When we looked about 3 years ago a Volvo FM was a much better deal than a similar Scania P series. Having used both extensively it was a no brainer, even the FMX was better price with improved spec for me it was a no brainer. Ended up with a good used construction sprc R series in the end, better than either but very expensive.
It’s got a Palfinger crane which has impressed me too, TH White who supply them have been helpful on the few times I’ve dealt with them.
Without naming any dealers, and from looking at your profile with this post, your location next to a DAF dealer, would at a guess seem to be Strood, Ashford or Borough Green to fit in with the Scania dealer being about 50 minutes away at either Sittingbourne or Purfleet.
So you have MAN and Renault at Larkfield, Merc at Sittingbourne or Ashford, and Volvo at Maidstone or Lympne. You also have Iveco at Canterbury and Ashford.
Disregarding for a moment the reliabilty of the actual vehicle, it would be worth a blind phone call to the nearest of each make to find out what the lead time for workshop bookings is right now and also what it is claimed to be normally.
There may be comments on here about the various dealers, which would be best if company names were not mentioned, but merely the location.
This whole business of DPF, EGR and SCR reliability for each brand could well be a significant factor in choice. These bolt-on developments in unwanted technology can cause much downtime which you wish to avoid.
Lastly consider the age of the model-line you select. One side of the coin will be the residual value for a model that is currently long in the tooth; the other will be teething trouble and lack of development sorting for the latest bells and whistles for which you are going to be the guinea pig.
You are correct on location, well done, you might be in the wrong job… these will be New New Euro 6 which is new for all makes, well about 6 months old now.
giggus:
You are correct on location, well done, you might be in the wrong job… these will be New New Euro 6 which is new for all makes, well about 6 months old now.
That makes it a lot simpler then…IVECO 
As I understand, they are the only ones to meet Euro6 without a DPF, as the North American market has shown since 2007 when DPF became law there, they are a [zb]ing nightmare and are best avoided 
Stormonts are a pretty decent dealer too
Never! we have had a 08 Iveco for 11 month and its cost us more than 11k already!! nightmare 
giggus:
Never! we have had a 08 Iveco for 11 month and its cost us more than 11k already!! nightmare
I can see why you feel that way, I was always lucky with IVECO myself, except for a turbo and a subsequent blown engine from not cleaning out the oil from the intercooler. (although this is impossible according to BKing 
)
So, back to the three pointed star it is then
i’d be wary of the new three pointed star newmercman if what happen to lewis Hamilton 2 days ago is anything to go by ,jut don’t think the build quality is there 
couldn’t help that …maybe bkingcan help diagnoise how the wing failed
We have an atego as we’ll sorry that should did have as it now need a new box at £5500!! So as it’s a 1998 it’s time to say good to the merc
giggus:
We have an atego as we’ll sorry that should did have as it now need a new box at £5500!! So as it’s a 1998 it’s time to say good to the merc
16yrs of service from a lorry and now the gearbox is worn out, I think you’ve answered your own question there 
What truck should I buy that will last 16yrs without major parts failure, errr let me think
8wheels:
When we looked about 3 years ago a Volvo FM was a much better deal than a similar Scania P series. Having used both extensively it was a no brainer, even the FMX was better price with improved spec for me it was a no brainer. Ended up with a good used construction sprc R series in the end, better than either but very expensive.It’s got a Palfinger crane which has impressed me too, TH White who supply them have been helpful on the few times I’ve dealt with them.
palfinger/epsillon cranes really are superb-at a price though.
my old firm ran palfinger/epsillon for all the grab lorries-about ten of them at any one time,very high work/load cycles for the crane,-my old one had done over 3000 hrs in five years with just the usual burst hoses ,new chain,etc. nearly all the grabs i have driven in the last 15 or so years have been palfinger/ epsillon because they simply are the best.
but for the beavertail/plant lorries they used fassi-cheaper but the cranes might only do a little bit of work every day .not the dealer at j9 m1 though(even though we were at j8 m1)-i think walker cranes at thurrock ,essex ,were much preffered.