I’m pleased someone else agrees with me about the 112 Scania’s, I never rated the ride either but put it down to being the first tag axle truck I had driven.
As for MAN’s to me the best model was the F2000 with the 403 engine ,it was the German equivalent to the British gaffers truck, i.e. ERF ,Atkinson, Foden. But it was comfortable ,quiet, and went reasonably well and had a good heater. The bunk wasn’t too bad either. It had the 16 speed ZF but it seemed OK in that truck
I had a FM Volvo with the I-Shift box for a few years and that gearbox is the best auto on the market ( can’t speak about Allison full auto’s, never driven one ) it can cope with rank beginners and also give the driver who wants a bit of a challenge a bit more to do, great box.
The last truck I had was a MAN TGX, after a few weeks I liked it and it was an auto and I can honestly say I never had a problem with the gearbox. It did everything I wanted it to, coupling up, on and off building sites and the usual Builders merchants yards and concrete plants,even up and down ramps caused no problems whether at max weight or not. But as I said in my earlier post I took the trouble to ask questions about what it could do and how to do it and the drivers on our firm had the benefit of some MAN expertise. I was sorry to lose that truck.
until i drove it.
2 speedos approx 15kmh difference between the 2, loads of standing room and space to swing a few cats, nowhere at all to put anything, it was a tag and handled absolutley terribly, the most gutless engine ive ever had in a motor (420bhp) even thou it never had more than about 6 ton in the back maximum, gearbox was notchy.
The only good thing about it apart from the flat floor, was i only stayed in the job about 2 months (it wasnt as i was told it was, and for what i had to do the wages were crap.)
Got to agree with you Kindle. I had a K reg one from new for 9 months. Looked the part but useless. As you said loads of room but nothing useful in the way of storage really, just those stupid airplane style top locker things. I found the cab to be cold and draughty at night and if you were anywhere cold the night heater couldn’t keep up with cab size or drafts.
Handled like sack of ■■■■ and like yours mine was alegedly a 420 but pulled like a dog even though I only ran about 25 ton all up I swear it would slow down if you said “hill” out loud
The only good thing I could say for it was with the limiter ermmm broken it would cruise at 80 all day like a dream
after a day ov grindin & crunshin you suss the engine notes on when to change. Once you have that sorted they are without doubt thee best box ever, i reckon. The tm had earache getin me in the old erf. Then more earache when he gave me summat newer…lol
ohh yeah Dodge Commando… A Roman diesel… MAN tipper with a column change.
Ford D seies 2014 tipper with an umbrella type parking brake.4 over 4 box soooooo. underpowered ,only truck ive had to reverse up hills when it wouldnt go up forward.turn and carry on my way.
having a beer to forget the torment these wagons laid on me.
james
after a day ov grindin & crunshin you suss the engine notes on when to change. Once you have that sorted they are without doubt thee best box ever, i reckon. The tm had earache getin me in the old erf. Then more earache when he gave me summat newer…lol
You had to learn to hear the engine note on Fodens (especially the 3000s) as many rev counters didn’t work for some reason. I had one that when idling the needle went of the scale and when under normal load wouldn’t budge off 0.
I still listen to engine noise rather than the rev counter, was told several times on SAFED course but can’t break the habit.
Forgot to mention another one - 13 plate Scania R580 V8 6x2 tag axle Topline with three pedal opticuise.
Regards the OP’s original point my two submissions are not for the worst lorry I have driven, but the most disappointing i.e., the one that failed to live up to the expectations set for it. If I drive a ‘standard’ lorry that performs adequately, that’ll do.
Eaton twin splitter on the Wickes Mans was good would change up without using clutch and down without clutch if you could be bothered to get the revs right otherwsie clutch for a slight crunch or double declutch for no crunch, also I think it had clutch brake for downshift?
When I started driving, I did some shifts for Arla, and on the first one got sent out in a scania r420. I was looking forward to it, as I spent my younger years running round Europe with my dad in his 141 when Scania was the top of the pops. I was disappointed with the R420 though - there was nothing particularly wrong with it, it just was nothing special. Ok, it was fleet spec, but it didn’t fill me with the urge to drive another one.
All the other shifts were in new FHs, and I loved them, they were comfortable, drove well, etc.
The Actros I drive now I’m very happy with, with the slight exception of the seat - being long-legged, I’d like to be able to get a bit further back from the steering wheel. Oh, and the cup holders!
I swear it would slow down if you said “hill” out loud 
A Roman