09 Granite Mp8 Test Drive

[MarcS]

Never posted on the site here until now. I recognize some of the names from the ATHS board though. Anyway, today I run a new 09 Granite quad axle milk tanker since our T800 was in the shop. It's got the MP8, Eaton 18 spd., Rawhide interior, 20k front, 46k rears, 6000 gallon Walker tank. I gotta say I'm impressed.

The engine

After running our "new" 05 T800 with a C13 this MP8 will kick the snot out of the Cat. Much more driveable, runs strong from 1100 all the way to 1800 or so. Engine braking is amazing. I've never run a C15 or ISX so I can't compare it to big bore engines but it has a lot more engine braking than the C13. With the C13 or the old C12s I usually split gears when downshifting to keep it about 1700-1900 but the MP8 was still hauling it down at 1200 or so. Really amazing, and I was heavy at 78k. Also, I hesitate to say this but I think it still has that rattling marbles combustion sound that I remember from the E6's. My biggest gripe about the EGR trucks is they sound terrible, they remind me of a fat woman passing gas. This thing still sounds and feels like a diesel. And it's free reving, almost like an old 400 Cummins. The C13 and C12's are slow to respond to throttle input and also slow at decelarating between shifts, totally different on the Mack. Overall after one day I'm impressed. Long term with the EGR, DPF, etc. who knows, but from a drivers perspective it's pretty sweet.

The truck

Handling is great. It's new so everything is tight yet but it is very stable. Since it's a tanker even when it's full and you don't have to worry about the slosh the load center is still quite high, this truck was more stable than our T800s (might not be saying much comparing to 8 bag KW) Ride is also good, steering tight, etc. At first I thought the cab was a little too much, it's got diamond tread aluminum floor mats for crying out loud. At the end of the day though I was pretty comfortable in it. Ergos are great, visibility is great. Dash is easy to read. Best of all it doesn't have an overgrown minivan steering wheel like the Volvos.

The only drawback is the price. At the 210k asking price with the tank accounting for no more than 55k of that who the hell can afford one? We added up the value of all five of our trucks and it didn't come to 210k. It's a shame too because next weekend I'll be back in our 05 T800 and I'll now know what I'm missing. Before I didn't know any better, just assumed all new trucks were crap. Even though it isn't a real Mack to a lot of you guys, I bet if you drove one you might come around.

[exkalibur]

Good to hear....We bought 2 new ones and they haven't been on the road yet....Just waiting for the gravel haul to start. I have to say that we took a leap of faith when we purchased them since we were not too familiar with the new line of Macks. Hoping to start pounding the roads this week..

[Register c]

A couple of good news items at last... its these type of comments that give reward to a lot of hardwork put in by a lot of people.

[mackdaddy]

I think Mack has had more influence on Volvo than the other way around. Last weekend at the Kirkland show all of Mack guys sit around until the wee hours BS'n. My driver left before us and drove the 08 with an MP8 to the motel. All of the guys said that's a Mack as it went by us in the night. When I told them it was also an MP8 in a new Mack they could not believe it. It really does sound like a Mack engine of yesterday.

when I bought the 08 Pinnacle it was 21k less than the comparable KWT800 that I got a quote on. I was really leaning towards a KW due to the popularity and resell in this area. We have been very happy with our truck.

Edited April 30, 2009 by mackdaddy