Nice New Vauxhalls

Vans are never exciting vehicles to drive, usually sapping you of the will to live before you even get to third gear. They are heavy, slow and normally look like a large cardboard box with wheels attached. Devoid of personality or glamor, they clog our roads and motorways like cholesterol in a fat man’s arteries. The drivers of these automotive abominations are usually the most inconsiderate, loutish and pig-ignorant people to ever get behind the wheel and make it their business to annoy and irritate other road users at every turn. So as you can probably surmise, I am not the biggest fan of the light commercial vehicle, or those who drive them.

Perhaps I have started this article on the wrong foot; though it is hard to get excited or enthusiastic about vans. They are inventions of practicality, less form and more function, and therefore, very difficult to get passionate about. Think about the last time you got excitable about a bicycle pump…my point exactly. There is, however, at least one manufacturer whose engineers are trying desperately to revamp the public’s attitude towards light commercial vehicles and inject some much needed enthusiasm into the flagging imaginations of the public. The name of that manufacturer is Vauxhall.

The Vauxhall Van Range starts small with the Corsavan, basically a slightly elongated version of the popular car with no back seats and a bit of storage space. The Astravan is more of the same motif, but it is the Movano and Vivaro where things start to get a bit more interesting. The Movano is the daddy of the range, proving to be a rather large customer. Vauxhall have designed it to be the most practical light commercial vehicle on the market and with the sheer capacity beyond the neat panel door, they may just have managed it. Your average technician will easily be able to fit every possible tool they could need in the back of the Movano. But how does it perform?

Surprisingly well is the answer. The diesel engines are positively lithe for the mass that it’s pulling and Vauxhall [http://www.westend-vauxhall.co.uk/used-vans.shtml] offer 3 choices of wheelbase to ensure the handling is right for the kind of haulage the driver will be transporting. The looks are fairly muted, but that is precisely what we expect from vehicles of this ilk. The Movano’s little brother, the Vivaro, has slightly different ideas though. In vast contrast to virtually any van I have ever seen, the Vivaro seems to be committing the cardinal sin of attempting to look stylish. The long, sloping headlights and the rounded nose look like some kind of van of the future. It manages to retain some of its practical appeal by being as roomy as you would expect and is also efficient on fuel.

Quite how well van men up and down the country will respond to the Vivaro’s bold fashion statements remains to be seen over the long term, but having won industry awards in 2004 and 2005, it would appear that Vauxhall’s chic van can more than hold its own in the light commercial vehicle market.

Pete J Ridgard

Recently my wife seems to have become addicted to ordering things from the internet. Hardly a day goes by without there being a knock on the door and I am confronted with some miserable looking delivery driver struggling with a large box and muttering the words “sign here.” I am then obliged to attempt to sign one of those infuriating electronic delivery note machines. You know the ones that make your writing look like a child’s or as if you are using the wrong hand to sign with.

Increasingly more often these days when I check through our Bank statements I find a transaction I don’t recognise and immediately start panicking that someone has stolen our card details and gone off on a spending spree. The trouble with ordering things online is that it is sometimes difficult to see what you are actually buying .The highlight of which occurred recently when my wife announced that we should “bulk buy” items in order to save money. I reluctantly agreed to this (anything for a quiet life) but returned home to find a container of washing-up liquid in our porch which was the size of an oil drum and would be enough to keep a large catering establishment going for several months.

We’ve had this thing in the garage since June and the level doesn’t appear to have gone down at all yet. I am the first to admit that I loathe trudging around the shops but sometimes I point out that the item that cost us slightly less online actually ended up costing more by the time we have paid for the delivery.

My friend used to have an old Vauxhall van and was able to earn quite a good living making deliveries for companies who would otherwise make a loss by the time they had paid for the fuel and employing a driver etc. I would occasionally join him on his travels and entered the crazy world of the delivery driver which seemed to largely consist of getting up ridiculously early and then taking delight in waking other people up. It also involved being chased by dogs, having arguments with traffic wardens, countless road rage incidents and then getting penalised for not making deliveries at the correct time. All of which made me realise why van drivers drive like maniacs.

The Vauxhall was a good workhorse as I recall and it served us well for both work and play. I used it countless times to move house and we would regularly go to France and fill it up with as much cheap alcohol as we could, much to the annoyance of British customs as they couldn’t do anything about it. I became very attached to that van and it was always there through the good times and bad.

I was therefore saddened to hear when it was stolen from my friend’s garage. The problem was it was too big to fit completely into the garage and so stuck out slightly, this was its downfall and the van was never seen again, or so my friend thought. The day he received the cheque from the insurance company he was in the car park of a local supermarket and saw a gaunt, rat faced individual smoking a roll-up cigarette at the wheel of his beloved van. Although he had received the insurance money he felt aggrieved and by chance there happened to be a police officer nearby (a rarity indeed).He explained the situation to the police officer and the officer approached the vehicle. What happened next was like something out of a movie, the policeman tried to grab the keys as the van attempted to drive off and the officer was forced to jump onto the bonnet to avoid being run over, other officers and security guards smashed every window in the van and my friend pushed shopping trolleys in front of it to try and stop it, the van smashed through these and then rammed a police van which tried to block it. The police helicopter swooped down and by this time the van had four flat tyres, no windows or driver’s door. Amazingly the driver escaped but was later caught through DNA evidence obtained at the scene. Unfortunately that was the end of the van though!

Jon Barlow

The car market may be slow to get back on its feet, but the job market seems to be seeing ‘green shoots of recovery.’ This should mean that soon the car market should be thriving again and the man with a van will become a more common sight.

Regarding choosing the right van if you’re a decision-maker, here is a comprehensive guide to help you choose the best vehicle for your purposes.

What will you use it for?

- City driving
- Long haul (mostly motorways)
- Large loads
- Off-road
- Transporting colleagues

For each of these uses, you would require a different type of van depending on the nature of your business.

City Driving
The Corsavan is perfect for city driving. It’s as small as a normal corsa therefore easy to park in towns where space is somewhat limited. Interestingly enough, it is rather spacious inside so it will comfortably fit two fully grown men in the seats. Exceptionally taller drivers (6ft 4″ tall +) may disagree with this statement.

Fuel efficiency is often a problem for city vehicles as constant gear changes and stopping and starting is not great for fuel consumption. If this is an issue, it is helpful to know that car-derived vans such as the Corsavan are well suited to such driving. The clutch and gearbox are likely to wear quickly from lots of gear changes that is unfortunately necessary with city driving. It is advisable that drivers be alert to changes in these parts that may signal that they may soon require replacing. Corsavans are not suitable for delivering bulky or heavy items but they’re perfect for moving small loads or for tradesmen working on smaller jobs and typically attracts favourable reviews.

Alternatives include the Daihatsu Hijet or the Piaggo Porter although they are poor alternatives as they are more like small trucks rather than vehicles designed for running around town. Radio stations have chosen Corsavans for their out and about vehicles as they are small, nippy and surprisingly spacious. If you need more space, the Astravan is a larger alternative but not an equivalent due to the vehicle not being small enough to be described as a city car.

Long Haul
In fact, the Astravan is more suitable for long haul journeys than it is going around the city due to the length of the vehicle making it harder to park in crowded city centres but owners of these vans will happily admit that they would choose an Astravan again and again. Not only is it complimented for having a comfortable cab that is on par with the typical domestic vehicle, it handles well and is cost-efficient. The 2009 Astra which the Astravan is based on has fantastic NCAP safety results for an adult which is a big bonus although the pre-2009 models received very respectable ratings. Still, if you are transporting smaller goods across the country, the Astravan is the sensible choice for fuel economy but realistically, a bigger van may be needed for the job. In which case, the next step up is the Vauxhall Vivaro.

Unfortunately, the Vivaro has attracted less glowing reviews compared to the smaller Astravan. Main faults appear to be a weak gearbox and various other complaints relating to bearings on older models. Yet, the Vivaro has won the top award for ‘Best Medium Van’ seven times since 2001 in the Van Fleet World Awards which is an impressive feat which could indicate that only a vocal minority have experienced real problems. Often hailed as roomy and comfortable, the Vivaro does appear to be a great contender for long drives when you require space. Reviewers report that the engine can be rather noisy but quietens down once fifth gear is selected which suggests that the vehicle was intended for motorway use.

However, if you are planning on hiring a vehicle like the Vauxhall Vivaro, please check your driving licence. Drivers who passed their test before January 1997 are entitled to drive this vehicle but drivers who have passed their test since January 1997 need to pass an extra test to add the C1 classification to their licence. The Vivaro and its bigger brother, the Movano both are capable of carrying large loads but very large loads should be left to specialist fleets e.g. HGVs.

Off Road
If you are intending to do a lot of agricultural work or mostly operate in the country, the Vauxhall Frontera is a good choice. For those who do not have deep enough pockets to cover the purchase of a Jeep or Land Rover, the Vauxhall Frontera is a sensible and logical choice. Vauxhall have not made the Frontera since 2004, but second hand models are available for good 4X4 entry level vehicle. The cab is set lower than traditional 4X4s which gives it reasonable side protection. Unfortunately, the 2002 model that was tested by Euro NCAP described pedestrian safety as “dire” and that child occupant safety was questionable. Adults fared better but driver safety was impaired with front passenger results being marginally better. 2003 models are often recommended. Similar vehicles for similar money would be up to five years older for the same money but alternatives include the Mitsubishi Shogun and the Ford Maverick.

Transporting Colleagues
If you work with one other colleague, any of the aforementioned vans are suitable for two people, possibly with the exception of the Corsavan for two exceptionally taller occupants. The Vauxhall Movano seats 3 passengers and similar vehicles include the Ford Transit and the Mercedes Sprinter.

Other questions you need to consider:

- How much can you afford? Businesses have been known to collapse due to unwise vehicle choices which also include road tax, servicing and insurance.
- How long do you expect to keep it? If you only need a van for a short term, it may be best to consider rental as you will not have to cover the cost of depreciation or servicing etc.
- Will the van be used for towing? In which case the Frontera or the Vivaro/Movano are the better choices but may require extra classifications being added to your driving licence.
- How much time will be spent in the vehicle? If you are intending to drive the vehicle for many hours then comfort should be a big consideration.
- If something goes wrong, do you know where you can take your vehicle for genuine Vauxhall van parts?