Western Star 49X vs Cascadia Freightliner

[Cathulhu]

So, i've somehow lost my profile after my hard disk died. Dunno why, doesn't really matter.
I've started a new profile and gotten the Western Star 49X as my first truck, which i do like.
Then, i've started to look at the Cascadia. I know that they are essentially both Daimler trucks, which explains the shared dashboard among other things.

But what does differentiate between both when using the Day Cab on the Freightliner?
The Freightliner seems to have a shorter wheelbase making it a bit more agile, am i right?

[CynicalProle]

I don't know the official specs of the trucks, but you can see the overall length in the chassis selection screen. To be honest, all base trucks are pretty similar, with the exception of the long-nose trucks. It really comes down to preference. Also, since Western Star has not released sleepers yet, day cab is all you'll have for the 49X for a while, while you can build up the Cascadia. Do some quick jobs with both and see what you prefer.

[Cathulhu]

Oh, i already have those and i prefer Day Cabs anyway. So, no lost sleep (haha!) about not having that option on the Western Star.

[luZk]

I would advice not getting your ~dream truck~ as the first, get the peterbuilt 579, as a handmedown in mind.

First grind quick jobs and save up till you get the first 18 speed transmission.

Then buy a garage and 2 more peterbuilt 579's short 200 gal, first or second engine. The 579 has the best average stat in start of the game. (Also 18speed trans, cheaper to upgrade your drivers trucks.)

Then you get the Cascadia Freightliner and upgrade all your drivers transmission to the 2nd 18 speed transmission. Its the cheapest most efficent way of doing things imo.

[Cathulhu]

As i said, i already have both of them. As my profile is already 21 or so, i already unlocked most of the stuff, including the 600HP engine and the 18 speed transmission with the retarder.

I'm asking about what differentiates the two trucks as the unlockable components are pretty much the same if you ignore the sleeper cabs and the medium or long wheelbase options.

[Catratio]

I don't know if they added it in yet, but the 49x doesn't have retarder capabilities which prevents me from using it. I hope it gets added soon. But that's the biggest difference I immediately noticed.

[Hypertext Eye]

Originally posted by Catratio:

I don't know if they added it in yet, but the 49x doesn't have retarder capabilities which prevents me from using it. I hope it gets added soon. But that's the biggest difference I immediately noticed.

You don't need a retarder. Use the engine brake.

[CynicalProle]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

As i said, i already have both of them. As my profile is already 21 or so, i already unlocked most of the stuff, including the 600HP engine and the 18 speed transmission with the retarder.

I'm asking about what differentiates the two trucks as the unlockable components are pretty much the same if you ignore the sleeper cabs and the medium or long wheelbase options.

Nothing really. They're both Daimler trucks. They'll drive very similarly, and likely be specced pretty similarly in real life. Both of these are meant to be fleet vehicles, and in fleets, standardization is the name of the game; a driver needs to be able to hop into any vehicle the company owns and not have to make massive adjustments to how they drive. If you don't feel any difference between them when driving, then there's effectively no difference, like between mid range Chevy and GMC or Ford and Mercury. The only pronounced difference I've noticed is if you use hood mirrors, the mirrors on the Western Star are easier to see because they're bigger and the hood doesn't slope as much. Beyond that, like I said before, it's down to what you think looks better. IRL, the 49X was marketed more for heavy duty, offroad, and forestry applications, while the Cascadia has always been a plain Jane fleet truck, only occasionally specced up for an owner-operator or smaller company with the cash to spare for comfort, but not the cash to spare for a more unique truck (or an eye for fuel economy).

[Catratio]

Engine brake is never as reliable as the retarder, I've found. I like the three speed gradual slowing effect it gives.

[Hypertext Eye]

Originally posted by Catratio:

Engine brake is never as reliable as the retarder, I've found. I like the three speed gradual slowing effect it gives.

You can do the same thing with engine brake.

IRL American trucks don't even have retarders.

[luZk]

Retarder is pretty awesome for keeping within the speedlimit in hilly country. It's like cruise control ++.

[Hypertext Eye]

Originally posted by luZk:

Retarder is pretty awesome for keeping within the speedlimit in hilly country. It's like cruise control ++.

Again, you can do the same thing with the engine brake.

[luZk]

Originally posted by ハイパーテクスト・アイ:

Originally posted by luZk:

Retarder is pretty awesome for keeping within the speedlimit in hilly country. It's like cruise control ++.

Again, you can do the same thing with the engine brake.

You can't do it as efficent and without you disable the cruise control, when i wanna match speed with vehicles i catch up to i just drop speed on the cruise control.

But go ahead 1 press your brake, engage J brakes, disable J brakes, press cruise control. while i tab my -5mph button once, and maybe +5 again.

[Catratio]

Originally posted by ハイパーテクスト・アイ:

Originally posted by Catratio:

Engine brake is never as reliable as the retarder, I've found. I like the three speed gradual slowing effect it gives.

You can do the same thing with engine brake.

IRL American trucks don't even have retarders.

I just find the engine brake doesn't slow me down nearly as well as the retarder does. In fact the engine brake doesn't hardly work at all when I'm going 65 mph so I have to hold down the regular brake anyway, which defeats the point of using the engine brake. Retarder on max strength pulls me to a stop in almost seconds. I know you can strengthen the engine brake but even on max (I assume, I don't see a dial anywhere) it barely slows me down.

[Hypertext Eye]

Originally posted by luZk:

Originally posted by ハイパーテクスト・アイ:

Again, you can do the same thing with the engine brake.

You can't do it as efficent and without you disable the cruise control, when i wanna match speed with vehicles i catch up to i just drop speed on the cruise control.

But go ahead 1 press your brake, engage J brakes, disable J brakes, press cruise control. while i tab my -5mph button once, and maybe +5 again.

You don't have to do any of that nonsense. Use the toggle. It works the cruise control just like the retarder.

[Hypertext Eye]

Originally posted by Catratio:

Originally posted by ハイパーテクスト・アイ:

You can do the same thing with engine brake.

IRL American trucks don't even have retarders.

I just find the engine brake doesn't slow me down nearly as well as the retarder does. In fact the engine brake doesn't hardly work at all when I'm going 65 mph so I have to hold down the regular brake anyway, which defeats the point of using the engine brake. Retarder on max strength pulls me to a stop in almost seconds. I know you can strengthen the engine brake but even on max (I assume, I don't see a dial anywhere) it barely slows me down.

Downshift. Engine brake works best at high RPM.