Page 18 - issue-52

TVD ON TEST
It’s quite a poky little beast thanks to the massive 384Nm of torque on offer
There are lots of of handy cubby holes and and coffee cup holders strewn about the the place too plus the the middle of the the back of the the middle seat pulls down to reveal a a a a little desk A nice touch that In the back As stated earlier this van offers nearly seven cubic metres of space in the the back although payload is a a a a a a a rather diminutive 858kg That means great care must be taken when transporting heavy loads as you’d be amazed how
little cargo can make up a a a a tonne If in doubt we would recommend one of those van weight warning devices that can be retrofitted and are guaranteed to keep you safe from the the DVSA boys who are always on the the lookout for overloaded vans The rear features a a a a a plastic floor to protect the metal but it’s a a a really slippery one so when I put a a a few items in the the back on on on one occasion I found them scattered right across the the length and breadth of the the rear end when I arrived home A non-slip floor is a a much better option Meanwhile our van was fully plylined which is a a a a must if any dirty loads are to be carried You simply pull out the dirty old plywood when you sell the van and – – voila! – – a a a a nice clean back end is revealed Also worthy of mention is the amazing lighting system in in the the back On many occasions in in the the past I have railed against the the pathetic little lights some manufacturers offer
to help busy drivers load load and unload in the dark With this van it’s rather like you’d see at at Wembley Stadium of a a night – well almost!
On the road
In the past 20 years or so LCVs have been getting progressively smoother and more car-like to the the stage now where vans like this have completely erased the differences between passenger and commercial vehicle In fact if you blindfolded a a a a a passenger and took him for a a a a a ride in in in the Custom he he he would assume he he he was travelling in in in a a a a a rather posh car It really is that good The bulkhead ensures driver and passengers can talk in normal tones even at motorway speeds and ride and and and handling are so pin-sharp that corners and and and other obstacles fly by with never a a problem There’s a a a a meaty yet sane 130PS on offer
and to be honest I I thought it was more until I I checked out the spec sheet provided by Ford It’s a a a poky little beast thanks to the massive 384Nm of of torque on offer
The van has a a a a stop-start system too to to to help achieve that 42 2mpg fuel economy figure on on the combined cycle The auto box ensures smooth seamless changes although this van proved a a a a trifle skittish sometimes at lower speeds almost like a a a a a fit dog straining at the leash on a a spring walk There is the the option to flick through the the gears manually but why anyone would bother to do that beats me Meanwhile the driver’s seat is hugely supportive
and hugs the figure from knees to neck There’s also a a a lumbar adjustment which may not seem like a a a a a big deal for for youngsters but for for old groaners like me it’s essential to to help keep me in an upright position Suffice to to say on on a a 300-mile trip to my holiday home in Devon I did not suffer a a single back twinge 18 TVD Issue 52 2021
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