Kenworth T680 vs Freightliner Cascadia??

I haven't driven a T680...but have driven T600's and T800's. I currently drive a 2015 Cascadia with the DD15. It may be how the company has it adjusted, but it is a seriously gutless wonder. My last truck was a Volvo with the smaller 13 motor. It pulls circles around this Cascadia. Used to to Mont Eagle in 11 with the Volvo at 50-55....now 9th gear at 35. Other than that I do like the Cascadia over the Volvo. But I like the look of the KW better, inside and out.

 

This isn't my experience, it's a statement of a driver who drove both of them. Both trucks were fleet trucks. I don't know which engine he has in the t680 but I guess it's the mx.
As I asked him about his findings between the Cascadia and the T680, I got a short answer:
"The best truck I ever drove"
I personally would tend towards the T680 too. Properly speced.

 

Any KW is heads above a piece of crap Freightshaker. IMO they are completely different ends of the spectrum when it comes to fit, finish and overall quality....and quality will generally better deliver reliability as a whole.

Fleets generally run lots of Freightliner rigs because they are the cheapest truck available with a great balance of fuel economy.

The KW680 can do just as well on fuel economy spec'd right but you'll pay more for the higher KW build quality....something fleets could care less about. They just trade out their beat to death pieces of crap every couple years.

 

IMHO, if you want a very comfortable, very nice looking truck, go with the KW. If you want adequate comfort, very good power, and a more dependable truck go with the Cascadia, DD15, DT12, 2.64 gears.

 

I went from the mega fleet throw away truck Crapcadia to a KW and the difference is like being in another dimension.

 

Mine has 2.47 gears, not great, but I think the 2.64 would be much better.
It depends on the truck specs. A detuned, RPM restricted engine will pull uphill like crap, but I'm thinking he won't have to deal with that.