PANEL VANS AND CHASSIS TESTERS' CHOICE HAT HATO 10
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The trend to fit panel vans with increasingly powerful engines shows no signs of abating; witness the arrival of an updated Mercedes-Benz Sprinter this year with more than 150hp on tap. But last year began with a modest offering from Volkswagen—a Transporter with Bhp under the bonnet. Performance was still brisk, and we liked the nip and tuck of the short
wheelbase van. Gear change and handling were good and smooth and the welcoming cab also contributed to a comfortable, productive choice. It will be a winner with VW buyers who appreciate that undoubted build quality and high residuals (and are prepared to accept the list price that comes with thorn).
Then we tried out an LDV Pilot Pickup, from the no-frills end of the market. Plenty of people buy LDVs and get a good working life from them. The build quality might not be as good as some, and driving refinement might be turned down a notch or two, but they do the job.
For its gross vehicle weight the Pilot carried a useful load, if slowly—maximum speed arrived very soon after 70mph. Our test vehicle also came with an excellent Ingimex dropside body, adding up to a rugged-feeling unit. It's certainly a sensible buy as long as you're not in a hurry.
From the basic mechanics of the LDV we went to the cutting-edge technology of the Mercedes-Benz Vito 11201. The latest common-rail engine certainly gave the Vito a new lease of life from the under-powered range launched in 1996. Driving comfort and performance were high and fuel figures excellent thanks to the high-tech fuel delivery system. The cute-looking Vito came with a pair of sliding side doors which was a boon, but it also had the lightest capacity and smallest payload of anything we tried our hand at last year.
The Transit 154) Custom turned out to be the last of the old versions of this legendary bast seller to come our way. As a short-wheelbase, lowroof version with uprated axles it was a strange combination of high payload and small volume. A new.
more powerful charge-cooled engine produced solid fuel figures, making this a productive animal.
We had reservations about the response of the electronic throttle, however. which, according to some drivers, caused this Transit to lurch forward through traffic.
Transporters come in all shapes and sizes, but the Razorback conversion is still something completely different. With a load space lowering to the ground, this Australian design has the potential to be a seriously handy working tool in a range of applications. And an eye-catching one at that, the Razorback getting more than its fair share of glances from other commercial drivers and other sundry passers-by.
Load volume is cut down a little, but the Razorback is still able to carry a tonne and gave good fuel returns to boot. Braking power, particularly the handbrake, were slightly compromised and acceleration was curbed, but that's r tea much to ask for something so uniqi Our third and final Volkswagen oft year was also the biggest: an 1135 wi new variable-geometry turbocharg technology. This worked very well. Tur whine and lag were both minimised a it left the IT with plenty of torque. Ft economy was perhaps a little down the competitors, and gear changi was on the clunky side, but the I majored on practicality with a decen sized load bay hauling a good weig around the Kent route.
Driving position is uncomfortat for some, but otherwise the cab a build is what you'd expect from a V While Mercedes-Benz is updating i Sprinter cab (including a das mounted gear lever). Volkswagen h; no immediate plan to facelift the LT.
Talking of facelifts. the latest Fl Ducat° immediately impressed us wi its new cab. Bigger windows with dropped lower edge give greater visib ity and increase the feeling of airines Payload remains on a par with tl competition while the Ducato's load ye ume remains as cavernous as ever. 11 Fiat also impressed us out on the rot and gave a good account of itself at tl track in the speed and handling stake The Vito's common-rail technolcn impressed us, but it was let dov slightly by a small load area and capai fty. The Transit, beefy as it was. lacki refinement and is beginning to get a t long in the tooth (hence the new versii which hits the street this year).
The IT and the Transporter did tl business but didn't stand out. Ti Razorback, while undeniably innovativ was a little too specialised to take tl prize. Many operators will tell you btr ing an WV is money well spent, but ti bare nuts and bolts feel of the Pilot wi too much for us in the final reckonin
Meanwhile, the drawbacks em associated with the Ducato hal largely disappeared. Fiat has made as pleasurable a place to spend the dt as the rest of the vans on the marke Allied to its good handling and unti! puted productivity, the Fiat is th year's Testers' Choice for panel van by Peter Lawton