New vans

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 16 Feb 2016, 19:43

My Vauxhall died and no written off 57 plate but done me proud,what van next ? Fiat,Peugeot???

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 16 Feb 2016, 19:55

We had a small batch of Peugeot Partner vans in 2014, but they brought in a whole fleet of petrol Fiat Doblo Professionals for the entire office end of last year. So presumably RM have done a deal with Fiat instead.

The Fiat is a good van but it's a lot bigger than the combi and as such people can't drive them well, some of ours are already looking scraped and battered which is a joke considering they're 65 plates.

arnold cheshire · Post by **arnold cheshire** » 16 Feb 2016, 20:49

Peugeot partners

CAMPINGBLUNDERER · Post by **CAMPINGBLUNDERER** » 16 Feb 2016, 21:04

Partners last for circa 20,000 miles before they start falling to bits , under trays falling off , abs issues , doors not shutting , seats wearing through , brake pads needing to be changed.

We must of been given them by Peugeot , no way you would pay good money.

Still at least we didn't get Fiats

arnold cheshire · Post by **arnold cheshire** » 16 Feb 2016, 21:25

Peugeot expert

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 16 Feb 2016, 21:37

CAMPINGBLUNDERER wrote:Partners last for circa 20,000 miles before they start falling to bits , under trays falling off , abs issues , doors not shutting , seats wearing through , brake pads needing to be changed.

We must of been given them by Peugeot , no way you would pay good money.

They develop and retain bad odours in the cab I found as well. Ones used on rurals are positively honking.

Not to mention if you're taller than 5'9 then the French make no provision for you in their design ...

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 16 Feb 2016, 21:41

arnold cheshire wrote:Peugeot expert

Is diabolical, hand brake on right hand side? How'd that get past H&S.

Pompey Boy · Post by **Pompey Boy** » 16 Feb 2016, 23:13

In my time at RM Ford Transits have been far and away the best vehicles, but I guess they are too expensive now

Post by **bustedflush** » 16 Feb 2016, 23:37

Vauxhall combi best ever, Quick, legroom effective turbo and good doors, bomb-proof.

FIATs are crap. Failed Italian Automotive Technology. And they look gay.

Puggotts. Don't get me started!

Lack of legroom.
Tiny in back.
Side Doors fall off.
Irritating handbrake b*tch despite already applying it.
Radio is crap.
Acceleration of Vanessa Feltz
Gearboxes start getting noisy then fail.
Steer like pigs.

Can't they try VW next time?

toomuchcoke · Post by **toomuchcoke** » 17 Feb 2016, 09:58

norm wrote:The Fiat is a good van but it's a lot bigger than the combi and as such people can't drive them well, some of ours are already looking scraped and battered which is a joke considering they're 65 plates.

They also have a much larger turning circle than either the Combis or Partners, which doubtless doesn't help on the scrapes and dents front.

I take it's also the case at your office that (if you've got a mixed fleet) it's the Fiats that have the worst collection of dents, scrapes and bashes? We've got something like 25 vans, with just a few Combis left (which to be honest just look old and well-used) and probably a roughly even split of the rest between Dublos and Partners. Just a couple of the Partners have noticeable damage, and then you have to go and look for it whereas it seems like almost all the Fiats have large dents.

It does seem to me that the RM doesn't really have any kind of plan when it comes to van purchases. We have effectively three sizes of vans - Combi/Bipper, Dublo/Partner and Transit/Vivaro - but there doesn't seem to be any logic to what size van gets put on each round. We used to have Combis going out totally wedged on shared van duties whilst extended length Partners got put on rurals that didn't get many packets!

There's also that interesting detail where they replaced Combis which you could drive at up to 60mph on normal roads with Dublos which you can only drive at up to 50mph, and yet the duty remained the same size ... So either the round was small before, or it's too big now!

DB1100 · Post by **DB1100** » 17 Feb 2016, 16:18

"Vauxhall combi best ever, Quick, legroom effective turbo and good doors, bomb-proof."
Good for a single duty,no good for P&L as they are way too small,hard for the passenger to get in and out of when parked next to a high kerb,hard to work out the side door for the same reason,rear door stays are very poor quality.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 17 Feb 2016, 17:34

I don't care what van I drive.....provided it's a newer design with the higher seats. Unlike the Combos which I considered far too low for shorties let alone for lanky Posties. I know several Tall Posties that left due to back problems.

The newer designs seem to be designed as a van....instead of a bodged Corsa! It's great to just open the door swing your legs and stand up!

Unfortunately you have to put up with that Bloody Repetitive Handbrake warning!

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 17 Feb 2016, 19:44

toomuchcoke wrote:
norm wrote:The Fiat is a good van but it's a lot bigger than the combi and as such people can't drive them well, some of ours are already looking scraped and battered which is a joke considering they're 65 plates.
They also have a much larger turning circle than either the Combis or Partners, which doubtless doesn't help on the scrapes and dents front.

I take it's also the case at your office that (if you've got a mixed fleet) it's the Fiats that have the worst collection of dents, scrapes and bashes? We've got something like 25 vans, with just a few Combis left (which to be honest just look old and well-used) and probably a roughly even split of the rest between Dublos and Partners.

We've got all Fiats, so can't really compare.All I know is people can't drive for s*** in our place. I drove one of the Fiats all through December and it came back in the same condition as when I first took it over. Other people's vans they drive the front wheels alongside the kerbs destroying the hub caps, take them too tight through corner scraping the rear arches, get any number of dents in the back.

When you think our vans are one of the most public facing parts of the brand, seeing a 65 plate van bashed up makes us look like complete amateurs.

bluealbert · Post by **bluealbert** » 17 Feb 2016, 20:05

New vans I should be so lucky

170,000 miles my vans falling apart vans are a disgrace

I see all our competitors driving around in new vehicles . RM cutbacks disgrace

therailway · Post by **therailway** » 18 Feb 2016, 05:33

Yours is only just run in. Mercedes Sprinter on RM Relay 332000 miles on a 10 plate and still doing 2000 miles a week. Don't look too pretty though!