My experience as a white van man for a day

[neilrr]

"Ergo" is not a word used much by WVM.

 

[DITTRICH]

Any discussion or theorising about white van man is pointless as their logic and behaviour defies definition and rational explanation in MB driver terms.
To be honest, driving in London, I actually prefer to be up and about early as all the trades and professionals are commuting into the centre. They are far faster and predictable compared to the dawdling that occurs at other times.

 

[br0ke]

I've been informed that due to travelling more than 10k business miles a year, I'm a high risk driver and the company has a responsibility to ensure that they supply me with a vehicle that they deem safe enough for such a risky activity.
That means the Merc may have to go and I get a white van to thrash to death.

So now, instead of CC at 65 on the mway and wafting along everywhere with a smooth auto gearbox and not a care, I'll be restricted to the top speed of the engine and have to drive it like I'm in a race no one else knows about.

Not entirely convinced that it is safer, but the powers that be deem it so....

or maybe they just want more control of the little people

 

[BTB 500]

So now, instead of CC at 65 on the mway and wafting along everywhere with a smooth auto gearbox and not a care, I'll be restricted to the top speed of the engine

Ask for a Vito 122.

 

[finisterre]

my 79 bhp vito has a proper fast front end. It gets stuck up the bum of pretty much every other type of vehicle. Weirdly, the rear end is slow as fuk. It pulls out in front of innocent drivers pootling along and basically does a parking impression. Honestly. The bloody thing is a nightmare to drive.

 

[Rory]

So 120 miles and 4 incidents,

I hired one and drove about the same distance, from Chester to Nottingham and back, and never had a moments problem with other drivers.

I ordered a standard Transit but got a long wheel-base mid height one, which was slightly daunting. It was also completely unmarked, apart from several windscreen chips. Insurance excess was £1000 but they offered to waive it for £3 something - how much of a no-brainer is that?!

I was amazed how fast it was, kept up with 70ish motorway traffic no problem.

Despite the utmost care, I managed to catch the edge of a fence and nudge a tree while reversing. The fence put a slight crease in one of the lower body panels.

Driving through side-streets in Nottingham to and from daughter's student house was a nightmare due to cars parked both sides - I could only do it with the mirrors folded in and there were liteerally mm's to spare at times.

The on the trip home a great big stone appeared from nowhere and I watched it loop through the air and smash into the top of the screen, making a star.

As we were about the rejoin the M6 North at J15 I could see it was at standstill, so it was handly to be able to turn around over the sliproad central reservation - not something I could have done in a car!

On return they became so focused on the new chip in the screen that they didn't notice the damage on the side anyway, but said the excess waiver didn't cover the screen. So had a medium sized argument about that as it had been marked on the sheet as already having damage. In the end they let it go.

 

[stevieb15]

Our fleet comprises of Crafters, Ivecos and a residual Sprinter, all LWB Hi-Roof and I rarely hear of any issues with other road users. I drove from Leek to Rickmansworth and back again yesterday in a sea of tranquility save for the idiocy of numerous middle lane hoggers who always seem surprised when their junction suddenly leaps out at them.

 

[Meldrew2]

I've been informed that due to travelling more than 10k business miles a year, I'm a high risk driver and the company has a responsibility to ensure that they supply me with a vehicle that they deem safe enough for such a risky activity...............

Therefore, a Mercedes saloon with all the modern electronic stability devices, crumple zones and airbags sounds eminently suitable and far safer than any goods vehicle.

 

[BTB 500]

Therefore, a Mercedes saloon with all the modern electronic stability devices, crumple zones and airbags sounds eminently suitable and far safer than any goods vehicle.

Nice try but a Vito has all of those!

Not sure of the current spec. but ours has brake assist too, and aircon, cruise control, good seating (adjustable lumbar support, armrests, etc.), decent stereo, parktronic, auto lights and wipers, etc.

 

[mct_cars]

I do a lot of motorway driving and the rules of the road are really simple.

Car drivers hate van drivers for driving like idiots. Car drivers hate Lorries for driving too slow. Van drivers hate lorry drivers for the same reasons, and hate car drivers for having the ability to drive like idiots at faster speeds than they.
Lorry drivers hate van drivers slightly less than car drivers and have all the power when it comes to holding people up. Lorry drivers are happy everyone else isn't.

Going into the macro psychology of car drivers, mid brand drivers hate the premium brand drivers because they are more successful. Budget brand drivers don't hate anyone. They're nice people just trying to get somewhere without being killed by any of the above.

You could go into the micro psychology of premium brand drivers too. BMW drivers hate the Mercedes drivers because they are smug. BMW drivers also hate Audi drivers for thinking they are in a premium brand car but aren't. That and they are envious of the cool indicators and DLR's that they couldn't afford to spec on their cars. Mercedes drivers hate the BMW drivers as they have youth. They hate the Audi drivers for being poor. Audi drivers hate everyone.

I think that about sums it up, although I think the two Ronnie's did a better job.

 

[MCFastybloke]

Dickheads can drive anything,but they are still dickheads