Banbury Council’s 4X4 Fuso Canter Is Snow Joke

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Banbury Council 4x4 Fuso Canter

Banbury Town Council’s 4×4 FUSO Canter is equipped for snow clearing and off-road duties and will be used to help distribute grit and keep minor roads clear in winter conditions.

I’m always a sucker for any 4×4 vans and small lorries, and Banbury Council’s latest acquisition, a 6.5t, 4×4 Fuso Canter is a fine example.

Equipped with a demountable snow plough blade and grit hopper, it also has a dropside body a 5.0 tonne/metre Hiab XS 055 crane that can lift one-tonne bags of grit, Banbury Council hopes that the Canter will be a key weapon in its mission to keep the town moving when it snows.

The Canter’s arrival coincides with the recruitment by Banbury Town Council of teams of volunteer ‘snow wardens’, who are being provided with shovels, high visibility jackets and gloves, as well as training sessions on how to clear snow effectively and safely from minor roads and pavements in their neighbourhoods.

The authority hopes to be able to call upon some 200 of these wardens when temperatures plummet. Town Council Leader Kieron Mallon was inspired to launch the scheme after one of his constituents was unable to get his frozen car off his drive last winter to take his daughter – who was in labour – to hospital, because the grit bin in his street was empty.

“We want volunteers to link with each other so there will be a co-ordinated response to clearing the roads,” he says. “It’s a good use of council tax payers’ money if we can keep Banbury moving in adverse weather conditions, so people can still go about their daily lives.”

The 4×4 model combines the road-going Canter’s well-established virtues of rugged reliability and low running costs, with high traction, a limited slip differential on the rear axle, and a body and payload allowance of up to 3,880 kg. The 4×4 chassis is also significantly higher than standard Canter variants, the increased ground clearance allowing uneven terrain and steep slopes to be tackled with confidence.

Banbury’s FUSO Canter has a 129 kW (175 hp) engine and five-speed manual gearbox with dashboard-mounted shift lever for easy cross-cab access. Drive to the front axle can be selected or disengaged on the move, to maximise the efficient engine’s excellent fuel economy.

Now, all we need is some snow!

Renault, Citroën & Volkswagen Collect Awards At Business Van Of The Year

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Several of the UK’s most popular vans picked up a awards at the inaugural Business Van of the Year Awards today, presented by Business Vans. Here are some of the highlights of today’s event.

City Van Award

Citroen Nemo van

Citroen Nemo van

The Citroën Nemo was the judges’ choice in the City Van category, thanks to its compact dimensions, high payload and low running costs — the Nemo is only 3.86m long, but has a high 660kg payload and a large 2.5m3 (extendable to 2.8 m3) load compartment, which can accommodate a Euro pallet, or load lengths of up to 2,493mm with the standard Extenso® front passenger seat folded flat.

Combined cycle fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg means that fuel costs can be kept under control, while CO2 emissions of just under 119g/km ensure that the van’s environmental credentials aren’t questioned.

The final clincher for the Nemo was probably Citroën’s strong presence in the SME and small fleet markets. Since the Nemo is also available from Peugeot (as the Bipper) and Fiat (as the Fiorino), Citroën’s UK Business Centre network is one of the few ways of differentiating between the three company’s offerings — and there aren’t really any other van models that compete directly in this category.

Small & Green…

Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. electric van

The Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. electric van has already sold more than 11,000 units, making it the best-selling electric van in Europe.

The Renault Kangoo was the victor in two categories, taking home the awards for both Small Trades Van and Green Van of the Year, in the form of the all-electric Kangoo Van Z.E.

Proving that the presence of the Kangoo-based Citan hasn’t reduced the appeal of Renault’s offering, judge Ralph Morton, Business Van Manager’s editorial director, said that:

“The small trades van sector is supremely competitive, but the Kangoo wins for us because it’s the best example of how a small trades van can appeal to a wide variety of users in many business sectors.”

It’s a notable victory against the all-conquering Citroën Berlingo, and the judges acknowledged that Renault’s electric offering, the multi-award winnning Kangoo Van Z.E., is also a strong real-world performer, with Mr Morton describing it as, “an excellent choice for small businesses wanting to operate a green van in city environments”.

The Germans make it five

Volkswagen Transporter Sportline

The Volksagen Transporter was the Business Van judges choice for Van of the Year.

Renault managed two awards, but Volkswagen went three better and left the awards ceremony with no fewer than five titles. The German marque’s ever-popular Transporter van was the judges’ choice in the Van of the Year and Best Large Trades Van categories, with judge Ralph Morton describing the Transporter as “the ideal all-rounder for the trades, offering quality, value and reliability in equal measure”.

Meanwhile, the Crafter picked up the award for Best Heavy Van, beating the ever-popular Sprinter to the title, thanks in part to the reduced running costs provided by its BlueMotion specification.

Finally, the Volkswagen’s big pick-up, the Amarok, romped home with the Best Utility Pick-Up and Best Double Cab awards, with Mr Morton describing the Amarok as “delivering high standards of quality and reliability. Everything you would expect from a Volkswagen”.

Away from the vehicles, Volkswagen also won the Best Service Package for Van Owners award, thanks to the “service offering and back-up provided by the brand’s dedicated Van Centre network”

Today’s Judges included Mark Cartwright, head of vans and light commercial vehicles at FTA (Freight Transport Association), Marcus Puddy, director of commercial vehicles with the biggest leasing company in the UK, LexAutolease, Richard Bunn, director of White Hot Vans, Eddie Parker, fleet LCV consultant at GE Capital Fleet Services, Rod Lloyd, managing director of Low Cost Vans, and chairman Keith Hawes, managing director of Magma Automotive Services.

New Customer Receives 20 Citan Vans In Two Weeks

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A TSG Building Services Mercedes-Benz Citan van

One of TSG’s new Citan vans.

It took the team at Merc dealer Rygor’s Heathrow branch just two weeks to deliver the first 20 Mercedes-Benz Citan vans ordered by central heating contractor TSG Building Services plc after it landed two new contracts and needed extra vans fast.

A specialist supplier to local authorities and housing associations, TSG is now running 54 Citans, as well as nine larger Vito models. All are the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services under which they will each cover 20,000 miles a year.

The new vans have been allocated to TSG service engineers who work throughout the South and South-East. They will be maintained by Rygor, Britain’s biggest Mercedes-Benz Dealer, at the operator’s headquarters in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, as well as at other locations.

Launched last year, the Citan is the smallest van ever to wear a three-pointed star. It leads the field in terms of fuel efficiency, achieving up to 65.7 mpg and producing CO2 emissions as low as 112 g/km. As I’ve documented over the last few months, it’s making steady progress in the fleet market, thanks to its high quality, fuel efficiency, and the appeal of the three-pointed star.

TSG’s Citans are all Long-bodied 109 CDIs with 66 kW (90 hp) diesel engines and optional Bluetooth telephony. Rygor fitted their Rhino roof racks and co-ordinated the application by TLC Signs, of Feltham, of TSG’s livery.

TSG Managing Director Ben Thrussell confirms:

“This is our first experience of operating Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Rygor have been extremely efficient in handling our enquiry and subsequent order.

“We required delivery of 20 vehicles within just a couple of weeks, as we had won two new contracts and needed our engineers on site with their vehicles as a matter of urgency.

“We also wanted to ensure that our fleet changes were carried out before the onset of winter and the colder weather, to avoid downtime during our busiest period. Rygor delivered the vans efficiently and effectively to a weekly schedule, causing the minimum stress to our drivers and interruption to our operation.”

Founded more than 50 years ago as a small central heating installation business, TSG now offers a broad range of services, from volume domestic and commercial boiler installations to long-term maintenance contracts. The fast-growing company operates 120 vans in total – while roughly half of its new Mercedes-Benz vehicles have replaced older vehicles, the rest represent extensions to its fleet.

New VW Caddy BlueMotion Delivers 61mpg

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Volkswagen Caddy BlueMotion interior

Inside the new Caddy BlueMotion.

Volkswagen has announced the arrival of the new Caddy BlueMotion van.

Available to order from February, the new Caddy BlueMotion is the cleanest and most fuel-efficient Caddy ever, and boasts combined cycle fuel consumption of 61.4mpg, and CO2 emissions of just 119g/km.

The new Caddy BlueMotion comes in short-wheelbase panel van form only, and is powered by a frugal 1.6-litre TDI common rail direct injection engine that develops 102 PS and 250 Nm of torque.

The Caddy BlueMotion’s 61mpg official figure is 6mpg higher than the outgoing Caddy BlueMotion model, and 11mpg better than a standard base Caddy.

These gains have been achieved through the application of Volkswagen’s standard BlueMotion Technology features – Cruise Control, Hill-Hold Assist, Start/Stop and Energy Recuperation – plus three additional new BlueMotion design and engineering advancements:

  • 15″ Reduced Rolling Resistance Tyres – tyres that reduce friction, and need less effort as they roll, minimise the energy wasted.
  • Reduced Ride Height – lowering the ride height by 27 mm reduces aerodynamic drag.
  • More efficient Engine Control– the reduced gross weight makes improved engine control and revised calibration possible.

Based on an annual mileage of 30,000 and an average diesel price of 140p per litre, the new Caddy model delivers a fuel cost saving of up to £744 over the standard 1.6-litre TDI 102 PS model, and to help the new model stand out, it boasts body-coloured side strips and a black and blue trim fabric that is only available on the BlueMotion model.

Save Up To 33% On Hertz Van Hire: Sale Extended

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Hertz has extended its 2014 Global Sale by another two weeks until 26th January 2014.

This gives you two more weeks to save up to 33% on Hertz Van Hire!

To start saving, click through to the Hertz website using the link below — and remember, you can always collect Nectar points when you hire with Hertz:

THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED

Click here to visit the Hertz website

Here are the details:

  • Valid from: 24th December 2013
  • Expires:  26th January 2014
  • Valid for hire periods before 30th June 2014
  • Code: 783530
  • Terms and conditions apply, see Hertz website for details.

 

Used Van Values Up 24% In Two Years

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Average used van values rose by 3.9% in December, according to the latest figures from vehicle auctioneers BCA, leaving them a massive 24% higher than they were two years ago, in December 2011.

The increase took the average value for all used vans to £5,311, with all-time record values achieved for dealer part-exchange and nearly-new vans.

On a yearly basis, used van values rose by 12.1% in 2013, despite a rise in both average age and average mileage, as the figures in this table show:

Year-on-year table: All vans

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value Sale vs CAP
Dec 2012 55.93 78,793 £4,736 101.12%
Dec 2013 59.37 81,351 £5,311 102.07%

Data courtesy of BCA (www.british-car-auctions.co.uk)

Commenting on the results, Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles, said that he expected more of the same in 2014:

“Average values for used LCVs remained high in December as buyers competed for the limited volume of stock on offer.  Many corporate sellers held vehicles over for the New Year and dealer part-exchange stock filled the gap, resulting in a significant price rise for this sector during the month.   Supply remains the key factor driving the market and this means there is plenty of competition for the best examples reaching the market.”

“While this is good news for sellers, from the buyers’ perspective the outlook for 2014 is that supply issues could actually worsen.   Our view is that the overall shortage of used product and the issues of supply versus demand will see a continuation of high conversions and higher selling prices in 2014, effectively meaning we are going to see more of what is best described as a “sellers’ market”.

A one-way market?

As the graph below shows, prices have risen steadily since 2011 — but this situation cannot last forever:

BCA Used van values Dec 2011-13

Recent growth in new van registrations will eventually feed through to the used market and dampen price inflation. If the economic recovery continues to gather pace, demand for new vans, as opposed to used vans, could also rise.

Despite this, I’m tempted to agree with Ward’s expectations that 2014 will be another expensive year for used van buyers, as it is likely to be 18-24 months before the increase in new van registrations feeds through to the used market.

Save Up To 20% On Europcar Van Hire This January

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The January sales may be drawing to a close on the high street, but Europcar’s sale is still in full swing, and currently you can save up to 20% on Europcar UK van hire.

This cracking deal is valid until the end of January 2014, for pick-ups until 30 April 2014.

Full details:

  • Offer valid for bookings made by 31 January 2014 and pick-ups until 30th April 2014
  • Not valid from 17th – 21st April 2014
  • Valid at participating branches only
  • Subject to availability
  • See Europcar’s website for full terms and conditions (click here)

Van Registrations Up 13.1% In 2013

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Following their surge in November, van registrations rose by 13.1% in the UK last year, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The new figures show that 271,073 new vans were registered in the UK last year, including 20,949 in December, which represents a 32.5% increase over December 2012.

UK van and truck registrations: 2013 and % change on 2012

December % change Year-to-date % change Rolling year % change
Vans 20,949 32.5% 271,073 13.1% 271,073 13.1%
Trucks 11,351 217.2% 56,218 23.0% 56,218 23.0%
Total 32,300 66.6% 327,291 14.7% 327,291 14.7%

Data courtesy of SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)

The biggest sector of the UK van market by far is the 2.5 – 3.5t sector, which accounted for 153,428 of the 271,073 vans registered in the UK last year, and 11% increase in registrations compared to the previous year. However, the sector that saw the largest growth was the next one down in size — there was a 27.7% increase in 2.0 – 2.5t van registrations in 2013, taking the total number registered to 39,613.

Commenting on the figures Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive, believes that there may be more good news to come in 2014:

“The 2013 commercial vehicle market rose 14.7%, making it the best performance in the last five years … van owners and operators responded positively to the wider economic recovery finishing the year more than 13% up on 2012.

The introduction of new Euro 6 trucks will be of key interest to the heavy end of the market in 2014, while we expect the forthcoming launches of several new light commercial vans to deliver further growth in this important sector.”

All-new Ford Transit 2-tonne model

The all-new Ford Transit 2-tonne model is now available to order.

One of the new vans referred to by Hawes in his comments is the all-new two-tonne Ford Transit, which is now available to order and is due to go on sale later this year.

The new Transit will, for the first time in many years, give Ford a large van with which to directly challenge the dominant Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, as well as other large models such as the Citroen Relay, Fiat Ducato and Volkswagen Crafter.

It’s easy to see why Ford has adopted the new format, as the 2.5t – 3.5t sector accounts for 55% of the vans sold in the UK, and the new model will also be suitable for sale in the US and Canada, in-line with Ford’s global vision.

However, it will be interesting to see how many tradesmen and small businesses miss the old jack-of-all-trades Transit format — Ford sold 47,507 of the 2007-13 Transit in 2013, giving the legacy model a 29% share of the overall UK market for one- and two-tonne vans.

The Transit Custom and forthcoming new Transit will have a lot to live up to.

Moving House In January? Don’t Forget Van Hire

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Let us show you how to move house with a hire van

Boxes need to be strong to be stacked safely – especially if they’re heavy

Christmas is over and pretty much everyone is now back to work, but the first full week in January is also significant for another reason — people start moving house again, after the Christmas lull.

If you’re moving in the next few weeks, then I’d urge you to book your van hire now (or at least do it as soon as you have a fixed date for completion).

Although availability is now considerably better than it was during the pre-Christmas rush (when courier companies hog a large proportion of hire vans), van rental companies are still busy, and your chosen combination of van size and date could soon become unavailable.

The simplest way to get started is to use our van hire comparison system, which allows you to save money by comparing prices from most of the UK’s major van hire companies on one website.

Our system displays prices for all popular types of van (e.g. Transit-size panel vans, extra-long vans and luton box vans) — so click here to give it a try. You don’t have to provide any personal data to compare prices, and your booking will be made by you, directly with your chosen hire supplier.

Of course, there’s a lot more to moving house than simply hiring a van. Here at vanrental.co.uk, we’ve been there, done that, and got the t-shirt, so we’ve produced a simple one-page DIY removals guide to cover all of the main areas.

Finally, we know that driving a van for the first time can be daunting, so we offer a free, printable guide to driving a van for the first time, too.

Good luck if you’re moving in the next few weeks!

Sky’s The Limit As VW Receives Order For 930 Caddy Vans

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Volkswagen Caddy in Sky liveryVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles has strengthened its relationship with Sky in a deal that will see the van manufacturer supply an additional 1,120 vehicles to the broadcaster’s fleet.

The agreement is for 930 Caddy Maxi Startline BlueMotion Technology (BMT) and 190 Transporter Startline BMT vehicles.  The vehicles, which will start to be delivered later this month, will boost Sky’s Volkswagen fleet to 2,500.

With more than 10 million TV and broadband customers across the country and thousands of Sky engineer home visits a day, the well-known Sky liveried Volkswagen vans have become a regular sight on British roads.

Operational benefits for Sky include class-leading residual values, and a range of frugal, fuel-efficient engines that emit low levels of CO2, helping to save on fuel costs and reduce the fleet’s impact on the environment.

Other reasons why the Sky team selected the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi include its generous load area – 4.2 m³ and a load length of 2.25 m – and high level of standard equipment, while the Transporter was also selected for its practicality and impressive fuel consumption. Sky was previously a notable fleet customer for Vauxhall’s Vivaro van, but judging from this order, the firm may be moving away from the due-for-replacement Vivaro towards the VW Transporter, for its UK fleet.

All of the new vehicles, which will start to arrive from later this month, have had racking installed and will be wrapped in Sky’s livery.