On The Road
“Top gear to Perth” – could be the title of a travel book, but in fact it’s the story of our journey north from Birmingham. The first ascent to demand any intervention from the gear lever was the Forteviot hillcimb on the A9, five miles shy of Perth, which took two splits. Until then the greatest challenge had been Beattock on the A74 (M), which dragged the revs back down to the bottom of the green band, Shap having been taken on the limiter. On the A68, with its short, sharp killer climbs, the only time low range was needed was when we inadvertently changed from fifth to sixth on the steepest part of Castleside, and even then the 470 recovered without coming to a halt.
For much of the time driving is literally a fingertip affair, as the retarder speed hold and cruise control resume buttons are pressed in turn. The powerful retarder has three methods of operation. It can be activated by the first part of the foot brake’s travel, by using the six-stage control lever, the last stage of which also operates the exhaust brake, or by simply pressing the end of the leer to hold the current speed. The lever, incidentally, represents one of Scania’s few ergonomic mistakes. Its mounting panel’s wholesale move across the cab for RHD drivers leaves the lever tucked awkwardly behind the steering wheel rim, whereas a mirror-image panel would give a useful couple of inches extra clearance.
The-tech engine means the 470 is eerily quiet, to the point that the occasional helping of wind noise from the front top corners of the cab means you can’t hear what the engine is doing.
The Scania’s ride was surprisingly firm, with the steel front suspension occasionally being caught out by the worst surfaces, although the excellent cab and seat suspension meant little got through to the driver. The upside is that the steering conveys exactly what’s going on down below, so you can almost tell the sex of the rabbits as you run them over (kidding!). On the rare occasions that the all-disc service brakes are needed, they stop the 41 tonnes in a distance that would be quite acceptable for a modern car.
Cab Comfort
No-one could accuse Scania of bowing to convention with the Topline cab. From the aerodynamic foldaway lower step to the once controversial forward-mounted upper bunk, Scania does things its own way. This was the first time your tester had sampled the bunk, but the anticipated claustrophobia didn’t appear. Indeed, the huge bunk is wide enough to sleep two at a pinch, although the lack of headroom means it can only be side by side. The lack of any restraint apart from the lip at the edge of the bunk is a bit unnerving, but apparently the lip works. Access via the folding ladder is definitely an acquired skill, though, as your head reaches the roof while your feet are still a good yard down the ladder. Another ergonomic blunder is that the conveniently located switch panel for heating, lighting and locking is at the opposite end to the reading lamp. Which activity you’re meant to carry out with your toes is not obvious.
Back at floor level, some critics have slated the Topline for not having a level deck. But even above the engine tunnel there is more than enough head room for a six-footer, and the benefit comes in the form of easier cab access. Other critics have had a go at Scania’s comprehensively adjustable seats for causing back problems. We believe that much of the problem is due to that very comprehensiveness, including split backrest, three lumbar pads and movable shoulder bolsters, which creates many more opportunities to get it wrong. In any event, our three days at the wheel left no ill effects.
The driving seat has a useful facility of moving back wholesale without loosing the carefully acquired driving position, and combines with the folding gearlever to simplify crossing the cab. The passenger seat, meanwhile, moves so far back that you can barely reach the dash with your toes, and has its own side window. Visibility generally is good, helped by mirrors which seem to have a better view along the sides than we’ve previously experienced, and backed up by a comprehensive set of sun visors, inside and out.
In-cab storage is literally centred on the table top beneath the lower bunk, with its fold-away flap at the front and a vast lockable strong-box underneath. A smaller driver lives underneath a useful shelf at the front of the dash. The space behind the driving seat is ideal for stowing bags and coats and the like, and there are externally accessed lockers on both sides. At head height, the rear and sides of the cab wall are home to three coathangers and four large clothes lockers with elastic straps, and there are also elasticated pockets beneath the top bunk. Other assorted nooks and crannies include small bins in the dash and door pockets, the one on the driver’s side including a removable litter bin.
As well as the usual full set of gauges, the Scania’s comprehensive instrument panel includes tripmeter, oft forgotten but useful, which also functions as an external temperature monitor. ON the whole, the extensive array of switchgear spread across the dash is well thought out, with the switches that are most likely to be needed urgently, such as the diff-lock and axle lift, sited nearest the driver.
There are a couple of exceptions, though. The work light switch is as far from both doors as it could be, while the recirculation control is mounted away from the rest of the heater controls. Air conditioning is fitted, but as usual the quest for economy meant we could only gaze longingly at the switch. The centre of the dash is dominated by the Casio hand-held computer of the Fleet Analysis System, while just to the left of the wheel is the sacrificial phone mounting panel. The steering column is adjustable in both planes but, despite its Swedish origins, doesn’t incorporate an airbag as standard.
Auxiliary power is well catered for by a cigar lighter and a pair of DIN sockets, one each of 12V and 24V. Only two audio housings are fitted, one of which is occupied by the excellent four-speaker Scania RDS/EON radio cassette unit. Two different sizes of cup holders cater for all tastes in liquid refreshment.
