A note to the anti-auto crowd

15 years from date of production. So right now you can import a truck that was built in May of 1997.

 

Is it an outright ban on a 15 year old or newer, or is it that there'll be a hefty tax bill to accompany a new one? And what if that truck was part of an industrial machine like a mobile crane that was built onto a truck?

 

Straight out ban. It's so we purchase from what's already here and not from out of country.
You know, try to keep this economy alive.

 

I just wondered! We exported some machines over to there , that was an easy process enough but I had heard commercials to Canada were a non-runner

 

That 18 speed is how an autoshift should work!

Those 90's auto shifts were terrible! Nobody had a good one back then!

 

Here ye go, a Volvo I shift video, easy and controllable as hell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02cD-ky9TTU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

I owned a 2004 Western Star 4900 with a Eaton 10spd autoshift, pulling a tri-axle trailer in the oilfield. It was 'alright' at the time I got it, Eaton warantied a 10spd to 1.2million whereas a 18spd was only 800k.
The shift points were high, it did alright in the mud etc. To bad I had one of the first 04 Detroit S60 with EGR, or it might have been a decent truck. LOL
I bought a 09 KW new with a 18spd Eaton autoshift, it to had erratic shift points, up/down/up/down pulling super b tankers, I mentioned this to the dealer and they asked if I had it reprogrammed.. I said, "What? reprogram what?" I changed the software to the "heavy haul 1800" program and it cured almost all the weird shifting. The dealer said theres about 6 different programs they can flash onto the ecm for what your hauling, weight etc to help the autoshift.
Just picked up a 2012 Volvo 630 with Ishift this week, pulling a super b, it makes my Eaton Autoshift look archaic. LOL shifts just like my halfton, nice and smooth up and down, low low revs in economy mode.
I am curious to see how the fuel consumption is, as we have 2 trucks hauling the exact same loads every day, one is 2009 Kenworth W900 with a 550 ISX and the Volvo is a 550hp D16, average 900km/day for both units, same roads/hills.

Will keep you posted.

 

That's what I'm talking about, transmissions like the I shift are new generation, they have a synchronised box and software compatible with the engine and they work brilliantly

Good luck with your new machine, hope it goes well for you

 

Please , it will be interesting.
The D16 will interest me but I think a D13 would be better on fuel.

 

When I initially spec'd my truck to order it was with a 500hp D13, as we only run 54,500kg 8 months of the year, 63500, 4 months of the year and half our day is spent hauling empty tankers around at 23,500kg. I figured why would I need big HP, but with a 3-4 month order/PDI and rig up window and my old faithful breaking down around me, I had to get one off the lot, everything I wanted without the factory power inverter, tire pressure monitoring system, and pre-trip assistant. I honestly think if I get another Volvo I will try a D13, you figure 20-30litres a diesel a day at 1.15 it doesn't take long to add up to big savings.