johnny:
theres a point mal, rust mate, go for the erf cos plastic don’t rust.
renault will probably give you a better deal mal, there tried tested and replacement parts are easy to get hold of and cheap, there are plenty about in the 2nd hand market and if you buy from a renault dealer they may be able to offer a better all round package, fuel consumption is very good too.
put your business head on instead of following your personal desire, look closely at any deal offered, good points and bad points etc.
the cheapest monthly deal may not turn out to be the best deal.
Good points Johnny, cheers! I am keen on ■■■■■■■■ so have thought ERF and Seddon, I seen some corkers that come from b.o.c. and places like that, all at very good prices, they will likely have had loot thrown at them from day 1 as well!
Big Truck:
Mal,
I know that either “Truck” or “Trucking” ran an article within the last year or so on three different operators who ran Eurotechs/Eurostars.I looked out in the garage for the mag but it could be in work,I’ll let you know the month etc if I find it.
I do remember that they weren’t too impressed with their trucks and it kind of put me off looking for a used one
Liberace:
I spoke to our fitters abiut them today (we run a fair few 10+ year old models having been run 24/5). Major problems are rust and electrical faults. Especially the rust and especially the electrical faults and the fitters hate them for those very reasons, but they are a reasonable motor to drive (I couldn’t say about living out in them) even with 770,000+k’s on the clock. Apparently they’re reasonabley economical as well, but they have to be well maintained ie serviced when they’re supposed to be.
Hope this helps
Ian.
Cheers Ian, I spoke only today to a feller working at a place where they run a few recent motors (stars). Theyre a bit prone to the lectrics, like you say, I spose it must be pretty common then.
Carl, theyve got a shedload of tidy looking ERF’s M8 aint they? Ive been to that site a time or two, and they seem to like the old plastic! Hows the old Star doing?
not so good mal bits have started to fall off the eurostar badge come off the plastic cover on the exhaust silencer as come off and the bloody thing wouldnt pull ya outta bed so its gotta go in for injectors and pump to be sorted the paint on the chassis is turning a lovely shade of rust and so are the wheels cabs good inside though
im glad im not paying mal its put me off the eurostars it looks like being an olympic for me after new year from walkers i’ll just have to learn to use a twinsplitter and hopefully get one with a 440 ■■■■■■■ and not a 380 althougth beggers can’t be choosers ya seem to get some motor for between 9and 10 grand .the other eurostar he’s got had to have new discs and pads 3 weeks after he bought it and it was mot’d before he bought it that one dont pull either
I think youre right M8, I tell you what Carl, all of them ■■■■■■■ m11’s will go up to 405 anyway. But the 380 I had pulled better than this 420 volvo. Ive just seen some nice looking sed acks in the cm, im looking that way as well, not to mention Renauls, theyre a good tub too.
Mal+Carl,
Don’t youse boys be going to Walkers and buying all the good stock!!!
I’m currently dealing with Nick at Walkers as well as they seem to have decent wagons and are easy to deal with.They have a couple of corker 2000 6x2 Foden Alphas, Xl cabs,jakes,slider, ali wheels ,380 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ all for around £14000 straight!!!
I’m also keen for Premiums,ECX’s, EC11’s,Actros 2543’s and above all (but a bit more dough!!) Daf CF430’s.Talking to a haulier at Belfast docks yesterday and he’s “chipped” his CF430 to 500 horse for £800 and its doing 9mile/gallon where before it was around 8!!! He says it puts a smile on his face when he’s freighted to 44t and XF’s eat his dust on the hills
Mal,
How about this in this weeks “Truck Trader”:
1997 blue 6x2 ERF EC11 Olympic,m11 380 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ sleeper,FADK, Air suspension,mint condition,tested Jan 05,one owner from new!!!
Looks smart enough in the picture on page 70,all yours for
£6000
Yeah,
It was that one Mal,Although I just thought the price could easily be “sharpened” to around £6000,She looks a tidy unit though?
Had one of “Monty’s” Twingo’s round at the local Renault truck dealer this morning and I decided to “annoy” the used rep while I was waiting for the truck to be fixed.He had a yellow ex Renault UK 2001 4x2 400hp Premium Privilege with 260km on the clock, 1400 litre tanks,side skirts, and she was a minter,came with a years warranty for £17000 straight!!! He said he could get me a similar 6x2 with 800 litre tanks for the same money and at 4.2% finance 3+33 I couldn’t go wrong with payments at £492+Vat/month (£123+Vat/week) and she will still be worth a few pound at the end of the payments!!!
Don’t know about you Mal, but I’m starting to get “ichy feet” chomping at the bit to make a start on this O/D lark as I’ve had Norfolkline,P+O Ferrymasters and Montgomery Refrigeration all offering me a start today!!!
Mal,
The “Truck in service” feature about the “Euro’s” was in “Truck” mag in Dec 2003.Its called “Roadside regrets!!!” and the Truck verdict at the end starts with “This months truck in service is a sad and sorry tale in many respects”.
PM me your address and I’ll post you the mag over,
Andy.
Renault were advertising used deals in Trucking Mag last month. Low interest rates on late premiums, might even be 420DCI’s, I think they have some warranty on them.
As for reliability I was speaking to our mechanic about how well they stood upto the work we were doing, which mainly full weight onto farms, building sites and quarries and he said they were ok,
Even the older ones R reg 385 and the earlier 340 Majors are still doing the work, cosmetically they are a bit tatty due to countless driver abusing them in their time and the build up of dirt from the work., but mechanically they keep going.
However get a tidy one and as an Owner Driver you will probally keep the cosmetic side up to scratch.
Could I be cheeky and ask for any info you got on the EC 11 range n’all! I was a subscriber in the 80/90’s (thsat enough sucking) 
