VDL Futura 2 buses

[Gingerbus1991]

Has anyone got any feed back on VDL’s offering?

Obviously Ive seen a few of these with private hire companies about but have never had the privilege of driving or traveling in one.

Looks like VDL have made improvements lately.

https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/futura-2-now-cheaper-run/

VDL has announced a major upgrade of the Futura 2 family with a new driveline, reduced weight and the promise of a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).

Launched in 2010 in left-hand drive, and in early 2012 in right-hand drive, the Futura 2 family had a hard act to follow – few coach designs stay in production for 31 years as did the Futura Classic. As with the original Futura, there have been updates along the way ...

 

[Jordan Adam]

Build quality is hit or miss, most of the time miss.

I'd avoid "most" VDL products at all costs! Plaxtons may look more basic but it's a much better product, with better backup. The current Scania/Irizar offering is superb, albeit showing it's age in places, if i was an operator i'd probably avoid the integrals though.

It seems that all body builders who've started going down the route of offering integral products all take the same path... Chuck a Cummins ISLe in the back, fit a ZF gearbox and then send it out.

 

[route101]

Dont McGills have ex arriva VDLS?

 

[Robertj21a]

Arriva has used VDL for much of their fleet for many years. They appear to be reliable and long serving.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Arriva has used VDL for much of their fleet for many years. They appear to be reliable and long serving.

The DAF SB220/Plaxton Prestige combo was one of the worst machines though mainly attributable to the body.

However, the SB120 and SB200 examples are surprisingly robust with Cadet and Commander/Pulsar bodies seemingly very robust.

The DB250 was a little fragile at first but seemed to settle down and the DB300 is pretty decent.

 

[carlberry]

Arriva has used VDL for much of their fleet for many years. They appear to be reliable and long serving.

Wasn't there some relationship between Arriva's dealer side and VDL so that VDL was the preferred vehicle for Arriva companies?

 

[darloscott]

Wasn't there some relationship between Arriva's dealer side and VDL so that VDL was the preferred vehicle for Arriva companies?

Yes Arriva Bus & Coach are the UK importer for VDL products so unsurprisingly the Arriva UK fleet ended up with lots of VDL buses. The SB120 and especially SB200 are superb machines, the SB200 especially is a great all round chassis equally at home plodding round town as they are on long distance interurban operations. I run some of both after my experience with them at Arriva.

 

[Robertj21a]

Yes Arriva Bus & Coach are the UK importer for VDL products so unsurprisingly the Arriva UK fleet ended up with lots of VDL buses. The SB120 and especially SB200 are superb machines, the SB200 especially is a great all round chassis equally at home plodding round town as they are on long distance interurban operations. I run some of both after my experience with them at Arriva.

Yes, the SB200 seems particularly good at just about anything. Commander and Pulsar bodies are excellent on DAF/VDLs.
.

 

[K219UHA]

The SB200 with Wright bodywork are indeed excellent vehicles, a shame they have not engineered the next euro version for the UK market i.e. with right hand drive but Arriva / Arriva Bus & Coach were the only ones taking them due to the importer right. The SB200 was that well thought of, Wright Streetlites on 64 plates onwards have failed to impress and get very negative comments in comparison, although some of the issues are said to be better with the newer examples bene brought in where needed.

 

[darloscott]

Such a shame they didn’t build the Euro6 VDL Citea to right hand drive, if you’ve ever been anywhere in Europe where they use these you’ll have found another excellent design.