First driving lesson

**LandyAndy** · 20th January 2006, 10:35 PM

Hi guys
I finally got to spend some time driving this

Nice truck,getting the old head around the electronics is the main problem,getting the computer to change manual gears for you 8O 8O 8O For a gearchange you use the "tiptronic" gearshift,click it up or down for the shift and push the clutch in,easy you say.Any body who has driven a normal truck would know the get the revs right,quick double clutch,with a blip on the accelerator for a downchange and shift the gearstick.In this baby you just use the tiptronic and push the clutch,problem is you are "programed" to hit the clutch twice fast,in this its once and hold it in till the computer goes "clunk" over a speaker,if you do it quickly as I seemed to do easily an electronic gear grinding noise comes from the speaker,and no gearshift happens,I kid you not.
Awsome HP,rated at 405hp european,which we are told is significantly higher than the Jap truck HP ratings,pulls a 30tonne load in top gear easily fron 1000rpm.
Has really good brakes,discs all around on the prime mover with ABS/traction control/centre diff lock and individual axle diff locks.The dash has a tacho and spedo either side of a computer screen,no need to check the oil,the computer does that.
The gravel pit is at the top of some really tall hills,one trip up I clutched too fast and didnt get the gearchange and had to restart on the steepest pinch,no probs hit the "hill holder" button and drive off as if it was a flat road.
This will be one easy truck to get a semi liscence in 8) 8) 8) 8)
Andrew

**p38arover** · 20th January 2006, 10:39 PM

Originally posted by LandyAndy
For a gearchange you use the "tiptronic" gearshift,click it up or down for the shift and push the clutch in,easy you say.
<snip>
no probs hit the "hill holder" button and drive off as if it was a flat road.

Nice truck!

The gear changes sound a bit like the old pre-selector boxes used on Leyland buses of the 60s and 70s.

My old automatic 1955 Jaguar Mk VII had one of those. It was a solenoid operated valve in the brake line. Apply brakes and the solenoid valve would hold the brake pressure on. Touch the accelerator and the valve released so one could drive away.

I suspect that these days it's all computerised.

Ron

**DEFENDERZOOK** · 20th January 2006, 10:40 PM

<span style="color:blue">yeah, yeah......thats all good and fine......

but whats the articulation like......?</span>

**p38arover** · 20th January 2006, 10:45 PM

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK]<span style="color:blue">yeah, yeah......thats all good and fine......

but whats the articulation like......?</span>

It's a Mercedes - not very good.

Ron

**LandyAndy** · 20th January 2006, 10:46 PM

Between the cab and trailer UNBELIEVABLE.You need to steer the opposite way to reversing a trailer behind a car,SOMETHING ELSE TO GET THE KNUMBSKULL AROUND

Andrew

**DEFENDERZOOK** · 20th January 2006, 10:48 PM

<span style="color:blue">oh...all right ...you talked me into it.....

when can i take it for a test drive...?</span>

**JDNSW** · 21st January 2006, 05:51 AM

Originally posted by p38arover+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(p38arover)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-LandyAndy
For a gearchange you use the "tiptronic" gearshift,click it up or down for the shift and push the clutch in,easy you say.
<snip>
no probs hit the "hill holder" button and drive off as if it was a flat road.

Nice truck!

The gear changes sound a bit like the old pre-selector boxes used on Leyland buses of the 60s and 70s.

My old automatic 1955 Jaguar Mk VII had one of those. It was a solenoid operated valve in the brake line. Apply brakes and the solenoid valve would hold the brake pressure on. Touch the accelerator and the valve released so one could drive away.

I suspect that these days it's all computerised. :)

Ron[/b][/quote]

Preselector Wilson gearbox - used extensively, mainly on English luxury cars from about 1920, gradually replaced by automatics by the 1960's. I have mostly seen them on Daimlers, Armstrong-Siddley, Lanchester, but they were optional on a lot of other cars, and as stated, a lot of buses.

**CraigE** · 21st January 2006, 06:27 AM

Nice, have seen it in action blaring past a couple of weeks ago. Was that Kylie Minogue you had blaring on the stereo Andy? Or was it the gear change in stereo?
Mate you'd be like a dog with two _____ ! The Disco and a Merc truck to play with.

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