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MARCH 2016 PRO INSTALLER
PRO MOTORING
www.proinstaller.co.uk
PEUGEOT VAN PROVES
A SOLID PARTNER
VANS are an installer’s best – or worst –
friend. Here we introduce a new feature
looking at the pros and cons of various
vans on the market. We’re taking them
out for a road test and checking out all
the good and bad bits. This month it’s
the Peugeot Partner. Thanks to Barnsley
Commercial Sales who lent us the vehicle.
The van we’re driving is a
2012 Peugeot Partner 1.6
HDi S costing £5,995. The vehicle is a five speed manual
diesel with central locking,
electric windows, side loading door, driver airbag, power
assisted steering, CD player
and electric mirrors. Our
model is an immaculately
clean ply lined panel van.
PROS
• The Partner excels in ride comfort with or without a load on
board
• Very decent though not spectacular performance
• Plentiful storage options
to 850 kg. I liked it. It may not be
the most refined or well-equipped
as some of its rivals (the main
ones being the Citroen Berlingo
and Fiat Doblo Cargo van) but it’s
a smooth-riding and economical
van.
The power comes from the Peugeot Citroen 1.6 HDi diesel offered
in 75bhp, 92bhp and 100 bhp
guises. The 100 bhp benefits from
Peugeot’s latest Euro6 compliant
BlueHDi technology plus a stopstart system to save more fuel. Any
drivers wanting an automatic can
add the six-speed electronically
controlled Peugeot ETG automated
transmission as an option – but it’s
an expensive one.
CONS
• Electric window switches were
hard to find – on the dash rather
than the doors
• Cab could be a little cramped if
you’re over six foot tall
• Steel bulkhead can inhibit load
space
‘The 100 bhp benefits
from Peugeot’s latest
Euro6 compliant
BlueHDi technology’
I nearly didn’t get the van out of
the garage as a punter approached
before I set off, wanting a look
round it. As I was sitting in the
driving seat he told me he wanted
to carry machinery and felt he
needed a long wheel base instead.
He was impressed with the side
loading door though, but slightly
disappointed when he opened
it up and saw the load space of
3.3/3.7m.
“I think that bulkhead would
make it difficult for me to get in
what I wanted,” he said. But he
still didn’t walk away. It depends
what you’re carrying but the
Partner could be great for many
self-employed in the light commercial market with its payload of up
Those choosing the more powerful diesel vans can order Peugeot’s
ATV grip control package – designed to give the Partner mild
off-road ability without the fuel
costs of a full-blown four-wheel
drive system.
The softness in my Partner’s
suspension did produce a bit more
body roll through the corners
than the Fiat Doblo but, as other
reviewers have pointed out, that’s
a compromise that many will happily make.
People buying this van may
not be doing loads of motorway
travel as it could become noisy
and strained at motorway speeds
partly due to the manual gearbox
only having five ratios.
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,
well-known for writing his own
entertaining vehicle adverts, joked:
“People have been known to say
‘ it’s council-owned so has hardly
done any work’.”
The business has been going
11 years, 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.
Wayne said: “We prep to the highest standard, even a 55-plate Transit will be prepped perfectly.”
The company’s biggest customer
is self-employed people and the
most popular purchase is a Transit
medium wheel base with a semi
high roof. Wayne said: “Customers
say it’s more what the van can do
for them, they’re not fussy about
the type but want to know, for
example, how much will it carry
legally?”
www.barnsleyvansales.com