1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196 
Follow the three-point star
Page 70
Page 71
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CM tests more truccs and vans than anyone else, and starting this week we'll be using those tests to highlight some of the most popular vehicles on the forecourt. Our conclusions could give you the edge when haggling over your next acquisition. The series kias off with the Mercedes-Benz Atego 7.5-tonner...
UK launth date:May 1998 Modifications since launch: Radio, instrument panel and seat trim (2001) Engines: 0M904LA,150hp; 0M904LA, 177hp; OM906LA,231hp Transmissions: MBG56-6, MBG85-6, MBG60-6 and MBGE1 auto (six-speed auto version of the G60-6) Brakes: Discs all round Minimum and maximum GVVVs: 815, GVW, 7,490kg;GCW,13,000kg (18,000kg with 060-6 gearbox). 817. GVW, 7,490kg; GCW,18,0130kg UK registrations to date:10,000 Main market:Parcel deliveries, home deliveries, wh ite goods, multi-drop operations Official used dealers: 23 at 40 sites What's next: 2005 midlife face-lift Recalls: Date of recall. 15.08.02: build start/ end,01.01.01-20.06.02; recall number, R12002/ 076; concern. ste ering shaft assembly defect roadtest: 17 December 1998 Model: Mercedes-Benz 815 with box body Engine: 0M904LA DI diesel engine Capacity: 4.25 litres Maximum power: 150hp Maximum torque: 58CNm Average fuel consumption: 17.1mpg Average speed: 73.7km/h The lowdown:We were looking forward to getting to grips with the Atego;sadly the first example to come out way offered no more than average fuel consumption and performance.
'The Atego seemed very good in several ways but this was not quite the Great Leap Forward we had been hoping for. On-theroad productivity was also nothing out of the ordinary but we suggested that whole-life running costs and reliability might turn out to be class-leading.
Perhaps our great expectations were unfair — after all. how different can a 7.5-tonner be? And the three-pointed star did bode well for residual values as well as the operator's image.
We described the specification as sensible, with a refined, modern engine and it was certainly an enjoyable drive.
The cab was comfortable and well designed with only a couple of niggling faults. And that was the key, we felt — this was a good design that needed a little more development. But as we said, the customer could help by specifying the right combination of gearbox and final-drive ratio.
This was without doubt an important vehicle launch, if not a totally convincing one. We were sure the Atego could achieve greatness, but it had a little way logo. CM roadtest: 7 June 2001 Model: Mercedes-Benz 815 with box body
and tal-lift
Engine: 0M904LA DI diesel Capacity: 4.25 litres Maximum power: 152hp Maximum torque: 580Nm Average fuel consumption: 16.8mpg Average speed: 79.8km/h The lowdown: We were pleased to have another go at the 7.5-tonne Atego but felt that average speed was just that average. Fortunately we were more impressed by its fuel consumption.
Buying any second-hand 7.5-tonner can be a bit of a lottery because of the environment in which these workhorses live. But if you were after a second-hand example you'd want it to boast many of the attributes of this Atego. It managed to return a decent fuel figure on the A-roads, handled extremely well and had obviously been well maintained.
What an operator wants and what the driver gets can be two different things, but the Atego 815 should help close the gap. It proved reliable and productive and was quick enough to satisfy our man with plenty of cab space, even in an S-cab. If it's had one careful owner you'd be well advised to grab it.
CM roadtest: 28 February 2002 Model: Mercedes-Benz 818 with box body. Englne: 0M904LA Euro-3 Dl diesel Capacity: 4.3 litres Maximum power: 174hp Maximum torque: 675Nm Average fuel consumption: 13.0mpg Average speed: 73.4kmih The lowdown: Our most recent encounter with a 7.5-tonne Atego reversed OUT previous findings.This time we didn't think much of the fuel consumption figure but performance was fine. Commercial Moto, roadtests always aim to come to a definite conclusion, but sometimes it's harder that others and this was one of the hard ones With every manufacturer presenting us, a nice cab-height box body we know where are and can compare apples with apples.
But this particular test presented so m; variables, including the new Euro-3 engii some particularly unpredictable weathei and, most of all, a big, unaerodynamic bo that it was impossible to pin-point the individual contribution of each factor to disappointing fuel figures.
In every other respect the Atego is a wor contender in this incredibly competitive market sector. It combines excellent whole life running costs a high standarc of build qualii with a drivin environmei that shouk satisfy the most jad 7.5-tont jockey.