Work van woes

[eddyramrod]

Aye, they do van-bangers, don't they?  This might possibly survive half a lap or so...

 

Tyre size is 195/70/15 Commercial-rated.  Our Ducato, I noticed today, is on 215/70/15 so even keeping the three new tyres we had on it last year wouldn't be much help...

[eddyramrod]

I never thought it would happen...

Meet Mary Jane, "my" new Transit!

And here's the Relay, handing over the baton (or at leaast the bread racks):

Relay is now retired, and I believe it's even sold!  New owner is supposedly collecting it this week.  I hope he's one of us, that would be some thread! (Full of expletives!)

Mary Jane has done her first day's work today, and oh boy, she's lovely.  Strong smell of new plywood in the back (the dealer lined her out for us) which is a smell I do like.  The weather doesn't try to come in and sit with me; all the gears are where they should be and willing to work; I was even serenaded by Dean Martin.

#HappyBunny, at long last.

 

Footnote: I didn't even notice, yesterday, how much smaller the Transit is, compared to the Relay.  There is a bit less loadspace, but it won't make much difference to my day.

[twosmoke300]

The relay/ducato/boxer range are bloody good for load space .

 

Oooo new works van . Driving round with eyes on stalks so you dont damage it . Once the first ding has happened its business as usual .

[eddyramrod]

Nobody wants to put the first scar on it, but statistically, it'll probably be me because I drive it at least 95% of the time.  I'm not looking forward to that day.  Also, someone else will be doing two days with her when I have my Sun holiday in May.  I almost don't want to go...

[oman5]

That was a result! I don't know much about the maintenance or reliability of the new shape transits like that but they sure are good to drive.

[Hendry]

I wish the transporters at work were Transits, might not hate it as much.

 

We have them on our rental fleet but yet our car transporters are Ducatos which we don't have on rental fleet, our Ducatos are 12/62 plates and newest shape but are horrid, rubbish to drive and constantly break down (surprise surprise) the Transits by comparison are really easy and comfy to drive, almost car like refinement wise and great driving position.

[Felly Magic]

There are some cracking deals going on to shift old shape Tranny vans at the mo, but none the less, I bet you nearly fainted Eddy when you saw this shiny white 63 plater that is now your steed

[twosmoke300]

Get it waxoyled , stat .

[Split_Pin]

Great wee thread this, I can actually feel your elation at having a warm and comfortable new van compared to that leaky, draughty old one!

 

I had to drive a choice of 2 MK2 Fiestas when I was a workshop fuckabout in the 90s. One was barely road legal but was a total death trap, nobody else would drive it. The brakes were so poor you had to plan your stopping distances the day before and it was rotten to the point that the engine banged off something when you dipped the clutch to change gear. The other was a diesel which was still rotten but in slightly less vital places. However it had no tax or MOT so whilst the fear of death was further away, the worry of getting a tug was omnipresent. Being young, silly and a bit game meant I still agreed to drive them.

[aldo135]

 

WTC, I remember vans like that!  I definitely remember being paid in cash in a brown envelope, that's how it should be!  Bloody banks...

Yes, vans have come on a long way, I understand and I'm glad.  I have driven the 07 van that replaced the old Transit, and it's no worse for blind spots than the van I have, except it has unglazed back doors.  In other respects it's much nicer, but I think it's perhaps a bit too sophisticated.  That's my standard complaint these days, we've passed the optimum level of technology I think and now there's just too much of it.

You hit the nail on the head Eddy, we moan our old vans are noisy uncomfy unreliable, but new ones are dull dull dull! I've had a Vivaro the last 6 years and they are soul destroying to drive. That might be because when I'm driving it I'm working right enough... It replaced a 2001 Sprinter which I loved though.