Any buses with decent ride quality?

[philthetube]

As a generalisation, anything operated by Transdev.

 

[alex397]

I tend to find Mercedes Benz Citaros excellent, but sadly there’s not many of them about. Although some of them do have quite hard seats. When they have decent seats though, I find them to be the perfect bus for me.

The MMC range seems to be rather good too. Despite being a lightweight bus, they do have a bit of a heavyweight feel to them similar to the Citaro.
The MMC range is a vast improvement to the original E200 and E400

 

[cactustwirly]

The 09 plate buses First use on the Heathrow routes are very nice to travel in.
Much better than the crappy buses Reading buses use (from a supposedly "award winning operator")

 

[Ken H]

As a generalisation, anything operated by Transdev.

They have a few old rattlers at Keighley they dig out sometimes.

 

[GusB]

The Enviro 200 and 300 have had a fair bit of criticism in this thread and, to an extent, some of that criticism is justified; I've experienced a fair few rattlers over the last few years! Having said that, there are a couple of SV07-plate E200s around here that are fairly decent, despite their age. Obviously this isn't a scientific study, but I tend to find that it's the buses transferred from other areas that are the worst; "native" buses seem to be in better condition. I don't know if it's down to to lighter operating conditions or better maintenance.

The worst bus I've experienced in recent months was an Optare Solo, the suspension of which seemed rock hard; every single bump in the road was felt!

 

[Strathclyder]

Isn't there a problem in that if you iron out all the lumps and bumps in the road, it makes some passengers 'seasick'?
Last thing you want to design is a Chunderbus!

That is indeed an issue, though of course it varies from person to person. A compromise/middle-ground does need to be struck: not too firm, but not too floaty/carpet-like.

 

[route101]

B7TLs and B9TLs are fairly smooth.
Early E400s up until the E400MMC have a poor ride.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That is indeed an issue, though of course it varies from person to person. A compromise/middle-ground does need to be struck: not too firm, but not too floaty/carpet-like.

Yes, an excessively soft ride can make passengers queasy, I found that of the old coaches on the Canadian until I got used to them after a few hours. But what you're looking for isn't just a soft ride with lots of sway etc, but rather an electronically controlled suspension system that can actually minimise movement.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The main problem with ride is the reduced suspension travel on low-floor buses. The Optare Solo has ridiculously little suspension travel, so it hits every pothole like a bomb has gone off. The older E400s are very similar, their chassis sits quite low and they have no suspension travel as a result.

The ride on the E200/E300 was never that bad IME, but the bodies flexed so much they sounded like one giant rattle.

The Citaro has very good ride. Just as well, as Manx roads are made entirely out of potholes.

 

[Strathclyder]

Yes, an excessively soft ride can make passengers queasy, I found that of the old coaches on the Canadian until I got used to them after a few hours. But what you're looking for isn't just a soft ride with lots of sway etc, but rather an electronically controlled suspension system that can actually minimise movement.

Quite. A even mix of both of those is no doubt the best compromise.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The Enviro 200 and 300 have had a fair bit of criticism in this thread and, to an extent, some of that criticism is justified; I've experienced a fair few rattlers over the last few years! Having said that, there are a couple of SV07-plate E200s around here that are fairly decent, despite their age. Obviously this isn't a scientific study, but I tend to find that it's the buses transferred from other areas that are the worst; "native" buses seem to be in better condition. I don't know if it's down to to lighter operating conditions or better maintenance.

The worst bus I've experienced in recent months was an Optare Solo, the suspension of which seemed rock hard; every single bump in the road was felt!

I find the older E200s at Bluebird to be really nice, they ride a lot better than the E300s do and handle higher speeds much better thanks to being 5 speed whereas the E300s are only 4 speed. The three at Stonehaven are supposedly the drivers favorites.

Solos are really hit or miss I find, for example 47489 at Peterhead rides really well and is pretty rapid, but then there's others which are utterly dreadful.

 

[aleandrail]

Midland classic had a bus which was number 20, I found that to be extremely comfortable. Not sure of the type or present number now though. It came from Ipswich

 

[Non Multi]

Midland classic had a bus which was number 20, I found that to be extremely comfortable. Not sure of the type or present number now though. It came from Ipswich

That appears to be an Optare Versa, reg JB08 MCL, ex-Ipswich Buses (#145).

 

[markymark2000]

Another vote for Volvo V8RLE MCV Evoras.

I recently travelled on Celtic Travel from Shrewsbury to Newtown and honestly, it the ride quality I think is unrivalled. Very, very smooth, few rattles. Didn't miss a beat on hills at all (and anyone who knows this route, knows there's lots of ups and downs), just kept going as if it was flat road.

 

[heathrowrail]

In terms of low floor buses I find Citaros, Enviro500s and ex-Dublin B7TL/ALX400s to be the best.

Every time I've been on a long journey on a Enviro300 (usually a Stagecoach Bluebird example) I've come off with a sore back. They seem to pick up every bump and because they're so lightweight with small wheels at speed they get thrown about too much if there's a gust of wind or a change in road angle.

They're by no means the worst but I find the B9TL Geminis to be not that great in terms of ride. When sat upstairs near the front they feel very unsettled and you get thrown about quite a bit, all two axle deckers are bad for this but I find the First spec B9TLs with their short wheelbase to particularly stand out.

Try the E300 MAN's in Exeter, absolutely luxury with Gold style high back leather seats.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Try the E300 MAN's in Exeter, absolutely luxury with Gold style high back leather seats.

There are four here with coach seating. They're nice but the interior layout isn't that great and it's quite claustrophobic.

 

[padbus]

Try the E300 MAN's in Exeter, absolutely luxury with Gold style high back leather seats.

I agree they are superb machines, with some of the most comfortable seats I have encounted on any bus or coach. They run on routes which pass near (but not close) to home and it is worth the extra walk just to travel on them. Whilst I have not had experience of one on the open road, as they are usually confined to local routes around Exeter, I feel that they are better since they were re-powered with Euro 6 Cummins engines. Perhaps I shall have to visit Cranbrook on one just for the ride.

 

[AM9]

I tend to find Mercedes Benz Citaros excellent, but sadly there’s not many of them about. Although some of them do have quite hard seats. When they have decent seats though, I find them to be the perfect bus for me.

Another vote here for the Citaros. The trip from St Albans on an route 724 Arriva Green Line Citaro was far superior to the same path taken by a route 321 ADL or Wright Streetlite even when they were brand new on the route and billed as Sapphire. I've also ridden ex TfL Citaro Bendys in Malta, that had the same refined ride (depite the Maltese roads).

 

[Goldfish62]

Another vote here for the Citaros. The trip from St Albans on an route 724 Arriva Green Line Citaro was far superior to the same path taken by a route 321 ADL or Wright Streetlight even when they were brand new on the route and billed as Sapphire. I've also ridden ex TfL Citaro Bendys in Malta, that had the same refined ride (depite the Maltese roads).

Yes, Citaros are very good, plus rattle-free (although newer ones aren't quite so refined in this latter respect).