Apparently I’m getting a brand new Foden Alpha which is nice 
Thing is having looked at the specs on Fodens site the gearbox is a “ZF 16 speed… 4 speed main with 2 speed range change & splitter on the high range”!!! How on earth do you use one of those? I can’t remember what gear I’m in now some of the time & I’ve only got 8 LOL
It’s just like the one you’ve got now - only slightly different 
You’ve still got a four-over-four box.
But you can split the gears in half. Very useful in my opinion - you’ve always got the right gear to suit the load and road conditions.
Just have a play round the yard with it - you’ll soon pick it up!
Thanx for the reply…
I suppose “playing with it” (oo-er!) is the only way.
I originally told them that I didn’t want a new truck, I’d rather stick with the 97 Foden I have now but it’s not an option… it’s costing them a fortune as it only does 2.5 to the gallon on average 
not to mention the frequent parts replacements
I would think my boss hates me if he bought me a Foden .
jammymutt:
I would think my boss hates me if he bought me a Foden .
Mmmm you might be right there Although the Foden Alpha’s are mostly Daf based with the Cat engine, so they might not be too bad… From what I heard this is one of the last with the Foden name, supposedly there are only 50 more or so Foden orders to be taken before the name drifts into history 
TBH it’s all just been badge engineering for years anyway, you’re basically buying a DAF with a Foden badge on the front. No reason why you couldnt specify a CAT engine in a DAF.
Same as you can buy a MAN with an ERF badge on it.
Melchett:
Thing is having looked at the specs on Fodens site the gearbox is a “ZF 16 speed… 4 speed main with 2 speed range change & splitter on the high range”!!!
If it only splits on the high range, then surely it is only a 12 speed box. If it’s a 16, then it should split each gear in both high and low range.
Watch the 12 speeds, it has exactly the same gearstick as the old twinsplitter… but it’s definitely not…
The 12-speed described above sounds very much like an old Fuller Roadranger which, as Alli says, looks to the untrained eye like twin-split. It’s a constant-mesh box and, to my mind anyway, a far better box than twin split, with a cleaner change and far less chance of ending up in one of the many “neutrals” unexpectedly…I know that many of you will disagree with me on that though, it’s a personal taste thing. 
All of the above said, if this is a brand new lorry I’d be truly amazed if the gearbox was a Fuller or without synchro… 
Lucy may be right…sounds like a fuller box…and matched with a ■■■■■■■ or a cat engine is the ideal combination…but…i cant understand anyone buying from a company thats going to be history soon…unless he`s a cheapskate…and has got a good deal pricewise… 
The box is a ZF 16s181 according to the blurb with Full synchro. I’ve rechecked & it describes it as I posted above. Whether this means it’s a 12 or 16 speed I haven’t got a clue but I’ll find out when I get it I guess
Why they bought Foden? They run mixers, class 1 bulk tippers & general haulage & I would say that 95% are Foden (200 or so trucks) so yes I would say that they get a good deal.
Melchett:
Thanx for the reply…I suppose “playing with it” (oo-er!) is the only way.
I originally told them that I didn’t want a new truck, I’d rather stick with the 97 Foden I have now but it’s not an option… it’s costing them a fortune as it only does 2.5 to the gallon on average
so he went and bought another 
thats sounds about right.
the 16 speed zf gearbox is excellent it is the same thats in the daf and its great you will soon get the hang of it and skipping gears.
daf, fodern same [zb] different badge!!! 
i would rather drive a twingo than a daf.
but give me an fh or scannie even a merc and i would be a happy bunny but daf NO NO NO NO NO!!! lol
rant over 
salut
chris
I, too, speak French. L.
daf, foden the same, different badge
apart from the chasis, the engine, the drive axle and the power output
Well,I’ve never been a big fan of the Dutch marque,but recently,I’ve driven an 85CF,with the auto box,and for the last 2 days,I’ve had a 95 XF,and I must say,my opinion is changing somewhat.
The 85 had,what must be in my opinion,the smoothest auto box I’ve ever driven on a truck,and while the 95 was only the standard height cab,it had twin bunks in,and looked more roomy than vehicles in it’s class.I have to say though,a flat floor would have been nice.
And although they both had the same engine, (430) the 95 seemed to pull better,even though it was only 4 months old,and still not loosened up properly.
Ken.
it’s costing them a fortune as it only does 2.5 to the gallon on average
Ouch!!
i would rather have the new 440 twingo or a standard flat top series 1 420 fh with a manual 12 speed box than an xf in carlos fandango spec 
i dont know maybe it is just thaat i have drivern older xfs with huge mileages on them…
on the other hand i have drivern brand new dafs and STILL hated them.
but as they say " you pays your money and you makes your choice"
chris
the fodens at work (morrisons supermarket) have 12 speed boxes, once you get used to them they are alright for the job, just take your time and everything is ok if a bit slow to pull away.
On these the gearstick has a silver ‘selector’ switch. It has 3 positions on the stick. pull the switch to the position closest to yourself. Use it like a car gearstick in sequence to get 1st to 4th. Then push the selector into the middle. Push the stick to where 1st was. This gives you 5th. Then push the selector forward and dip the clutch afterwards. This is 6th. Then return the selector to the middle slot, push the clutch in and move stick back release clutch and you have 7th. Then push selector forward, dip clutch and you have 8th, and so on and so forth.
Of course the auto is different, just select D and away you go
paul b:
daf, foden the same, different badge
apart from the chasis, the engine, the drive axle and the power output
DAF, actually Daf isnt a company either!
PACCAR, them selves say the Foden/DAF are based on the common platform.
The Nissan Micra and Renault Clio are the same car in the same way. Same throughout the whole automotive industry these days.
caveman:
i would rather have the new 440 twingo or a standard flat top series 1 420 fh with a manual 12 speed box than an xf in carlos fandango spec
i dont know maybe it is just thaat i have drivern older xfs with huge mileages on them…
on the other hand i have drivern brand new dafs and STILL hated them.
but as they say " you pays your money and you makes your choice"
chris
seriously how come i love dafs the xf and the cf whats what you dont like.