Freightliner Coronado

You start going with bigger hp and torque you may find yourself getting into a lot pricier driveline components which you could add to the price of the $10,000-$15,000 difference in engine price. The difference in going up a 6 mile hill at 30 mph and 60 mph is 6 minutes. Going up hills at maximum power is harder on driveline components and tires and leads to lower fuel milage but I'm the one paying the bills on my truck so maybe I have a biased outlook.

 

Good advice Natice Dancer. Big horsepower is nice but must be used with respect. A good driver is going to be great with horsepower. A bad driver is going to kill you with alot of expenses, in many ways.
It is good to hear that you think well of your drivers. A good driver should be appreciated and rewarded. As already said, a bad driver is going to hurt you bad. Just my thoughts....

 

I may be the odd duck, but, I don't want a Pete, don't like driving Petes, and don't plan on buying a Pete.

The company I drive for has appx 15 386 Petes that are nearly new, and a bunch of Internationals that have well over one million miles. Most all the drivers will fight to get into the Internationals instead of having to drive the Petes.

In fact, the new Petes are parked and for sale. Heck, drivers are even lining up to drive the Columbias instead of the Petes.

The Petes ride good, and have the large sleepers, but the stupid dash is so high you can't see over it, the trucks rattle worse than the Freightliners, and you can't see out of them to back up. Peterbilt has fallen a long way in quality as to what they once were in my opinion.

As far as Coronados go, there are many Freightliner dealers, the truck has a lot of room, and should ride well. The drivers view out should be one of the best for a truck with a hood.

 

A guy that has his foot stuffed through the radiator all the time and using the power for maximum acceleration and speed is going to use alot of fuel.
And the same guy is going to break alot of driveline parts (U-joints,driveshats,rearends,etc)over time using that power for acceleration. A driveline can stand tremendous power, but it has to be driven with common sense and finess. I am much more impressed with a guy that starts out from a stop, doing it very quietly and delicatly. The super truckers try to impress, flooring it in every gear. Those are the trucks not getting any fuel mileage and spending alot of time in the shop...
That is how i feel a bad driver is going to hurt you with horsepower....

 

A truck does not need as much horsepower if it has plenty of torque. With a low RPM engine you are not up into the horsepower range as much anyway, but you use the torque all the time.

 

Stranger,

I agree with you 100%. My friend runs his truck 1850ft 475HP of torque (Cat engine) and seldom sees a load with less than 40K in the box. Could you spec a detroit like that or does it have be a 1650ft torque engine at 470HP?

KH