The Ford Transit: The King of Vans

In the world of light commercial vehicles there is one model that has proved to be so popular that it has entered the lexicon as a description for itself. The Ford Transit has been part of the British way of life for over 40 years now, so it's testament to Ford's technical and engineering knowhow that they are still developing it, refining it and making it interesting, even now. Vans are never going to be overwhelmingly exciting or provide unforgettable driving experiences, but there is something about van driving that is so traditional and...well... undeniably British. White van men practically clog the roads from 9 AM on a Monday to 6 PM on a Friday in this country, so it makes sense that they have a decent vehicle to operate in. The Ford Transit is that vehicle.

There are plenty of alternatives on the market, but none seem to have permeated the British imagination quite as effectively as the Transit. Vauxhall's Movano and Vivaro are perfectly serviceable vehicles, as is Peugeot's Boxer, but none can seem to wrestle the mantle from Ford. So what exactly is it that started the public's enduring love affair with the Transit?

Even from its initial British inception way back in 1965, the Transit caught the imagination of the self-employed business man/manual worker. The larger, American-style wheelbase ensured a higher carrying capacity than any of the nearest rivals. The Essex V4 Petrol engine ensured reliability and good performance. The reputation had been cemented and the Transit has landed!

These days the Transit is still renowned for its unrivalled reliability and ease of use. The short wheelbase Transit ensures that manoeuvrability around towns and cities is not only easy, but dangerously close to fun. The medium wheelbase provide that extra length (and optional height increase) for those who need that bit more capacity. The long wheelbase is for heavy duty use, without compromising on handling or performance.

The driving experience of the Transit is further improved by the spacious, ergonomic interiors that come equipped with high spec technology to make sitting in the Transit's cabin a very pleasurable experience rather than a chore. The dash-mounted gear stick also ensures you can fit maximum passengers in.

So being the market leader for 40 years, you would expect Ford to capitalise on their reputation by jacking up prices, but this isn't the case at all. With prices starting at £14,786 (exc vat) Ford have made their quality product affordable for new self-started businesses or for larger companies to vastly increase their fleets at a reasonable cost.

The Ford Transit combines excellent quality, impressive capacity, remarkable reliability and all at a very reasonable price. It's really not that difficult to understand how the Transit has maintained its reputation over such an extensive period of time. What is difficult to comprehend is how any of Ford's competitors are going to top the Transit and still keep an affordable price-tag. In my considered opinion the Ford Transit is going to retain its stranglehold on the light commercial vehicle market for many years to come.