What is the likelihood of Volvos being purchased?

Not having a traditional auto doesn't do them any favours but the industry is moving away from these due to the superior fuel economy of the new generation i-Shift/AS Tronic gearboxes. Scania only offers it on the least powerful engines. VDL does a full auto but do we really want more LCs? I don't know about the rest, but the other makes are unlikely to find favour with BÉ for a variety of reasons, not least because they are likely to be even more conservative than usual next time round when it comes to newer coaches.

I don't think the reliability of the SC200s is up to scratch, I've heard far too many dodgy ones already and they are far too new to be sounding bad. I don't think the build quality or the internal spec is up to the standards of the old ones either, but I know the new ones are intended for commuter work and their spec is more than generous enough for that type of service, they are the first decent commuter coach that has been bought in a very long time. I don't think the 9 litre chassis would be up to the job of tours and then 300 + mile trips every day 7 days a week many years afterwards.

The old SCs were a good coach apart from the fact they had a commuter chassis with a 9 litre engine rather than the proper express bus chassis with the 12 litre engine, I would find an SC300 on an Express bus chassis and NOT the 9 litre chassis more than acceptable, it wouldn't be the best option but it is a hell of a lot better than several other options.

I simply can't believe they would even think of using LCs on flagship services(the tours are the most high profile services operated), and an SC is not the imposing, modern looking coach an SP is but at least it can hold its own, it is a well proven(if very brittle internally) type and lots of parts commonality would make it cost effective to run.

I know money is tight but I am hoping and praying that they will buy quality over quantity, all the new tours coaches are going to be used for is to replace VPs, there is absolutely no need to be wasting perfectly good VPs on schools, they should put all the VPs back in service and dump the SRs onto schools, and while they're at it bring back a few of the old VCs as well.

Remember that they moved up to SPs because of competition and if anything they need to be a cut above the rest even more so than now as on many of the key routes around the country there is competition galore, and do they really want to choose something second rate when they could choose something top class and something that will tempt passengers into choosing them over their competitors?

If Scania can't compete on price, surley they can find something from Volvo? Doesn't have to be the new B13R chassis(with power outputs starting at 420 hp it is well in excess of what they are likely to be interested in and besides if that is the minimum power output you can be sure it will be expensive too), but the B9R chassis has 380 hp so that should be much cheaper and has a 9 litre engine. The B9R would share the same engine as the VWDs(but tuned for a lot more power of course) so there are cost savings to be had by choosing this chassis. Using the B9R chassis would make Volvo much more competitive with the likes of the Ladas. I haven't heard any complaints about the B9R but it is meant to be a lower grade option than the B13R so I presume it is not quite as hard wearing.