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ON THE ROAD We recently took the FL and FE
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for a run round Volvo Trucks' Warwick HQ, and despite one or two little niggles we came away extremely impressed. Butt irst, the niggles: mirror wobble and an awkward gearshift. In fairness the shift is likely to improve with use, but the mirror wobble particularly pronounced in the FL 18-tanner needs attention. The mirrors are quite big, giving a superb rear view, but the arm needs some support to stop the vibration.
Anyway, moan over what of the plus points? First up, the engines. Our 18-tonner, tipping the scales at a commendable 6,680kg complete with Rouse aggregates tipper body, was powered by the 280hp version of the D7E motor. Not surprisingly, it was untroubled by anything the Warwickshire countryside could put in its path.
Colleagues who drove the new range at the Swedish launch considered the engine to be a bit noisy, but that wasn't noticeable this time round. True, the engine seems to prefer being stoked along rather than labouring at lower revs, but noise intrusion was never an issue. In both the applications we tried, this engine was a willing worker and while the gearshift has room for improvement, the gear match ensured there was a cog for all occasions.
The handling of both chassis was very good and the ride characteristics were excellent, leaving the driver feeling totally in control at all times. Double-drive six-wheelers can have a tendency to understeer, particularly at low speeds in damp conditions, but the steering of the FE was accurate and sure-footed. The exhaust brake on the little engine isn't up to much, giving only 130kW (100hp) of braking effort at 2,800rpm. The optional engine compression brake offers 188kW (150hp) of retardation,
The cads of both models are very well arranged with a clear view of the controls and sensibly positioned switches. The radio controls are now mounted on the steering wheel and the cab has umpteen storage options, with a particularly impressive engine tunnel storage box giving enough space for the proverbial kitchen sink.