TO ttm A s the last model to use the Club
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of Four cab, Renault's Manager might seem a bit of an anachronism. But that venerable cab sits on a modern driveline, in a sturdy chassis, with a useful range of wheelbases.
Critics say the Manager is short of driver refinement, brakes and torque, despite a recent engine upgrade which accounts for the 210 badge. They have a point, but plenty of hard-headed operators are still buying Managers. Maybe they're available at a price that offsets any perceived shortcomings of an ageing design.
For this test we must thank Fraikin Truck Rental for the use of a three-year-old Manager G200.18ll. It had 132,000km on the clock and was serviced just before we took delivery. develops 196hp (144kW) at 2,500rpm with 4701bft (535Nm) of torque at 1,400rpm.
Behind the air-to-air charge-cooled Euro-1 diesel lies a Valeo single-plate clutch; ZF S6 six-speed synchromesh box with overdrive top; and a 5.43:1 Renault axle with 2:1 reduction hubs. An air-operated cross-axle diff-lock is standard. Standard tyres are Michelin 295/80 R22.5 X.ZYs.
ZF supplies the power steering but the Manager failed to deliver the turning circle promised by the spec sheet. We have encountered this failing in previous Renault tests.
Suspension comprises steel parabolic leaf springs all round with dual anti-roll bars. The result is a soft and sometimes stodgy ride when freighted, The brakes meet the necessary performance levels, but only with plenty of welly. Fraikin's men say customers frequently question brake performance with this vehicle and replacing components has not improved feel at the pedal.