On The Road
Drivers, for obvious reasons, relish big cabs over big engines, and manufacturers would love to oblige them by supplying more top-of-the-range products. But he who pays the piper calls the tune, and this, after all, is a fleet workhorse.# In fact the MAN XL cab with 403hp on tap is more than capable of running at its full plated 44 tonnes up and down the UK’s motorways and trunk roads. Out on the open road NX51 AOH’s average speed was very competitive; it was only when climbing hills that it was noticeably slower than more powerful vehicles.
For example, the short sharp haul up Dinmore hill was around 15sec behind trucks with 420hp-plus on call; travelling at the national speed limit on single-track A-roads does turn small climbs into a bit of challenge.
We found the gearing over 40mph over undulating roads favoured 8L at the top end of the peak-torque plateau. On the flat 8H positioned itself around 1,050rpm which soon dropped towards 900rpm when we got into a short hill climb. A split or full gear is the best option. The ZF 16-speed direct-drive box has a range-change, a splitter and the very comfortable Comfort-Shift. For a quick split from low to high or back again a flick of the button offers a Jensen Button type feel, although if it’s a quick change you need around the H-pattern in the top range, you’d better use the clutch.
Holding a steady 40mph does leave the driver to choose between 8L and 8H, or a mixture of the two. Perhaps the 403hp version might benefit from an overdrive box to clear up this small grey area.
The only obvious sign that MAN ERF UK prepared this vehicle was its perfect bumper which looked specially buffed up. Apart from a service to make sure it met the strict MAN Diesel standard following its return from Reed Boardall, NX51 AOH came to us straight from its active service.
Our first impression was how well it drove with 270,000km on the clock. The shift towards torque-based engines has changed the way drivers use the driveline.
When travelling on duel carriageways and motorways the driveline allows the driver to lug down, hanging onto gears rather than changing up for hill climbs until much later. It has turned long distance driving into a near automatic experience, and with fewer changes comes improved fuel consumption. Our return leg along the M5/M40 bears this out.
As soon as we picked up NX51 AOH from Middlewich we realised how well it had aged. From behind the steering wheel travelling at 56mph is quieter than just about anything we’ve experienced.
Handling is light and smooth and responsive, due in part to having sufficient weight up to maximise the limits of the front axle. Quite simply, this is a competent truck with a sound driveline.
Cab Comfort
We have no idea if the cab has been used for regular nights away, but judging by appearances the bunk’s only been used as a storage area. The cab is absolutely immaculate, belying its two years’ hard use, and that’s a compliment to drivers and fitters alike.
In fact the only wear we spotted was on the steering wheel logo. Even the two external lockers were free of oil and fifth-wheel grease. There’s a 100mm engine hump rising from pristine footwells, and if many drivers’ have ventured across it they must have been wearing carpet slippers.
Unlike many fleet tractors this one seems to have covered a lot of ground in its two years’ service without being abused. We were sorry to give it back.
