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That's my baby(
Page 74
Page 75
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Do you know the history of your truck? Operator Kevin Norris was surprised to learn that his MAN
TGA tractor was a veteran of Commercial Motor's
gruelling Scottish roadtest route.
I L's bound to happen from time to time. Operator peruses Commercial Motor. Spots a picture of his truck. Asks CM why it's in there and discovers that it was fully tested by our crack squad of testers.
Back in 2000`Trucknology' was the blizz word as MAN introduced itsTGA to British shores. It was replacing that great workhorse, the F2000; an ageing but beautifully sorted bit of kit.
By that Christmas CM was on its second of a trilogy of MAN TGA roadtests.A 6x2 410hp XL tractor had been put through its paces, followed by an 18.410 with the XXL cab —a test completed by former technical editor Toby Clark.
Both tests were completed with Euro-2 engines as the Germans were still preparing the Euro-3 equivalent, but we were nonetheless impressed by a driveline featuring the low-down grunt of a torque-based engine.
The 410hp lump delivered 1,850Nm right down at 900rpm; this was complemented by the ZF 16-speed Ecosplit synchromesh box with a direct-drive top, and all new ComfortShift —or thumb-operated clutch for use in the top range.
The single-reduction rear axle came with the standard 3.08:1 ratio; ventilated disc brakes front and rear were triggered by the electronic braking system (EBS) which included ASR (anti-skid).
Defunct test route We put it through the now defunct three-day Scottish test route which toured Glasgow and Dundee before heading south through Edinburgh towards Durham and the Al .The fuel figure was a competitive 7.75mpg at 40 tonnes at a cracking rate of knots. Through that tough A68 road over the border and back into England it impressed us again, returning 5.48mpg.
Payload was an issue, considering the size of the cab and the 600litre fuel tank, but with a full tank the tractor weighed in at 7,540kg. The standard 410-litre tank would save almost 200kg, giving a practical trailer/payload allowance of more than 32.5 tonnes.
The price new was just over 04,000, including a comprehensive three-year repair and maintenance package. We summed it up as a high quality fleet option, with the XXL cab making it a tine flagship.And, like so many before it, the big MAN passed into our archives.
Then two weeks ago CM had a Bargain Hunt (CM 23 June 2005) and used a former roadtest subject as an example of the winning vehicle. Kevin Norris, an ownerdriver who runs Dell Transport out of Kidderminster,called to say he was the vehicle's current owner.
It's still going strong and covering the motorways and A-roads of the UK on general haulage. The main work for X886 HMR is for a local engineering company and a government contract but Dell Transport also handles a wide range of general haulage work.
Today the truck has 588,000km on the clock and Norris, the vehicle's only driver, is getting 8.59mpg on average.
With three vehicles working on light general haulage X886 HMR is the only artic on the four-strong fleet which Norris has built up in just two-and-half years after starting with a Ford Escort van. He picked up the MAN from approved dealer WG Davies in South Wales for 03,000 (exVAT) last October with a sixmonth R&M package.
Norris says the vehicle had a tough life with its second owners (MAN was the first. Norris the third) working traction which involved picking up and dropping lots of trailers. He reports it had lasted remarkably well despite the nature of the work and apart front an electrical fault the day he collected the vehicle nothing has gone wrong with it The service history shows a new clutch but apart from that the components of X886 HMR have survived intact from the roadtest. The MAN approved dealer replaced all the disc brakes and the chassis has been sprayed red.
Cosmetic changes Norris is responsible for other cosmetic changes: velvet upholstery:an extra fuel tank (taking capacity to 1,000 litres), a fridge, TV and CD player and, of course. DellTransport livery In the past sales and marketing directors have informed CM that vehicles which have been roadtested and therefore well maintained always command an extra few pounds when up for sale.
The MAN TGA series of roadtests between 2000 and 2(X)1 were unique in that we performed a comprehensive review of the lineup and it came through with flying colours. Just ask Kevin Norris. •