Just a couple of little niggles, posted on the offchance that someone from Scania might occasionally visit.
12 volt cigarette lighter socket please. 24 volt is no good to man or beast. Yes, we know that there is a 12v Hella plug, but no in-vehicle electrical equipment is actually supplied with this, and we invalidate the warranty when we cut the original plug off. Plus, we shouldn`t have to.
In fact, several 12v sockets please.
Oh, and while we are all entranced by the romantic nature of the “roamin in the gloamin” interior lighting, we would prefer to have something we could actually read by. It was no good in the 3 series and its even worse now that the roof is three feet further away.
Not that Im complaining that youve finally caught up with E-reg Volvos. We DID want a larger cab, and we wanted one throughout the years when we all bought Globetrotters and Spacecabs cos you knew better than us, and wouldnt sell us one.
It`s niggling little faults like these that spoil Scanias, in my opinion. It used to be a motor you were proud of. King of the Road. What happened?
Liberace:
Could they move the splitter button from the top left of the gearstick. Doesn’t haf get in the way.
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the splitter rocker on the right hand side of the gearstick? The range change is of course on the collar at the bottom iirc.
Think I might find myself corrected - been yonks since I’ve had a Scania with a splitter.
Liberace:
Could they move the splitter button from the top left of the gearstick. Doesn’t haf get in the way.
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the splitter rocker on the right hand side of the gearstick? The range change is of course on the collar at the bottom iirc.
Think I might find myself corrected - been yonks since I’ve had a Scania with a splitter.
Cheers.
The range change on 12 speeders was on the collar, until 03 models when it got chnged to a proper switch - much better.
On the Topline models the splitter switch is right at the top of the lever, in the way, as Liber has said. Crazy place.
Yep, came off a transporter with 400k’s on the clock and they gave me the keys as they got 'em in. To add to the above, why oh why do they use that 'laggie band on the gearbox. The one I had you had to guard against it not changing up through the range properly - IE ending up in nutral (spelling). I’d have expected it with the T reg as people never start them as they’re supposed to be started off IE in first gear and the range changes goes all stroppy about it . Not this BRAND NEW MOTOR. You can’t use driver error/laziness as the excuse with that Scania.
Here`s another moan. In fairness, Scania is not the only culprit here.
We DO NOT NEED a night heater which can be programmed to come on at 21 different times over the next three weeks. We just want something which will either stay on all night, or (my preference) which can be set to come on in the morning WITHOUT HAVING TO BE A BLOODY ROCKET SCIENTIST in order to work out how to do this.
Why can`t they be like they used to? An analogue clock face with an orange hand to set the start time? Like an alarm clock?
Vince:
Here`s another moan. In fairness, Scania is not the only culprit here.
We DO NOT NEED a night heater which can be programmed to come on at 21 different times over the next three weeks. We just want something which will either stay on all night, or (my preference) which can be set to come on in the morning WITHOUT HAVING TO BE A BLOODY ROCKET SCIENTIST in order to work out how to do this.
Why can`t they be like they used to? An analogue clock face with an orange hand to set the start time? Like an alarm clock?
Vince
No I’m quite good at figuring things out but the Scania night-heater console baffles me (well, so did the Volvo one for a while too). The destructions on the back of it say to press this and that and job’s a good’un but they’re lying!
I have never managed to figure out how to change the temp level and all I can go it to do is crank the fan up where a relay clicks on and off for 392 hours blowing cold air out with the screen flashing ‘HEAT’ on and off constantly. Depending what mood it’s in it might just blow some heat out but then when it does do, it only does do for 15 mins before shutting off.
All we need is a temp dial and on and off button. If you think you’re likely to fall asleep you just set it low for all night and let it tick-over, just like you’d with the house central heating for example.
I don’t like the new gearstick either too easy to knock the splitter down,nor did I like the old one with the collar or the fact that it always rubbed your leg.You always had to try to turn the gearknob around so as the h/l (9sp) or splitter (12sp) was on the left hand side of the stick.
It all sounds a bit stupid calling your truck “King of the road” when they can’t even get the gearknob right
hit the nail on the head there…whats good about a scania ■■
night heater controls useless.got a mind of their own
seat very uncomfortable.(on going law suits) for back problems
sun visors dont give enough protection from the sun
air seats have a mind of their own …especially over rough ground…bounces you up to the ceiling
does not give enough leg room…or the fact it doesnt move back as far as i would like it…especialy on rest and watching tv.
top bunk does not fold to a halfway position…thereby making it useless to drive with it down…and so cannot use it for extra storage…my one was ■■■■■■■ with rope to a halfway position so i could put the fridge etc up there.
basically there is not enough room to swing a cat…the old 111 or 141 was a much better cab…more room etc…but uncomfortable…suspension was too rough…its about time manufacturers put the engine underneath the chassis.and give everyone that much extra space…and extend the cabs too another 3 feet…with built in cooking facilities…sink etc…oh well dream on…
What’s good about Scanias? They’re a nice, neutral, easy drive and I actually like 'em. There’s just some small faults that spoil them for me. They could so easily rectify them and make it into a cracking truck.
I’m with you mate, half the cost all the same niggles and you get same rate for the job !!
Agree about 12v plugs ciggerete lighter please.
Use my phone for alarm clock, tied the one on the night heater but the heater started instead didnt wake up til I was nicely done all over
i spoke with a carrs driver a couple of weeks ago, he was double manned with his wife in a new r series, didn’t have much good to say about it, he was rather tall - about 6 foot 2 and his missus was a fair bit smaller, he can’t sleep in the top bunk because of the position the ladders are he struggles to get in and out, his wife manages ok but she has difficulty getting out because she cannot see the ladders, the ladders don’t work smoothly and require manual force to bring them into the down position so they have to leave them down at night which makes it difficult for him to get into the bottom bunk. he has been and asked if he can have his old 4 series classic cab back but they said no. he also has the manual gearbox which he and his wife don’t like, i have to admit the gearstick is very ugly because of it’s invasion into the living space.
last night a met up with a monex driver who has just done his first week in a new r series and loves it, he has the opticruise version though and he is on his own which could make a difference. night heater controls are much simpler on the new r series but not sure how you go on if you sleep on the top bunk as the controls seem to be on a wire and placed in a bracket on the bottom.
i have to say from a personal view that i dislike the new scania r series interior, i think scania could have done much better, it’s a typical truck designers style and not a truck drivers style. i anticipate some changes to the interior in the future with possible 2 or 3 different versions being available including one with the top bunk back at the front a’ la 4 series. i also see them trying out something similar to ivecos, volvo’s and magnums split seating with table top working surface/office package.
I had an R Series topline for a week when my 4 series went in for a re-spray. Can’t say that I liked it much.
I don’t like the bed hanging from the ceiling by webbing straps, I prefer the self supporting bed in the 4 series topline.
I didn’t like the fact that the top bunk is now smaller. The driving position feels wrong. Can’t quite explain it, but it’s just wrong. The gear box seems to have been twisted so all the gears are at a funny angle, which makes driving it most unpleasant.
But on the plus side, I liked the trip computer, and the axle weighers, and the remote control which does the night heater, stereo, windows, etc. Shame they put it on an extendable lead so you can use it in the top bunk, but didn’t put any where to store it up there, so you have to either leave it on its mount on the back wall above the lower bunk, or tie it up in the stupid net thing that they insist on putting on those stupid webbing straps that hold the bed up !!
And as for that ladder. There are no words to describe just how cheap and useless that is !!
start them as they’re supposed to be started off IE in first gear and the range changes goes all stroppy about it 
. Not this BRAND NEW MOTOR. You can’t use driver error/laziness as the excuse with that Scania.
stooping to see under the useless sunvisor
