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148 
DRIVERS' VERDICTS
Page 46
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As usual, we took our test vehicle out on the road and asked a trio of professional drivers to try it out and five us their views...
Graham Turner's usual truck is an F-reg Scania 113 tractive unit, equipped with a Topline cab, which he drives for Russell Davies out of the Isle of Grain. He's held an HGV licence for just over three years.
"This has a very similar layout to mine," he commented. "There's no problem seeing all around but the engine cover is higher so it's in the way more when you need to move about the cab. I think the radio is a bit high for it to be seen easily; you have to take your eyes off the road if you want to adjust the tuning. I'm not too sure about this black trim—the surface is a bit rough which will trap the dust. You'd need a brush to get into the grain if you are to keep it clean".
Turner pulled away on the flat in second gear without having to slip the clutch. "It seems to pull quite well," he said as he worked up through the gears, "and it's very quiet. The foot brake is good but the exhaust brake isn't as effective as mine. The ride is very level; it doesn't roll much. Although the steering wheel is smaller than you get on a lot of trucks, the gearing is quite high so it doesn't need a lot of winding."
Damian Cookson is an owner-driver. When we met him he was on his way home to Bolton in his Daf 3300 running at 38 tonnes. "It's got good access and the mirrors are big enough...they let you see ail you need to," he mentioned as he sat behind the wheel. We told him about the adjustment to the steering column. "It's got a nice comfortable driving position," he said as he pulled away. "The gearbox is still a bit new and notchy. Perhaps I'm being a bit too quick for the synchro, but it's quite a positive change." We hit the first hill and the road speed dropped off: "It needs another 30 to 40hp for the hills," he said. "Once you're down to the right gear it lugs quite well but the gap between fifth and sixth seems a bit big. The ride is nice, and compared to mine it's very quiet. The seat suspension takes the bumps well. It's got light steering, but not too light. I'm not so keen on the foot brake. It takes a bit of movement before you get the first bite." He tried the exhaust brake in top gear: "Not a lot of stopping power there but it should get better in a lower gear." After time to look about the cab, he said: "The layout is nice; you can reach everything. The bunk is big enough and it probably has enough room for work in this country. The centre box keeps paperwork together and the shelf in the header rail is OK as well but in a tractor things wouldn't stay up there for long. This trim is a better idea than carpets; I imagine it only needs a damp cloth to keep it clean." Martin Comes, out of Stoke on Trent, drives a Seddon Atkinson 210 17-tanner for F.G.Chambers. "The driving position is a lot better than on mine and the park brake is easier to get to," he said. "Being seated low down makes it easier to see close up to the vehicle all round."
Graham Turner: "It seems to pull quite well and it's very quiet.
Damian Cookson: "The layout is nice."
Out on the road he commented: "It's got quite a wide power band and acceleration is not bad." But as we came to the first incline he said: "It loses it up the hills— my 210 has a better power-to-weight ratio which keeps it going. The range change is electric and it seems a bit slower than if it was controlled by air."
Mirror layout is just as important on a rigid as it is on an artic. "The wide angled one on the nearside covers that blind spot just behind the cab," said Comes. "The steering is OK; not too light, not too heavy. The ride is a bit bumpy and it probably gets worse with some of the weight taken off. The brakes are also a bit spongy at top weight. It's certainly quiet. You wouldn't have any trouble hearing the radio. It's better up here than in the middle of the header rail. It's easier to reach and you have a better chance to set the programme you want."