Tuesday 11th February 2003

Vauxhall Pander to WVM

White Van Man to get 'sporty' model with front fog lights

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White van man doesn't need any encouragement but that's exactly what Vauxhall are giving him with thei new 'Sportive' version of the Vivaaro load-lugger.

According to the creative types at Vauxhall, the Sportive adds a degree of "look at me" to the van, particularly effective when pressed on your tailgate at 70mph...

"A van doesn’t have to be plain because it is a workhorse. It can still be made to look more attractive and that is what we have done with Sportive, inside and out," says Vauxhall vans brand manager Jon Leicester.

The first batch of Sportive models, built in Luton by Vauxhall sister company IBC Vehicles, will be ready for the important March market. It is planned to build 50 vehicles a month.

It's based on the short-wheelbase 2700 panel van 1.9DTI with six-speed gearbox, and added standard equipment includes, alloy wheels, Star Silver metallic paint, front fog lights :banghead:, solid rear doors, air conditioning with heat-reflective windscreen, electric windows and adjustable/heated mirrors, radio/CD player, front and rear profile mud-flaps and wheel arch mouldings and a rear door protection moulding.

Alternative colours of glacier white, flame red and midnight black are a no-cost option.

On-the-road price excluding VAT is £14225.

[sublimatica]

I can't see too many companies buying these for their average WVMs. They won't want to encourage the scrotes to hoon around even more that they do, with alloys and f*g lights.

Apart from mattress retailers, of course, who ought to see a jump in trade in the much sought-after 14-18 year old female demographic. Mattress retailers ought to stick a spotty yoof with a baseball cap in one of these V**xhall things and pay them to cruise/hoon around rural town centres of a Friday evening. I mean, what self-respecting slapper can resist alloys and f*g lights?

V**xhall's research has come up trumps this time. I hope for their sake that they leave the badge off the bonnet, so that when one of these is nudging my rear bumper with its bleedin' f*g lights on, I can't tell which numbskull company made it.

[t1grm]

Are the fog lights wired to be permanently on ?

[williamp]

I even see Black cabs with fog lights now. Which are always on.

WHY???????????????????????????????????????????

[v8thunder]

Not as bad as the Max-powered minicabs I see in the fleshpots of Manchester. Do you really want to be taken home by something you swore to yourself you would blow up if you got close enough! They (Vauxhall) obviously pander to their irresponsibility.

[xsaravtr]

Loose the black plastic bumper and make it body coloured, would make it look miles better...

[littlegearl]

stick a bean can exhaust on those vivaros and thats all you'll ever need!!!

they're bloody fast too, i got overtaken by one at about 115mph and he didn't look like he was trying!!!

[kevinday]

I am a dinosaur, I think that a van is a working tool and should be functional rather than 'pretty'. would prefer a van with flat panels, simple round headlights and indicators, steel wheels and a price of about half the modern trash. Much more cost effective.

[whatever]

williamp said: I even see Black cabs with fog lights now. Which are always on.

WHY???????????????????????????????????????????

Maybe it's the same reason all truckers these days seem to have a vast array of pretty, coloured lights in their cab (and often have front fogs on, too)?