Teesside (both with United and TMS who bought them to set up a competitive operation to Transit). Memories of my youth.

Mk 1 Nationals were notorious for handling especially early ones. The later iterations and then the Mk2s were generally much better.

Oi! I am a United driver!

In my mind at least.

Jesmond won a load of contracts in South Shields not long after deregulation, I wasn't on that rota but I think they had about 12 lines of work all done with stotty boxes. The drivers got 2 quid a day to pay for the Tyne tunnel but they all went over the Tyne bridge!

We seemed to have plenty before dereg too. I think there were even some in PTE yellow.

You are right about mk1 Nationals, leant over about 30 degrees going round a bend. We had a Fab mk2, 3124 was it's fleet number IIRC, I believe they were really poor on fuel economy.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oi! I am a United driver!

In my mind at least.

Jesmond won a load of contracts in South Shields not long after deregulation, I wasn't on that rota but I think they had about 12 lines of work all done with stotty boxes. The drivers got 2 quid a day to pay for the Tyne tunnel but they all went over the Tyne bridge!

We seemed to have plenty before dereg too. I think there were even some in PTE yellow.

You are right about mk1 Nationals, leant over about 30 degrees going round a bend. We had a Fab mk2, 3124 was it's fleet number IIRC, I believe they were really poor on fuel economy.

A Sherpa - such rubbish never graced a United depot!!! I'm only kidding.

Back in the United days, virtually every depot had an LH. The really urban depots like Gallowgate, Jesmond, Whitley Bay, Middlesbrough and Redcar generally only had a handful. Many were based at the more rural spots like Morpeth, Richmond and Ripon. However, places like Durham and Ashington had quite a number that were supposed to be used on specific work but as MK1 Nationals had a few issues with engines (!), you'd see some poor soul driving an LH on a Durham city route or around Ashington and Bedlington!

All Nationals were thirsty machines

 

[Bus Lightyear]

I can't say I was a fan of the early Dennis Darts particularly the ones with Wright Handybus bodywork.

 

[ChilternTurbo]

I never like the Plaxton President. I grew up in North London and the staple double decker back then was the Metrobus which I loved and thought they sounded great, especially when driven hard! Metroline were my local bus company and took to the Plaxton President on both Volvo and Dennis chassis in a big way but I always thought they seemed quite under powered and made a horrible racket like a faulty hoover. I wasn't sad to read that the last of these have just been withdrawn from London service. Good riddance.

 

[ed1971]

-Inspired by 'Most Hated Traction' thread-

Has anyone got a particular bus type that they hate, despise and/or try and avoid?

For me it's Scania Omnidekkas with Fainsa seats.

I am going to throw a spanner in the works here, but for me it was the Leyland Atlantean as they were very noisy buses and where possible I avoided travelling on them.

 

[arbeia]

And the best? Volvo Palatine Olympian. Power under the foot when needed, and an uncomplicated layout. Only rivalled by Bristol Lodekka. Once got 59 mph out of one flat out on the M32 into Bristol!