Road Tests: Scania R124 470

Graham Hyde drives a Mercedes-Benz 2543 for Dodd’s out of Faversham in Kent. “The dash feels a bit high and, in fifth, the gearstick hits my knee,” he says. “The pedals are well balanced and the ride is smooth. The mirrors are set too low, but you can see over them. Visibility is good. The brakes are not as sharp as those on my Mercedes, but they stop OK. The engine pulls very smoothly and gear changing is light. The engine holds on to the revs a bit longer than mine. I am impressed by the retarder’s stopping power. I like the layout of the cab. There is only one truck with a better cab and that is the Daf XF.” Agency driver Donald Mackay, from Kettering, was driving a Daf 85.360. “If you rush you can easily skin your legs on these steps,” he warned us. “The gears can be a bit awkward with this three-position gate. The mirrors are big, but the one on the driver’s side needs to be set higher to see the overall length of the trailer. I can’t see anything in the distance, but they are OK for reversing. The steering is light. There is enough stowage, but the aircraft-type lockers are very small." Simon Fox was on his way home in the Daf 95.430 he drives for Shires Transport. “My truck is knocking on a bit, but this is much quieter. The engine has a different sound to it, but it doesn’t feel like it is working very hard. The retarder it is powerful enough to use all the time. The cab has bags of room. The outside lockers are much too small, and the lockers on the back wall only crease your shirts. The Daf is a bigger and better cab, but this has a nicer driver’s seat."