INDUSTRYNEWS
Offering a solid performance
Last month, Clearview’s sister publication, trade counter newspaper, PRO Installer,
took a Fiat Doblo out for a spin, courtesy of Barnsley Commercial Sales, and reported
back on the various pros and cons. Here’s what they had to say about it…
»»THE VAN WE’RE DRIVING IS A 2013
Fiat Doblo 16V Multijet SWB (1.2 diesel),
being offered at £4,495 plus VAT. Mileage is
64,961 and the van has had one owner. The
vehicle is a plylined five-speed manual diesel
with central locking, driver’s airbag, electric
windows, CD player, and power assisted
steering.
The van is immaculate inside and although
the cabin ambience is somewhat heavy with
all the hard, dark plastic trim material, it does
look tough and hardwearing.
PROS
• Car-like driving characteristics
• Punchy diesel engine
• Terrific value and fun to drive
• Plenty of usable space
CONS
• Boxy shape will not win beauty contests
• Road and wind noise at higher speeds
• Slightly sluggish in lower gears
The 1.2 diesel engine is fantastic, with fuel
economy reckoned to be around 58 miles per
gallon. Like Peugeot’s Partner and Citroen’s
Berlingo, the Doblo is a small van that is a
shrewd buy for those seeking practicality over
performance.
It is surprisingly good to drive and at
moderate speeds feels agile and reassuringly
rugged. The engine is refreshingly quiet on
start-up and retains that unless given some
welly on the revs. It delivers plenty of pull but
body lean is marked at higher speeds and the
boxy shape can kick up some wind roar on
faster roads.
The down to earth Doblo is unashamedly
utility-based and certainly not gadget laden
but it is a comfortable ride. There is plenty of
headroom and elbowroom and a good level of
support in the seats, which are raised for easy
access.
The Doblo drives more like a car than a
van and has solid brakes, weighty, responsive
steering and, in typical van style, generously
sized door mirrors. Everything feels like it is
built to be durable.
6 » JUL 2016 » CL EARVI E W- U K . C O M
That solidity can be a challenge though if
you’re flagging after a long day – the rear doors
do require a sizeable pull to shut.
Overall though, the plentiful numbers
of the Doblo in the commercial sector are
something of an endorsement in themselves.
A modest vehicle that won’t cost the earth to
run and should hold a good proportion of its
value.
BARNSLEY COMMERCIAL SALES
The business is at Wakefield Road, Barnsley,
and supplies everything from a small van to a
double cab tipper. Prices range from £3,000
to £20,000 but the company offers finance to
suit most budgets. It deals in many ex-local
authority vehicles.
General Manager, Wayne England, known
for his humorous vehicle adverts, runs the
business that has been going for 11 years. It
has nine staff and two branches in Barnsley,
one in town and one in Mapplewell. There are
usually between 80 and 100 vehicles for sale
at any given time and 340 vehicles in stock.
The company prides itself on its prepping of
vehicles, done to the highest standards.
Most customers are self-employed people
and among the most popular purchases is the
Transit medium wheel base with a semi high
roof.