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Scanning for Scanias
Page 68
Page 69
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For this week's dealer-drop-in we made our first visit to the West Country. Scania's own outlet in Avonmouth handles a stream of vehicles returning from contract hire and does a brisk trade in tippers.
It's been just over a year since Jim Kearney moved south from Scotland to become used regional sales manager for Scania South-West and SouthEast in Avonmouth, near Bristol.
Apart from enjoying the warmer weather it's business as usual for Kearney, who has spent 21 years in Scania colours.
Wide ranging interests
He moved from Reliable Vehicles to cover Scania's used truck interests from Heathrow, west to Exeter and south to Southampton.The majority of the vehicles he handles come from contract hire or part exchanges, where any make could be taken in.
Although supply and demand through the Approved Used Trucks scheme has been indif ferent in 2003, turnover has risen 35% in the past year.The influx of vehicles is pretty much controlled as he knows what's coming and when contracts will end. Tippers are always popular but Avonmouth stocks the full range of rigids and tractors — in the 6x2 tractor market demand is high for 380 and 420hp twin-steers. Kearney sources vehicles direct from Scania, and can pick up and sell a truck from any part of the UK. He has a team of three salesmen and shows used vehi cies at Exeter, Swindon,Fareham, Heathrow and Southampton as well as Avonmouth. There's even an indoor showroom which he was restocking during our visit.
At any one time there are generally up to 100 vehicles on the various forecourts and they all come with Scania's standard three-month driveline warranty and a minimum of six months' MorThe firm runs a 24hr work shop with 30 mechanics.
Current stock On the Avonmouth forecourt our eye is caught by X518 ACF, a R124L 6x2 420hp tractor with a mid-lift axle and tipping gear. It's plated at 44 tonnes and has a fixed fifth wheel. Since being plated in November 2000 it's clocked 310,000km; now, just back from contract hire on the South Coast, it's priced at £33,000 (ex-VAT).
Right next to it is an 11-litre R114L 6x2 twin-steer 380hp tractor with a sliding fifth wheel.V803 EFT was plated in September 1999, and has done 630,000km. It's fitted with twin fuel tanks.There's a little rust on the lead-up ramps and the wheelarches look recently changed, but it's very clean. The price tag is123,000 (ex-VAT). •