DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
ADDS SPORTY STYLE TO ITS FABLED WORKHORSE
An injection of character and a host of driver aids dramatically change the character and capability of Ford’ s venerable Transit Custom
White-van Man.
My childhood memories of British and German heists on the telly always had a white Ford Transit involved, regardless of the caper and try as I might I couldn’ t get that term out of my head during the recent launch of the Ford Transit Custom Sport wherein we had the pleasure of transporting charity equipment across the country in Ford’ s new addition to the Transit workhorse range.
The Transit has a decades-long history of rugged dependability and has been the go-to choice of tradesmen worldwide but how would a range of upgrades that push the humble Ford’ s pricing into Mercedes Vito territory be justified and would its capability and appeal broaden with it?
First impressions were a bit mixed as go-faster stripes and subtle sporty additions to a delivery van are seemingly at odds but after a while it all made sense as one needs to look at the type of buyer that is the target for this car.
If you’ re a tradesman who uses his van for work during the week, which the low loading height and ample space available make a breeze, as well as loadingup gear for fun on the weekend then it’ s actually ideal, with a dash of character added to the mix.
The seats and gearbox were surprisingly impressive, especially considering they aren’ t usually considered glamorous features. Spending long hours driving on a 1,000 + kilometer journey in varying conditions, I found the driver aids invaluable for reducing fatigue and stress. While the interior isn’ t luxurious, it’ s comfortable and practical, with the seats preventing the aches and pains I typically experience. Overall, I’ d highly recommend investing in the additional driver aids for a safer and more comfortable driving experience.
As I mentioned, supremely and surprisingly comfortable seating and position mean that being on the road day-in and day-out is a pleasure while possibly the best Ford gearbox to date means that shifts are as close to seamless as one can get and I wasn’ t able to“ catch it out” once during our trip.
Comfortable, rugged, spacious and safe, what more could you ask for? Ford has ticked all the boxes with this one, the kiff racing stripes included.
www. abrbuzz. co. za 25 MARCH 2025