I’ve driven a lot of MAN trucks over the past few years, from TGX to TGA/TGS.
As has been said, one of the big things that lets them down is the interior quality. The ■■■■ things just fall apart, let in water and then the electrics fail because they got wet…
Also the cheaper specifications have terrible equipment levels compared to their competitors. Obviously it’s down to what the owner asks for but other marque’s offer a lot more for a lot less. At the moment the TGS I am driving is far worse equipped than the 3 year older TGA it replaced, even though the TGS cost more to buy new, even accounting for inflation. It has only two air vents, both in the middle of the dash and they are blocked if you use the cup holder. Nowhere useful to store your paperwork while keeping it in order, nowhere to brace against while you write.
The TGX and higher spec TGS’s are significantly better but you have to pay for it, something most operators are loathe to do these days.
If you entirely ignore the interior spec and build quality then they are excellent trucks, pull well, are good on fuel and have never let me down like DAF’s, IVECO’s and Merc’s have.
I’d have a well specced one any day over any of the above 3 makes but, honestly, and for no other reason apart from how they feel to drive and live in, I’d go for a Scania any day if I had the choice…but my boss wont touch them because of the price premium.