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TRACTOR
Page 29
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Winner:
OAF 85CF 6x2
Others: Scania 480 Scania R124 Mercedes-Benz Axor Oaf 85CF 4x2 We're not quite sure why, but 2002 was a lean year for testing top-weight tractors. The arrival of Euro-3 could well have scared away those eager to preserve reputations won with an old Euro-2 diesel. Or maybe there weren't many new models around. Either way, we finished with a shortlist of just five, split between three 40-tonne 4x2s and a pair of maximum weight 6x2s.
For the record, 2002 was the year we finally moved up to testing at 44-tonnes on six axles. The effect was surprising. While we might have expected the extra three tonnes to hit fuel consumption hard, its impact has been pretty minimal on normal A-roads and motorways. Over our 'severe gradients' section, however; it not only hammered average speed but also encourages a tractor to drink like a submarine sailor on shore leave.
The three 40-tonners cover a broad spectrum—from an ultimate owner-driver machine in the shape of a VB-powered Scanla 8164.480 to a classic 'gaffer's motor' contender with the new Axor 18401.3, with a distribution driver's dream of a Daf 85380 somewhere In between. The Swedish truck maker's reputation for driver comfort remains untarnished as we noted: the low in-cab noise figures in particular were truly amazing...". And, while we felt Scanla's 12-litre turbo-compound 470 offered better value than a big V8 480, the latter still "retains the fantastically easy (almost gearchange-freel driving of its big brother," the 8164-580. Certainly, when it comes to residual values, nobody ever lost their job for buying a Scania V8. However, the bigger the truck, the smaller the payload. Furthermore the 8164-480gs 7.59mpg is the price of all that power. By contrast, the Axor's 7.93mpg hauling a 26-tonne payload should keep any miserly haulier happy, while fleet engineers will be drawn to Its non-electronic brakes, simple nine-speed box and industry standard 12-litre straight six. But will drivers like it? We found the 400hp six-pot to be very torquey, pulling from 850rpm with gusto. Matched with the nine-speed box, it's a very flexible driveline.
Once inside, the narrower Atego cab clearly loses out to full-width rivals but the finish is good and comfort levels are fine. If you're watching the pennies, list price is very Impressive but don't expect a sky-high residual if you buy a cheap three-pointed star.
The Oaf seems to have something for everyone. Drivers will love the surprisingly spacious and aptly named Space Cab, and just about the best quality interior in the business. Although most likely to be used for urban distribution, the tractor we drove had quite enough accommodation to make It to the new Argos ROC in Ulan Bator. Apart from a possible tinge of jealousy, there's nothing to frighten off the boss either, Its fuel returns match the Axor's.
Our two 6rt2s were more than up for their trip at 44 tonnes, especially the 420hp Scania 8124 'lite' which, equipped with 19.5in wheels on its mid-lift axle, tipped the scales with a full tank at just 7,347kg ensuring an excellent 29.65tonne payload. If you are earning by the load you'd be daft to ignore it. Like Its 8164 stablemate the Scania 8124's ''comfort and driveability are as good as ever...". However, If you want maximum standardisation across your fleet the tractor's smaller wheels can't be changed back to 22.5in rims—so it's likely to have less second-hand appeal than a normal 6x2.
Having tested Oat's new CF85.430 FTC with the optional Space Cab we can now see why the narrow but tall' genre of high-reef fleet tractors has grown so fast. In fact, the CF with Space Cab combo actually delivers more internal headroom than an XF95, and pretty much the same storage space too, while its driver appeal is undeniable. The real clincher is that it uses the same fuel-efficient 12.6-1Itre Daf diesel as its bigger brother and the Dutch six-pot's reputation for economy remains undiminished—around our three-day route the CF delivered 7.69mpg while its average speed was second only to the mighty V8 Scania. A 28.99-tonne payload is not to be sniffed at either. As we said at the time: "Anyone aiming to beat the CF85.430 twin-steer will need to come up with something pretty special."
And so to the reckoning. Five trucks, five very different reasons for buying each of them. If we were looking for the ultimate high-performance driving machine, we'd take the Scania. If we wanted a goad fleet trunker, we'd be stuck choosing between the Axor and the Daf for different reasons. For maximum payloads it would have to be the Scania 8124 lite. But put all those things together, and when It comes down to outright productivity, there's no question about it— Oaf's CF85.430 six-wheeler Is the clear winner. And it's our new tractor Testers' Choice for 2003.