SPECIFICATION
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Model: DAF MB200 DKL.
Engine: DAF DKL naturallyaspirated six-cylinder developing 140kW/ton (192bhp) at 2,000rpm to BS AU141a.
Gearbox: ZF six-speed unit synchromesh on the upper five ratios. Ratios : 7.36; 4.21; 2.50; 1.57; 1.00 and 0.76.
Rear axle: ratio, 4.11 to 1 . The gear lever itself could have done with being an inch or-two longer. I found myself having to stretch for the farthest positions. The changes were particularly easy if attention was paid to matching revs. It was simple to make really slick, fast changes both up and down the box and this is certainly a strong point about the vehicle.
Mr Elliot feels that the 4.11 to 1 axle ratio fitted is perhaps a shade too high and I can see his point. Ordinary restarts were easily accomplished in second, but fifth gear was good for well over 100 km/h (60mph) and sixth allowed speeds well in excess of the legal limit.
However, speeds tumbled very quickly on long motorway gradients. Off the motorway this high-geared set up worked surprisingly well, with one exception. Although the non-turbocharged power unit (it's well known in Britain in the 2800 truck series) pulls well from around 1,000rpm, it cannot conceal a gap between fourth and fifth gears. In town traffic conditions, at about 56km/h (35mph), the choice was between chugging along at low revs in fifth or using high revs in fourth.
On the move
On the move the vehicle compared favourably as far as interior noise levels are concerned with other underfloorengine coaches. The 12m Domi nant body — fitted wit extra luggage locker: seemed to have been mc particularly high off chassis. DAF instrumer the standard Duple hi: were the only giveaway to the make of the cha:
Exhaust brake
One standard fitting in in the DAF specification exhaust brake. Contra( a button on the floor thi duced a more worthwhile ing effect than is som( the case with these devi On a long descent nel motorway access pair Tebay; I followed a well-I National Travel Leopard . hill. I needed to apply thE brake only twice and thei momentarily, while National driver had his t on for the full descent.
Overall, the DAF good account of itself should do well on a fu: road test which should b. sible if the company di to import the model in tity. Mr Elliot reports th. vehicle — with more 19,000km (12,000 miles) clock — is returning than 281it/100km (10 Although no price is quoted, it seems certair DAF would aim to plac vehicle between the LE and Volvo prices. Mean the vehicle would ma worthy addition to the I weight chassis available operators.