Well, i read this post when it started.
I cant say so much about the B-series, because we jumped from the Champion series IV to the 900 series.(thats the reason for not responding to it.)
I have to say that not everything is perfect on Volvo's either.
I don't belive that a perfect machine is built yet.
I have no problem listing the downsides with the 976. But that would not be right to you.
Our graders have all the bells and whistles, and some realy, realy, nice systems to help you when grading.
I would say that our machines is far from what a normal operator over there will get...
Check out volvoce on youtube, the Norwegian dealer got many videos out that shows how our graders look over her.
One of the real positive things with Volvo, is their followup and the following improvements.
Stuff i was not satisfied with, when we got them, was improved some months later without extra costs.
I also believe that the negative stuff i find with them now, will be improved next time i get a serviceman on visit.
The fedbacks i get on the M, tells me that the competition is hard, and the difference between Volvo and Cat is minimal.(when u compare our joystick grader to the M's)
I tend too say, that the Cat guys got yellow fever, and its not curable.(feelings deside what operators prefer)
Over here grader sales dropped from 40 to 8 last year.(08 to 09)
The big M sales is over...and we are into normal sales.
Volvo visited our unit up north some weeks ago, and they was realy interrested in the feedbacks they got there.
I bet joysticks will soon arrive in other countrys soon...