LEADERS of tit
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• Either the beginning of the nineties — or the end of the eighties, depending on your point of view — 1990 was a year of contradictions.
On the international stage, a host of nations had their identity restored following pressure from within, while others had their freedom removed by agressors from without.
Domestically, the arrival (or not) of a new personality at Number 10 promised a major change in the handling of the economy, yet the drop in interest rates which everyone craved proved as distant as ever. The Government insisted that the country was not entering a recession; the haulage industry knew otherwise. As a result, 30% fewer trucks and 19% fewer vans were bought than in the previous year.
Similarly, although 1990 looked set to provide a bumper year for followers of the new truck scene, featuring as it did the biannual bonanza of the Birmingham Motor Show, showgoers discovered that the market leader had decided not to turn up, and found a stand full of yin tage vehicles instead.
For Commercial Motor's testers it also turned out to be "a funny old world" in 1990. As the price of fuel headed skywards we were simultaneously hit by a tidal wave of high-horsepower tractive units: desirable, certainly; value for money, maybe; but necessary for UK operating conditions? Not on your life!
Our testers' year was memorable for other reasons too. Our 38-tonne Economy Run resurrected a formula last seen in 1983, and saw 11 of the latest tractors fight back-to-back over 1,600km in demanding conditions. Overall winner the Volvo Fib, class winners Iveco Ford 190.48, Leyland Daf 95.400 and 95.360, and Volvo F12 all merit a mention here (as indeed do all the contestants).
Last year also saw the first of many Eurotests: group tests organised by Commercial Motor in co-operation with leading Continental magazines L'Officiel des Transports and Verkehrs Rundschau. And we instituted a comprehensive programme of Continental Roadtests, bringing you exclusive first impressions of reshly launched trucks with the elp of the Belgian publication iansporama. Finally, we intensiled our coverage of the PSV Iarket with the assistance of :M's special correspondent loel Millier.
As in previous years, the Tesars' Choice awards themselves eflect our findings on those ommercial vehicles that we ave assessed fully laden over ur network of test routes.
Our major consideration when hoosing between the shortlisted ehicles was the productivity ach contender achieved: that is, he payload carried multiplied y the average speed, divided ly the average fuel consumpon. Having arrived at a score Dr productivity, our testers issessed the likely operating osts, value for money and drivr appeal of each vehicle, as fell as giving extra credit for afety features or innovations fhich enhance performance.
As ever, the process provoked eated discussion among the :chnical team, through for the lost part agreement was eached on the overall winner in ach section.