limeyphil:
Own Account Driver:
No need for me to add my two penneth, He’s got it covered.
But am i missing something? 46 Tons?
+2 can’t argue with any of that excellent post.
I’ve driven all the boxes except for 4+4 manual which i don’t know was an option these days so can’t comment on that, had that sort of box in 1 2 3 and very early 4 series and it was fine…edit or was the 110/111 a splitter, i’ve forgotten.
If you have good drivers then basically they’ll manage any box, and being drivers they couldn’t agree on anything anyway…
I don’t like the 3 speed manual much, it baulks badly until warm and its not a pleasure to use at all but will cover huge mileages trouble free, would have been better if was constant mesh IMO at least there would be no syncromesh to fight.
Auto with three pedals is better than the 2 pedal for manoeuvering IMO, i had one for 3 years and have driven the 2 pedal autos more recently, nothing to chose between them in auto mode once moving.
I have to make some very tight reverses full weight reverses on my tank job, one in particular being a tyre bending jack knife reverse round a corner, the full autos do not take kindly to this whatever make.
Where the Scania autos score well is that they drive extremely well in manual override, especially in MH mode, which gives faster changes than in normal M mode (just as in the two corresponding auto modes), i never ever drive Scanias in full auto mode, its like watching paint dry and pulling out from junctions is too slow for comfort, the constant hunting between gears and the vehicles inability to ever be in the correct gear at a rolling start junction annoys me too much.
Also get better fuel consumption in manual override.
If i were buying a Scani and rated my drivers i would go for the 3 pedal auto for its versatility.
As an aside i don’t rate the 440 to have as much pure guts as a well worn 420.
Agree with specifying retarder, the normal Scania exhaust brake makes a noise and thats its sole contribution, Volvo’s standard 3 stage retarder makes a mockery of it.
Had a Volvo FM (450?) demo a few months ago, excellent drive and streets ahead of the economy of older FM 420’s i drove, engine retarder was superb, agree about the auto box its the business.
If you haven’t drive Volvos for a while try one, i was pleasantly surprised…except for the bloody mirrors which the cleaner designed and they still haven’t sorted to prevent the massive blind spots.
edit, just one thing, having used extensively a Daf CF 460 manual 16 speed, lorry engine gearbox combination was very impressive, rang rings round other vehicles on tank work, and gave every bit as good fuel consumption as Scania whilst covering the ground easier and quicker.
Tight manoeuvers were a joy, no waiting interminably for the box to serve a gear up, a real modern drivers lorry.
Lot to be said for an old school lorry, which CF so specced certainly is.
I am no fan of fully laden auto boxes on tight farms.
