1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148 
Message to CM truck testers: 'The Swedes have got it right'
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WAS RELIEVED to see in your recent tractor nit test that Volvo came last, not because I am ti-Volvo, but because it has had so much press ately one could almost think you were biased.
What really amuses me is the way your testers hink their opinion is right, and continually drum n about the clutch on Scania Opticruise.
Having driven thousand of miles in an Opticruise Scania I can't fault it, and wouldn't want a vehicle, even an auto, without one. The only time it has been a problem was when a friend was going to drive for ,. He had a broken foot but was driving his auto ear with no problems, but obviously couldn't drive the lorry because of the clutch.
I had the chance to look at one of the opposition vehicles recently. What did I find'? A hill-start switch to allow time to move the foot from the brake to the thmttle; another switch so it could be locked into low gear and reverse for shunting; and another switch to allow one to rock back and forth if stuck — three switches and electrical circuits to replace just one clutch. Sorry chaps, I think I'd rather have just one simple straightforward clutch, and, to that end,
I think the Swedes have got it right and should stick to their policy, even if it does irk CM's testers. Vernon Hill Via email
Ed's note: "We're happy to agree to differ over Opticruise. But, your complaint about excessive coverage of Volvo may be became it is one of just a few manufacturers whose press departments have not retrenched virtually into oblivion under cover of the recession — a situation we find quite frustrating."