DRIVER IMPRESSIONS
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Dutch magazine Nekstat enlisted the help of five professional distribution drivers from nearby Doetinchem to help judge tlie five trucks. Each was given a 24-point checklist of questions, and asked to award marks out of 10 foi every feature. Questions ranged from "How easy are the windows to clean?" to "What are the gear ratios like?" with most of the emphasis on the cab interior.
The results were interesting the MAN came across as the clear winner, getting overall top spot with three of the five drivers. But with its powerful engine and its excellent cab we were hardly surprised. Two drivers chose the lveco as their favourite, though it dropped to fourth spot for one driver.
The Renault looked distinctly middle-of-the-road: every single driver ranked it third out office.
What surprised us was the reaction to the Mercedes: four out of five drivers ranked it lowest of all, only one rating it higher than the Daf. Whether this was a reflection of its relatively low-powered engine, or a hit of national favouritism on the Oaf's part, it's a much more negative opinion than we would expect.
It would be interesting to see what British drivers would make of the five trucks...