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10th June 2004, Page 62
10th June 2004
Page 62
Page 63
Page 62, 10th June 2004 — Bargains
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

galore!

Armed with a £10,000 budget, our used truck buyer trawls through one week's CM private

sales ads in search of a tractor.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine.

Chink... thud.That's the sound of Commercial Motor dropping through the letterbox and on to the doormat. It's Thursday, 3 June, we've got 10 grand to spend on a tractor unit — preferably a 6x2 — and our mission is to find one within the small ads of the Used Truck & Van section.Tempting as it is to browse the editorial section first, we breeze past it and delve into the business end of the magazine. Here's the brief. We're helping anew recruit to the transport ranks who is on the lookout for a decent 6x2 tractor. Not wishing to

overstretch the budget in the first few months, we're looking for a bog-standard unit that's been well maintained to give him a decent start in the business.

The first skim reveals a number of likely contenders. Listed under Daf, there's a 6x2 95.430 Spacecab in at a rock-bottom £3,300, and under ERF there's a host of 6x2 units within the budget. A 1989 EC14 powered by the legendary 14-litre Cummins is offered at £3,850, while there's also an R-reg EC11 at £5,450. Just outside the budget, but worth a look is a Foden Alpha 6x2 at £10,500.An Iveco at £9,750 is also probably worth a second look,

as is a Renault Premium 400 for £10,000. Although we thought Scanias and Volvos would be beyond our budget, there are a few worthy of closer inspection: an M-reg R143.450 looks tempting at £9,750 and another at £6,500 is definitely worth pursuing. We might also return to a 1999 T-reg Volvo FM12.380.

With a shortlist compiled, we hit the phones... and soon find out that you've got to be swift out of the blocks in this game!

The 6x2 Daf had already been sold by the time we started dialling. So we'd better look at the 1994 M-reg ERF EC14 — a pity it's only a 4x2 unit but, with the operator looking for nearest offer to £3,850, it has to be worth considering, not least because of the 14-litre Cummins-Eaton twinsplitter driveline combination. Kent-based Stears Haulage has had it on general haulage since 1999, and before that it was on cement work. The 6x2 Foden Alpha, on at £10,500 is right at the top of our budget, but seems very promising.The Scottish owner,Davey Myles, is packing up transport to go and run a farm, and his well maintained,1999-registered truck could be just what we're after with only 300,000km on the clock. With the truck in Scotland and our buyer in the Midlands, however, the distance does put us off. If we were closer,

we'd certainly be booking a visit. Distance is enough to put us off the 1995, M-reg Scania 143.450, too. Although the attractive Distance is enough to put us off the 1995, M-reg Scania 143.450, too. Although the attractive

£6,500 price tag is initially compelling, the truck's in Inverness, has covered 900,000km and is only plated for 41-tonne operation. So we cross it off the list. The other Scania we had earmarked is in the north-east, but a call to the seller reveals we've missed the boat—it has already changed hands. On to the next, and our early excitement regarding the Volvo FM12.380 is tempered a bit by the £13,250 asking price. The 1999-regT-plate model has clocked up 380,000km since new and it's in excellent missed the boat—it has already changed hands. On to the next, and our early excitement regarding the Volvo FM12.380 is tempered a bit by the £13,250 asking price. The 1999-regT-plate model has clocked up 380,000km since new and it's in excellent

condition, says the Derby seller. Tempting, but we have a budget, and a line goes through this FM as far as we're concerned.

condition, says the Derby seller. Tempting, but we have a budget, and a line goes through this FM as far as we're concerned.

That leaves us with two options. The £9,750, 430hp Iveco EuroStar 6x2 with high-roof cab seems a good bet, considering it's a 1999 V-reg machine, but we reckon a better option will be the Renault Premium 400 on the market at £10,000 from Mick Howard.

That leaves us with two options. The £9,750, 430hp Iveco EuroStar 6x2 with high-roof cab seems a good bet, considering it's a 1999 V-reg machine, but we reckon a better option will be the Renault Premium 400 on the market at £10,000 from Mick Howard. Plated for 44 tonnes, equipped with the high-roof cab and with an MoT until November, this could be just what we're after.The next step would be to book a test drive, but we'll have to be quick. •


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