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Driving impressions

19th August 2004, Page 65
19th August 2004
Page 65
Page 65, 19th August 2004 — Driving impressions
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Adnams' Kevin Welts managed to find a two-hour lunchtime slot when the MAN was between jobs and kindly agreed to let CMtake it for a drive. Due to Adnarnsi location, a 30-mile, hour-long journey to the nearest dual-carriageway, we can't comment on the MANS highspeed behaviour, but on narrow and twisty minor roads it proved little harder to drive than a 7.5-tonner.

The steered rear axle made itself known at the front end, helping to reduce any understeer in slow, tight bends, although there was a noticeable amount of cab lean in tight spots.

With a nominal 310hp hauling 26 tonnes, performance was brisk; an essential feature on the type of road where speeds are continuously up and down the less time it takes to get back up to cruising speed the better your journey time.

Even fully freighted there was enough evenly spread torque available to make the splitter almost redundant; it was best kept for a bit of help when the hills got a touch sharper. Even at speeds around the 40mph limit it would trundle along happily in top gear Comfort Shift, MAN's unique thumb-operated clutch, comes into its own in this sort of work, saving a lot of effort during a full day's driving. Manoeuvrability is impressive so much so that when we decided to do a U-turn through a lay-by to head back to Southwold, MAN's PR man sitting on the bunk didn't believe it was possible.

The TGA's odometer only passed the 10,000km mark during our drive, so the owners are right to be pleased with fuel consumption which is already better than 10.5mpg.

Just as importantly, the drivers like it. Apart from the artics, Adnams has a policy of 'any driver takes any truck', and Kevin Wells says: "I can't remember another truck with absolutely no negative feedback."

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