Driving impressions
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The left-hand-drive MAN 24.403 is as smooth as you could could wish for. MAN is a master of the drawbar combination; it also pioneered front air suspension and advanced steering geometry. The F2000 cab is an improved version of the G90 original. There's the usual multiway air seat to keep the driver comfy. Electric windows are hancy when you want to lean out during those tricky reverse manoeuvres but we were a little surprised by the lack of electrically adjusted mirrors.
The 6x2 chassis' air suspension keeps things very smooth and surprisingly quiet. We find the 16-speed ZF transmission rather too fussy; being new it was also notchy, especially across the range-change, but it does the job well enough in terms of reliability and noise. Built to make full use of the length laws this is a big, big truck. The well-designed mirrors gave sweeping views of the trailer as we wound our way through Stoke-on-Trent. On the motorway those 400 horses make themselves felt. Soon we were up to cruising speed and settling in For the short run south.
The trailer ran dead straight behind the truck: looking in the mirrors we could trace a straight line down the sides of both bodies. With little weight on board and just delivery mileage on the clock it was impossible to get the most from Joyce's pride and joy, but it was clearly a well-balanced machine, which has all the credentials to more than earn its keep.