Versatility highlighted by all-wheel drive
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THE TRANSIT range has dominated the medium van market for many years and although the sales figures for May are 44 per cent down on last May, Ford's evergreen will soon bounce back in the charts.
County Commercial Cars has highlighted the van's versatility by carrying out the four-wheel drive conversion unit. This has been so successful that while the management has been battling it out with the Receiver, the workshop this year has been steadily producing around three per week.
Although the Transit County that we tested was a basic van body, it did have a full width glazed partition which separated the cab from the body. This reduced the noise and the draughts, which when operating in remote areas in the depths of winter becomes a useful feature.
Around our light van route the Transit gave a typically smooth performance over the early motorway section at least until it reached the climb over Kingsdown. Here the speed fell back gradually to 85km/h (54mph) still in fourth gear.
It struggled a little up the Reigate Hill climb (clear for once, of sand-laden tippers) having to drop into second gear at the steepest gradient on the hill.
The winding country roads between Eynford and Redhilt illustrated the difference in ride between the conventional Transit and the conversion model. County fits the stronger Type 100 multileaf springs with heavy-duty telescopic dampers and Aeon pads which combine to give a stiffer, less flexible ride over the even surfaces. It also had a slight tendency to understeer when coming out of corners.
Excessive transmission noise became evident around this part of the route, but at speeds over 64km/h (40mph) disappeared completely.
On our cross country section the Transit really excelled itself, it was equally at home on the gravelly alpine tracks as in the treacherous deep-rutted water holes.
Around the alpine section, the County was driven very hard in deed and although it was unladen, rapid gear changes and careful use of the accelerator enabled the vehicle to negotiate the tough gradients.
On several occasions at speed dne the front end dropped into deep holes in the track but in every instance the well-sprung front suspension and the steering damper reduced the reaction felt through the steering to a minimum.
Loose gravel was the major problem particularly on the twisting climbs, but despite this, the Transit, with its 205x16 Michelin XMS radials, showed no signs of losing its grip.
County fits a very large orange warning light to the left of the steering column and below the control panel. This is to let you know that your four-wheel drive is engaged. Unfortunately, it wriggled out of its mounting bracket and developed an intermittent fault.
The floor-mounted four-wheel drive lever is slightly lower than the gear lever, but is conveniently positioned and sturdy enough for the heavy-handed. In the muddy lagoons, the Transit clawed its way through, with the electrics remaining unaffected. The high driving position provided good all-round vision until it came to climbing off the top of the steep ridges when all one could see was the blue sky. The Transit County's brakes are unchanged from the standard disc and drum arrangement. Once again there was no lacking of performance with the vehicle pulling up quickly and efficiently under nearly all conditions. Only the loose chippings occasionally caused problems. Apart from the slightly higher than normal, climb up to the driving seat it was a comfortable drive with stalk and panel switches handily placed. County has chosen well in the type of vehicle which suits its all-wheel drive conversion. The Transit is not just a top seller but a top class performer too, and makes a formidable all-terrain load carrier.