Small quick and easy to operate, “the van” has become part of our lives in its many guises, from “tradies” to “people movers” and over all those years a few have stood out as the best. All brands are available but only a few have stayed the course for serious users. Toyota, Mercedes and VW are in a class of their own and the others just dont cut it over time.
Evolution has seen “van’s” get better, wider and more comfortable as users demanded and makers responded. From the early Hi-Ace, many of which are still going strong, to the latest, very plush examples, a new, better, safer, more versatile and more economic beast has graced our roads.
The 3 main manufacturers, Merceedes, VW and Toyota are head and shoulders above the rest, sure they cost a litle more to start with but they are engineered to last and perform well. From the van for suburben delveries and hard working “tradies” to comfy people movers they have evolved into something we see every day in huge numbers on our roads. Better materials, higher standards of production, comfort and economy all make driving a “van” as much of a joy as any car, and they lend themselves to conversion into campervans so well.
Evolution has seen them grow from basic vans to wider, longer, quieter creatures, 2WD and 4WD, or better called AWD,(pioneered by Audi and Subaru),automatic transmission and creaure comforts equal to or in some cases beter than some cars, thanks in part to the growth of the SUV market.
Always in the mind of designers is the need to fit into normal vehicle spaces such as garages, car ports, shopping centres, and city streets/trafic. So you see delivery vans, tradesmen, service people and Taxi companies using this vehicle more and more. The humble van has now grown to be the most popular thing around.
Freight by van, high tech service “Telco’s” the maxi taxi and plush family movers have taken over our streets, and an increasing number have found their way, new or later converted into weekend get away campers, such is the long life of these vehicles that they last the work day and find a new life as a fun, get away camper which allows us to explore this fabulous country. The range of fitouts covers every style of use from long term travel to short hop and even day use as a 4 or 5 seat “car and campervan” options, perfect for suburban users, 2 worlds in one.
Car makers are crafty, using a few parts to make many models, sharing engines and transmissions, developing flexible layouts. An example is the maxi taxi which grew from a 9 seat to the 11 plus luggage, it just got a little taller and wider.
A trade joke is “that you can even get Toyota parts at Woollies” and thats the secret of the best van available, because it shares its spare parts with a wide range of other Toyota’s from Hi Lux to the Prado, etc. Toyota go further, owning Lexus, means that a high level of comfort, plus quality soundproofing, upholstry and wood-trim makes a common van into a luxury vehicle.
Diesel v’s petrol is a timeless dilema, and even I’m not sure there is a simple answer, and I am a confessed diesel nut, but after a recent 11,000 km trip to the west, including outback NSW, the Nularbor, outback WA, Perth city and Margaret river/Ceduna then home via far west NSW and QLD I have to admit that taking cost of fuel, distance and range of terain there was little in it. The diesel which has grown from noisey old smokey thing into todays turbo, intercooled beauty has the life and grunt to go anywhere but as time has gone by new petrol engines have fabulous economy, power and city serenity so the choice is yours, and unless your a nut or do long range stuff then a low Kms petrol with its cost savings up front may be a better choice.
Given that proper manufacturers service has been done then both are great and the choice is more of a “boys thing”.
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