Firm i work for run a few tga models and have found them heavy on fuel if run at full weight but pretty good on lighter work.We have had no major problems with ours but the oldest is only an 06 plate but i have heard some real horror storys from people who have had some older ones.
I would say build quality is very poor compared to scania volvo merc and daf about on par with iveco. Which is suprising as i found the older f90/f2000 a great old workhorse. And the dealer workshop service and parts avalibility seems pretty poor to me
For what it’s worth here is my tuppence worth, in no particular order . . . .
I’m an owner driver with a 56 plate TGA XXL 480. I have had one elctrical gremlin with it in almost two years of ownership, which was a broken sensor, fixed quickly under warranty. Build quality is good. Open the overhead lockers and run you fingers down the edge by the lock mechanism nice and smooth, do that in a Volvo or a Scania at your peril! Cut fingers. I have had no broken trim, and no issues with door hinges, which were common faults on the early TGA and were modified by MAN during the TGA’s life, the bottom door hinge was prone to wear but was fixed directly to the door so a new hinge meant a new door, or a messy welding job. Other things to watch out for, door modules (window and mirror switches) are prone to failure (£400 minimum to replace) because if its raining they get wet when your getting in and out of the cab which eventually damages the circuit board under the switches, put a clean rag over the swtiches to try an protect it a little, and if it does get wet blow the water away with an air duster, and wipe it dry, mine has not failed . . . . yet! The plastic air vents in the dash centre can break up, they did on my last one but this truck has been fine. You can’t make the dash read in MPG only in KM/L or L/100KM which is a bit of a pain, and don’t listen to dealers who say they can change it for you, it is not possible. Dump the top bunk if your single manned, and invest in some extra lockers £300/400 worth their weight in gold. Lubricate the cable that opens the side lockers, it can corrode and snap making you look stupid if you need your gloves, straps, or wet kit!! The cool box can be converted into a fridge by KUDA for a couple of hundred quid, MAN want about £700! Fuel wise mine started at 7mpg with 17,000k’s and has continued to improve, and still is. Now showing 206,000k’s and seeing 9.5 to 10.0mpg weekly and i’m running general haulage usually with a 23 ton load, (soft drinks), I can see 11-12mpg if im running light and am sensible with the big pedal! ! ! I’m sill on original brake linings with 55% remaining on steer, 86% remaining on pusher, and 55% remaining on drive. I run super singles on both steer and pusher which I swap every six months and I have 10mm of tread on both sets of Goodyear tyres, drive is on Bridgestones M279’s with 12mm of tread remaining, all tyres were fitted at 17,000k’s. Use the dump facility on the pusher as much as you can for normal of super singles tyres, you won’t scrub the shoulder of the tyre out when your manouvering. And have the truck laserligned annualy £50. The steering wheel is enormous, but if MAN make them smaller you would not be able to see the dash very well (took me a while to figure that out!) but you get used to it. Fan clutches are common failures and at £500 hurt your profits to unless you’re under warranty, diff seals can weep if you stand the truck for any serious length of time too. Exhaust flexi pipes are prone to cracking and cost about £80 fitted, i’m on my second, and the oil filler pipes can crack and weep, the pipes about £50 fitting is scheduled for next PMI in four weeks time. Wiper linkages can fail, £200 to replace, easy to fit, (I did it myself on my last TGA, and trust me I am no mechanic). I use about 2 litres of oil every six weeks. The bottom bunk is very thin, but a memory matress on top of the bunk works a treat and costs about £50, but i’m built for comfort!! Bottom driving lights (next to the indicator) are prone to stones and are expensive to replace, they are easy to fit, but you have to buy a complete indicator/light unit, the clear/white lenses that were fitted to the 5 Star TGA’s are £30 cheaper a side, so buy those instead. Dealers, well good and bad, mine are OK, HRVS at Newark, we have had our differences but in general they look after me quite well. My only experince with MAN back up is from Imperial Commercials at Norwich and they sorted me an ABS suzie real quick and didn’t charge me for call out or part either, I think they forgot! But it was quick and efficient.
All in all i’m happy with my truck, honestly speaking they are a one man vehicle, but if they’re cared for, and maintained well, you shouldn’t have any major issues.
As for resale, it’s in the lap of the gods, look after your truck, and it will look after you.
This is my second TGA, my last one was a 460 engined 52 plate with the tall/narrow cab (LX model in MAN speak) and that was a good truck, which is why I bought another.
Hope this helps
fly sheet:
you could’nt keep the thing in brakes
This is common in many 6x2 highish powered tractor units but seems a particular problem with the MAN’s, it comes from drivers flooring the ‘loud’ pedal and letting the traction controll sort it out!! This applies some brake to the ‘spinning’ wheel thereby sending more drive to the wheel with the most grip, if a driver is carefull and lifts the mid axle when grip is an issue and doesn’t floor it on tight turns and roundabouts this isn’t a problem.
I know of a Foden Alpha with a 450 Cat engine wear a set of pads (drive axle) almost to the metal between two six weekly inspections!!! that’s correct, new pads only lasting 6 weeks. In the case of this particular truck (on long distance UK bulk tipper work) that related to about 18,000km’s.
This is 99% of the MAN’s rear brake wear issue, drivers with lead boots.
Ross.
Be careful of manual TGA’s. My experience of driving them is watch out for snchro’s on the gear. Comfort shift clutch slipping.
Also a local haulier was on the phone today. He is sending his back it’s on contract maintenance, and been landed with a £7500 bill for the lease company.
That reminds me, the TGA has got to be the most commonly seen truck being towed by a wrecker.
Theres a Scottish member with one ,he does timber haulage. Ask him what theyre like. Dingo is his username.
recenty bought to 480’s on 04’s 1 is a MAN and the other is an ERF had a few little probs with man broken wire to starter and gear stick fell off 
… drivers love them… 1 of my lads had new 95xf’s and 105’s and loved them but hes been converted…used to have older ERFs so just stayed with the MANERF brand…the local dealer p&k at widnes are crap 
so i use ERF manchester …