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Shrugging off the miles
Page 70
Page 71
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Every week, CM drops in on a used truck dealer somewhere in the UK to run the rule over one of its wagons — and this one's a real beaut.
It's back to the south of England for this week's Taking Stock,and the second Welshreg truck to pass our way. CU 51 BWW is another Scania R124Topline. but this time it's one of the first of the latest versions with the highly efficient compound turbo 470 engines, and with a tag-axle behind its drive axle.
Hanbury Riverside director Lee Smith trawls the country for the best big tractors: this one came from Davies National Transport of Oswestry, which had used it for fridge and milk transport. It sports a 12-speed manual box and the Classic package which includes leather and walnut trim, integral retarder, alloy wheels, trip computer, lots of lights and loads more.
A pair of 400-litre alloy tanks give excellent fuel storage for a 44-tonner.
Condition
Despite more than a quarter of a million kilometres behind it, CU 51 BWW has the look of a much newer vehicle.The original white paint is virtually unmarked, with just a few tiny stone chips on the front corners, while some of the contrasting blue plastic panels reveal a few minor goes with the touch-up stick.
The only area where anything remotely like damage has occurred is the tops of the rear mudguards, which have been slightly scraped but repainted to a good standard. The windscreen has totally escaped any shrapnel.
It's possible to be cynical and think that a smart exterior might be the result of a quick blowover, but there's no easy way to disguise the signs of an abused interior. Sitting at the driving seat of CU 51 BWW. it takes a hard look to see any difference from new.
Only after the closest of nit-picking exercises did we find a tiny nick, about 2mm long, in the top of the passenger's end of the dash board.That and the fact that the ashtray hadn't been washed out were the only clues to its two years of service.
The black leather seats naturally have some of the softening and creasing that comes with use, but are totally unmarked otherwise. There's no evidence that the bunks had even been used for storage, let alone been slept on.
Chassis-wise. Michelin tyres with plenty of tread, are fitted all round.lhe right front has a few small chunks out of the tread, but nothing to worry the law.
The Alcoa alloys have lost their factory shine, but are unmarked.The Jost sliding fifth wheel is still wear free.
Driving
Bob-tailing at 470hp is always going to produce lively performance, and we weren't disappointed. Changing gears in the GRS900 12-speed gearbox was a delight, as the shift wa easy but not sloppy.
There was a hint of play from side to side, but that seemed to be from the folding lever mechanism — it certainly wasn't noticeable during changes. The only thing approaching a negative was the steering, which felt as though there was a touch more play than there should have been, especially on the ruts of the A13.
The cockpit experience was as quiet as you would expect from a new Scania, with just a hint of whistle from the two sets of turbo blades at high loads. Inside, everything works, which is really all you can ask.
Bottom line
All trucks sold by Hanbury Riverside come with a three-month driveline warranty, but this example also comes with the last month or so of its Scania cover.
It was about to go to the local dealer for a check over, during which any problems (which as far as we could tell only amounted to the steering) will be addressed. As with the last Scania we looked at, the asking price is a few grand above the guide price, hut the market seems willing to pay over the odds for good Scanias — and you're unlikely to find one that's better than this one.
From a writing point of view, this has been rather a boring story with little to criticise. Hanbury Riverside trades under the slogan". can't believe it's not new",and that certainly applies to CU 51 BWW.The fact that a truck can get through that much work and still look so good is a testament to its driver, its owner and its manufacturer.
Dealer profile
Part of the Hanbury Group, Hanbury Riverside is an independent dealer located in the shadow of the QE2 bridge at Dartford. It specialises in high quality tractors up to three or four years old,with a preference for Dafs, Scanias and Volvos.
Contact Sales director Lee Smith on 01708 866187; www.hanburyriverside.co.uk. •