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CAB COMFORT
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The FH's pronounced curving front profile has always been good news aerodynamically, if less than handy for cab access—thus its step layout has meant that climbing into the FH has never been quite as easy as Its more slab-fronted rivals. But once inside, you'll find the trademark curving FH dash finished In a practical grey trim. While ergonomically It ensures that everything's well within reach, we've found It rather restrictive in the past. Despite being a top-of-the-range cabin, the Globetrotter GXL still does not have a completely flat floor, unlike the MegaSpace Actros or Magnum. However, replacing the normal manual lever and pedestal with the less intrusive I-Shift gearstick (which also folds flat) means it's easier to slide out of the seat and move across the cabin. That freedom of movement is further enhanced by the lack of any centre console.
Inside the FH cab, there's plenty of storage space including three big lockers within the solid headlining, which oozes build quality. On the rear wall above the top bunk are more lockers with neat roller shutters, although with the bed down there's not much headroom beneath them. Meanwhile, the doors have useful pockets: there are also two can holders and a bottle holder in the fascia.
With the 'Office' options pack it Is relatively easy to convert the bed base Into a table top and back again— although we would question how many drivers will actually want to do it after nine hours on the road.
The bottom bed cushions don't look particularly sup portive, although when we tested a 6x2 F1112 with 'Office' pack In our last Sleeper Cab Test (CM 30 May 5-June 2002) its four-piece mattress didn't stop our tester getting a good night's sleep. Ultimately, we reckon that more operators will want a fixed bottom bunk which provides for a central slide-out cabinet or fridge.
It's worth noting that, while the FH has two side lockers, you can only get to them from outside—when it's blowing a storm we'd prefer to have access to at least one of them from the inside.
The FH Instrument panel is easy to read but Volvo (like Oaf) needs to fit a proper right-hand-drive speedo marked In mph first, and then km/h. Tucked down in the left-hand side of the dash was a Dynafieet data logger which provides information for both driver and manager, including trip and fuel consumption details as well as vehicle status. In the middle of the main binnacle is the central driver information display that can be set up to show whatever you want to see, such as service intervals. Noisewise, the big Globetrotter cab Is on a par with the likes of Scania and Oaf.
"Attention to detail" Is an expression that inevitably comes to mind when you're inside the Fit prompted by the smoke alarm, neat sliding side blinds and fingertip radio controls on the steering wheel