{"id":9654,"date":"2017-02-20T20:27:31","date_gmt":"2017-02-20T20:27:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/?p=9654"},"modified":"2017-02-20T20:27:31","modified_gmt":"2017-02-20T20:27:31","slug":"aa-updates-fleet-with-158-new-vw-transporter-vans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/archives\/9654","title":{"rendered":"AA updates fleet with 158 new VW Transporter vans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Volkswagen will supply 158 new Transporter vans to the AA to replace outgoing vehicles on its national patrol fleet. The additional vehicles come on top of The AA\u2019s order last year for around 500 Transporter vans, which were fully converted at The AA\u2019s conversion site in Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n

\"Volkswagen<\/p>\n

As I’ve commented before, the AA appears to maintain a policy of running two vehicle marques. From what I see on the roads,\u00a0the firm’s other van of choice is currently the Ford\u00a0Transit Custom.<\/p>\n

Fitted out for heavy use<\/h2>\n

The AA-spec Transporters will be supplied with twin batteries and a higher spec driver\u2019s seat, among other options. Interstingly, 24 of the 158 Transporters will be fitted with a DSG automated gearbox, allowing for a smoother drive and better fuel economy.<\/p>\n

I’d imagine that ordering this relatively small number of DSG automatic vans is by way of a trial for the AA. As the firm’s vans do\u00a0much more heavy towing than is common for vans of this type,\u00a0there will probably be considerable interest in the durability and efficiency of this increasingly popular gearbox.<\/p>\n

\"Inside

Inside the front section of an AA Patrol van — tools and various spare parts, including\u00a0common sizes of battery.<\/p><\/div>\n

The new Transporters will be used by AA Patrols as roadside and recovery vehicles and will be fitted with the firm’s standard extra equipment, which includes specially-equipped with warning beacons, racking and a deployable recovery trolley.<\/p>\n

Chris Wiltshire, Fleet Engineer for The AA said:\u201cWe couldn\u2019t be happier to continue the fantastic relationship The AA has with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. We have a vehicle that has been developed to suit our needs, and which is converted with specialist racking to accommodate The AA\u2019s tow system, additional equipment and tools.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe close working partnership provides services to The AA\u2019s wider customer base and supports Volkswagen Group by providing the dedicated Volkswagen breakdown assistance service<\/a>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"AA

The rear of the van is taken up with the AA’s fold out towing dolly, a universal spare wheel and other towing-related equipment.<\/p><\/div>\n

In case the patrols’ own vans breakdown — which one would hope is\u00a0a rare occurrence — they will be able to access Volkswagen’s network of 72 dedicated Van\u00a0Centres and 24 Authorised Repairers across the UK.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The AA has ordered another 158 Volkswagen Transporter vans for its national breakdown fleet, adding to the 500 Transporter vans ordered last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[1928,1016,493],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9654"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9654"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9660,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9654\/revisions\/9660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}