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Re: NEW PURCHASES
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VWL119.garaiste
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09/10/2010 22:16:18
Apologies PB Jim, I was aware of the connection with Nat Ex and Caetano Levante not to mention the fact that they have several subcontractors but to be honest when I saw B9R/Plaxtion Elites with Nat Ex branding I had thought they had moved away from that design altogether and were now going with this as the new 'standard' coach. I remember them ordering 160 B12Bs on Caetano Levante bodies and then changing for Scania but now they are back with Volvo again. The B9R seems to be getting very popular over there, especially as most of the top line bodies are available on it. As noted the Plaxton Elite is available and that is their top line model with the Paragon still being sold. I thought they might restrict the Elite to the larger B13R chassis but clearly they're not. One of the striking things about Caetano is that the Enigma is still being sold in the UK and it looks identical to the 7 year old VC300 series, these are so dated looking now and are extraordinarily noisy above 80 km/h, I wouldn't mind but the Algarve was an impeccably built coach(though I think they suffer with rust too but nothing like to the extent Plaxtons do) and there were no rattles or even the slightest hint of noise. I prefer the look of the Algarve even though it is much older.
Another interesting development is that Volvo have launched a new lower grade body more suitable for Express work, the 9500 is designed to go with the Volvo B9R chassis. I think it replaces the 8700 or 8500 or something like that in the continent and is aimed directly at the express coach market from what I've read about it.
I don't know if this will make it to RHD(though Volvo's UK website has it in their press releases so one can only presume that it will be available in RHD), but complete products have become very popular with BÉ in recent times, SLs and AMs are most certainly complete products, and it could be argued that the LCs and LDs are as well, since the chassis and bodies all come from the VDL group.
I see with the VDLs there is a new Futura body, I don't know if this is replacing the Berkhoff/Jonckherre line or not. The current Jonckherres do look more substantial and modern than the Berkhoff which certainly does look a lot cheaper. In the Berkhoff's favour is the fact it is so quiet at speed and the complete lack of rattles, it's just a shame the rest of the body looks so dated and it is matched to that awful VDL chassis.
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