roadtest: daf fad cf if it ain’t brokedaf trucks, thame, oxfordshire ox9 3fb euro-5 selective...

For today’s news visit www.roadtransport.comCOMMERCIAL MOTOR | 26 APRIL 200740

OPERATIONSRoadtest: Daf FAD CF85 410 8x4

IF IT AIN’T BROKE... Apart from meeting the latest emission levels, Daf Trucks has resisted the urge to fi x something that wasn’t broken. CM renews its acquaintance with the evergreen CF85 tipper at Euro-5.

Specifi cation

DAF FAD CF85 410 8x4

Price as tested:Engine:GVW:Payload:

£89,43012.9 litres, 340hp

32,000kg22,588kg

cmot-apr-26-07-p040 38cmot-apr-26-07-p040 38 20/4/07 12:48:03 pm20/4/07 12:48:03 pm

For today’s news visit www.roadtransport.com 26 APRIL 2007 | COMMERCIAL MOTOR

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For today’s news visit www.roadtransport.com

T he Daf CF85 is as about as successful and versatile a truck as you could hope to fi nd. It’s an award-winning fl eet

tractor but it also makes a drawbar prime mover, and is the industry’s leading four-axle chassis cab.

Not that it stands out in any particular area. The CF85 is neither the lightest vehicle in its class, nor the most frugal, nor the cheapest. But it’s a reliable, seasoned all-rounder with a long production history and – perhaps more importantly – is known to have decent back-up.

The 85 reached the UK in May 1993 with an 11.6-litre straight-six lump. A Euro-2 model arrived in 1996 and by 1998 we had the 340hp XF variant, still based on the 11.6-litre design. In 2001 the CF was revamped, gaining a bigger cab.

Two years ago we tested the Euro-3 version (CM 17 February 2005) and it’s interesting to compare its spec with the latest model featured here.

The Euro-3 engine had grown to 12.6 litres, developing 375hp with 1,750Nm of torque, and drove through a ZF 12-speed automated AS-Tronic box. With a full 340-litre tank and 75kg driver, that CF85 had a kerb weight of 9,302kg.

The SCR Euro-5 engine is still a straight-six but thanks to a longer stroke it has grown again, to 12.9 litres, developing 408hp with 2,000Nm of torque. The AS-Tronic transmission is unchanged, as is the 340-litre fuel tank and CM’s notional 75kg driver. But a 15-litre AdBlue tank and bigger engine have helped push up the kerbweight to 9,412kg.

The list price has risen too: meeting Euro-5 has pushed the cost of a basic chassis-cab to £89,430 (our test vehicle came with a Rouse aggregates body featuring an air-operated tailgate and electrically powered sheeting system).

So what do you get for the extra cash? It depends who you talk to – but if your chosen Euro-5 truck has on-board diagnostics (OBD), the rewards will include a Reduced Pollution

COMMERCIAL MOTOR | 26 APRIL 2007

Manufacturer:Engine:

Bore/stroke: Capacity: Compression ratio: Maximum power: Maximum torque: Transmission: Gear ratios:Rear axle: Final drive ratio: Clutch:Brakes:Brake dimensions:Secondary brakepower:Chassis:

Frame dimensons:Wheelbase: Suspension:

Steering:Wheels and tyres:Fuel tank: Electical system: Battery/alternator:

Daf Trucks, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3FBEuro-5 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) MX300 unit pump injection type with six cylinders in line130x162mm12.9 litres16.5:1408hp (300kW) at 1,500rpm2,000Nm (1,475lbft) at 1,000-1,410rpm ZF 12-speed AS-Tronic 12AS 213012.33-0.78:1 Single reduction rear bogie 3.73:1 Mechanical pull-type, dry-plate, 420x175mm ABS disc brakes 430x45mmDaf MX engine brake producing 200kW at 1,500rpm to 325Kw to 2,100rpm Main frame members made of high-strength, low-alloy steel 310x75x6mm6,400mm Parabolic leaf springs with shock absorbers and stabiliser Power-assisted recirculating ball Wheels, 22.5x8.25x8.25; tyres, 295/80 22.5340-litre tank and 15-litre AdBlue tank 24V earth-return2x12V, 175Ah; 40/100A

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Specifi cation


”Our test vehicle came with a Rouse aggregates body featuring an air-operated tailgate and electrically powered sheeting system ”

FACT FILEThe CF reached the UK in May 1993; in that time its engine

has grown from 11.6 litres to 12.9 litres

Certifi cate (RPC) cutting your VED bill by about £500 a year. Operators can also expect to reap the benefi t when the time comes to sell their vehicles: residuals are bound to be strong once Euro-5 and the London low-emission zone (LEZ) are in place.

And the LEZ is set to become a major factor for tippermen because of the London Olympics, with major construction projects up for grabs from next year right through to 2012 which will only benefi t operators running Euro-5 motors.



requires 400rpm less to achieve full power –and we ran it at 85km/h, which is the new motorway speed limit for all CM test vehicles.

This Daf being in the SCR camp, there is also AdBlue to take into account. Over 259.5km we used 4.7 litres of the blue liquid, equating to 5.3% of the diesel used.

CM records AdBlue consumption by its cost per 100km – and at 40p/lit (ex-VAT) that works out at 72p/100km. With diesel at 80p/lit the overall running cost for the Euro-5 CF85 comes to £27.76/100lit. With no EGR model to compare it with, we can only refer to our previous tests: the Euro-3 Daf CF85 cost £28.08/100km, while the Alpha and Kerax, which boasted better fuel economy when we tested them, would prove cheaper to run.

When it comes to productivity, the Euro-5 Daf is well matched to its Euro-3 predecessor.Overall the latest model costs more and weighs more but is more fuel-

effi cient – and in any case it will soon be the only version you can buy from new.

On the road Two years ago CM lauded the 375hp engine for the way it propelled 32 tonnes around the test route; not surprisingly with 408hp on tap power was never an issue. The only real challenge we presented the CF85 with was Edge Hill and its infamous U-bend half way up.

The Euro-3 version completed the climb in 2min 10sec, mostly in fourth (though it did change from fi fth to third then back to fourth in the space of three very long seconds and approximately three yards. That, as you might have guessed, was in auto). The Euro-5 model was seven seconds quicker and held on to sixth gear at just above 1,100rpm. This time the gear was held in manual to prevent a repeat of the previous test.

As long as you are consistent with the

The cab is similar to before but with a few modern appliances thrown in. These include electrically controlled wing mirrors, aerodynamic side collars, air-con (at last – a Daf demo truck with air-con), aluminium disc wheels and an MX engine brake. Warranty is also unchanged at two years.

Productivity We’ve looked at what the initial cost of Euro-5 technology might mean on the books, but we were keen to see how it affected day-to-day running costs. Back in 2005 the Euro-3 version achieved 8.05mpg overall; the latest Euro-5 model recorded 8.36mpg. Its A-road fi gure was on a par with the 2005 model but over the short motorway section the Euro-5 engine was thriftier by an impressive 9%.

The characteristics of the Euro-5 engine clearly helped here – it has 33hp more power and 250Nm more torque at its disposal, and

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Our verdict

Cab comfortThe cab is virtually

unchanged from the Euro-3 model,

except for the addition of air-con



throttle, the AS-Tronic will change gear in all the right places. But up at the top end it’s advisable to switch to manual – and remember that you have done so, otherwise you’ll receive a sharp reminder when you try to pull out onto a roundabout. You’ll need training to get the best out of the CF85’s AS-Tronic transmission, and allow some time to adjust to the buttons, tricks and perceived advantages the automated box gives over a manual.

The ride is smooth and steering is exemplary out on the road; the Daf swings into and out of roundabouts with ease.

Cab comfort If you still have our Euro-3 roadtest from 2005 please refer to it because the cab is virtually unchanged. Yes, the new model boasts air-con, but try asking the demo driver to switch it on and the reply will be short and sweet (understandably in a market as competitive as this, where every scrap of fuel counts). The electric wing mirrors are helpful when you fi rst jump in, but once they’ve been set up the ease of adjustment is irrelevant unless you hit a branch, oncoming mirror or weighbridge gantry.

The day cab offers enough space behind the seats for coats, bags and spare hi-vis clobber, and is roomy enough for drivers who rarely venture 50 miles from base. If you need 40 winks during an arduous day the seat offers a little room to recline into for a power nap. Cross-cab access isn’t really an issue unless you fancy a challenge, and the absence of a clutch pedal leaves enough room by your left foot to change position and avoid deep vein thrombosis.

The driver’s mirror – the long one that lines up the offside of the truck – remains a bugbear because its position on the arm blocks out the 45º view from the driver’s seat. Most of the time this isn’t an issue, but when entering roundabouts it blocks off two vital areas: traffi c emerging from your right, and vehicles already on the roundabout heading for your exit or the exit to your left.

Traffi c has to come out of the blind spot before you can make a decision to maintain momentum or pull up. Yes, it’s possible to move forward or lean back to get a better view, but during a long shift that will become a real hassle.

There is a trend for road builders, encouraged by local authorities, the Highways Agency and the Health and Safety Executive, to attempt to slow down traffi c by blocking the view to the right at roundabouts with bollards, hedges and the like. This leads you to slow right down before making a split-second decision

Plated weightsGVWGCWFront axleRear axle

Test weight Kerb weight of cab (as tested with a full tank and a 75kg driver)Body payload allowanceTotal

32,000kg32,000kg 14,200kg19,000kg

9,412kg 22,588kg32,000kg



COMPARISONS: DRIVING

Peak power can be achieved at 1,500rpm so it pays to keep to the green band at all times

Acceleration seconds 0-80 km/h 48-80 km/h 64-96 km/h

Hill climbsEdge Hill

Braking (stopping distance) 32km/h 48km/h 64km/h

In-cab noise dB(A) 48km/h 64km/h 80km/h 88km/h Tickover

Daf FAD CF85 410

Euro-332 tonnes

46.219.625.1

2min 03sec

Not testedNot testedNot tested

Not testedNot testedNot testedNot testedNot tested

Daf FADCF85 380

Euro-332 tonnes

46.520.425.5

2min 10sec


67.267.769.971.260.7

RenaultKerax 370 Highway

Euro-332 tonnes

56.921.631.4

2min 20sec


61.263.266.769.358.5

FodenAlpha 385

Euro-332 tonnes

50.020.827.5

2min 18sec


61.766.469.972.259.6

Security featuresEngine immobiliserAlarmCentral lockingSecure grilleSecure batteryLocking fuel cap

✔

✖

(optional) ✔✖

✖

✔

about pulling out – wasting fuel and shortening the driver’s fuse.

Improving the view into roundabouts gives drivers more time to make the right decision without grinding to an unnecessary halt. With the EU demanding legislation fi tting trucks with more blind-spot mirrors, we have to wonder why manufacturers haven’t done anything about this obvious blind spot looking forward – especially when it blocks such an important line of vision.

If the mirror was lowered by just a couple inches you would still have the view down the side of the truck as well as that all-important 45º view into roundabouts. ■

FACT FILEMeeting Euro-5 has pushed the list price of a basic chassis up to £89,430



COMPARISONS: VEHICLE DIMENSIONS

Daf has resisted the opportunity to tweak the day cab so for Euro-5 the extra cost is all down to the driveline

Specifi cation


Dimensions (mm)A External cab widthB External cab heightC Front overhang from front axle 1D Rear overhang from rear axle E Wheelbase (OAS)F Overall lengthG Frame heightH Body length

2,4903,0901,380

8406,4008,6201,0906,920

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FACTS &FIGURES

”The seat offers a little room to recline into for a power nap ”




COMPARISONS: OPERATIONAL TRIAL RESULTS

This is the fi rst Euro-5 test we have completed on a tipper,so the CF85’s pence-per-100km fi gure is the benchmark


Fuel consumptionOverall, mpg (lit/100Km) MotorwaysA-roadsAdBlue – % of diesel *Total cost 100km, £

Average speed Overall, km/h MotorwaysA-roads

Daf FADCF85 410

Euro-532 tonnes

8.36 (33.8)9.44 (29.9)7.78 (36.3)

5.3% 27.76

59.674.852.6

Daf FAD CF85 380

Euro-332 tonnes

8.05 (35.1)8.63 (32.7)7.70 (36.7)

n/a 28.08

60.375.853.2

FodenAlpha 385

Euro-332 tonnes

8.14 (34.7)9.52 (29.7)7.42 (38.1)

n/a 27.76

62.678.855.2

RenaultKerax 370

Euro-332 tonnes

8.71 (32.4)8.83 (32.0)8.63 (32.7)

n/a 25.92

66.081.156.5

* AdBlue at 40p per litre and diesel at 80p per litre, both excluding VAT

Our verdict

EngineWith 408hp on tap, power is not an issue for the 12.6-litre, Euro-5, straight-six engine




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OUR VIEW

The road transport industry has been busy adjusting to digital tachos and ever tougher emissions limits. But while it has updated the CF85’s driveline, Daf has wisely left the basic structure well alone so the shell of this vehicle is identical to its Euro-3 predecessor we tested in 2005.

The cost per 100km gives an indication of what Euro-5 might mean at the pumps, and manufacturers are keen to highlight potentially improved residuals which could offset the higher list prices associated with Euro-5.

As a workhorse, the latest CF85 is hard to fault simply because it does everything well. The only factor that might put off a potential buyer is its list price. But with the Euro-5 deadline next year this is an issue you won’t be able to avoid when picking a new vehicle. If you want a share of the Olympics bonanza, this is the sort of vehicle you should be buying now.

Kevin Swallow has the fi nal word

THEVERDICT

26 APRIL 2007 | COMMERCIAL MOTOR 47

Test date

Body/payloadAs tested, kg

Servicing downtimeAnnual total, hours

Contract maintenancePer year, £

Parts prices Basket of spares, £

Residual value £Three years Five years

Dealers UK/Continent

WarrantyMonths/miles

List priceBasic, £

*Figures for the Daf CF85 XE380, Foden Alpha and Renault Kerax are correct as of 17 February 2005

Daf FADCF85 410Euro-5CM 19 April 2007

22,588

8.2

4,616

2,186

28,45019,000

123/800

24 full and 36 preventative maintenance

89,430

*Daf FADCF85 380Euro-3CM 17 Feb 2005

22,690

8.2

3,872

1,762

27,80018,200

123/800

24 full and 36 preventative maintenance

73,410

*FodenAlpha 385Euro-3CM 20 Jan 2005

22,940

18.5

4,704

1,167

28,30018,300

57/-

12 full and 12-24 driveline only plus servicing deal

62,040

*RenaultKerax 370 HighwayEuro-3CM 09 Dec 2004

22,620

5.1

4,668

1,886

24,50015,900

67/1,100

12 full and 12-24 driveline up to 300,000km

66,010

COMPARISONS: DRIVING

Like for like with Euro-3, the Euro-5 version costs more and weighs more, but is more frugal and should have better residuals in three years’ time

Servicing downtime: Recommended standard servicing, 80,000km/year. Contract Hire: Figures for three years at 80,000km/year, full maintenance, supplied by Lombard. Contact: 0870 0105896. Parts prices: Retail total of brake linings (full set), headlamp unit, door mirror, wiper blades, oil/air fi lters, clutch. Residual values: Trade value, assuming 80,000km/year, in CAP Average Condition. Figures supplied by CAP Monitor. Contact: 0113 222 2000


roadtest: daf fad cf if it ain’t brokedaf trucks, thame, oxfordshire ox9 3fb euro-5 selective...

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