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BRIGADIER COMPARISONS • I read with interest the roadtest on
Page 44
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the Reynolds Boughton Brigadier (CM 23 February). As a company that is operating in the highlycompetitive world of fire appliance manufacture, we view the advent of the Brigadier with considerable interest, if not quite affording it the "alarm bell" status indicated in the roadtest.
I feel I must point out that the comparison chart on chas sis cab price is misleading at the very least. Firstly, the prices quoted, from £60,000 to 280,000, would appear to relate to complete vehicles and not to chassis cabs. Secondly, price comparisons of this sort are virtually meaningless as Type B appliances are built to varying specifications as dictated by the customer.
These different specifications can and do cause price variations in excess of the range shown on your chart. It could cause readers to infer that particular chassis/vehicle manufacturers are inherently more expensive than others.
Our experience, as a fire engineering and bodywork company that builds vehicles on a number of different chassis, would indicate a very different "league table" on a true comparison.
While I appreciate that you did note that "prices are approximate and depend on individual brigade requirements", consider that such a chart could easily mislead anyone who does not have detailed knowledge of the industry.
To return to the Brigadier, it is entering a highlycompetitive, low-volume market and time will tell if it is a development that the customer truly requires.
A J Raine, Director and general manager, HCB-Angus Testwood, Southampton.