Operator implies Solos are Mercedes buses

[northwichcat]

Alongside a picture of an Optare Solo on Anthony's Travel website

Buses

To compliment our private hire fleet we operate Mercedes Buses on local bus routes throughout Cheshire and Merseyside.

These vehicles can carry up to 35 (27 seats and 8 standees) passengers, and are ideal for this type of work and for any similar type of hire, works contract and outings etc.

As with all our vehicles, seat belts are fitted, for safety and comfort.
If it isn't Anthony's it's a compromise...

http://www.anthonys-travel.co.uk/bus.php

Whoops!

 

[mbonwick]

Most probably merc engined, so not a million miles from the truth...

 

[Qwerty133]

I've seen a picture of an excel with a Mercedes badge on the front, ex tb 251 y251drc now operated by North Somerset coaches.

 

[starrymarkb]

Indeed - and I've seen one or two Solos with an MB Star added by the operator... It used to be common on some Iberian Integrals that had an MB engine to have a badge fitted by the builder

 

[martinsh]

Also "local bus routes thorughout Cheshire and Merseyside" ??

AFAIK they have 1 route in Runcorn !

 

[Ivo]

It sounds to me like they might have used Varios in the past and not bothered updating the site.

27 seated + 8 seated would be correct for a typical Vario, but it is somewhat different to a typical Solo which might have 26 seated and 18 standing. There is a lot more variance in what a Solo can hold compared to a Vario, the latter of which tends to have very limited standing room.

 

[northwichcat]

Also "local bus routes thorughout Cheshire and Merseyside" ??

AFAIK they have 1 route in Runcorn !

Probably counting school contracts as well. Even so "throughout Cheshire and Merseyside" is still misleading even how small an area the routes cover.

 

[34D]

I don't see anything at all wrong with referring to Solos with the Merc engine as "mercs".

I've driven all three engine types (Merc, little Cummins, and MAN) and would choose a Merc one any time.

Have any other engines been fitted to solos that I have forgotten about?

 

[Qwerty133]

I don't see anything at all wrong with referring to Solos with the Merc engine as "mercs".

I've driven all three engine types (Merc, little Cummins, and MAN) and would choose a Merc one any time.

Have any other engines been fitted to solos that I have forgotten about?

do electric ones count?

 

[MCR247]

You have to admit that a Cummins *sounds* a lot more powerful than a Mercedes one though!

Whether they are actually more powerful I don't know, I've never compared them...

 

[Ivo]

You have to admit that a Cummins *sounds* a lot more powerful than a Mercedes one though!

Whether they are actually more powerful I don't know, I've never compared them...

Our Cummins ones will fly given have a chance. Merc ones seem to give up in the high 40s or so.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Mercedes SOLOS seem underpowered from my rides i prefer Cummins.

 

[34D]

Our Cummins ones will fly given have a chance. Merc ones seem to give up in the high 40s or so.

You need to come to Yorkshire! I would love to work out how to disconnect the speedlimiter (set at 59mph) and see what they can actually do.