No more Scania Topliner :(

[4_Series_Scania]

Alas, all is not well in my employment. The company I work for has recently sub contracted our transport operation!

That in a nutshell means as of the end of this month, I won't be working for my current employers, I'm being transfered (on a like it or leave basis) to a 3rd party logistics company.

The Scania went back this week (it was on long term contract hire) and its been replaced by a Mercedes Benz "Axor"  :(, a general rental truck, thats been much abused by the look of it!

First impressions of it are not good, its smaller inside than the Scania (not good when you live in the thing for most of the week!  >:( ) and, its turning circle is awful.

It only has one steering axle on the tractor unit, where the Scania had two, this makes a hell of a difference when turning in a tight space & loaded I can tell you!

Bye to my beautiful Scania, I can see myself changing employers very soon!
My truck is my office and,my home.
Imagine how you'd feel if you'd gone from a comfy office block to a shed? Its pretty much how I feel.  :'(

I'll miss her, my much loved Scania.




The Mercedes Axor...
Note the much narrower cab body, you have room to swing a Cat inside, trouble is, you'd kill it.  ::)


Paul. (much disgruntled)

[Woodlouse2002]

So... Change of name then?

[C]

So... Change of name then?

Nooooooooooooooo!

Mind you, you could follow the current trend of deleting your profile and re-registering the day after!

[Omag 2.0]

Sad story Scania! Say, do you ever cross the pond to Belgium? We have a fair lot of SCA-hauls moving over our highways... I'll honk if I pass a British axor!  

[4_Series_Scania]

Sad story Scania! Say, do you ever cross the pond to Belgium? We have a fair lot of SCA-hauls moving over our highways... I'll honk if I pass a British axor!  

Not with my current employers Omag, you never know whats in the future though....

Change of name? I could'nt - I'd forget who I was!

[4_Series_Scania]

Thought I'd give an update, the Axor is actually very nice to drive, I'm very very impressed with cartain aspects of it, other things are down right dangerous imo, from what I've been told by fellow drivers, the Mercs don't handle very well and how I'm finding that out!

The gearbox has only 8 speeds, against my "Scannys" 14 speed gearbox, I've  had a fair few problems on steep hills already due to not having a suitable ratio that allows me to maintain speed on the hills.

Comfort is better than the Scania, but handling is way down with the Merc, it slides in an alarming way on wet greasy roads, this is despite it having A.B.S. & traction control.

Funny, I dislike Saabs & Volvo cars, yet like Mercedes cars to drive, its quite the opposite in their trucks.

I'm looking for a new job (with a Scania to drive) as a matter of urgency before this Merc kills me!  >:(

[eno]

That's interesting ...... I've never had a problem with a Merc truck unless it's really been abused.
Haven't you got the EPS gearbox on it?

[beaky]

Drag. Mercedes ain't so bad, though; reliability-wise... at least the rather ancient 20-footer I used to drive was dependable.

And BTW- NEVER swing a live cat. Could be hazardous. ALWAYS a dead cat. Best part: nobody'll care if you let go while swinging it (unless it's full of maggots and bursts against the walll).

[Craig.]

Mercedes ain't so bad, though; reliability-wise

I am assuming your talking about their trucks only. Because I have not known too many car owners of theirs who would agree. Add in one of the worst after sales support teams for mechanical problems you would ever find.

[4_Series_Scania]

Trucks only mate, the cars (in general) are superb.

No eno, its not got EPS, its got a "straight 8" gearbox.

[eno]

Trucks only mate, the cars (in general) are superb.

No eno, its not got EPS, its got a "straight 8" gearbox.

The cars are too light on the back end .... in the winter you need a bag of cement in the back to stop them falling off the road.

Ewwww at the straight 8...... that thing needs a spitter.

[4_Series_Scania]

The cars are too light on the back end .... in the winter you need a bag of cement in the back to stop them falling off the road.

Which is why I've got a BMW 7 rather than ,say, a Merc "S" Class.

Ewwww at the straight 8...... that thing needs a spitter.

Oh yes, going from a twin split Scania to this "straight" box isn't fun, alas, this is what you get when your driving for a transport company run my acountants rather than transport professionals.

[eno]

I know that feeling .........  it's one of the reasons I only drive part time.

[Omag 2.0]

The cars are too light on the back end .... in the winter you need a bag of cement in the back to stop them falling off the road.

That's rear-wheel traction for you! Lot's of fun in the snow. Though once I was in Germany with my boss ( drives a BMW 530i) and I've never felt more unsafe than then! The rear broke out ( you could feel it) when it rained. You had to slow down to 70 km/h to be safe! Perhaps also to do with the low-profile tires on that thing!

Omag ... I want quattro...

[eno]

Nowt wrong with the tail stepping out if you know it's going to happen and when its going to happen. BMWs are beautifully balanced and therefore very predictable. Mercs on the other hand are terribly balanced and it only needs to be slightly damp to upset them.