new Company Car (well nearly)... Custom...

[surveyor]

For the last 3 years I have been tromping around the country in a Volvo XC60. It's done sterling service, but due to an ever increasing amount of kit that I carry I've not seen the back seat over the last 18 months. It's also meant that more stuff is on view than I am entirely comfortable with when I'm overnighting...

When it came for replacement I spent a long time considering different options. SUV's don't have the space. Pickup boot's are not secure, and most of them are Japanese with horrible interiors.

So I slowly settled on a van. gulp. My criteria for a vehicle is quiet, cruise, AC and bluetooth - oh and comfortable.

The Renault/Nissan were ruled out very quickly as they were far too noisy. I also discovered that if I got a double cab I would still be able to use for family trips and would have a seat that could properly recline... The van part is still big enough.

I was pretty set on the Peugeot / Citroen Expert/Dispatch. Comfortable quiet. But only available in a 130hp engine - no automatic and most in basic spec. Then had a drive of a Transit Custom Sport and was surprised at how good it was.

I have ended up with a Custom Sport 172 auto. It looks good (for a van), and is really comfortable. Has lots of gadgets. Noise wise it's fairly quiet. The engine is a bit gruff - especially when it is cold. Automatic gearbox is not particularly sophisticated - but is smooth. It is making a strange noise from the front end - I'll wait a few days to see if it's the brakes bedding in - but suspect it needs to go back in...

van1 by LRPlans, on Flickr.

van by LRPlans, on Flickr

van2 by LRPlans, on Flickr

van up by LRPlans, on Flickr

vanup1 by LRPlans, on Flickr

Edited by surveyor on Friday 2nd February 20:24

[surveyor]

I'm also not sure about the stripes. I think they may go in time...

Only done a couple of short journeys so far. Very car like - easy to place on the road. Rear View camera very useful. A little gruff in the voice. 172 horses see's it move just fine. Ford's version of DAB is very hard to get used to.

Oh yes - I forgot.. as it's a company vehicle I get clobbered for tax. Because it's a van and I'm 40% rate benefit in kind is £107.66 a month.

Which reminds me - I probably need to tell someone that I have it!

Edited by surveyor on Friday 2nd February 20:31

[surveyor]

I had a Renault on a two day hire last year. It was bloody noisy on the motorway and the bluetooth was useless.

Also I tow sometimes and am not convinced by the 1.6 engines.

[surveyor]

Yes - and the specific model I wanted, which was 172hp Sport Auto double cab was hard to find.

There is a facelift due out in a couple of months with a new interior. Would have liked to have waited, but not to be...

[surveyor]

Justin S said:

We've always had Ford vans at work. The latest ones, like yours dont drive like vans and are really nice to do miles in. I drove from the south to leeds to collect and engine and back in a morning and never noticed I had done as many miles as I did , as we just cruised on up and back. Later on, I collected my Westfield kit from Brum and drove a LWB high roof version and was great. Also the benefit of only needing £40 to fill it back up was a surprise as well. Great vans , but trim on the works ones are more fragile that the earlier ones . We have lost a couple of fuel flaps and also addblue needs about 20 ltrs every 3 to 4k miles, so keep that in stock. The only thing I find awkward with them is high brake and clutch pedals . Other than that are great.

Dealt with the clutch pedal

[surveyor]

Interesting marmite replies on the stripes...

I’ve built some racking up today, now strapped in the van with work kit strapped on the shelves.. pleasingly it’s not a rattle fest.

Lots of space left after what would have been a boot full in the Volvo

I’ve also spotted a lack of storage in the cabin. I think I’ll mess a cars centre console and look forward to the first time my paperwork falls off the passenger seat..

inside1 by LRPlans, on Flickr

Edited by surveyor on Sunday 4th February 21:14

[surveyor]

milu said:

Followed you up the A1 this morning. I joined at J36 just as you passed and thought the van looked familiar
I was in my newly acquired Trafic sport...hence my question earlier. I quite fancied a Custom sport but couldn't justify the extra cost over the Trafic
I'm happy enough though,nice and civilised,quiet in fact and returned 42mpg over 250 miles today
Custom sport looks better though,although I'm likely to faff with mine 'cos I'm sad!

Did not spot you - but at that time my eyes require matchsticks... Wish people would stop crashing.

I've averaged 37mpg today. And I have been driving a bit daisy like... Generally pretty happy - although there is an odd noise under light braking that will need sorting.

People in vans keep talking to me now It actually gets quite noticed.

[surveyor]

1,700 miles in and it's going well...

Did a 13 hour day yesterday, and still felt comfortable at the end. Devon Lanes were not fun though

[surveyor]

Ziplobb said:

Need to make a decision on one of these this weekend dciv sport 170 auto with satnav and the tailgate in magnetic - got a huge discount on offer

Mine is Sport 170 Auto. I'm pleased, but will be pissed off in a few months when the new one comes out

[surveyor]

quite....

[surveyor]

First trip for repairs..

Nail in tyre...

[surveyor]

minivanman said:

I got a new work van before christmas - 170hp auto LWB transit. Absolutely love it! The gearbox is not perfect, but its so much better than I was expecting. I'd never have a van without it now. My only gripe with this generation of transit is the lack of decent cabin storage - my old one was much better. This new one has handy overhead storage that dumps everything all over you the moment you pull off briskly...If you're putting racking in the back, look at second hand sortimo stuff on ebay - I've put one in each of our vans now across the bulkhead, they do a great job of keeping everything tidy.

I’ve got some steel garage shelving strapped down. Bit heath robinson but works

[surveyor]

Few weeks in and 5,500 miles.

First adblue required today.

It’s loosening up nicely. 36mpg, although I am taking it easy to achieve this. Go faster and I start paying towards business miles..

[surveyor]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's a van.... although p and o have said it's a car by there rules...

[surveyor]

Jellyfish said:

fred bloggs said:

Youll want some extra security on the van doors when you discover just how silly easy it is to open these.

That is an extremely good call. I am active on a couple of motorhome forums and a lad posted a vid on YouTube of how easy it is to get into these. The insurance companies are even refusing to insure motorhomes based on the latest Tranny due to this.

On a better note, they are rated as the best drive and the most car-like cockpit of any of the base vans with a motorhome on the back. The 140 was well rated, so your 170 should be nice little tool without the customary kitchen, bog, beds, etc to haul around on the back.

We had our cars broken into last night. They left the van alone....

[surveyor]

Going to hit 25k tomorrow...

No breakdowns no nothing.. Had to have new front tyres recently.

Long term average stuck at 35.2mpg. Still comfortable. Not really regretting my choice so far.

I do wish it would stop saying "Because of the number of files on your device some functions are unavailable" when my phone is plugged in. Good to know that first time around - but not every-time I start the bloody engine...

[surveyor]

Coming up to 55k. Only one unexpected trip to the dealer which was due to the key snapping in the seized bonnet lock. All quickly sorted under warranty.

Still comfy, still not too noisy, still takes everything that I throw at it... And not yet got it stuck in a field...

[surveyor]

70k now. Well passed the mileage cap of 60K with 1 year 1 month to go. There is going to be some charge to pay!

Still not put a foot wrong. Am going to have to buy new wiper blades. First money spent other on service/tyres.

It's comfier than our Merc. Am now also campaigning for it's replacement which may not be a van.

[surveyor]

102k... about 5 weeks left on the lease....

No mishaps. Only non service bills has been front and rear pads (80 and 95k respectively).

It's replacement is ordered, is running late and is not a van....

[surveyor]

That's it gone.... Slight cock up on its replacement which is late. Can manage without this week. Next week might be an issue!

I'll miss it.

IMG_0582 by David Powell, on Flickr

IMG_0687 by David Powell, on Flickr