If Dr Who drove a van.......

According to What Van? “If Dr Who drove a van, he’d probably drive Nissan’s new NV200. That’s because, like the TARDIS, it’s a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside.” So impressed were they that they named it Light Van and Van of the Year 2010!

We should point out that unlike the TARDIS, the NV200 goes where you point it, it doesn’t resemble a blue telephone box and you needn’t where a copious amount of tweed nor a scarf to drive one.

Vansdirect recently had the chance to play with the Nissan NV200 and we were also very impressed. With 4.16m³ of load space, the NV200 is the biggest in its class and is capable of carrying two Euro-pallets. With two side-loading doors as standard across the range you’ll be able to access the load from every direction. The E model has a mesh-bulkhead whilst the SE has a full steel one. However, opt for the Versatility Pack (approx. £150) and you get a folding passenger seat and split bulkhead which extends the cargo bed to an incredible 2.8m. Top payload is 752kg but the SE will only carry 731kg.

Nissan however have not compromised on cabin space. There are a total of 13 storage bins including a deep glove box and a lidded storage box between the seats. Both the driver’s and passenger’s seats are comfortable and give ample room. If you opt for the SE trim (only an extra £500!) you also get electric windows and mirrors.

The Nissan NV200 is powered by the same 85hp 1.5-litre dCi engine as found in the Renault Kangoo and uses a 5-speed gearbox. You can therefore expect a money saving 54.3mpg (combined) and CO₂ emissions of just 137g/km.

The NV200 is the ideal van for those who want a bit more load carrying but without increasing the vehicle footprint. So, pull out your sonic-screwdriver and checkout the Nissan NV200.

What do you look for in a van?

Side loading doors, low load height, sat nav, folding passenger seats, cheap price, free extras?  What do you look for when buying your next new van?

We all use our vans for different purposes.  Some of us simply sell them, some of us carry our livelihoods in in them.  But whatever you use your van for, let us know what you look for.  All van purchasing comments are welcome.

Floor collapses!

OK, so this isn’t van related but I couldn’t resist.  The following article was published by the Times today - the true nature of human catastrophe isn’t exactly captured and, I’m ashamed to say I had to laugh, but it does neatly en-capture the post festive season blues.

Floor collapses at Weight Watchers meeting

A floor collapsed beneath a group of about 20 members of Weight Watchers as they gathered to compare how many pounds they had shed over Christmas.

Members of the weight-loss club were lining up to compare readings on the scales when they heard a bang as the floor came away from the walls of their meeting room in Växjö in southern Sweden.

“We suddenly heard a huge thud - we almost thought it was an earthquake and everything flew up in the air. The floor collapsed in one corner of the room and along the walls,” one of the those present told the Smålandsposten newspaper.

They abandoned the room as the floor started to give way in other areas.

“We are going to have to find a replacement premises,” Therese Levin, a consultant for Weight Watchers told the newspaper.

No one was injured in the incident, the cause of which is being investigated. The scales were not damaged and the weigh-in continued in a nearby corridor.

Amarok - hunting lone hunters

What’s in a name?  A lot if you consider how much energy the car and van makers of this world put into it.  The Volkswagen Amarok hits the British van market in 2010 and let’s face it, the name will mean nothing to you unless you’re hot on Inuit mythology - apparently Amarok is a mythological wolf that hunts and devours those stupid enough to hunt alone at night!

So, when you have a spare 5 minutes, stop and think.  If you had a brand new van to name, what would you call it?  My favourite would be the “Pygmacho stin koursa” - or, if you’re not familiar with the Greek language, quite simply “box on wheels” - I think that the pygmacho could catch on.  The “koursa” has perhaps been done by those fine people at Vauxhall.

Have a go - name a van!

What would Santa drive instead of the sleigh?

…an Aston Martin or a Bentley I think.  You must remember that Santa is a superstar.  The jolly red-suited man is up there with James Bond and Superman.  But this wouldn’t provide the load capacity needed. He must surely demand a mode of transport fit for such an iconic figure… a mode of transport that provides comfort for that belly like a bowl full of jelly….but one that can lug that sack of his.

However, if the recession has also hit the elves and reindeer, perhaps even Santa would make the sensible choice and drive a cheap van!  Of course if wouldn’t be any van - it’s Santa after all.  It would need to be a van offering suitable load carrying capabilities and aerodynamics - Rudolf and his crew aren’t as young as they used to be and the recession will probably mean fewer carrots left out by all the children!  The recession may also have meant that one or two of the reindeer have picked up their P45s as the solicitor firm of Elfman, Sleighman & Clauses complete the redundancy programme.

So what van would Vansdirect choose for Ol’ Nick?  Coca Cola would lead you to believe that the big-man would use a great big American articulated lorry, but this wouldn’t be a legal vehicle on the streets of Britain and the maneuverability would make those chimney stops almost impossible!

At the other end of the spectrum a small van, of the Citroen Nemo, Fiat Fiorino and Peugeot Bipper type, would probably offer the best handling in the market for all those city drop offs, but the size would limit either the number of presents he could deliver or simply mean every child would end up with only a satsuma.

A Transit sized van would seem the logical festive choice - it is to all intents and purposes the most popular sized van in the market.  But a transit sized van generally spells the end of aerodynamics and a higher cost per square metre of load space.  What’s more, if the van is fitted with a bulkhead, Santa’s visibility of the remaining presents would be restricted - how would he notice that little Johnny’s Go Go Hamster is still on board?!

A big van offers more value for money - perfect for our festive recession.  The Iveco Daily and Citroen Relay are particularly cheap at the moment.  But these monster vans suffer the same flaws as the Transit sized vans - poor aerodynamics - Dasher would end up changing his name to Stroller!

No, the perfect van would be a pick up.  A Nissan Navara or Mitsuishi L200.  Sleek, aerodynamic and with a load capacity equal to Santa’s sleigh.  What’s more, Santa could opt for the comfort of a leather interior and a built in Sat Nav to lead the way (just in case the Elf responsible for this map was also made redundant!).  What more could the white-bearded, mince-pie-eating, present-delivery man want?  Oh yes….he could increase the load capacity with roof-bars and attach the flying reindeer to the aggressive front grille styling.

So, if you don’t hear the bells of Santa’s sleigh this year, or if his chariot looks a little odd on the Norad tracker system, it’s probably because he’s traded it in.

Merry Christmas to all of Vansdirect’s customers, suppliers and staff.

And if you’ve figured out how to get a van under the tree, please let us know!!!

Vansdirect to make cheap vans easier to find

Vansdirect has gone to the drawing board again to make a cheap van search even easier.

The UKs largest independent van retailer has decided to revamp its already successful website in a bid to improve the van buyers’ experience.

The new Vansdirect site design will provide more van information including greater search results, more van deals per page and up to date van news.

Under new plans, the Vansdirect website will also list every make and model so that van buyers can compare vans more easily.  Unlike the current site, the new search results will include a listing of every van derivative; if you’re after a cheap Ford Transit, you’ll see the entire range listed.

Navigation and content are not the only areas to be considered.  The new Vansdirect site will also make enquiring about a new van that much easier.  Not only will the van buyer be able find their ideal cheap van in fewer clicks, but s/he will be able to enquire from any van page they land on.

Vansdirect is working in partnership with UiDigital on the design of the new website.  UiDigital will also build the new site inclusive of artwork and rendering.

Expect more news about the Vansdirect website soon.  In the meantime, you can visit www.vansdirect.co.uk to discover the latest cheap new vans for sale & why Vansdirect is the UK’s largest independent van retailer!

]]> http://www.vansdirectnews.com/vansdirect-to-ring-the-changes/feed/ http://www.vansdirectnews.com/a-renault-kangoo-but-may-not-want-to/ http://www.vansdirectnews.com/a-renault-kangoo-but-may-not-want-to/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:51:15 +0000 admin http://www.vansdirectnews.com/?p=873 Home Video Shames Renault Kangoo

Firstly, please remember that Vansdirect is a model workplace.  Not in the airfix sense and, perhaps not in the Management Handbook sense, but it is…. ok, it’s a typical workplace.  The staff at Vansdirect work hard and play hard but not even we have enough time on our hands to be this creative with a van.

If you’re not of a delicate disposition nor a lover of the great rhino, this van video is a must.  The Renault Kangoo is perhaps more robust than you ever imagined - although I don’t think this video is genuine testament to an actual unique selling point.  See the rest of this post to see the video….

Who would have thought than the Renault Kangoo van could be punished so.  To see the real Renault Kangoo van, why not visit the home of cheap new vans for sale - www.vansdirect.co.uk

I’ve neglected the Vansdirect.co.uk blog yet again… it’s been a month since my last post yet so much has happened in the van world.  Lord Mandelson has extended the scrappage scheme and, what’s more, for vans he’s reduced the age of the qualifying old banger from 10 to 8 years - good news for those manufacturers who are in the merde - perhaps not such great news for independent van retailer everywhere.

Has the government thought this scrappage scheme through I wonder?  It forces used car and van prices up - precluding those who can’t get finance from buying the standard of car or van they once could for a meagre fee.

It also acts as a crutch for inefficient companies - some manufacturers are selling off the back of this stunt yet they’re contribution towards the £2,000 has come from price increase after price increase.  Indeed some manufacturers have put their prices up no less than 3 times in the last 6 months - give £1,000 scrappage but charge £3,000 more than 12 months ago - that’s a good money earner.

And what about the independent van and car retailers out there?!  Overlooked?  Considered unimportant?  Deliberately pushed towards the scrap heap which is getting bigger every month?  Who know’s what Lord Mandelson and his Labour brethren were thinking.  The scheme places uneeded pressure on the independents and this squeeze needs to be considered.

Other News

LDV has finally sold off its assets.  A Chinese company has purchased the Midlands based van company (presumably for next to nothing) with a view of turning the historic brand into a niche van maker - reducing factory capacity to low volumes and hence requiring fewer people.  But, at least it will create or save 200 jobs.

Vansdirect.co.uk has yet again improved the look, feel and usability of its homepage and cheap vans content.  The Vansdirect.co.uk team have been hard at work installing new features such as the “slider” and the “cheap vans at a glance” navigation system.  Both are designed to help the van buyer find the cheap van they want in less time - and of course save them money!

The “Slider” sits neatly near the top of the homepage and simply rotates the week’s best deals.  These deals can range from the inaugural £99 cheap van deal to other offers such as cheap breakdown cover.  If you’re thinking of buying a van, start your tour of Vansdirect.co.uk by watching these adverts slide past your eyes and click on the one you want to read more about.

The “Cheap Vans at a Glance” feature collates most of the Vansdirect van deals in one place - easy to find and easy to search.  It simply presents the van buyer with a list of vehicles and the monthly price - simple.  Buying a cheap new van couldn’t be easier.

Also new to the Vansdirect.co.uk website, is the Vansdirect Discounts section - located in the bottom right panel of the homepage - follow the money pig.  Vansdirect.co.uk have collated the best sites to help you save money - be it from cheap van insurance to cheap loans, from breakdown cover to satellite navigation systems.

Vansdirect.co.uk has also reintroduced cars to the website.  Whilst Vansdirect may specialise in cheap vans, the discounts we secure from suppliers can also be applied to cars and thus, cheap cars can be found a click away from the best van deals in the UK.

Visit Vansdirect.co.uk today and discover why we’re the UK’s largest independent van retailer and the best place to find cheap vans for sale on the web!

Once again the Vansdirect office has been casting their eyes over the phenomenon that is the You Tube. And once again a gem of a van related video has been found starring the talents of Buster Keaton.  Without researching the video fully, we can only conclude that it’s an advert for Ford’s first medium or long wheel base van - the underpinning of the now famous Ford Transit.  Even if you’re not a fan of the Ford Transit van or Buster Keaton, it’s still worth watching this van video for the sheer delight of watching a lion drive a Ford van!

Enjoy…