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8 BELOW ZERO
Page 44
Page 45
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Bigger is better... it might not be true of everything in life. But as every driver knows, when you're spending the night in a steel and plastic box after a hard day's driving, size does matter.
fter last year's traumatic night away in a batch of 75-tonners the Ch4 test team Fell they'd earned a treal.So this year's brief to Britain's truck sellers was simple:"Give us the biggest and best cabs you've got!" They responded with a full house of top-spec tractors representing varying levels or product maturity' from the about-to-be-rejuvenated Renault Magnum to Scania's latest R-Series.
MAN UK initiated the current trend for limited-edition high-spec tractors with the Excalibur,and the MAN-ERF group duly delivered its two current contenders.The MAN TGA 5 Star is Munich's trans-Euro flagship, while the Cheshire heritage brand has revived a classic name, the ERF Olympic.
The other German in this company is the range-topping Mercedes-Benz Actros Mega Space Executive,complete with the singleoccupant 'kitchenette package.Also aimed specifically at the single driver is the truck that did so much to advance big cab design, the Renault Magnum, seen here in Solo guise.
Iveco's Stralis made its cab test debut in top Active Space form. It's a vast improvement in every way over the old EuroStar, but we were keen to see how it fares as a home-from home. Dafs XF95 Super Space Cab has been around a while but is still has a loyal following, especially among true long-distance operators. Can it still see off the newcomers?
A big cab test wouldn't be valid without the Scandinavians, and both obliged.
FH's final function
Volvo's now familiar Globetrotter XL came atop the 16-litre,610hp driveline for added spice. Last year's CV Show truck, this was the FH16's last official function before heading off to a lucky Welsh operator.
Finally,to prove that not all the trucks you see in these pages are carefully run-in examples, there's Scania's contribution.A slight mix-up saw the planned R580 still in the paint shoRso literally two hours before the test started a customer's brand new R420 left Milton Keynes with 17km on the clock. Stung by some criticism of its new pride and joy, Scania promised changes to the basic spec and this example had them, including proper lids for the over-screen lockers and the inclusion of the downhill cruise control function.
While other publications might spend the odd night cabbing it, Conimercial Motor's annual cab test remains the only attempt to gather all the leading contenders together for a thorough mix of objective fact and subjective opinion.
This year's test was staged earlier than usual in an attempt to gain more challenging weather conditions. It certainly worked, as the day alternated between bright sunshine and heavy snowfall. in