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OPERATOR EXPERIENCE
Page 167
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R.ENAULT MASTER P35 TIPPER RIGID. DRIGINALLY TESTED: 1/2/86.
ENGINE: PETROL: 80hp. TEARBOXI 5-speed. IACK AXLE RATIO: not given.
TESTED GVW: 3,500kg.
DVERALL RESULTS: 16.4mpg/40.4mph. DRIGINAL TEST REPORT PLUS POINTS: Liood payload/rear-wheel-drive/good cross cab tccess/good cab stowage. DRIGINAL TEST REPORT MINUS POINTS: Ugly/thirsty/power-steering uncertain it speed/high noise levels/poor near-side mirror ocation/wipers inefficient/harsh gearbox/poor .ngine access.
Dperators I and 2 are both engaged in spot hire Ind contract hire opeations. Dperator 3 is a one vehicle jobbing builder. All agreed that the Master was a rather ugly looking vehicle but gave good reliability. Because of the type of work the vehicles were doing, all the operators reported body damage but felt that the Renault stood up to punishment quite well. Servicing with the hire operators was carried out at the correct intervals. The jobbing builder, once the warranty period had passed, was not so meticulous and tended to do his own servicing 'when he had time'. Despite this haphazard method, he reported no major faults and 'had never been let down'.
Feedback from drivers of the hire vehicles was.not very forthcoming and the operators felt that this was typical of any temporary vehicle. Reliability, considering the type of abuse most hire vehicles are subjected to. was above average when compared to other marques.
The fuel consumption of the vehicles was not consistently monitored and, whilst the builder rated his mpg figure as low, the hire operators described their's as average, and slightly above. There was no indication that, given a choice, spot hire customers would have preferred an alternative vehicle to the Renault.
Being the sole driver, the jobbing builder was better able to give a subjective opinion. He rated the vehicle's torque, traction and payload capabilities. He was the only one to have gearbox problems and needed a replacement unit under warranty. This replacement gave no further trouble.
The servicing aspect of the vehicle was rated as average although the builder did comment on the poor engine access. This aspect of the vehicle and the appearance were the only minus points commented upon. All three operators agreed with the plus points and all were quite happy to replace their vehicles with another Master.