Daewoo D75

13th May 2004, Page 43

13th May 2004

Page 43

Page 43, 13th May 2004 — Daewoo D75

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Daewoo's Fantasy Pony (we sleep in them; we don't name them) certainly stands out from the crowd. From outside, the bulbous sleeper cab looked promising and drivers who open its doors for the fust time are likely to be impressed with its lofty heights. Sleeping accommodation above the cab gives a cathedral-like sensation; it feels like a much bigger truck.

Say you'd just completed an arduous day on the road, looked out for sloppy motorists, and negotiated busy roads.Would the Daewoo have the ability to soothe a tired mind and body? It was tricky to pull the curtains along their rails—surely frustrating after a long day on the road —but when this task was completed the Fantasy Pony interior was suitably shielded from intrusive light.The lower bunk is a substantial size; ideal for flopping onto after a tough day.

A reading light is sensibly positioned next to the bunk, but it was the bunk above the seats which really caught our imagination. There are no steps into this compartment, and it's too high to perch a knee on the edge so agility is vital .The only method of entry was a deft "Spiderman" manoeuvre which involved clutching both sides of the entrance hatch, elevating both feet onto its edges, and powering your body up into the bunk. Once there, the outside world seemed light years away. We'd turned the night heater on before entering the top bunk. It proved to be efficient, and powerful enough to maintain a comfortable temperature. Netting fastened to the bunk floor could be neatly attached to the ceiling to avoid the risk of a slumbering driver dropping through the

hatch.The radio/CD player, mounted between the windscreen's top and the hatch, is within reach of the driver's seat and the top bunk. The cab designers are clearly big illumination fans, with two lights up top and three more down below, as well as the soothing red light emitted by the cab's clock.

We were impressed with the liberal use of skylights —perfect for laying back for a bit of stargazing, and ideal for letting in a spot of fresh air. The Daewoo is also well supplied with storage compartments. Safely ensconced in the top bunk, with gentle lighting down below, we got that homely feel which a hardworking driver needs. Time for bed. The top mattress was firm, but it offered a decent level of comfort. Soundproofing was good, adequately muffling the sound of high-performance cars racing around the MIRA test track. But the night heater

proved to be too loud, and the sound tended to oscillate: bad news for a light sleeper.

Before settling down we chose to turn off the heater and risk braving the cold, which meant dropping through the hatch (a large, flat area between the seats makes for a safe, clean landing).Then off to sleep.

But at 5am the cold woke us up, which coincided with the call of nature. So it was back through the hatch. When the cab's doors are fully opened they refuse to stay open so we had to conduct a clever nocturnal operation which involved clutching the door while climbing out of the cab.

All in all, though, the Daewoo Fantasy Pony proved to be a good home from home. If that noisy heater and the frustrating door problem can be remedied, this piece of equipment will be a serious contender in the world of the 7.5-tonne sleeper.