Highliner has appeal
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THE MAN SR280 Highliner coach was one of the first new-generation integral luxury coaches to contest βthe British coach market and is now familiar to most United Kingdom operators. However, any coach is only a packet to supply a product β transport β so when MAN asked me to reappraise this 49-seater I decided that the relevant way was to include the impressions of people actually sampling the product.
That is why I arranged to take a party from Banstead in Surrey on a day trip to Portsmouth and Southsea. I renewed my acquaintance with the model from the driving point of view and my passengers sampled the pleasures of coach travel.
After picking up my passengers, I headed through busy urban streets to the A3 trunk road towards Guildford. Once on the A3 the coach proved quiet and in these conditions was a particularly relaxing vehicle to ride in and to drive. It cruised well at the new 60mph speed limit and had enough power to climb most of the slopes beyond Guildford without much gear changing.
The instrument panel includes a large rev counter with a marked green sector and at cruising speed (between 50 and 60mph) it was possible to keep the revs well within the green. At higher speeds on the motorway it was not possible to drive at the speed limit and keep the revs within the green area.
Although it was almost two years since I had last driven an SR280, I quickly became used to the vehicle. I found the visibility good, the steering light and responsive, the brakes impressive and the power levels more than adequate. The only problem occurred when I mistook the exhause brake button for the air horn button. Both pedals are controlled by the driver's left foot. However, the horn button was easier to reach and as a result I found myself inadvertently warning other road users of my presence. The exhaust brake was barely audible from inside the coach when in operation β which is more than can be said for the air horn. From the front even the engine note is difficult to hear and although it is audible from the rear of the vehicle, it does not interfere with passenger conversation or other relaxations.
Double-glazed side windows help to keep the coach well insulated and the carpeted floor completes the impression of luxury-car interior noise levels and comfort. A sunken toilet completes the amenities.
I found little to criticise in the way the coach handled. its air suspension gives a ride that is both soft and steady and which caused one of our passengers to comment that the MAN was the only coach that he had travelled on and had been able to read a newspaper in comfort. However, some passengers did remark that their reclining seats did not recline very far. From this point of view it is unfortunate that there is a certification requirement to keep the distance between each seat to an approved standard.
Once at Portsmouth our day included a tour around the old harbour area. The narrow streets looked almost too narrow for the coach and illegally parked cars made matters even worse. The big vehicle proved very manoeuvrable despite its long wheelbase and I was able to get around all the corners without having to shunt Our day out in Portsmouth ended all too quickly. My original plan was to ride back as a passenger, but I had enjoyed my drive so much that I decided to drive it home, too. The passengers at the end of the day found little to complain about and plenty to praise. The ride provided by the full air suspension won almost universal praise and the ventilation system impressed, too, Heavy cigarette smoke was cleared in a matter of minutes.
One dear old lady summed up the vehicle's passenger appeal. When I asked her if she had any criticisms, she said: "Yes! I won't be able to go out in the coach again tomorrow."