Road Tests: DAF CF85

Forget for a minute that the Daf CF85.480FTP has little wheels in the middle and think of it as a conventional 44-tonne 6x2. The bottom line is that it's a tractor which has the all-too-rare holy tronity of artic must-haves, being able to please a driver, his boss and his bank manager all at the same time. If you're going for an FTP keep it simple spec-wise and scrrew every last ounce of payload out of it. Forget our test-truck's Space Cab and other goodies: they're nice (especially the Space Cab) but they've got more to do with cosseting the press rather than maximising productivity. Stick to a regular sleeper, or even a day cab, forget the side valances and slider and put all that extra weight saving into profit. But whatever you do ask the salesman for AS-Tronic and intarder. You certainly won't regret it.