Monday, May 21st 2012
The latest fleet news
Local authorities in Scotland have started to introduce the all-electric Nissan LEAF to their fleets in a bid to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. NHS Tayside, Dundee City Council, Perth & Kinross Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council have [...]
The Vauxhall Ampera is to become the first range-extended model in the UK to join a car club. Vauxhall’s newly-launched model is to join the world’s biggest car sharing network as part of a six month pilot partnership with Zipcar. [...]
Classic cars will not be required to undergo MoT tests under new rules effective from this November. Vehicles manufactured before 1960 will be exempted from the MoT test from November 18 2012; a move intended to reduce costs for owners. [...]
Lex Autolease and Hertz have struck a deal to deliver a replacement vehicle programme for Speedy Services. The partnership will provide Speedy Services with exclusive access to 18 short term rental Ford Transit 350 LWB dropside vans, purpose built to [...]
British Car Auctions’ Peterborough team has been awarded the first ever award from Inchcape Retail for outstanding achievement. The new quarterly award will be presented by the Inchcape Retail franchise dealer group to the remarketing centre or team that goes [...]
A new website from Volkswagen Fleet Services aims to slash the time and expenditure of creating company car policies. Redesigned in response to customer focus groups last year, VW says its fleet website has been given a shake-up to reflect [...]
Skoda’s Fleet Sales team strapped on their trainers for charity recently as they endured a 100km slog as part of the London 2 Brighton Challenge. Leaving the start line in Richmond at 10.45am on Saturday 12 May, the six-strong team [...]
‘Be prepared for the unexpected’; this was the simple message from Transport for London at an FTA event for freighters and transport companies operating in and around the capital during the 2012 Olympics. Speaking at the third and final Freight [...]
A number of charities have come together to form a new coalition in a bid to resist the introduction of 80mph motorways. Led by road safety charity Brake, the coalition – comprising the Campaign for Better Transport, Greenpeace, Roadpeace, Road [...]
Car leasing software provider Sofico has been accepted as an associate member of Tokyo Automotive Leasing Association (TALA). Belgium-based Sofico – which specialises in software solutions for automotive finance, leasing and fleet management companies – has become the second non-Japanese [...]
Morrison Utilities and Amey are the latest companies to secure accreditation under the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence scheme. The two civil engineering businesses have successfully demonstrated that their fleet management and compliance systems can meet the Code of Van [...]
Vauxhall is to introduce a more fuel efficient 1.4L petrol engine to some of its commercial vehicles. Available in L1H1 and L2H1 body types, the new 95PS Euro 5-compliant Combo unit comes with start/stop technology, returning 40.3mpg and achieving CO2 [...]
A good van for builders in London.
I have a small courier business which I have been running for a few years. I managed to save up enough money to get a new van last year. I have done over 50,000 miles in it so far and have not had one single problem. I do look after it as it is my own van which i do think helps!
Do not buy any Iveco vans, they are rubbish. My van is just over 3 years old and the head is cracked. I am not the only one.
On 189,000 miles with new shape Iveco, it drives still like new. Fuel consumption was good and but better after now run in, still over 30mpg going to buy another. Spends hardly any time in garage apart from servicing, breaks, tyres, 150,000 miles for cambelt is excellent. 179,000 on 1st clutch, cheap servicing with main dealer.
Starting up a business as a reach and wash window cleaner, I was looking for a 3.5t van to cope with a 1000-litre water tank in the back, however I didn't want or need a 'long' van as the water tank didn't have a very big footprint, and also, for potentially tight spaces I was looking for manoeuvrability, and didn't want anything bigger than necessary. This proved to be a problem, as all the 3.5t vans i saw for sale in my budget were huge lwb Fiat Ducato's and the like. I came upon this van in a local paper, and initially couldn't believe it was a 3.5t, as it seemed so short (it seems almost as tall as it is long, leading to it being named stumpy!), but it was, and i bought it. I have had one or two problems, most recently the fuel pump, but i put these down to having covered nearly 170k in the hands of some less than sympathetic drivers during its previous role working for a lease company. i can honestly say, i cannot think of a more suitable vehicle for my needs, it is fantastically manoeuvrable, being able to u turn in damn near its own length!, strong and sturdy, small enough to fit in a driveway, with plenty of power for my needs, the ventilation is brilliant, who needs air-con when i can get this much cool air blasted in my face when I've just finished a big house on a hot day, or the opposite, when I'm cold and wet, its like sitting in front of a giant hair dryer!. the only problem i foresee is when it comes time to change, because in the time i have had mine, i have never seen another on the road, it seems to be a very rare variant. I've seen swb standard roof vans (not practical as i need to stand up in the back), plenty of mwb, or lwb high roofs (don't want, or need the extra length, especially with the big rear overhang), but none like mine, so unless i can afford to buy new (unlikely), looks like i may have to compromise. So to sum up, if you need a 3.5t van with a small footprint, and if you can find one, buy it. You won't regret it!
I own a 2001 Iveco MWB and all I can say about Iveco vans is that they are the true kings of the roads. My van has covered 225,000 miles and in the past 12 months it has cost me one service, a tyre and a couple of fuses.
For our Outward Bound Centre we needed a vehicle that was flexible enough to ferry passengers and/or heavy kit and handle the winding roads and weather that the Peak District throws at you. We chose the Daily Combi as it is very sturdy and reliable and very comfortable for passengers. It has all the flexibilty we need and we are very happy with our choice.
The latest road tests
Chevrolet Aveo - With an exterior and cabin redesigned with the young-at-heart, style-conscious driver in mind, the second generation Aveo aims to build on what made its predecessor so popular with one of the cleanest [...]
Suzuki Swift - The 2012 incarnation of Suzuki’s Swift Sport gets more power, a 6-speed transmission, improved fuel consumption, more speed, sharper handling, some styling tweaks and a fair bit of kit. On paper it’s [...]
SEAT Exeo - For those who can get over the whole old Audi A4 thing, the Exeo has plenty to offer with a pinsharp executive feel and burly performance. [...]
Porsche 911 - While some will claim it’s hard to spot a new Porsche 911, the latest and fourth completely new car in its model history, is worth looking out for. It’s a little longer and lower, though crucially no [...]
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class - The Mercedes SL is now into sixth generation and this is the first to make almost complete use of aluminium for the structure and bodywork. Weight is down by 140kg, which allows for surprisingly good [...]
Audi S4 Avant - The revised fourth-generation Audi A4 hit the showrooms in March 2012, and sitting close to the top of the 110 model A4 range are four, high-power S4 versions – two saloons and two Avants. With 333 ho [...]
The latest traffic information
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