D engine, and the eightspeed box was no limitation. Seventh
Page 30
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
proved to be ideal for A-road work, though you could drop it into top on the flat without complaint.
We didn't find the brakes as bad as one of the working drivers did (see page 28), and felt that the Volvo was fully in control at all times, though there was a hint of fade on the steepest parts of the route. We were less than impressed by the engine brake, which needed to be taken somewhere near the red line of 2.500rpm to show any appreciable effect.
The steering was pretty sharp and had plenty of feedback, which was more than welcome on the tortuous hills between Newtown and Llandrindod Wells, while the ride was quite smooth enough. As we found with the used Scania RT13 we tested last year, it seems that several years' work helps the suspension bed in properly.
CAB COMFORT
Ascending the two steps into the FLio's cab was easy, though we saw one of the few clear signs of the truck's age in the scratched paint on the handrail. The environment was pretty familiar too; the instruments were clear and logical, while some of the controls were worn a bit smooth (smoother than the steering wheel, at any rate).
The earliest FL os, launched in 1985, made do with a fixed seat and relied on the fourpoint cab suspension to do the work. By all accounts (or at least the account of our test in 1988) this worked fine, but later examples came with a sprang seat which improved matters further. We were comfortable for the two days of the test, but standards have improved and not all drivers were convinced.
At first the driver's seat on this vehicle seat squeaked like a cartoon mouse, but a squirt or two of WD4o quietened it down. The roof spoiler rattled a bit, too but again, this is hardly a tricky problem.
SUMMARY
This low-mileage 1:Lro seemed to have everything you'd need at 32 tonnes, even if it was less luxurious than the newer FM (it weighed less, too). With the reassurance of a factory. backed warranty, albeit a short one, and relatively low mileage it could give a parcels open ator good service long after it has paid for itself. Better yet, it's in white, so a change of livery would be no problem.
The only uncertainties are whether a vehicle like this might be penalised for its emissions in years to come, and, er, that's it, actually. Oh yes—remember to keep some WD4 o handy for the seat.
So, get connected to the Net and give this truck a go—or you could even give Thomas Hardie Commercials a call. Either way, we don't expect this one to be on the market for long.
M by Toby Clark