SCANIA P SERIES Trucks For Sale

The Scania P Series is the company's offering in the medium weight distribution sector. There is often confusion about the naming of the Scania models. From 1995 to 2004 Scania sold the 4-series range. This was made up of the Scania 9-litre 94, the 11-litre 114, twelve-litre Scania 124, the 14-litre 144 and the top power 16-litre 164 (the common 4 at the end denoting the 4-series range).

Since 2004 Scania have changed the way their truck range is branded with the P series, G series and R Series taking over. The P Series is the smallest cab in the Scania range and usually appears with the model number Scania P230 meaning the 9-litre engine five-cylinder is rated at 230hp. Larger power outputs are available from the P-series in rigid form - all from the same 9-litre five pot using Scania Xpi injection technology.

The P280 is rated at 280hp whilst the P320 is rated at 320hp. The Scania P series rigids come with the Scania GR875 8-speed gearbox as standard, but operators can opt for the GR905 which has an extra crawler gear. Also available is the 12-speed GR895 - available with Scania's Opticruise automated gearchange system. 

In rigid format the P series comes with the comes in 4x2 or 6x2 axle configuration, (option for rear steering third axle). The Scania P series is also available as a distribution tractor unit in either 4x2 or 6x2 format. The same choice of cabs is available as for the rigids, but the tractor units are powered by Scania's DC13 13-litre, six-cylinder engine with Scania XPI. The entry level is the P360 4x2, but you can also order a Scania P400 tractor unit in 4x2 or 6x2 which uses the same DC13 rated at 400hp.

At the end of 2011, Scania revamped the P-series to bring the appearance in line with the G- and R-series making changes to the frontal area to cope with the extra cooling needed for for Euro 6 - mainly wider grill openings. Even thought the Scania P Series is the smallest cab in the Scania range, it is available in a choice of three cab types whether sold as a rigid or tractor unit - the short, (day cab), the Sleeper cab and the P-Series Highline cab which gives the driver an extra 20cm headroom over the sleeper cab.

The Models in the P Series Range

Models in the Scania P Series range: P230 Euro 4 & 5 EGR 9-litre DC9 five-cylinder 230hp P270 Euro 4 EGR (prior to April 2009) 270hp P280 Euro 4 & 5 EGR 9-litre DC9 five-cylinder 280hp P310 Euro 4 EGR (prior to April 2009) 310hp P320 Euro 4 & 5 EGR 9-litre DC9 five-cylinder 320hp P340 Euro 4 EGR DC-12 11.7 litre six-cylinder 340hp P360 Euro 5 EGR DC13 12.74 litre six cylinder360hp P380 Euro 4 EGR DC-12 11.7 litre six-cylinder 380hp P400 Euro 5 EGR DC13 12.74 litre six cylinder400hp.

Scania has also made a lightweight version of the P-series tractor unit for Pet regs operation - weighing in at just 6.1 tonnes unladen and a lightweight 8x4 mixer coming in with an unladen weight including 8 cubic metre body at 13.5 tonnes. In October 2011 Scania introduced a new range of P-series Off-road tippers with extra sturdy components and tougher styling.

Scania's P-Series is an excellent truck in the local and regional distribution sectors and is also a strong contender in the construction business. Variants are deployed in all sorts of specialist services and all manner of short-range transport work. The cab offer is varied too, with five options available. These consist of three sleepers, a short cab and a standard day cab. The cabs are particularly adept at offering the maximum space in a smaller unit and provide operators with lots of working and living space and excellent cab accessibility. P-Series trucks have a high payload and that easy access can make them useful on busy multi-drop routes. The short cab is also ideal in such situations. This setup allows the front axle to be placed to allow the tightest turning circle and makes the P-Series particularly manoeuvrable in tight urban and construction site situations.

P-Series Driveline

A range of powerful and economical high-torque engines extends to 450hp and these are paired with Scania's renowned Opticruise transmission. This offers the choice of a fully automated box with no clutch or a standard setup incorporating a third pedal. Later versions of the Opticruise system were upgraded to include data on engine performance, weight, incline and accelerator position when choosing the right cog. This system does an excellent job and is as close to a faultless auto transmission as it is currently possible to get. The system is particularly smart on the down changes when encountering an incline, making sure that speed and momentum are maintained. Operators can also specify the Scania Retarder, Scania Ecocruise and adaptive cruise control systems. The engine and transmission combination gives a responsive performance, which again is ideal for coping with the traffic on busy urban streets.

This characteristic is helped by the electro-hydraulic automatic clutch, which allows the most precise manoeuvring at low speeds. The system will automatically choose the best starting gear by considering load and incline without the driver having to intervene. It can also allow for rocking automatically by comparing the movement of the drive wheels with that on the front wheels. The Scania Active Prediction system, meanwhile, improves the gear selection still further by predicting the inclines on the road ahead. There are also lane departure warnings and electronic assistance for the brakes.

The later Scania P-Series models also offer a range of systems, such as Scania Driver Support, to coach the driver to operate the truck in the most economical and safest manner. The P-Series is a lightweight, compact truck that is good on manoeuvrability and payload but the specification is clearly comprehensive. For construction work or regional transportation, they are among the very best trucks around.