Living with a van

[Hooli]

caelite said:

Hooli said:

Comedy grip levels is why vans have no power. We have a boggo standard 59 plate Caddy Maxi & if the roads are even damp the traction control spends it's life stopping you moving & flashing on the dash.

Makes me chuckle it has TC & manual windows.

It's great for us though, we're restoring our cottage & the amount of building materials it's carried so far has been very helpful.

The lads at work used to pop the fuse out that works the ABS for... reasons.

There is a button by the gearstick that turns it off. No point though as it's the first TC I've used that is actually good at it's job. Turn it off & you get massive wheelspin, leave it on & the tyres chirp & give the tiny bit of power available.

As for speed limits, depends if it car derived or purpose designed. Gets debated on here a lot too as some vans also have bus versions with different limits etc.

[Patch1875]

I have a Peugeot Expert 120, it's a decent drive but I would hate it as my only vehicle. It's my 3rd expert but they are a bit long in the tooth now so looking at the transit custom next.

[V8A*ndy]

LouD86 said:

For most, a van is a tool. Its not something to drive with a fun manner. The 126 unit in the Citroen is a good unit, plenty of poke for a van, but won't set the world on fire. They genuinely do have good torque figures though. If your worried about that BHP number, look at the Transit 155, Transporter 180 etc

My van was a hoot I really miss it.

It was a real snotter.

Only downside was the hefty insurance premium that van ownership brings. Plus the neighbours not liking them parked in the street.

[Snowdrop_]

I actually love living with a van, I have a Caddy 1.6 TDI but awaiting a remap!

[loose cannon]

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2005/7/28/confusio...
Should tell you a bit about speed limits, and the risks of driving a non car derived van
My friend got 3 points doing 70 in his transporter last week on the m25 apparently they are clamping down on speeding vans so he was told

[crossy67]

Has nothing to do with car derived van or vice versa, it's maximum weight. A peugeot expert that has a car equivalent empty can only do 50 in a national limit where as a Peugeot 806 (same body but with heavy seats ad windows in) can do 60. Fully loaded the 806 could weigh far more than the Expert. I know all this after getting done for smugly passing a speed trap at 56mph in a national limit.

Also as the M25 is a motorway a van would be allowed to do 70, same as a car.

[TooMany2cvs]

V8mate said:

Chatting to a CV salesman at Citroen whilst looking at a 125bhp LWB Dispatch, he described it as having "too much power".

Probably as well the UK doesn't get the 160bhp version you can get in France.

[roofer]

You need one of these, the end

[PH5121]

I have recently ditched the company car and got a van.

After 10 years away from vans and having estate cars it has been a bit of a culture shock. I have a Mercedes Vito Sport dual liner, so it is a 150bhp short wheel base 6 seater.

It is great for family stuff like camping and taking the mountain bikes to trail centres, but on a day to day basis it isn't great. The fuel economy is worse than my 911, and it is not suitable for spirited driving as it is not nimble. However on a motorway journey it is okay as it has the ability to cruise at above the limit speeds with ease.

The most important factor is it makes a difference to my tax code, so I take home more pay, so I will put up with it.

[Parabola]

Something like this should do it...

[lee_fr200]

I have a 2006 lwb movano 2.5cdti for work think it's a 125 and it rly can hustle when moving with good grip but crap for acceleration

Our next van will be the 163ps bi turbo version

I've used it to move house twice pickup engines and use it to get changed in when going down to the boat lake! I love my van I rly do

If I could currently afford it is buy the transit connect swb and fit the focus rs engine as I've seen a couple done and they look a lot of fun,

[PH5121]

Parabola said:

Something like this should do it...

Those look suspiciously like XJ220 wheels, any more info about it?

[pthelazyjourno]

PH5121 said:

Those look suspiciously like XJ220 wheels, any more info about it?

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a7427/this-ford-transit-helped-build-the-jaguar-xj220/

[irfan1712]

we have a 180bhp Transporter Sportline. As stated already the power is irrelevant, the torque is what makes some of the bigger vans hurtle along at car speed. This has 300lb/ft of torque as standard, and through the 7 speed DSG box it is a bit of a hoot to drive, especialy considering its a long wheel base and 3 tonnes.. and has the aerodynamics of a house.

my best mate runs a small wheel base transporter with the 140bhp and a manual, and even that is more than enough to hurl the van down the road even with a modest load. Our 180 could be seen as a bit of over kill, but its fantastic and suits the size of the van greatly.

It is one of our daily drivers and had replaced a trusty 4.4 X5 which we had for over 10 years.. this is not quite as luxurious but does have leather heated captains, 3 rear leather seats (on quick release locks so they pull out easily so utilise the massive load space) carpets everywhere, touchscreen nav/dab/Bluetooth, cruise, DSG, electric everything and twenty times the space. Its one of the most versatile machines going. Infact it is.. It is the family car, the van for taking things to the tip, the day away wagon, and it polishes up so nice and with all the blingy extras along with the nice interior id actually call it quite luxurious, as far as vans go atleast. They hold their value absolutely incredibly too.


I have figured out this is an absolute elephant to fit into the supermarket car parking spaces though..

Edited by irfan1712 on Wednesday 14th October 12:23

[rxtx]

irfan1712 said:

They hold their value absolutely incredibly too.

I'd love one of these but they seem to be subject to the VW scene tax. I'd like a 180 Sportline 4motion (with a Seikel lift kit please) but that is a lot of money to have sitting on the drive, and doing 3-4000 miles a year!