I would like to hear the pro's and cons on the Freightliner Classic XL from those who have had the experience of driving them.

__________________
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

good trucks! i drove one for 2 years.the only trouble i had was a fuel line rubbed against the firewall and spewed fuel all under me.it felt like i was driving on ice.i had a 3406 cat motor in it. the mechanic said its a common problem.

Thanx for the review and heads up on the fuel line.

__________________
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

I've never driven one, but I have talked to lots of people that have, the older ones took a lot of distance to turn around, the newer ones turn fairly short; my understanding is that they went to a narrower frame like the Century Class uses which allows the front wheels to turn farther, the Coronado is a similar setup and they do turn fairly short.

The longer wheelbase trucks tend to go down the road without darting and wandering, they are easier to drive in the lane than a shorter wheelbase. The same thing can be accomplished with a long wheelbase on a set-back front axle. The ride is better in the XL though, because the seat is farther behind the axle. The Coronado is about the same as an XL.

AJ

I am driving one ( a 2006) now as a "loaner" until my 06 379 gets here...... I can't stand it!!! my previous truck was a 379 and I think my pete rode better bobtail than this XL does loaded. That may sound sound like an exageration but that's the way it feels to me. I Can't stand the dashboard setup. I haven't measured but I don't think the turning radius is any smaller than a 379 with the same wheel base. (the coronados do turn on a dime though). The passenger side mirror placement is a joke cause the deal that separates the wing window from the larger window is right in line with your line of site to the mirror and cuts the viewing space almost in half. They aren't bad looking on the outside but other than the big sleeper I don't like the interior at all. Oh and most come with a Detroit, I run flatbed and I'll pay a little more in fuel for something that will pull load like a Cummins or Cat. If I were choosing between a n XL or a Coronado I would take the Coronado. If you get an XL UPGRADE THE SEATS !!

it's a pete knockoff. and a poor one. they look okay on the outside but the interior is cheap freighliner all the way. I agree the dashes are horrible.
Just remember, you spend a WHOLE lot more time inside that truck than outside looking at it so what's more important. exterior or interior?

I have "heard" that they are fuel hogs.

The make of the truck has absolutely no bearing as to whethr or not it will get good fuel mileage. The main difference from one truck to another is what the cab looks like. Most all of the other equipment can be the same on any one of them.

__________________
From the oft Times Bedraggled and Sometimes Deranged Mind Of Runamuk

The FLD series has been using the same basic dashboard since at least 1982.

__________________

Never again would get into a Freightliner, boss just got a new XL, daycab last summer and the Dashes haven't changed and its an 06 its horrible with a Detroit!! I think Freightliner should improve their ugly dashes, look at Peterbilt their dashes change and Freightliner noooo don't change!! I'll just stick with my KW900 with a 475 ISX until i find a Pete to drive again.