what should I buy Columbia or Century?

[Singh]

I am going for F/L because of their fuel efficiency and cost of maintenance but which one. Columbia tends to little more expensive than Century but why? What are some of the big differences?

Anybody who post a reply, Sincere thanks in advance.

[Jumbo]

I believe they are for the most part the same truck. The Columbia is just a newerversion of the century.

[Shawnee]

They are basically the same truck, interior and everything is basically all the same, just outside appearance is different, it just comes down to personal preference and what you can afford,

Century Class is Freightliners most inexpensive truck, the Columbia is a step up from the Century class

[Blacksheep]

You should be able to find a great deal with a little research, the market is flooded with those things.
Personally I'd look at some T-600's or T-800's, but then again I dislike anything Freightliner. :wink:

[Slowpoke98908]

I am going for F/L because of their fuel efficiency and cost of maintenance but which one. Columbia tends to little more expensive than Century but why? What are some of the big differences?

Anybody who post a reply, Sincere thanks in advance.

It should be other way around. Century is a fancier truck with more electronics and a standard bumper to bumper 3 year warranty.

I had 2 Centuries and the maintance cost is not cheap. I would come come home with 2 sometime 3 pages of things to look at. It got so bad I would divide them up. Had a section I only wanted done if warranty would cover.

On my 2002 my A/C kept going out. Was in shop a dozen times for it.


I bought a 2005 KW T800 after that and have had very little trouble.

Selling my 2005 KW T800 with Studio sleeper and a APU - Take a look

http://classifieds.truck.net/index.php?page=out&id=37

[mudawg]

Maybe one of you Freigtliner people could answer me one quetion about these things,has there ever been one made that has the headlights adjusted right??????Why is it one of them is always pointed way out of wack???Is it that hard to fix the problem or is it just one of those things that goes along with the doors not shutting,the dash rattling.....

[ThumperS25]

The headlight adjustments are out of wack because many of the drivers/mechanics unscrew the wrong screw. I work for a company that has a lease/maintance deal with penske. Mine seem right all the time, but then again those folks know how to work on the truck.
Also some of the lights arent out of adjustment just out of light. Many folks replace a bulb when it goes out with a new one. That makes one bulb brighter than the other. Personally I would prefer to have them both replaced at the same time so I dont have to be back in the shop 7-14 days later for a new head lamp. That never happens though.

[Kintama]

The newer columbia's have an awful rattle in the shifter. If you look around you'll see alot of guys that bungie the shifter to the seat while driving. I had one in the shop for it here in Portland and the engineers took it down to headquaters to figure out the problem. They replaced everything but the shift knob, and that is the problem. The plastic is so cheap it just rattles like crazy.

[Dejanh]

The newer columbia's have an awful rattle in the shifter. If you look around you'll see alot of guys that bungie the shifter to the seat while driving. I had one in the shop for it here in Portland and the engineers took it down to headquaters to figure out the problem. They replaced everything but the shift knob, and that is the problem. The plastic is so cheap it just rattles like crazy.

You are correct about that rattle, i have 07 and it rattles like crazy.. :twisted:

[-FlyByNight-]

The newer columbia's have an awful rattle in the shifter. If you look around you'll see alot of guys that bungie the shifter to the seat while driving. I had one in the shop for it here in Portland and the engineers took it down to headquaters to figure out the problem. They replaced everything but the shift knob, and that is the problem. The plastic is so cheap it just rattles like crazy.

You are correct about that rattle, i have 07 and it rattles like crazy.. :twisted:

My 07 Century has the same problem though.

[Kintama]

They know about the problem, but for some reason they can't fix it

It's the cheap plastic Eaton uses on the shifter.

[-FlyByNight-]

They know about the problem, but for some reason they can't fix it

It's the cheap plastic Eaton uses on the shifter.

Well, if that's the case, Eaton and Meritor must use the same cheap plastic parts for the shifter. :P

[allan5oh]

Also some of the lights arent out of adjustment just out of light. Many folks replace a bulb when it goes out with a new one. That makes one bulb brighter than the other. Personally I would prefer to have them both replaced at the same time so I dont have to be back in the shop 7-14 days later for a new head lamp. That never happens though.

Usually it's different brands that will cause this. The bulbs are not uniform. I run Sylvania Silverstars and they're substantially brighter then the ones they replaced.

[Kintama]

They know about the problem, but for some reason they can't fix it

It's the cheap plastic Eaton uses on the shifter.

Well, if that's the case, Eaton and Meritor must use the same cheap plastic parts for the shifter. :P

Meritor just wraps heavier rubber around it. Had a Volvo with the Meritor, and it didn't make a sound.

[boneebone]

They are both junk, as a matter of fact all Freightliners are junk. I know I used to have a 99 Century. What a money pit. I don't care if you go to a New Truck show and see one. Sure it looks all nice and shiny inside and out. Once you get it on the highway it rattles away. That's why it is called a Freightshaker. If you are smart get a KW, Pete, or Volvo. It may cost more, but like everything in life, you get what you pay for.

[Ian Williams]

They know about the problem, but for some reason they can't fix it

It's the cheap plastic Eaton uses on the shifter.

I think they use the same Kuality parts for Sterlings as well.

Yesterday on the freeway I was on the freeway in a 2yr old sterling with only 30k on the odometer (LTL city tractor) and I got the rattle.

[GMAN]

Basically, you take the hood off of a Columbia and put it on a Century and you have a Columbia. Other than some minor differences, that is about the only difference I have seen. I don't know that it costs more to repair a Freightliner than any other truck. If you can find one that is in good shape, you should be able to get a good deal in one. The nice think about a Freightliner is that you can usually get into one of them for less than most other brands. I have a friend who owns a century and he is getting good service out of it. I have also spoken to some who have had to spend a lot of money on their Freightliner. I am not sure it is the brand so much as how it was maintained. Most Freightliners have been in truck fleets. Some do a better job of maintenance than others. I prefer other brands, but would probably purchase one if I found one that I felt had been well maintained and could buy it at a good price. Just make sure to check the truck out thoroughly before you buy.