Mannings 9700 Prestige Plus. (photo by Volvo Bus)
FROM THE VOLVO DELIVERY FILES
Irish operator, Mannings Coaches, has just taken delivery of two new Volvos – a B12B with Jonckheere bodywork and a tri-axle Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus – both firsts for the Limerick based company.
Managing Director, Tommy Manning, had been looking for additional vehicles to handle his luxury touring work – both incoming touring work throughout Ireland and trips to English Premier League football matches on behalf of Celtic Horizon Tours.
“We already have a B12M with Jonckheere bodywork and found that the Volvo/Jonckheere combination was popular with both drivers and passengers,” he explained. “We’d heard excellent reports of the B12B, so decided to give it a try this time.”
Specified with Volvo’s DH12E engine rated at 420hp coupled to the I-Shift gearbox, the new vehicle features full climate control, toilet, TV/DVD player and hot and cold drinks facilities.
Also built on the B12B chassis, the Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus provides optimum comfort along with Volvo reliability from bumper to bumper. The 13 metre coach features the same 12 litre engine, though rated at 460hp, and I-Shift gearbox combination.
The interior’s theatre-style design concept, with its sloping floor and large tinted side windows, enables excellent vision for all passengers. All 50 seats have integral three point seat belts and the ventilation system has high capacity, good air distribution with individually adjustable air-circulation outlet vents for each seat.
Other features include a demountable toilet/washroom, servery, GPS Navigation for both driver and passenger viewing, and Volvo’s Sound and Vision package comprising radio, CD and DVD complete with two TFT monitors and sub woofer speakers.
Tommy Manning explained, “We knew that the 9700 would be perfect for touring, whilst the tri-axle model provides us with extra passenger and luggage capacity yet can still cope with the weight restrictions in England, which is where much of our work takes place.
“With a tour programme as busy as ours, reliability and passenger comfort are equally crucial. We’ve had high expectations of both these new coaches from talking to colleagues in the industry and our experience indicates that they are living up to it!”
A family business with over 40 years’ experience, Mannings Coaches handle a wide range of work including day trips, touring holidays, golfing breaks, airport transfer, schools and corporate work.
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THIS VOLVO BUS IS VERY COMFORT TO TRAVEL OVER ALL INDIA