Volvo 780 D13 or KW T680 ISX

i have had a truck with the autoshift(2012 international maxxfarce) and hated it. i have a freind that has a 2014 volvo ishift and he is getting decent mmilage (6.2 flatbed)

 

In first place i would look who has the best servicepoint close to you.

 

Both offer Good quality work?

 

If you get the T680 with the 2.64 rear end gears and a direct drive transmission, ISX smart torque 2 package, and you run a box van without side skirts at roughly 64,000 lbs in moderate terrain then you should get around 8mpg with ribbed tires on the drive axles instead of lugged tires. The Volvo will get around 7.3 mpg with equivalent items on it. This is just what our one T680 is getting on average.

 

Here's a few thoughts from a company driver:

The first thing I'd want to know is how well the local dealership will treat you. Do they do quality repairs and will they get you in and out quickly? That would be crucial for me. How much is the extended warranty? (From what I've heard, you really, really need these - especially for the aftertreatment systems). I'd be interested in the resale value of a t680? Volvo's are supposed to have a lower resale - but I'd really investigate this.

I've driven both but actually spent a year OTR in pair of Volvos. From a driver's point of view I prefer the Volvo - although it really does come down to personal preference. I find that the Volvo's seats are more comfortable, the controls are very ergonomic, and all the nooks and crannies are well designed - no one has ever complained about storage space in a Volvo! (It even has a spot on the door where you can put a hammer!) The Volvo also has better visibility from the side window. The 780 has 5 more inches of space than the 680 - and I like the brown interior. I've driven some older Volvos and can attest that the interior is made of high quality (plastic) and will hold up over time. Also, the steering of the Volvo feels nice and light.

The Kenworth seats feel a bit hard after driving for a day and the arm-rests are too short to be useful. Also, I found that after a while that the seat belt hurts my shoulder. I also dislike the way that the smart-nav system controls the radio - too much fiddling about when all you want to do is twist a knob. But generally speaking, the t680 is a nice truck - and I really like the overall design. I prefer the tan interior over the grey.

As for the powertrain, the I-Shift is the best amt out there. I've never driven an Eaton that didn't shift at too-high revs when lightly loaded, or run through all the gears where an experienced driver would skip a few. The I-Shift does all this - and does it better than most drivers actually. It's very smooth and upshifts at low revs wherever it can. I think that alone might give the Volvo an edge in fuel economy. The I-shift is pretty reliable.

The D13 has a good reputation, and I never thought that it lacked for power. An ISX might have more power, being a 15L. As for reliability, all engines will suck if they break - an the internet is full of horror stories. And I've heard that Cummins is getting horrific with honoring warranty claims. But that's all scuttlebutt and rumour - I have no direct experience. The ISX will have a better Jake brake, but might also be heavier. My Volvos were prone to air leaks.

Oh, and if I was ever in a crash, I'd prefer the Volvo: standard air bags, the strongest cab and an engine that's designed to drop out.

If the dealership service seem equal, and the price and resale and warranty are the same, then really it all comes down to whatever cab you like spending time in. Both KW and Volvo make trucks that I could be happy with.

 

I have driven a volvo with a D13 and the 12spd i shift, I have a Kenworth W9 with a ISX and an 18spd ultra shift plus. The transmissions are very similar manners wise. When you own the truck, you can have the shop set the parameters on each transmission on how you want it to shift. Out of the box both will skip shift, both will "coast" when going down hill, both have hill start, both have selective downshifting and jake'ing, both shift very very similarly. I do think the eaton has a quicker shift, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter.

I liked the Volvo (except for the fact it was a detuned gutless company truck), I love the KW. The ISX definitely has more power (as it should).

As for ratio's ... don't gear the cummins where the motor will turn less than 1400 engine rpm at your desired cruising speed in top gear. 14 to 1450 is the sweet spot. Those fuel squeaker D13's are set up to cruise at 1150 but downshift with a gentle breeze.

 

Yes, but they downshift into direct gear. Direct gearing is also supposed to be fuel efficient.

I've heard that some of the newer models for bulk & flatbed haulers stay in direct when loaded, but then flip into overdrive (aka the go-home gear) when empty.