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Daft late bloomer
Page 72
Page 73
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There's no doubting Daf's success with the XF95, which has managed to please operators and drivers alike. Here's one CM put through its paces.
In 2003 we asked whether the Dutch had dwelled on the success of the XF95 just a bit too long.After all, younger competitors from Scandinavia, Germany and France had reached and breached Dais "line in the sand".
While the Paccar-backed manufacturer was still pushing the new-look CF85, CM took an XF95 480 4x2, complete with Spacecab. around ill/ the two-day Scottish test route.
A model launched as long ago as 1987 would normally be described as getting long in the tooth, but in the truck trade it's considered more polite to see it as part of the furniture (as is the case with those other modern classics, the Volvo FH and Renault Magnum).
While the Daf XF got tweaks and revamps the FH got a major overhaul and Scania introduced the R-Series. But Daf hadn't folded — the XF in 2003 was still punching its weight and operators might well still be looking to the XF as a potential fleet motor in the climate of driver retention.
Helped by its 12-speed ZF AS-Tronic transmission this Euro-3 version returned 8.85mpg at 40 tonnes over the arduous route. With such a vehicle appealing to owner-drivers and smaller fleet set-ups fuel figures like this — beaten only by a Renault Magnum 480 — should help swell interest and no doubt sales.
The lowdown Our table shows the big Daf can hold its head up on all the ownership "must-haves" that count, from payload to parts prices, and its contract maintenance costs are another strong selling-point.
Residual values for the XF95 have been strong over recent years, while Dal's dealer network and the DafAid scheme have an enviable reputation for keeping those wheels rolling.
Retail price is only an indication of what you'll end up paying, but we hear that Daf is as capable as any of its rivals in providing a keen deal. However, as the basic Spacecab isn't exactly overflowing with goodies, be prepared to either pay more for the extras or, if you can afford it, go for the taller Super Spacecab, which carries more goodies as standard. •