Well finally after 7 months & 8 days it is finished!

My brand new truck spent a total 24 1/2 days in the repair shop with motor issues. Which is totally ridiculous. Go's to show you the quality that is coming out of Mercedes Plant.

Anyway I am heading up to Beck's tomorrow morning to pick it up. It will give me a chance to run the rig for about 5 hours and I will post some initial thoughts on the M2 and how it handled compared to my old FLD.

Bill

......'BOUT Time!....been holdin my breath so long.......why is that funny lookin' grin on your face anyway?.....geofkaye-[party at bill's]

.....by the way, Warpath-Is this site run by the same group that is running IRV2.com.....they are sure PC'd out of their frickin' minds lately....I'm heading for Escapees more and more and of course staying with this site.....BUT if the whinnning isn't going to get any better, say in a month or two....I'm dropping IRV2.com all together......I don't need the PC'ers telling me how to talk and think and I don't appreciate editing with out permission-that is grounds for computer virus strikes and attracks by other irriational idiots and their followers which only clog up listers/visitors 'puters and cause stife-why the sudden twisting of the member colons?....OY!......geofkaye

greetings...

My volvo VNL430 cummins isx was just completed as well. I am going to pick it up in a couple of weeks. I placed the order 9 months ago. I have had a class A (Monaco) motor home previously... problem was always getting the rig to handle the trailer appropriately....i.e. stopping. Now, with real engine braking this maybe an historical problem.

HiRevs....who built it?...why so long? Was it real special or what?.....send pix so we all can see....just don't ask me how to do pix -it's beyond me.....geofkaye

Volvo chassis are ?hard to get. Perhaps demand is high and production is low?

Although looking at the Truck paper there are plenty to go around.

no photos yet.

unable to disclose dealer until after I collect the unit.

Can't wait to feel the torque though.

I should add... that I was seriously underwhelmed by the MBZ motor. Specifically, the Local Frieghtliner dealer (salespersons and mechanics) warning me in advance.

I chose the volvo only becuase I could then choose a motor other than the Mercedez.

quote:

Originally posted by HiRevs:
I should add... that I was seriously underwhelmed by the MBZ motor. Specifically, the Local Frieghtliner dealer (salespersons and mechanics) warning me in advance.

I chose the volvo only becuase I could then choose a motor other than the Mercedez.

I don't understand this statement. With Freightliner, you should have had the option of Mercedes, Caterpillar and Detroit. Your dealer should've made this clear.

Dang and I thought 3 1/2 months for a M2 was long.

After taking a 5 hour spin in my new M2 with MBE926 and Allison Auto, I will say this.

If you have had or driven a truck with big ponies do not buy a M2 without a test drive first. If you are going to pull a large race trailer do not buy the M2 at all. If you want sports car performance do not buy a M2. You just are not going to be happy.

But if you are using it for RV'ing, towing smaller trailers or live and will use it mainly in the flatlands it is perfect. I will write a full report in a separate post, but for a new motor and tranie (which is still tight) I pulled some decent on-highway grades with little or no MPH fall off. On Flat on ramps it would be at about 55 by the time you hit the highway.

But the power was only a small portion of my decision for a M2 and a bigger portion is the maneuverability and I give it 2 thumbs up!!

I did ask if I could get another Motor... A CAT would have been just fine. A dealer said that was not an option on the Frieghtliner ....Why did they not tell me?

Yet, independant of the motor, I spoke to two pro-long haulers on one local truck driver. They informed me that they had they worked for companies with freightliners -they were also very happy when the co. changed to Volvo. Partly for the engine but, moresofor the ergonomics of the cab.