Author Archives: Van Rental

Leasing firm Zenith targets new customers with roadshow conversion

Leasing and fleet management specialist Zenith has taken delivery of a specially adapted Volkswagen Crafter long wheelbase van to use as a mobile exhibition and sales unit.

The German manufacturer helped deliver a fully-converted Volkswagen Crafter CR35 LWB high roof which is capable of providing a mobile display unit, allowing Zenith to engage with its customer base at roadshow events.

The Crafter not only provides Zenith with a means of transportation to each event, but also gives the firm a ‘stand-out’ advantage over other exhibitors.

Equipped with additional seating, on-board computers and display screens, Zenith uses the bespoke space to demonstrate the benefits of its ‘MyCar Salary Sacrifice Scheme’ and provide instant quotes for potential customers, all from the comfort of the fully converted vehicle.

Working with Volkswagen to specify the Crafter CR35 with long wheelbase and high roof, Zenith selected a variety of aftermarket options to transform the van into a vehicle that can cater for all its roadshow needs.

Providing an ideal base, the Crafter features optional air conditioning, additional storage for Zenith’s marketing materials and striking full vehicle wrap displaying MyCar Salary Sacrifice branding.

Ian Hughes, Commercial Director at Zenith, said:

“We chose to work with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles due to the strength of our existing relationship and the partnership approach that they have taken with us. ‘The presence of the fully converted Crafter has provided Zenith with a substantial point of difference from the other vendors at the roadshow events that we attend. The van has helped create awareness with potential salary sacrifice drivers and increase the take-up rate of our scheme.”

Zenith has provided outsourced, end-to-end vehicle management solutions for mid to large nationwide companies for over 25 years, delivering innovative and intelligent vehicle solutions to any employee base, whether that’s funding company cars or commercial vehicles, providing flexible benefit schemes, or delivering fully outsourced fleet management services.

Team GB Downie sisters on road to Rio in a VW van!

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Following the recent news that Becky (24) and Ellie (16) Downie will be the first British gymnastic sisters to compete together in an Olympic Games, the sisters were pleased to receive an offer of help on the transport front.

While air travel may be laid on the for the Olympic team, the athletes still need to make their own way to the airport! To help them get their journey off to a good start, Volkswagen Van Centre Nottingham has offered to provide a Transporter Kombi van to hold their kit and support crew.

Downie sisters with Volkswagen Transporter Kombi

Ellie and Becky Downie (l-r) at Nottingham VW Van Centre

As Becky explains:

“It might not be completely obvious by our sporting discipline but we have a lot of equipment and a dedicated support team so getting everything to the airport was becoming a logistical nightmare.”

David Starr, head of business at Volkswagen Van Centre Nottingham, said:

“We are delighted and proud to support Nottingham’s gymnastic stars. The five seat Transporter Kombi will have plenty of space for passengers and equipment and we feel sure it will be a comfortable drive for them.

Becky is currently the 2016 European bars champion and competed in the Beijing Games. Younger sister Ellie is the 2016 vault and floor European silver medallist and the BBC Young Sportsperson of the Year. Rio 2016 will be Ellie’s first Olympic Games.

Becky said:

“I was so pleased to be selected for the team again. It was a big decision to carry on for this Olympic cycle but I knew I had more to give and having my sister there will make it even more special.

We wish both sisters and all of Team GB all the best in Rio!

Wessex Water taps Renault for 25 new Kangoo vans

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One of the best ways to measure customer satisfaction is through repeat purchase levels.

By that standard Wessex Water must be happy with the Renault Kangoo. The utility company has just added 25 Renault Kangoo vans to its fleet. This takes the firm’s Kangoo count up to 150 vans.

In its work to provide household and business customers across Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, the majority of Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire with water and sewerage services, Wessex Water will use its new Kangoos in the completion of essential site surveys and callouts by its scientists, water samplers and inspectors.

Previous experience with the Renault Kangoo and competitive whole-life costs were cited as two of the main reasons for the purchase. The Wessex Water vans are fully liveried and powered by Renault’s dCi 75 1.5-litre ENERGY diesel engine, which returns up to 67.3mpg on the combined cycle.

Wessex Water specified Business trim for its vans, meaning that they benefit from standard features as electric door mirrors and electric front windows, DAB radio with AUX input, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, remote central locking, and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend, which optimises traction of both front wheels depending on the conditions.

Each van was also specified with a factory-fitted 68mph speed limiter and the R-Link multimedia system with built-in satellite navigation.

Martin Crocker, Head of Fleet, Wessex Water, said:

“The Kangoo is a perfect fit for our needs and when its whole life costs, payload and efficiency are taken into consideration, it continues to provide us with an excellent package at a very competitive price.

“Feedback from everyone who drives them is very good and the high level of standard equipment has been particularly well received.”

Ahead of this year’s Euro 6 compliance deadline in September, Renault has updated the Kangoo range with a wider choice of Euro 6 engines. These include the dCi 75 1.5-litre ENERGY diesel engine chosen by Wessex Water.

The standard length Kangoo (ML) will now be solely available with 75, 90 and 110hp ENERGY engines until the start of 2017, when more engines will be added to the range.

Van values edge higher at auction in June as newer stock comes through

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Auction sale prices for used van rose to an average of £5,908 in June, according to the latest figures from remarketing specialist BCA.

Although June’s average was only £16 higher than in May, it was a £321 (5.7%) higher than during June last year. However, a closer look at the figures shows that the increase in price is the result of younger, lower-mileage stock flowing coming off fleets and into BCA’s auction halls.

All vans	Avg Age (mnths)	Avg Mileage	Avg Value
June 2015	56.74	75,873	£5,587
June 2016	53.27	69,618	£5,908

Data courtesy of BCA

BCA’s LCV Operations Director, Duncan Ward

Vans sold in June 2016 were on average 3.5 months newer and had 6,255 miles fewer on the clock. BCA’s Head of Commercial Vehicles, Duncan Ward, confirmed this view:

“History shows us that the commercial vehicle market typically slows over the summer months and we would expect to see some pressure on average values between now and the new registration plate in September. While average selling price appears to be holding up, this is largely due to the influence of a younger, lower mileage profile of vehicles currently reaching the market.”

One way of judging whether prices are rising or falling in real terms is to compare sale prices with manufacturers’ recommended prices (MRP, or list prices). Helpfully, BCA provides this information.

As you can see below, in the fleet and lease sector, which accounts for the majority of volume, the Sale vs MRP is virutally unchanged on one year ago. This suggests to me that prices are flat-lining, with reduced age and mileage being balanced by higher sale prices:

Fleet/Lease	Avg Age (mnths)	Avg Mileage	Avg Value	Sale vs MRP
June 2015	42.18	68,189	£6,399	35.21%
June 2016	40.00	61,089	£6,754	35.11%

Data courtesy of BCA

A constant feature in BCA’s monthly sales reports is a reminder of the importance of condition. Duncan Ward says this is becoming an ever-increasing issue as buyers become more selective and benefit from a greater choice of good quality stock:

“As buyers get more selective and focus on the best presented vehicles, the increasing volumes of poor condition, low specification vans are impacting conversion rates. This less desirable stock, typically in corporate colours, needs to be competitively valued if it is to sell first time.”

June’s figures from BCA suggest that the van market is in a fairly good place at the moment. Long-running growth in new van registrations has had the predictable effect of pulling back used prices from the record levels seen in 2013 and 2014.

So far, there doesn’t seem to be any sign that Brexit fears are changing van buyers’ purchasing plans — new van registrations hit a record during the first half of the year, according to recent SMMT data.

New Fiat Talento medium van goes on sale in UK

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Fiat’s new Talento medium van has now gone on sale in the UK.

The new Fiat Talento is now on sale in the UK.

The Talento replaces the discontinued Scudo model and is of course based on the Renault Trafic. This brings the total number of medium vans based on the Trafic to four. The Talento should provide an attractive alternative for van operators who want to buy Fiat due to brand or dealer loyalty.

Prices start from £19,795 +VAT/OTR charges and the Talento will be available in a total of nine different body styles. Choices include:

Standard/high roof
Short/long wheelbase
People carrier/minibus/crew van models
Long-wheelbase platform cab

Two engines will be available, with a choice of four power outputs ranging from 95hp to 145hp. All vans come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and will use SCR (AdBlue) technology to meet the Euro 6 emissions standard.

The key engine choice for buyers will be between the single turbo 1.6-litre MultiJet diesels and the twin-turbo 1.6-litre EcoJet models. The EcoJet models promise more power, more torque, better fuel consumption and lower emissions — so for operators planning to do plenty of miles, the extra £850-£1,500 on the list price over the entry-level model will probably make sense.

For example, the entry level 1.6-litre MultiJet 95hp model offfers 260Nm of torque and official combined cycle fuel and emissions figures of 43.5mpg and 170g/km respectively. There’s also a 120hp version of this single-turbo engine with unchanged fuel consumption and emissions but 300Nm of torque.

In contrast, the twin-turbo models offer combined cycle fuel consumption figures of 47.9mpg (125hp) and 46.3mpg (145hp) plus increased torque and lower emissions.

Inside the van has been given a flavour of Fiat but should feel familiar to drivers of the Trafic and Vivao vans.

A wide range of options are available, including a range-topping SX specification level which adds air conditioning, Mobile Office, ViewPlus, rear parking sensors, upgraded “Living Brown” interior trim and enhanced exterior detailing for a cost of £1,000 in addition to the standard model.

In terms of safety, all versions are fitted with LED daytime running lights, ABS with EBD (electronic brake distribution) and EBA (emergency brake assistance) in addition to a sophisticated ESC system with Hill Holder and Traction+ as standard.

Available safety features include side airbags and window-bags a Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) system which guarantees total stability when towing by automatically modulating engine power and braking force applied to each wheel to stabilise both the vehicle and a wayward trailer. A front parking assist system and a reversing camera (with a display in the rear-view mirror) are also available.

Big vans transport UK LCV market to half-year record

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New van registrations rose by 3.0% to a record level of 191,996 units during the first half of 2016, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The growth has been driven by strong demand for heavier 2.5-3.5t vans and pickups. Registrations in these two segments rose by 11.3% and 17.3% respectively in June.

This is consistent with the results seen in previous months. During the first half of this year, pickup registrations rose by 10.9%. Heavy van registrations rose by 12.7% to 120,395 units — that’s 62.7% of all vans registered during the first half of 2016.

This graph shows how demand for new vans has exploded in the UK since 2010:

UK van registrations Jun ’10-Jun ’16 (courtesy of SMMT)

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT, said:

“It’s been an encouraging first half for the new LCV sector and, while growth may be slower than the record levels seen last year, the market remains strong with all the signs pointing towards a healthy performance in 2016. Maintaining economic certainty for van operators will be key to the sector’s ongoing success.”

Best-selling brands

Ford’s revamped range of vans has maintained an iron grip on the best seller tables so far this year, as this graphic shows:

The best-selling LCV manufacturers so far in 2016 (courtesy of SMMT)

Teasing out a few statistics from these figures shows us that Ford sold 163% more vans than second-placed Vauxhall in June. Ford’s sales in June were almost equal to the combined sales of Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Renault.

Across the year to date, Ford has sold 170% more vans than second-placed Volkswagen and nearly as many as VW, Vauxhall and Peugeot combined! It’s interesting to see that VW just edged Vauxhall into second place, despite the supposed impact of the emissions scandal.

Ford is absolutely dominating the UK van market at the moment. It’s hard to see this changing in the near future, given depth and breadth of Ford’s range and the firm’s reputation with British buyers. After all, the phrase Transit van doesn’t even have to mean a Ford anymore — it’s just understood to refer to a large panel van.

DJ BBQ & Renault unleash a burger van with a difference

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Here’s a van you definitely won’t find at your local rental branch! Renault has teamed up with outdoor cooking guru DJ BBQ to create the ultimate festival catering van, complete with banging sound system and pyrotechnics!

The new partnership will see DJ BBQ, aka Christian Stevenson, visit some of this summer’s essential festivals in a completely one-off Renault Master, where he will serve up his trademark signature dishes to the backdrop of thumping beats and shooting flames!

A star of Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube television channel and with a lifelong passion for barbequing and music, DJ BBQ is renowned for his exciting fun-filled take on outdoor cooking. By combining Renault’s van conversion experience and DJ BBQ’s imagination the pair have created this ultimate ‘catertainment’ vehicle for the summer festival season.

THe DJ BBQ van is based on the same Renault Master Chassis Cab that’s used for many of the brand’s off-the-shelf LCV conversions. The vehicle includes a fully equipped kitchen plus a DJ and sound system. There’s even an in-built pyrotechnic display.

Highlights of the unique Renault Master include a 24-inch griddle, an electric rise speaker box on the roof and vertical exhaust flame throwers.

Over the next two years, DJ BBQ will take the bespoke Renault Master on tour to many of the UK’s festivals and will also support Renault at its own events, offering visitors a truly memorable catering and entertainment experience.

DJ BBQ wowing the crowds in his Renault van conversion

On the totally unique Renault Master, DJ BBQ said:

“I think it’s the best thing since steak! No one has ever done anything like this before – it’s a total one-off and we’ve got the loudest catering van in history, the sound system is better than most music stages!

“It’s going to be a big hit on the festival circuit, but I’d love to do some road trips with it too, taking it around Europe and working some pop-up restaurants out of the back. Renault has been incredible in creating it and they pushed me to follow my dreams and embraced all my ideas for the build, it’s been a joy to do.”

Festival goers can catch DJ BBQ and the Renault Master at:

Jimmy’s Beer & Sausage Festival 23-24 July
Camp Bestival 28-31 July
Big Feastival 26-28 August
Meatopia 2-4 September
On Blackheath 10-11 September

For more information about Renault conversions, visit www.conversions.renault.co.uk.

NEW! Compare van hire excess insurance prices with vanrental.co.uk

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To help vanrental.co.uk visitors save money on van hire, we’ve added a new van hire excess insurance price comparison feature to the website.

We currently work with two of the UK’s leading providers of van hire excess insurance, Questor Insurance and icarhireinsurance.

Each of these companies offers a competitive and comprehensive service that will reduce the insurance excess on your van hire to as little as £100.

If you’re not familiar with insurance arrangement for rental vans, here’s a quick explanation. Daily van rental rates normally include insurance which meets all legal requirements. However, there are usually some restrictions:

An excess of £500-£1500 is quite common
Damage to windows, tyres, roof and the underside of the van are usually excluded

Most hire companies will sell you additional cover to reduce this excess, but it’s often quite expensive and some exclusions may still apply.

That’s why excess insurance has become so popular. For a fixed daily rate you can reduce your excess down to as little as £100. In addition, both Questor and icarhireinsurance include damage to glass, tyres and undercarriage in their cover. So that’s one fewer thing to worry about.

If you’d like to get a price or learn more about van hire insurance, check out our van hire excess insurance page here.

Limesquare Vehicle Rental heads north with Rotherham branch

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Long-standing vanrental.co.uk advertiser Limesquare Vehicle Rental is aiming to have 15 branches across the UK by 2020.

The firm currently has eight branches, the most recent of which to open is a large new ‘super site’ in Rotherham. Limesquare’s most northerly branch is a large, 11,000 square foot office and light industrial site at which the firm plans to base 500 cars and vans.

The site’s location at Farfield Park, Rotherham is mid-way between the M1 and A1(M). It’s within a short distance of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. In addition to daily rental services for personal customers, Limesquare offers full corporate hire services from this location.

The address of the branch is: Temple House, 1 Farfield Park, Manvers, Rotherham, S63 5DB. You can contact Limesquare Rotherham directly on 01709 794 090.

Limesquare’s other branches are located at Bracknell, Chertsey, Grantham, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Peterborough and Swindon.

First sketches of all-new Volkswagen Crafter unveiled

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Volkswagen has published the first sketches showing what the all-new Volkswagen Crafter may look like.

First sketches of the all-new Volkswagen Crafter — due to be unveiled in September 2016

The German marque is breaking from past practice and designing an all-new vehicle that shares the same design DNA as the smaller Transporter van. This is a significant break from VW’s current practice of manufacturing the Crafter on the same production line as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and simply fitting their own engines and badging.

The all-new Crafter will be launched at the IAA Hanover commercial vehicle show in September 2016. But to whet buyers’ appetites ahead of the show and raise awareness of VW’s decision to go it alone, the company has released some artists’ sketches of the new van.

According to VW, the new Crafter will have a best-in-class drag coefficient of 0.33 and will combine “great everyday practicality with optimum cargo space”. The design language will be continued across VW’s commercial range.

Albert-Johann Kirzinger, Head of Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, is keen to emphasise the design links to the ever-popular Transporter:

“Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ T-series, the ‘Bulli’, is effectively being given a ‘big brother’ through the introduction of the new Crafter. With the Crafter, a level of surface quality, robustness and at the same time high qualitative value are achieved that have never before been available in this commercial vehicle class.”

According to Volkswagen, in-house experts have worked closely with current customers, frequently accompanying them during their daily routines, to explore their needs and find out their visions of what they wanted the new Crafter to be, allowing them to help shape the new generation.

More details to follow as they become available.

vanrental.co.uk blog

UK van news and van hire tips

Author Archives: Van Rental

Leasing firm Zenith targets new customers with roadshow conversion

Team GB Downie sisters on road to Rio in a VW van!

Wessex Water taps Renault for 25 new Kangoo vans

Van values edge higher at auction in June as newer stock comes through

New Fiat Talento medium van goes on sale in UK

Big vans transport UK LCV market to half-year record

Best-selling brands

DJ BBQ & Renault unleash a burger van with a difference

NEW! Compare van hire excess insurance prices with vanrental.co.uk

Limesquare Vehicle Rental heads north with Rotherham branch

First sketches of all-new Volkswagen Crafter unveiled