Coach Driving With James Ep.21 - Driving the Levante to Okehampton

So I've not taken the Levante on a long trip, actually it's been a good couple of years since I last drove it always tried to avoid it if I could! But today I have to drive it, empty all the way to Okehampton and come back loaded, so at least I get a descent empty run to get the hang of it first

[@sidthescenic09]

I love watching videos in my local area.

[@glenmason1876]

Great video james, it's a big coach, the national express coaches must get a lot of running

[@james143611]

Some of the second hand ones have over a million miles on the clock! Any NatEx vehicle that's worked Victoria - Edinburgh day in day out will rack up the miles no end!

[@craigtw1984]

Hi James, the Levante 2 is 14metres long along with the levante 3 but there are some, which are going that are 15 metres long and that extra metre does make it tight getting round some bends in central London. There is also the Levante 3A which are the mirrorless Scania's. You just have to be very careful with that tale swing and it catches put alot of drivers including myself 😂 Great video James, can't wait to see your next video.

[@PaulCunningham-sf5pu]

James I love the levante 2 they look very nice that is a big coach very well done try that one in cornwall

[@carabara3947]

So Luxurious Nowadays I Was The First New Driver To Pass My Test At The Age Of 19 In Scotland In A Then Modern Bedford Unicar OGD 561V

[@martinhew981]

Loved the video James. My neck of the woods too

[@mbewelivison5883]

Lovely video

[@stuartsamuel8791]

Good video. Thank you very much.

[@prodriver357]

Used to drive for nx , liked the scania levantes, the volvos gearbox was attrocious on the early ones we had, hopefully they improved later on, very clunky on hills waiting for the gear to engage

[@james143611]

Doesn't seem bad I was later told the grey button below the selector is a mode switch, which changes from Eco to Power mode, the idea is on hills you can press power mode to get you rolling on a hill start and get you up then on flat/downhill change back to Eco mode, didn't know that might be a later addition

[@prodriver357]

@@james143611 we had the first ever ones back in 06 and they were pretty rough tbh. Can't believe they are nearly 20 years old now lol.

[@derektaylor2941]

@@james143611 I must admit that to this day I've never driven anything with those "auto controlled manual boxes" such as I shift etc. When I started Nat Ex, most of our coaches had gearsticks... then came the B10/Premiere... Luxury (as long as you didn't want to look left at a junction)

[@VermilionStudios]

36:40 The park and ride still exists down to the left i see, not been down there myself for a fair few years though.

[@nigelbus5919]

Okehampton look much better in your video i noted that missed the fun bit out going up station Road up around the nasty bridge :P

[@james143611]

Yes discovered that later on wish I had recorded that bit! To be honest didn't even know of it, even my quick streetview reccy I missed that area! I got to the bridge and genuinely thought I did something wrong and missed a turning somewhere I was thinking 'This ain't right I've gone the wrong way!' went over bridge, turned out I was on right road 😄

[@nigelbus5919]

@@james143611 haha ,its not my fav part i have to say ,i was asked to take my old short ass coach up there once (when i had it) but i chickened out haha think i was bit also i didn't trust my small Bedford brakes on way down ..:P

[@james143611]

@@nigelbus5919 Ohhh yes it is a long slope down! Even with the engine braking, wasn't quite enough still had to use the pedal and press it down somewhat as well!

[@RichardCeeA38]

I find it better if needing Exeter services to come off a J29 and through Sowton industrial estate. Local knowledge.

[@james143611]

Absolutely right about local knowledge wins! Just had to look to see what you mean, I see now, never knew that! Thank you!

[@philipstanbridge6535]

I’ve watched these leaving Victoria coach station. That rear steering must be working overtime

[@james143611]

Absolutely! Ever seen them at the crossroads by the main passenger entrance where they turn left or right, and narrowly skim past the railings and traffic lights, I've seen the odd one clout the traffic island or just touch the fence, I'm not at all surprised with all this street furniture close to the road edge with no thought to the size of vehicles coming round!

[@philipstanbridge6535]

Amazingly, watching National Express and Megabus, I’ve never seen any mistakes.. I’ve only done it a couple of times myself, on relief from Brighton in a 9m Leyland Swift ( 1990). That was easy!

[@andyholland859]

Blimey, I wouldn’t want to try and navigate that thing round Hyde Park Corner, or anywhere in central London to be honest. The Volvo I drive system sounds very smooth, she’s a bit rattly on the interior trim, but as you said, she’s got a lot of miles under her wheels.

[@james143611]

I don't know how, I've seen some 2022 plate Levante 3's even some of those already have dings and dents around the back grill, not really surprised to be honest with the way the street furniture is placed in London it's like it's designed with cars in mind and nothing else, bollards and railings are the enemy! Yes the I-Drive is very good, and the rattles I believe are common in a majority of Levante's over time, as mentioned the wheelchair lift/system is all in by the front step, so that's rattling away inside, along with other things but the state of the roads certainly don't help it

[@derektaylor2941]

Many people won't be aware of this, but Caetano turned their collective backs on coach operators and signed an agreement with National Excuse to only build the Levante for registered NX operators. Everyone else was refused new sales. In fact NX tried to enforce a no used sales of Levantes but that was not lawful. Undoubtedly Caetano thought that an exclusive deal with NX was a great idea- that's a large fleet to build and subsequently replaced. But that ignores the twin fact that A) National Disgrace can easily terminate with Caetano and move to another operator next- leaving Caetano to try and pick up the losses with other operators who feel cheesed off at being abandoned. B) I very much doubt NX is going to make it to 2030 and whilst Flix seem to be using ex NX Levantes via former NX operators, it does not mean Flix will enter such foolish exclusivity deals- and if they did I suspect it would be the Tourismo.

[@james143611]

Yes I heard about that's how it started no non-NX partner could buy one, so until they got 5 years old they flogged them off, and now already an operator in Birmingham has become the first to have an ex-NX Levante 3, I knew they'd appear on the second hand market one day, but hadn't realised it's already started

[@derektaylor2941]

@@james143611 Caetano have put all their eggs in one basket here and if NX ever pull out that basket (or more likely, succumb to Flix) then Caetano UK is finished. Some interesting videos you have there, James. I miss my days with coaches. Give me a couple of weeks around Europe with a Shearings contract or even a Eurolines to Spain (RIP)... now it's just to the town's end and back.

[@VermilionStudios]

5:57 that would seem really weird for me to have such an enclosed area at the back of the coach.

[@james143611]

😂 If that ever appears on a daytrip, which is unlikely, at least you'll have your own area there!

[@derektaylor2941]

@@james143611 it's just the toilet compartment, isn't it?

[@davidhughes2772]

Exeter services a nightmare 24/ 7

[@kevinanderson5658]

About time a company infilled dash where till used go

[@James-zs3cn]

You missed the best part up over the bridge

[@james143611]

I know! 🤣I stopped recording and took the hat off then thought shame if I knew of the bridge coming up you could see me struggling round there, tight isn't it!

[@carabara3947]

Fenza Gala Seats

[@Kiwi_NZ610]

Hi james when did that bus get released

[@james143611]

Do you mean when did it become second hand and left the National Express service?

[@Kiwi_NZ610]

@@james143611 yeah