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Leyland Marathon 2
Page 71
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Fast runner
LEYLAND is well represented throughout the whole commercial vehicle weight spectrum with the maximum capacity attic category being no exception. As well as the Crusader, Leyland Vehicles as the company is called these days, also has the Marathon 2.
Although the Mk1 Marathon was on the receiving end of a few criticisms, very few were directed at the power unit and with good reason. The turbocharged TL 12 engine produces 203kW (273bhp) and with this under the bonnet, the Marathon 2 was one of the quickest tractive units we have tested averaging over 45mph around the Scottish route. This high speed was not achieved at the expense of high fuel consumption either as the overall figure was 39.8 lit/100km (7.1mpg).
Mechanically there was little to fault in the Marathon's specification. What let it down was — as with the Crusader — the quality of the cab. The Mk2 version is an improvement over the earlier models, but the basic cab design has been going for a long time now and it shows.
Access to the cab, however, was good thanks to the well placed steps and grab handles, and the instrument panel was refreshingly uncluttered when compared with some of today's machines, One criticism of the Marathon's performance concerned the handling. Ignoring the small steering wheel, which is merely a matter of personal taste, the steering was far too light and lacking in feel. Although it made for easy parking it was too easy to overcompensate for road conditions such as adverse cambers.