Ok so what would be your choice
volvo fm low roof sleeper cab
or
m a n tgs xl sleeper cab
away all week both with 400hp and auto boxes and fridges
your views and experiance’s greatly appreaciated
Volvo for the gearbox, MAN for the better cab space.
I used to be away all week in a “flat-top” FM; OK in their day but far too cramped by modern standards. The older ones were actually better as you had four lockers above the windscreen as opposed to two on the post-2002 models.
MAN for space Volvo for everything else and I know as i drive both.
bald bloke:
MAN for space Volvo for everything else and I know as i drive both.
Correct.
3 wheeler:
bald bloke:
MAN for space Volvo for everything else and I know as i drive both.Correct.
+1
paulfromwire:
3 wheeler:
bald bloke:
MAN for space Volvo for everything else and I know as i drive both.Correct.
+1
I would suggest that the offer of one to live in and the other to drive isn’t on the table…
One or the other is the deal. I’d go for the most space personally. A truck is there to do a job. Either will do the job but the MAN will give you more room and comfort so that’s the one to go for. 
Personally I just tend to drive whatever ■■■■ I’m given!!! 
MAN…! Volvo is overrated, we currently use FMs on days & nights…
I’d ■■■■■■ the Volvo while the goings good, its got some guts and a decent gearbox and every time you open the door another bolt won’t fall out at your feet.
Remember you’ll want that driveability/dependability when the ice and snow return in a few weeks…
I’d go Volvo myself
Never driven a Volvo (is a Renault Premium a Volvo with a Renault badge) I have driven an auto M.A.N. the box was awful. It never had the right gear and was slow out of the blocks at junctions etc. Only other Auto I have driven is 11 plate Renault Premium which I love and would happily keep forever big bunk and comfortable seats. The M.A.N had a good seat and felt big inside and was only a TGA day cab.
HTH
The fm is the truck to go for if its retail work but its not a motorway cruiser. Shop work, give me an fm. Trunk work, give me a tgx
I got the impression that certain MANs, Volvo’s and Renaults were just badge engineering jobs, with crap ZF auto boxes.
PaulNowak:
I got the impression that certain MANs, Volvo’s and Renaults were just badge engineering jobs, with crap ZF auto boxes.
Close, Renaults are pretty much badge engineered Volvo’s. both have a decent auto box. Its MAN, DAF and IVECO that have the crap ZF box
Renault cab is a hard ride, fitted with a cheap bus seat, they go well, but your back will be in bits after a days driving…
I’ve driven several of these new MAN’s and the gearbox is nothing short of awful.
If you doing plenty of trunk runs then the MAN would just edge for me.
Heavy traffic and plenty of maneuvering then the Volvo all day long.
Don’t care what sort of driving it would be, the Volvo would be my choice even if I was out tramping all week. You only have to spend about 5-10 mins moving around in the cab to get sorted for bed or whatever, but you have to drive the thing for up to 10 hours per day and that takes precedence for me.
Rob K:
Don’t care what sort of driving it would be, the Volvo would be my choice even if I was out tramping all week. You only have to spend about 5-10 mins moving around in the cab to get sorted for bed or whatever, but you have to drive the thing for up to 10 hours per day and that takes precedence for me.
This is a fair point. And it has to be said that the auto box on the MAN is utterly ■■■■■■ As I hardly stay out it’d be easy for me to decide. But I think on balance it depends on whether you prefer comfort when driving or comfort when stationary the most…
Cheers everyone for the replies so the Volvo is the favourite by far.
unfortunately I’ve found out that I wont have a choice 
At least it will be brand new whichever I have 
Had a man a few years ago, it had a button on the gear stick used for changing gears, you only used the clutch in first gear to pull away and the button on the gear stick for the rest, they called it the comfort switch, great truck.
I loved the MAN ‘comfort shift’, last one I drove was an ERF 56reg…