My regular truck has been at the workshop for the last 2 days prior to MOT and was given a hire unit for the duration. Now I am aware that some hanker for the lorry’s of bygone days but the difference in age between these vehicles was barely 3 years they are both Scanias’. The hire was manual, my regular auto, for 20 mins I was dredging the dark recess of my mind for split gears and range changes (split changes with the clutch, range changes through neutral). As time went on I got the hang of it but god it was slow and sticky changing gear you can’t rush it.
The seat had the up/down/back/forward but no adjustment for the damping or lateral support didn’t take long before my back started aching then hurting. The radio was of an independent mind and the volume would vary between whisper and bellow, no instruction manual to consult for adjusting the “road noise” setting so just turned the thing off.
Exhaust brake was on the pedal not a separate control switch, and not very special when it was used.
It wasn’t all bad the cruise control was great just set it and let it do it’s thing not like my regular truck set it wait for it to turn off, turn back on and repeat at several times during the day. And of course no tracker.
All in all can’t wait to get me regular truck back, my left leg and arm joints are sore my back is hurting like hell but I’ve got 4 days to recuperate and actually appreciate the comfort that I now enjoy. As to whether these additional features amount to dumbing down I reckon, based on the past 2 days, I am better focused on the moving and avoidance of drama in the newer truck because I wasn’t distracted by the faff of machine operation and focused, more relaxed, on the business of getting to the delivery point intact ( I would contend this is a skill in it’s own right) and less stressed.
Flack jacket and tin hat in position.
I had a similar experience when mine went for its first MOT a couple weeks ago. I got given my old truck, an '08 R420 to replace my '15 R410, both semi auto. But the difference was night and day, even though they seemed small at first, the seat was less comfortable, so my ■■■ and back hurt. The curtain poles were steel instead of aluminium, so my arms hurt because I’m a wuss. The radio and Bluetooth was very second rate compared to my integrated sat nav premium radio, so I was less entertained, and couldn’t hear half the conversations at speed. The steering was slightly heavier, and the buttons for the OBC are in different places, so my arms hurt more and I was constantly pressing the wrong buttons.
All in all, a real struggle for a FTW with a dedicated truck usually, and the disposition of a delicate flower. 
PS I LOVED my old truck when I had it. I now REALLY love my new truck.
The 420 Scania I drove had a slow box… sodding nuisance.
Our grab wagon is only a 61 plate (MAN TGM) but when you sit in it, it appears much older. It was an ex hire truck in agency driver specification;
Basic seat controls (no lumbar adjusts or heater).
Big chunky dials for the heater/demister controls…
No electric window winders, not even for the passenger side.
No heated mirrors.
No air con’ hence the cab is by many drivers’ standards “a bit minging” and has the customary missing bit of plastic that has either (in typical MAN fashion) fallen off or an agency driver ate it for lunch.
And for a 26t tipper, it’s only got 290bhp.
On the other hand it’s lovely and comfortable, and has a great gear change. I can’t comment on the radio as I haven’t used it.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There’s no way in the world I’d take any of my old trucks back over what I have now. And I’m not particularly fussed about my current fh. Yes I’ve liked other trucks I’ve had at the time, but would I want a 15 year old motor now? No way, I wouldn’t want a 5 year old one. If I ran my firm I’d have an unrestored but legal 112 in the corner, and anyone ■■■■■■■■ about modern lorries would be in that for a week. I’d wager the gloss will be off by the A127 when the springs have had 20 mins to smash your spine out of your back 
OVLOV JAY:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There’s no way in the world I’d take any of my old trucks back over what I have now.
I’ve been fond of most of the trucks I’ve driven but I wouldn’t want a constant mesh ‘box again. I liked the Foden Alpha I had but I also recall it being a PITA to get the seat in the right position (just like CF 75s but not 85s for some reason).
I’m hoping to have an auto when this 8w gets replaced, we aren’t rushed so if it takes its’ time then so be it.
No i don’t suppose anyone would want a Scania 112, especially if like many of them it has no shockers at the back, was horrible bloody lorry that, not a patch on a 111, but anything with a Swedish badge seemingly can do no wrong.
The Swedes can’t make manual gearboxes worth a light, i’ve never had one apart from the splitter in the 110/111 that was a good drive…never drove one of the early Scania Vabis motors so couldn’t tell you if that had a proper box or not.
Lorry boxes should be crash/constant mesh or of the Eaton Twin Splitter type design, purpose designed lorry boxes not syncro efforts so car drivers might manage to get them out the gate, syncros baulk too much so even if you’ve balanced engine and road speed to the required correct gear perfectly the sods still don’t slip in easily…hence why a syncro isn’t effortless to drive clutchless but a non synro box is.
I’d gladly run an old motor, if they kept a ■■■■■■■ engined Sed Ack 401 in the yard i’d make sure to winge like buggery and have to use it all the time as punishment, i don’t expect many others to share this view mind… one benefit would be not worrying about other’s using it…
Juddian:
I’d gladly run an old motor, if they kept a ■■■■■■■ engined Sed Ack 401 in the yard i’d make sure to winge like buggery and have to use it all the time as punishment, i don’t expect many others to share this view mind… one benefit would be not worrying about other’s using it…
I thought about this thread as I cruised along the M4 today. What brought it to mind was the fact that I had the radio turned off and the windows closed when it suddenly struck me that I seemed to be floating along on an air cushion in absolute silence, that obviously brought to mind the old days where on that same stretch of road I’d be getting bounced around by the steel springs, the vibrations would be through the seat, the floor and the steering wheel, the wind (and sometimes rain) would be coming from around the doors.
I can absolutely understand your yearning for one of these old motors Juddian and I too would love a shot in an old 111/141, Sed Ak etc just for the pleasure of it, but would I want to do 2000 miles a week in one now? Would I buggery!
I think it’s a natural human instinct mate to reminisce about days long gone and how they were the best of times, well in terms of the job I’d wholeheartedly agree that we’ll never see the like again, but the equipment? Thanks but no thanks.
I would have a 4 series topline again, best cab set up I’ve ever used.
Wiretwister:
My regular truck has been at the workshop for the last 2 days prior to MOT and was given a hire unit for the duration. Now I am aware that some hanker for the lorry’s of bygone days but the difference in age between these vehicles was barely 3 years they are both Scanias’. The hire was manual, my regular auto, for 20 mins I was dredging the dark recess of my mind for split gears and range changes (split changes with the clutch, range changes through neutral). As time went on I got the hang of it but god it was slow and sticky changing gear you can’t rush it.
The seat had the up/down/back/forward but no adjustment for the damping or lateral support didn’t take long before my back started aching then hurting. The radio was of an independent mind and the volume would vary between whisper and bellow, no instruction manual to consult for adjusting the “road noise” setting so just turned the thing off.
Exhaust brake was on the pedal not a separate control switch, and not very special when it was used.
It wasn’t all bad the cruise control was great just set it and let it do it’s thing not like my regular truck set it wait for it to turn off, turn back on and repeat at several times during the day. And of course no tracker.
All in all can’t wait to get me regular truck back, my left leg and arm joints are sore my back is hurting like hell but I’ve got 4 days to recuperate and actually appreciate the comfort that I now enjoy. As to whether these additional features amount to dumbing down I reckon, based on the past 2 days, I am better focused on the moving and avoidance of drama in the newer truck because I wasn’t distracted by the faff of machine operation and focused, more relaxed, on the business of getting to the delivery point intact ( I would contend this is a skill in it’s own right) and less stressed.
Flack jacket and tin hat in position.
A lot of what you mention is down to the truck not being looked after, gears would become instinctive, a better maintained truck would probably have a smoother gear shift, or your arm would get used to it. The radio could be sorted as could the seat, but why would any one bother on a hire truck, which often as not would just get abused
the maoster:
that obviously brought to mind the old days where on that same stretch of road I’d be getting bounced the vibrations would be through the seat, the floor and the steering wheel, .
That desciption about sums up my TGX now, everyone i know says MAN are a good ride but the 3 i have had have been terrible, this current one is particularly bad
chaversdad:
the maoster:
that obviously brought to mind the old days where on that same stretch of road I’d be getting bounced the vibrations would be through the seat, the floor and the steering wheel, .
That desciption about sums up my TGX now, everyone i know says MAN are a good ride but the 3 i have had have been terrible, this current one is particularly bad
Ours can be like that if the fifth wheel is fully back, mine has the small wheeled mid lift for obvious weight advantage for our job, i spent several trips where i use an axle weigher to set the fifth wheel correctly, which is more or less at half way point, one click in front of the two piece base with what i believe is a Jost wheel, made a big difference to ride quality.
Incidentally having the fifth wheel fully back doesn’t overload the drive axle, it overloads the mid lift instead whilst moving the fifth wheel forward lessened the load on that middle lifter…no i haven’t mistyped that, and no i still can’t get me head round it either 
just another MAN peculiarity , however i’ve sort of developed a soft spot for mine and will be sad to see it go, its been reliable enough and compared to the latest tat DAF and Merc are flogging is now one of the simplest modern lorries on the road, and still driveable unlike those two, and yes i’m going to request another.
Best riding artic i’ve ever used regularly wasn’t air sprung at all, it was a day cab 1727 Merc on steelies all round, last of the cabs before they went square.
FL10 for me please, lovely motors.
Eric Rambler:
FL10 for me please, lovely motors.
Ah, the old “Wendy house”. I got one brand fire new on a D plate. Oh how I miss the days of having to lie on the bunk to get my trousers on!
Would have my old F16 back any day. 6 weekly services using top spec oil and filters plus premium tyres and no re cuts and over 850K kms never had a breakdown. Comfort was never a problem.
Some moaning about a newish truck 450hp should drive an old ERF A series with 220 ■■■■■■■■ now that pos was hard work… 
Btw- i now have a 2013 FH 500 and would still rather have my old truck…
the maoster:
Eric Rambler:
FL10 for me please, lovely motors.
Ah, the old “Wendy house”. I got one brand fire new on a D plate. Oh how I miss the days of having to lie on the bunk to get my trousers on!
I liked them too, had several wag and drag with car transporter bodies on, the last one a FL12 380 which was a cracking motor and very sorry to see it go, got to be one of the most simple reliable lorries of modern times.
Remember we had them in even more cut down roof form than normal (i was a lot younger and a better contortionist than now)…but miles better than the day cab Iveco with a coffin nailed to the back which the first one replaced 
…now that really wasn’t a good old truck by any stretch of the imagination.
the maoster:
Eric Rambler:
FL10 for me please, lovely motors.
Ah, the old “Wendy house”. I got one brand fire new on a D plate. Oh how I miss the days of having to lie on the bunk to get my trousers on!
Once had an FL7 (Lucky seven was its name on the screen sunvisor) should have been unlucky seven at 40 tons with 240hp! Was ok on the flat but needless to say not so on the inclines…
Had a 04 MAN and then a 04 FH12 now back to a 99 Magnum, more reliable than the other 2 and easy to drive though the ishift was a lovely box the rest of the truck let it down, also the old Magnum is returning me 13.7 mpg the other 2 could only dream about those sort of returns.
A proper good old truck came past me today, L reg F88 (240 grill but doubt its a standard 240 under the bonnet) log carrier still earning its keep and still romping on well, a pleasure to see…gave the driver a cheery wave/thumbs up in appreciation.
Juddian:
A proper good old truck came past me today, L reg F88 (240 grill but doubt its a standard 240 under the bonnet) log carrier still earning its keep and still romping on well, a pleasure to see…gave the driver a cheery wave/thumbs up in appreciation.
Blue and battered well (the trailer is a Lot older) …Bob Carmichael no doubt.