waddy640:
I started on a Bedford TK and they were quite modern at the time, synchromesh box, I think that was about all it had. Horrible thing to sleep in, the gear lever used to stick in my back.
Yep, same here, I used to try and get on that parcel shelf and im 6ft 3in!!! 
bubsy06:
[Thank [zb] we are not all cavemen hey
Times move on, people invent new stuff to make life easier, how can that be a bad thing? do you still expect me to power a lorry by sticking my feet thru a hole in floor and running for minimum wage
Sure technology moves on and thats great but it does gripe abit to hear such trivial complaints!
As for the feet through the floor, its good exercise!! Some of the wrecks I first started driving had the holes in em!!
bullitt:
Cup holder not deep enough■■?Auto box complaints■■?
No electric mirrors??
Adjustable steering column problems■■?
No room to put your “dinner bag” (lunch box??
)
Cruise control buttons in wrong place!!..CRUISE CONTROL!!!
I dont know how old you are or how long you have been driving but you sound like you are well and truly spoilt. Is that the worst you could find to moan about■■?
Its a truck FFS, a working machine…and you are supposed to be as truck driver, not a luxury car chauffeurIf these are the points that urk you the most then you would have hated some of the machines from times past.
Cruise control was a length of timber wedged between the accelerator and the bottom of the dash. Electric mirrors, adjustable steering columns,auto boxes ■■?And now cup holders!!!, WTF is that all about??
Whats the point of comparing yesteryears trucks with todays? Trucks like everything else evolve & cost a hell of a lot of money- so you expect them to be well thought out for the driver & be reliable & well put together & as for the 2800/3300 - they werent
in the same league as Scanias & Volvos
bullitt:
Sure technology moves on and thats great but it does gripe abit to hear such trivial complaints!As for the feet through the floor, its good exercise!! Some of the wrecks I first started driving had the holes in em!!
You have to understand I like to have a brew or a can of cider when driving, but when you have to dislocate your shoulder to get at it, it really does annoy me 
bubsy06:
bullitt:
Sure technology moves on and thats great but it does gripe abit to hear such trivial complaints!As for the feet through the floor, its good exercise!! Some of the wrecks I first started driving had the holes in em!!
You have to understand I like to have a brew or a can of cider when driving, but when you have to dislocate your shoulder to get at it, it really does annoy me
Ok I’m a relative youngster with only 10 years experience but my first Foden 4000 (F reg and was regarded as a basket case by workshop) never rattled and was a lovely motor to drive; no matter who drove them you never needed to adjust the seat much. Roll forward to the Daf with a kite badge I have now;rattles, electrical problems, cooling problems at least once a year, rear axle thumps and bangs when empty…surely that should happen with a motor 20 years old not 6 ffs…
Anyone know how to fix the issue of the lights at the top of the cab distrupting FM signal? or DAB signal as well.?
Dogmatix:
Anyone know how to fix the issue of the lights at the top of the cab distrupting FM signal? or DAB signal as well.?
Check the wiring for the stereo including the aerial coax, sounds like someone has bodged somewhere.
bullitt:
I dont know how old you are or how long you have been driving but you sound like you are well and truly spoilt. Is that the worst you could find to moan about■■?
I’d be happy without ABS, lights that tell you a bulb’s out, front fog lamps, trip computers, wood effect dash, cd player (no good in dusty environments as it scratches the discs) and fancy “ergonomic dashboards” which mean “stupid curved setup that attracts dust and rattles after 2 years”. Onboard weigher is one of the only mod cons I’d be annoyed if it was left out.
Another fault; Where can I put dirty gloves without making a mess? Proper Fodens had a cubbyhole under the drivers seat…
As an agency driver I generally get a different make/model every day of the week in all states.
Most days it’s either a Merc, IVECO, DAF or Volvo. Occasionally a Renault or MAN thrown in. I have to say that If I get a DAF I’m normally happy as they just get on and get the job done. Rarely break down on you and easy to do the job in. They certainly aren’t my favourite make but they always seem to get the load delivered and me back to the yard without drama, which is what it’s all about, surely?
Scarab:
As an agency driver I generally get a different make/model every day of the week in all states.Most days it’s either a Merc, IVECO, DAF or Volvo. Occasionally a Renault or MAN thrown in. I have to say that If I get a DAF I’m normally happy as they just get on and get the job done. Rarely break down on you and easy to do the job in. They certainly aren’t my favourite make but they always seem to get the load delivered and me back to the yard without drama, which is what it’s all about, surely?
Not if you drive them day in day out and have to keep thumping the door panel to stop it rattling…
bullitt:
Cup holder not deep enough■■?Auto box complaints■■?
No electric mirrors??
Adjustable steering column problems■■?
No room to put your “dinner bag” (lunch box??
Cruise control buttons in wrong place!!..CRUISE CONTROL!!!
I dont know how old you are or how long you have been driving but you sound like you are well and truly spoilt. Is that the worst you could find to moan about■■?
Its a truck FFS, a working machine…and you are supposed to be as truck driver, not a luxury car chauffeurIf these are the points that urk you the most then you would have hated some of the machines from times past.
Cruise control was a length of timber wedged between the accelerator and the bottom of the dash. Electric mirrors, adjustable steering columns,auto boxes ■■?How about a …non air assisted clutch■■?
And now cup holders!!!, WTF is that all about??
Never drove a DAF that did’nt have an air assisted clutch though and the only reason that I’d complain about cup holders,auto or synchro boxes and cruise control (and limiters) would be because I’d prefer to do without all that zb in exchange for a good old fashioned 1970’s/80’s type spec truck.
The air assissted clutch refers to the older trucks in general carryfast. In fact the first truck I drove with an AA clutch was a DAF!!
Gotta agree with your last statement, I too given a choice would prefer to take out an older late 70s and 80s truck minus cupholders etc (might draw the line at no night heater though!! ). I know its easy to look back with rose tinted glasses.
Well I like them and find them hard to fault. Drove the 85 (04 plate) and 95 (54 plate) for quite some time on tramping work and found them comfy to drive, live in and pull fairly well (both 430 manuals). However, I do hate the auto boxed versions with a passion.
I generally found the modern DAF to be a pretty decent truck…comfortable,good on diesel and pretty reliable…and not a bad back up from our local dealer either. One thing I do notice about them however is,whereas the old 2800’s seemed to go on forever and were easily maintained and repaired,the more modern XF’s tend to be retired from about seven or eight years old,due to minor component failure causing annoying downtime…air valves,poor wiring,electrical units,engine heads,gearbox synchro rings etc…One model I would like to drive is the 95 with the ■■■■■■■ 500 engine…supppossed to be a fantastic truck by all accounts.
Could always be worse,you could be driving a blinged up Peterbilt,and mine is truly the worst truck I’ve ever driven in 30 years on the road,would gladly swap for a Daf,or in the perfect world a Volvo 
.
i’m only 41 & didn’t drive in the golden age when F10 & 112 ruled the roads , but i’ve driven a few oldies & have to say , most of the DAF’s ive used have been pretty good , my first DAF experience was a 1900 & thought that was better than the Merc1820 i had at the time , only the driving position in the CF have i had any issues with , as i’m sat too low down , the windscreen is too tall & they give you a 4in sun screen flap to use ? whats that about ? it really needs a pull down blind like the XF has, it also suffers from no external lockers .
other than that even the lower HP daf’s i’ve used pull like trains, everything i need is within easy reach & simple to use, yes they are dated in their looks , but i don’t see it from the drivers seat , the only gripe i’ve had is a few i’ve driven with AD-BLU problems
Thank god you dont drive coaches then, in particular Plaxton bodied ones - they dont come with an electrical socket OR a cup holder
bubsy06:
Dogmatix:
Anyone know how to fix the issue of the lights at the top of the cab distrupting FM signal? or DAB signal as well.?Check the wiring for the stereo including the aerial coax, sounds like someone has bodged somewhere.
Its none of that wiring, because it also affects my Pure DAB signal as well and thats not attached to the truck apart from its power, but as soon as I switch the sidelights on, the signal drops or goes completely on it. As it affects both radio signals, it makes me think its the wiring for the cab top lights rather than radio system. I narrowed it down by taking out fuses for various lights until I found out it was the side lights on that side, and as both the FM aerial and the dab one run up near to the top light it leads to me to believe its that light.
I agree dafs are overated, i always wanted a daf xf until i drove one for the day. The drivers side is not much room and im small. The brake pedal is that old fasioned type, the manuel gears are low geared in top and it over rev, and they handle bad as well. I drove a 460xf on a 57 plate, they tell me the best item is the bed.
I agree dafs are overated, i always wanted a daf xf until i drove one for the day. The drivers side is not much room and im small. The brake pedal is that old fasioned type, the manuel gears are low geared in top and it over rev, and they handle bad as well. I drove a 460xf on a 57 plate, they tell me the best item is the bed.
