Volvo for me. A Volvo is a Volvo all through and in my book the build quality is better.
dave_k:
Big Truck:
The Premium 460DXi should work out cheaper than the equivalent VolvoFM/Daf CF and possibly have a lighter tare weight too
Can’t fault the Premium DXi at all and have driven all three trucks@ 4x2 with auto boxes this past week on local shop deliveries.
You’d be surprised. Renault’s prices have risen quite significantly in the last two years.
It’s amazing how much ‘movement’ there is in the screen prices when you go to Renault salesman saying you have a DAF CF/Volvo FM on your shortlist at x price and will probably be going for that because the Renault is too expensive… 
Especially when you do it at the end of the month…
Pick up the Renault Demo on the 26th Nov. for a week ( the 460 model).
Why do Renault make 450hp & a 460hp versions of the Premium??
Geoffo:
Handed the Daf CF back on Saturday. I get the impression from my mate that this will not be a serious contender for his replacement truck…Now time for the Volvo FM !!
I’ll not get chance too drive the Volvo, but I’ve had a good look at It. My first impression Is ,It’s a well put together truck with enough room for me to stand up on the engine hump without hitting my head on the cab ceiling (I’m 6’2’').So defo a big thumbs-up.
Quick update,
Maik called me to ask If I wanted to do a [u]Quick run/u with him In the Volvo upto Dartford with him on Saturday (12/11/11)
So we left Gent at around 06.00 (with me In the passenger seat) & had a steady run up to the Channel Tunnel for the crossing to Folkstone. The drive to Coquelles went smoothly with nothing major to report. I did find the passenger seat comfortable though. Maik put the truck on the train.
Arriving In Folkstone, It was then my turn to check out the drivers seat. I was the first time In 10 year’s that I’d driven a truck In the UK ,just had to keep reminding myself to keep Left . The run up the M20 was fairly busy, but did manage to keep the truck (auto-box) in a high gear. Just past the M26 split,the truck came into It’s own ellement & powered up the hill in no-time ( with a shade under 25 ton on board). The retarder kept the truck at a constant 90kph down the other side. After we joined the M25 & past the A2 junction, we came to the back of a small queue for the Dartford crossing. I was pleased with the fact that we had an auto-box especially in the queueing traffic. Just before the crossing we got off the M25 & arrived at the unloading address a couple of mins later. All-in-all a good run up.
Had a funny ’ Johnny Foreigner’ moment while unloading,when one of the unloading staff asked me In very loud Engish ‘‘ARE YOU GUY’S FROM POLAND ■■?!!!’’ I answered ‘no’, but asked him why he thought we were from Poland, His answer was ‘‘There’s 2 of you driving’’.
Tipped within an hour of arriving & ready to go. Had no reload, so ran empty back to Folkstone. I drove onto the train & that was my stint of driving done.
Maik dropped me back off at home, then handed the Volvo back to the dealer.
The truck itself Is a fantastic machine. Powerfull, comfortable. Cab acces ,just can’t fault It, nice & low. Able to hold a conversation without to much noise from outside & under the cab.
Now looking forward to the Renault Premium at the end of this month…
I would go for the DAF anyday but with a big engine and auto. The ones we run in our company are beginning to have quite a few problems now as they were specd wrong at the beginning. 360 engine is no good for pulling 26 pallets of fruit everyday, theyre juicy, theyre ad-blued, which will add to the cost of running it. There is a lot of storage however in the overhead lockers, and huge amount under the bed, the sad thing is its not a walk through cab as opposed to the 105 xf, which is my preferred motor. A daf mechanic told me it was a 2 year engine before major probs, and after 3 yrs ours are having excess oil problems, engine rebuilds, clutches, lack of power in some instances. Having said that, there was a bad batch of cfs which daf are monitoring, so the cost could be down to them. I put most of these problems down to the fact that the engines are under powered for our type of work ( heavy loads ) on a daily basis, and are more suited for furniture deliveries or light loads. If your mate is using a demonstrator with a 500 engine, its gonna make a hell of a difference, especially up the hills in germany, yet those hills could be in any country.
truckyboy:
I would go for the DAF anyday but with a big engine and auto. The ones we run in our company are beginning to have quite a few problems now as they were specd wrong at the beginning. 360 engine is no good for pulling 26 pallets of fruit everyday, theyre juicy, theyre ad-blued, which will add to the cost of running it. There is a lot of storage however in the overhead lockers, and huge amount under the bed, the sad thing is its not a walk through cab as opposed to the 105 xf, which is my preferred motor. A daf mechanic told me it was a 2 year engine before major probs, and after 3 yrs ours are having excess oil problems, engine rebuilds, clutches, lack of power in some instances. Having said that, there was a bad batch of cfs which daf are monitoring, so the cost could be down to them. I put most of these problems down to the fact that the engines are under powered for our type of work ( heavy loads ) on a daily basis, and are more suited for furniture deliveries or light loads. If your mate is using a demonstrator with a 500 engine, its gonna make a hell of a difference, especially up the hills in germany, yet those hills could be in any country.
Had a run out In the Daf CF 510 Space cab nearly 2 weeks ago & got chance to drive a Volvo FM 500 LXL Globe. over the weekend. If I was buying, I’d choose the Volvo anyday. I do have to admit that I’ve not driven the Daf with an automatic box…yet…
Had 2 demo trucks from Renault. First was Premium was with an 11 liter 450hp & the second was with the 13 liter 460hp. Both trucks were great to drive, although the 450 had a manual 'box. Cab access is very good especially the angled steps. It’s a real shame that the Premium doesn’t come with a 500hp engine that’s fitted in the Magnum 
.
To cut a long story short, my mate Maik has ordered a Volvo FM 500 Globe LXL with every conceivable option that you could put on it . The new truck should by arriving some time in early April replacing his (by then) 4 year old Volvo FH 460 Globe XL.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best with the new truck…
Thanks to everybody else for your fine contributions to this thread, especially 206doorman & Bob K. for pointing us in the direction of the Premium.
He made a good decision,you rarely hear of unhappy Volvo owners. 
Our 460 CF’s pull well and i like them as a tool if they have the manual box cover the ground very quickly, with the auto not a nice vehicle at all, but then non of the autos are except Volvo boxes.
Wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole as a purchase/lease for OD though, forget the days of ultra reliable 2800’s and 3300’s, historic note now.
Geoffo:
Had 2 demo trucks from Renault. First was Premium was with an 11 liter 450hp & the second was with the 13 liter 460hp. Both trucks were great to drive, although the 450 had a manual 'box. Cab access is very good especially the angled steps. It’s a real shame that the Premium doesn’t come with a 500hp engine that’s fitted in the MagnumTo cut a long story short, my mate Maik has ordered a Volvo FM 500 Globe LXL with every conceivable option that you could put on it
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best with the new truck…
Thanks to everybody else for your fine contributions to this thread, especially 206doorman & Bob K. for pointing us in the direction of the Premium.
The 460bhp engine is an 11litre too.
Geoffo:
Had 2 demo trucks from Renault. First was Premium was with an 11 liter 450hp & the second was with the 13 liter 460hp. Both trucks were great to drive, although the 450 had a manual 'box. Cab access is very good especially the angled steps. It’s a real shame that the Premium doesn’t come with a 500hp engine that’s fitted in the MagnumTo cut a long story short, my mate Maik has ordered a Volvo FM 500 Globe LXL with every conceivable option that you could put on it
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best with the new truck…
Thanks to everybody else for your fine contributions to this thread, especially 206doorman & Bob K. for pointing us in the direction of the Premium.
I wasn’t aware the Renault with the 460bhp was a 13 litre engine however, I have a 13 litre 460 ishift in an FM & it’s a cracking lorry. It’s taken me a lot of getting used to the smaller cab after an R cab Scania but, I too wanted to get away from the extra steps up into the cab.
BB
Basilbrush:
Geoffo:
Had 2 demo trucks from Renault. First was Premium was with an 11 liter 450hp & the second was with the 13 liter 460hp. Both trucks were great to drive, although the 450 had a manual 'box. Cab access is very good especially the angled steps. It’s a real shame that the Premium doesn’t come with a 500hp engine that’s fitted in the MagnumTo cut a long story short, my mate Maik has ordered a Volvo FM 500 Globe LXL with every conceivable option that you could put on it
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best with the new truck…
Thanks to everybody else for your fine contributions to this thread, especially 206doorman & Bob K. for pointing us in the direction of the Premium.
I wasn’t aware the Renault with the 460bhp was a 13 litre engine however, I have a 13 litre 460 ishift in an FM & it’s a cracking lorry. It’s taken me a lot of getting used to the smaller cab after an R cab Scania but, I too wanted to get away from the extra steps up into the cab.
BB
I believe that the 460bhp Premium engine started off its life as the same engine found in the Volvo FM9. Renault engineers tinkered with the blocks, made their own engine software and re-bored them into 10.8 litre engines.Apparently Volvo were so impressed with the Renault version, that they started fitting the engines into some of their trucks.
I might have got my wires crossed on the ‘13’ litre 460 Premium, but I’m sure that’s what the salesman said.Hey,could be wrong though. Is the 450 also an 11 litre??
renault-trucks.co.uk/premium … tance.html
10.8 litre across the range by the looks of it.
We have a fleet of 18 at work. All the drivers turned their noses up when the order was put in. 18 drivers have since changed their minds!
killsville:
http://www.renault-trucks.co.uk/premium-long-distance/technical-information-premium-long-distance.html10.8 litre across the range by the looks of it.
We have a fleet of 18 at work. All the drivers turned their noses up when the order was put in. 18 drivers have since changed their minds!
Thank’s for the link. Your right, 10.8 litre engine. Just knowing that,I’m even more impressed by the 460’s performance.