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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Page 40
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TIPPER LITE 2009
And the winner is...
Commercial Motor woulo like to thank our own Sandra Greaves for providing refreshments and Renault Trucks for loaning us its hospitality trailer for the lunches to be served.
Thanks also to the team at Smiths of Bletchington and the Ardley Quarry who allowed us to be based on site, using their aggregates for ballast, and their facilities, plus providing a challenging 23-mile route to assess each vehicle. The points tally tells us the best in show was the M-B Sprinter crewcab. It edged out the all-singing, all-dancing Iveco Daily by a single point, with the VW Crafter and lsuzu Grafter vying for third.
lsuzu, with its 147hp engine, achieved the best combined score for engine performance and road handling. That an Asian product should edge out Iveco and Merc is testament to its driveline and characteristics.
The Sprinter and Crafter offer the best ride no coincidence that both are built in the same M-B factory. And full marks to the Scattolini body on the Renault Maxity, with its autotailgate release.
Based on the manufacturers' chassis-cab weights (full fuel tanks and no driver). the Isuzu Grafter was 195kg lighter than its nearest competitor.
Ford Transit delivered the most oomph, a whopping 197hp, while Citroen edged out WV for the least horses, and Iveco offered an impressive auto-box.
But points make prizes, and the rightful winner is M-B. However if you want a day cab with three seats, then Iveco, Isuzu or Volkswagen will more than suffice.