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Go for gold CM tests more commercial vehicles than anyone else and now we
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This week we highlight two tractors from Mercedes-Benz. The Axor is just two years old with only a few on the used market — in six months' time it should start to be better established. The Actros, now the flagship tractor, is a firm favourite with fleet managers, owner-drivers and drivers alike. Vehicle: Axor 1840LS 0M457LA Euro-3 12-litre Tested: 14 November 2002 charge-cooled turbo-diesel with Specifications four valves per cylinder, unit Engine: Mercedes-Benz injection and Telligent electronic engine management Power: 396hp (295kW) at 1,90Orpm Torque: 2,000Nm (1,4751bfit) at 1,10Orpm Transmission: Mercedes-Benz 0221-9 eight-speed plus crawler rangechange gearbox Torque: 2,000Nm (1,4751bfit) at 1,10Orpm Transmission: Mercedes-Benz 0221-9 eight-speed plus crawler rangechange gearbox Terms of war ranty:Th ree years or 450,000km Weight tested: 40,000kg on five axles with 26,100kg payload Operational trial results (Scottish three-day route) Average speed: 72km/h (45.1mph). Fuel consumption: 7.93mpg (35.61it/100km)
Price when tested: £48,266 (ex-VAT); inc basic chassis-cab, £44,620; air kit (inc side skirts), £1,873; metallic paint, £1,300; and Jost sliding fifth wheel, £470. Summary
The Axor was either going to be the best of both worlds, or neither one thing or another. Fortunately for DaimlerChrysler's UK ambitions, it falls more into the former camp.
Its productivity and performance results are up there with the best of the sector, while its fleet-biased specification proves to potential operators and drivers that simple doesn't have to mean spartan.
With a genuine identity of its own the Axor certainly knows where it's going, and in doing so it leaves the way clear for the Actros to go its own, more glamorous, way too.
It's not often that we reach the end of a test and suggest you don't buy the subject, but in this case we will. Don't buy an Axor 1840 — buy yourself an Axor 1843 instead, and cheat the residual value system. Even if you're leasing, the figures will probably talk for themselves. So now what's your excuse? • Vehicle: Actros 2543LS Tested: 26 July 2001 Specifications Engine: MB 0M501LA chargecooled with four valves per cylinder. Direct injection via unit injectors with Telligent electronic control Power: 422hp (315kW) at 1,80rpm Torque: 2,000Nm (1,475Ibft) at 1,08Orpm Transmission: MB G211-16 16-speed synchromesh range change/splitter gearbox with the Telligent semi-automatic gearshift Terms of warranty when tested: Six months/ 600,000km, inc call-out or recovery service Weight tested: 41,000kg on six axles, with a 25,600kg payload Operational trial results Average speed: 72.2km/h (42.9mph). Fuel consumption: 7.53mpg (37.51it/100km) Price when tested: £61,077 (ex-VAT); inc basic chassis-cab, £54,530; sliding fifth wheel, £1,129; alloy wheels, £1,882; air suspended passenger seat, £376; air conditioning, £1,129; roof and side air defectors, £1,195; upper bunk, £440; electronic cab tilt, £396 Summary
The Long Distance Actros may still not shout out fleet appeal, but it represents a logical buy at a very attractive price. Get over the quirky gearchange (they say, it's not the easiest shift to master) and you'll be rewarded with a refined, comfortable, effort-free drive. And there's always the excellent warranty and low maintenance costs to keep you going. Fuel consumption is not re
markable, but it sets a significant benchmark for mainstream Euro-3 trucks, while performance is more than adequate. Importantly, the weight/performance compromise is well struck in the 2543— go for Merc's more powerfulV8 and you'll sacrifice around 280kg of payload.
So the Actros turns out to be a real contender in this highly competitive light-heavyweight class, making the choice even more difficult than before. And to stretch the boxing analogy further, it seems you can never count Mercedes out.