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Low on power high on desirability

6th April 2006, Page 68
6th April 2006
Page 68
Page 68, 6th April 2006 — Low on power high on desirability
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Looking back at CM's old roadtests can help you pick the right second-hand vehicle. This time we're focusing on a Scania 8x4 tipper we drove in 2003.

Scania is one of three manufacturers to sell multiaxle chassis in serious numbers on the UK market.The Swedes offer a package that ticks all the right boxes for aggregates and asphalt. Its products are tight enough for a 20-tonne-plus payload; they offer solid residuals, quality engineering and that special something that Scania lovers always refer to status.

Back in 2003, tippermen's lust for power pushed our 340hp test vehicle down the pecking order, if not in numbers then certainly in terms of desirability. For this roadtest we drove a P114CB8x4H7340 featuring the low-height P-cab and 10.6-litre 4-Series engine.

The all-electronic Euro-3 DC11-03 engine came with unit injectors and modular cylinder heads, shared with the 12-litre and 16-litre versions. Operators who needed more grunt than the 340 engine's 1,600Nm could opt for a 380hp 11-litre or the full 420hp 12-litre lump with its newly revamped HPI.

Ideal for aggregates

Transmission was the direct-top GR900 range-change synchromesh box with eight forward cogs and a deep crawler, while the 14 speed GRS900 with a splitter was an option.The single-reduction Scania bogie was tried and tested and ideal for aggregates work, but now sported a two-spring suspension in place of the old four-spring set-up.

On the back was the Rouse Xtralite alloy body complete with Edbro CX15 ram and Dawbarn Clearspan sheet. A decent package by any standard, and one that added just 1,899kg to the P114 8x4's already light 9,092kg fully fuelled tare.

On the road it returned 8.33mpg. Direct comparisons proved tough as not many other eight-leggers had been tested prior to this test — but it more than held its own against Euro-2 vehicles.•

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