According to Simon Taylor, boss of the eponymous Ayrshire commercial building, refurbishment and maintenance contractor, Simon Taylor Group, his vans tend to be used fully loaded and for long journeys. 

After five years of solid use, Mr Taylor’s firm has just stood down its last batch of Mercedes-Benz vans and replaced them with a new fleet of five new Merc vans, including the company’s first two Citans, on in van spec and one Dualiner model.

The company’s Sprinters are the main workhorses, and have been specified to suit — Mr Taylor opted for one 3.5-tonne Sprinter 319CDI panel van and a 316 CDI chassis cab with Inigmex dropside body — while the fifth van is a 116CDI Vito.

All of the vans will be used across the UK, on a variety of commercial refurbishment and building maintenance contracts.

Commenting on his choice of vans, Mr Taylor said:

“These are tough vans and experience has proved they can be trusted to stand up to hard work. 

“I have been a guest of the dealer at the Mercedes-Benz VanExperience LIVE event twice, and seen for myself the standard safety systems fitted to these vehicles, in action alongside models from the competition. Those demonstrations have left me in no doubt that Mercedes-Benz vans are the safest on the road.”

Mercedes vans seem to inspire a loyalty in operators that few other marques can attain — there’s little doubt why. Unlike some brands, Merc’s image of quality and technical superiority isn’t just down to marketing success; it’s a reality.