Author Archives: Van Rental

Isuzu D-Max

Reservations open for new Isuzu D-Max

1 Reply

Mercedes-Benz isn’t the only pickup manufacturer taking reservations for its next-gen model.

The new generation Isuzu D-Max is due to arrive in the UK in the spring, and Isuzu has now opened the order books for this well-respected model.

Isuzu D-Max

The new 2017 model year Isuzu D-Max

The big change with the new model is that it has a brand new 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine. As far as I know, this will be the smallest engine in the UK one-tonne pickup sector. It’s certainly a bold move when manufacturers such as Volkswagen are going in the opposite direction and using larger-bore V6 engines to attract buyers and provide effortless torque.

Isuzu says that the new engine will produce 164 PS and 360Nm of torque. The new model will retain the 1 tonne payload and 3.5 tonne towing capacity of the existing D-Max. It will also meet Euro 6 standards without the need for AdBlue.

As with previous D-Max models, the Shift-On-The-Fly 4×4 will be available, allowing drivers to switch in and out of four wheel drive while on the move.

The new D-Max will come with a class-leading five-year / 125,000-mile warranty and will require 12,000-mile / 24-month servicing.

Elmport Van Hire logo

Van rental in Tyseley, Birmingham: Elmport Van Hire

Leave a reply

Elmport Van Hire logoI’m very pleased to welcome Elmport Van Hire of Tyseley, Birmingam, to vanrental.co.uk.

Elmport is a specialist van hire company offering a wide range of vans to customers in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

The company’s fleet includes a wider than usual range of vans, such as:

  • Small vans (e.g. VW Caddy)
  • SWB panel vans (e.g. Ford Transit SWB)
  • Crew vans (e.g. Ford Transit SWB six seater)
  • Long wheelbase vans (e.g. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter)
  • Luton van with tail lift
  • Long wheelbase dropside
  • 3.5t tipper with crew cab
  • 3.5t curtain side
  • 17-seater minibus
  • 7.5t box lorry with tail lift

All vans are available with no deposit and include insurance and full RAC breakdown cover. Elmport are van specialists and offer a flexible service that can be tailored to meet your requirements.

Delivery and collection are available and vans are always professionally cleaned between hires.

Elmport has been renting vans for more than 30 years and the experienced team are always happy to provide advice if needed. To find out more or to make a booking, contact Elmport direct:

Remember: If you’d like to see your van hire business listed on vanrental.co.uk, check out our advertising options or contact us directly.

Used van at BCA auction

Used van values stall as market is flooded with stock

Leave a reply

The used van market was flooded with stock in January, according to auctioneer BCA. This had the inevitable effect of putting pressure on selling prices.

Despite this, a richer mix of used stock helped to support prices and the average van (LCV) value at BCA reached a record of £6,409, £13 higher than in December.

Used van at BCA auction

Source: BCA

 

Indeed, BCA says that the last four months have seen the four highest average values on record. Average used van values are now up by 8.6%, or £508, on this time last year.

Year-on-year prices (all vans):

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value
Jan 2016 54.94 73,881 £5,901
Jan 2017 52.34 70,775 £6,409

Source: BCA

According to BCA, pressure on prices was particularly strong in the fleet, lease and daily rental sector, where the average used value fell by 1% compared to December. Prices also fell in the nearly-new sector and were broadly flat in the part-exchange sector.

Taken together, this sales profile seems to make it clear that only a more valuable mix of vans prevented the average used price from falling in January. However, demand remained solid, according to BCA’s LCV Operations Director, Duncan Ward:

“While January saw good levels of buyer activity at BCA and a busy marketplace, the volumes available from a variety of sources simply outstripped demand.  This impacted conversion rates and average values as buyers were presented with a much wider choice of stock.”

“As we have seen in recent months, there is plenty of interest for any vehicles with an unusual configuration or special equipment and, as always, any vehicle suitable for the delivery or courier markets was sought after.  Vehicles suitable for the construction and building industries remain sought after, with tippers and dropsides selling strongly.”

The strength of the used market bodes well for the UK economy and the van rental sector, but it will be interesting to see how the balance between used supply and demand changes over the coming months.

UK van registrations Jan 2011 - Jan 2017

Van registrations boosted by pickup sales in January 2017

1 Reply

Demand for new vans remained solid in January, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The trade body’s latest figures show that van registrations rose by 1.2% to 21,363 in January 2017.

UK van registrations Jan 2011 - Jan 2017

UK van registrations Jan 2011 – Jan 2017 (source: SMMT)

A closer look at the figureA closer look at the figures shows that this growth was concentrated at the top end of the van market. There was an increase of 5.6% in the number of vans between 2.5t and 3.5t hitting the road in January, compared to the same period last year.

Smaller vans appear out of favour. Registrations of sub-2.0t models fell by 16%, perhaps because there are increasingly few such models to choose from, while 2.0-2.5t units rose by just 3.1%.

January’s top sellers

One thing that doesn’t change is the top seller list.

Ford continued to wipe the floor with its competitors in January. The blue oval bagged the top three places in the best seller table, leaving rivals such as Vauxhall, Renault and Mercedes-Benz lagging seriously behind:

Best sellers LCV < 3.5t Jan '17

LCV best sellers in January 2017 (source: SMMT)

Euro Van Hire logo

Van rental in Eastbourne: Euro Van Hire

Leave a reply

Euro Van Hire logoI’m very pleased to welcome Euro Van Hire of Westham, near Eastbourne, to vanrental.co.uk.

—

Update 23/02/2017: We’ve also now added Euro Van Hire’s branches in Crawley, West Sussex, and Brighton to vanrental.co.uk.

—

Euro Van Hire offers an all-Volkswagen fleet of vans and passenger vehicles which are guaranteed to include air-con and Bluetooth. The fleet includes:

  • Volkswagen Caddy (small van)
  • Volkswagen Transporter (medium van)
  • Volkswagen Crafter medium and long wheelbase with high roof
  • Volkswagen Crafter Luton with tail lift
  • Volkswagen Transporter Kombi (crew van)
  • Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle (9 seater)
  • Volkswagen Amarok pickup

In keeping with its Volkswagen-only promise, Euro Van Hire guarantees that the vehicle you book will be the vehicle you get.

At the time of writing, van hire prices start from £18 per day +VAT, based on a 7-day hire with 7 days for the price of 5. Extras such as sat navs are available to hire if needed.

To find out more or make a booking, contact Euro Van Hire directly:

  • Telephone:  01323 458669
  • Web: eurovanhire.eu
  • Email: info@eurovanhire.eu

If you’d like to see your van rental business listed on vanrental.co.uk, check out our advertising options here or contact us directly.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup

Mercedes-Benz opens reservation service for X-Class pickup

3 Replies

It won’t be here until 2018, but buyers are already queuing up for the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class “stylish adventurer” pickup concept — the production model is due to hit the UK in 2018

Demand is so high, apparently, that Mercedes has launched an early reservation service to allow potential UK buyers to reserve a spot at the head of the queue when the X-Class becomes available to order.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, said:

“Many customers we have spoken to have a strong desire to be amongst the first to own the new X-Class, which is incredible considering that it hasn’t been unveiled yet!”

If you’d like to be one of the first to hit the road in what promises to be a truly eye-catching vehicle, then you’ll have to put down a £1,000 refundable deposit.

If you’re still undecided, then here are a few tasters. According to Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, the X-Class will have:

“a ladder-type frame, high-torque six cylinder engine and permanent all-wheel drive”. It will also have the class-leading performance, safety and luxury that you’d expect from any Mercedes.

The new pickup is expected to be a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Daimler — it will essentially be a reworked version of the Nissan NP300. However, as with the Mercedes-Benz Citan small van (based on the Renault Kangoo), it will be heavily modified to ensure it delivers the quality, performance and luxury expected from the three-pointed star.

Here are a few more pictures of the X-Class concept to whet your appetite:

Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup rear view

Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup interior

Mercedes-Benz X-Class concept

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class “powerful adventurer” concept model

Mercedes-Benz X-Class concept

A rear view of the X-Class “powerful adventurer” concept

You can find out more at www.mbvans.co.uk/xclass.

Nissan e-NV200 electric van

Nissan e-NV200 is top selling electric van in Europe

2 Replies

The all-electric Nissan e-NV200 van was the top-selling electric van in Europe in 2016. UK sales of the van rose by 20% last year, while total European sales rose by 7% to 4,319 units.

Nissan e-NV200 electric van

The Nissan e-NV200 electric van is the top-selling electric van in 17 European countries.

The top markets for the e-NV200 were the UK, Norway and France, but the van was the top-selling electric model in no fewer than 17 European countries.

Although the e-NV200 faces competition from the Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner Electric in the small van segment, the e-NV200 is usefully larger and also comes in a choice of body styles. In addition to the panel van model, buyers can order the Combi and Evalia passenger variants which offer five and seven-seat options respectively.

This versatility plus Nissan’s attractive 5-year/60,000 mile warranty may be tipping the balance for a lot of buyers. It probably would for me. However, Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles at Nissan Europe, was keen to emphasise the electric van’s other advantages:

“Aside from its obvious environmental advantages, e-NV200 owners also benefit from its low-running costs, starting from as little as two pence per mile, a smooth and near-silent ride and 40 percent lower servicing costs when compared with an equivalent diesel vehicle.”

I’ve been harping on about the attractions of these electric vans for some time now.

With a range of up to 106 miles between charges, I firmly believe they’d be suitable for a wide range of UK LCV operators. It’s only fear of the unknown and inertia that’s causing these firms to continue specifying poorly-suited diesel vans for low-mileage urban/semi-urban roles. This will eventually change, especially as diesels become increasingly demonised in our cities.

Questor Insurance logo

Discount code: Save 7% on Questor Insurance in February! [EXPIRED]

Leave a reply

Questor Insurance logoI’ve often written that one of the best ways to save money on car and van hire is by purchasing your own excess insurance.

One of the cheapest insurance providers on the market is Questor Insurance.

The good news is that for February only, Questor has provided us with a 7% discount code that makes their insurance even cheaper!

** THIS DISCOUNT CODE HAS NOW EXPIRED **

Here are the details:

  • Save 7% on Questor Insurance. Protect the excess on your motor and travel policies for less.
  • DISCOUNT CODE: 
  • Valid from: 1 February 2017
  • Expires 28 February 2017

 

Terms and conditions may apply. See Questor website for details.

Gilgen Door Systems van racking

Sliding doors open for Volkswagen fleet deal

Leave a reply

Door fitting specialist Gilgen Door Systems has purchased 24 new Volkswagen vans as part of a fleet renewal programme which will eventually see VW supply the firm’s entire fleet.

Gilgen Door Systems Volkswagen vans

Gilgen’s latest order was for 20 new Transporter vans and four Crafter panel vans. These follow on from an order last year for four Crafters and 10 Transporters. The new Transporters are T32 Startline LWB 2.0 TDI BMT models, while the Crafters are CR35 LWB 2.0 TDI BMT panel van models.

The vans have been fitted out with specialist racking and full Gilgen livery. They will be used by the firm’s service engineers to carry replacement parts and perform servicing and maintenance on customer sites.

Gilgen Door Systems van racking

Gilgen’s new VW vans are fitted with specialist racking to hold tools and spare parts. Pictured: Volkswagen Transporter

Roger Massey, Marketing Manager at Gilgen Door Systems UK Ltd, commented:

“Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has worked closely with us to develop a package that suits our exact business needs. As a business, we were able to specify our fleet requirements with the sales team and they helped to source the racking for vehicles through their accredited converters. This meant that the vans were ready to go as soon as they were delivered.”

Gilgen Door Systems is a leading global manufacturer of automatic doors, industrial doors and sliding walls, with more than 50 years’ experience in this sector.

VOSA van enforcement checkpoint

Speeding drivers face tougher penalties from April

2 Replies

Speeding fines are set to get tougher in April, and van drivers could face harsher sentencing as a result of their professions.

A VOSA/Police checkpoint

The penalties for driving while using a phone have also been increased. Offenders will receive a compulsory 6 points and £200 fine.

The new guidelines have been issued by the Sentencing Council, whose role it to provide sentencing guidelines for the courts in England and Wales.

There will be several major areas of change:

  • Tougher penalties for speeding with mandatory points and temporary disqualfication
  • Speeding fines for most serious offences increased from 100% to 150% of weekly income, although the upper limit remain fixed at £1,000 or £2,500 on a motorway.
  • The court will consider aggravating factors, such as whether the offender is a licenced professional driver from whom higher standards should be expected. Other examples of aggravating factors include bad weather and being near a school.
  • The penalty for driving while on the phone will be doubled to £200 and six points, with no option to avoid points by taking a driver education course

Here’s a summary of the new sentencing bands for speeding offences. Note the more severe penalties for serious speeding (the second column):

Speed limit (mph) Recorded speed (mph)
20 41 and above 31 – 40 21 – 30
30 51 and above 41 – 50 31 – 40
40 66 and above 56 – 65 41 – 55
50 76 and above 66 – 75 51 – 65
60 91 and above 81 – 90 61 – 80
70 101 and above 91 – 100 71 – 90
Sentencing range Band C fine (125-175% of relevant weekly income*) Band B fine (75-125% of relevant weekly income*) Band A fine (25-75% of relevant weekly income*)
Points/disqualification Disqualify 7 – 56 days OR 6 points Disqualify 7 – 28
days OR  4 – 6 points		 3 points

Source: Sentencing Council (https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/item/speeding-revised-2017/)

*Upper limit remains unchanged at £1,000 or £2,500 on a motorway.

The Sentencing Council’s goal with these changes is to “to ensure that there is clear increase in penalty as the seriousness of offending increases”. The point here is that the risk of injury to pedestrians or other drivers rises dramatically with speed.

According to road crash victim support charity RoadPeace, the chance of killing a pedestrian in a 20mph speed limit rises from 1% at the speed limit to 83% at 41mph.

Historically, the difference in penalties between the different bands of speeding has not reflected the increased likelihood of causing death. These changes, which come into force on 24 April 2017, are aimed at redressing this imbalance.