Cheap van insurers take wraps off SportVan

Cheap as chips van insurers' Vancover.co.uk are almost proud to present Ford's new horse and cart. Vancover.co.uk are the cheap van insurers who cheap van insurance fans can rely on to tell you it how it is. For Vancover.co.uk the 'it' is usually Vancover's incredibly cheap van insurance obviously, as that's what Vancover.co.uk is all about. However sometimes, Vancover.co.uk's 'it' is something more worrying. Stepping over their cheap van insurance for a mo, Vancover.co.uk brings cheap van insurance purchasers something they may, or may not be interested in. The Ford Fiesta SportVan. Vancover.co.uk sent round one of their cheap van insuring reporters to see what all the fuss is about..

Cars can convey as much information about their owners as dogs do. This is not as daft as it may sound. Take for example the Smart Crossblade. Their owners were brought to your attention as 'people keen to express this brave new take on motoring'. Although this message was often lost completely, and nine times out of ten misinterpreted as 'people who admired other people's bottoms of the same gender'. Described as both entertaining and cute, albeit in a peculiar way, it was also supposed to be durable and versatile. Then again, so is Fern Britten - and not everyone would want to be seen out in her.

The same might be said of Fords new spawn. The Fiesta SportVan? Now, for the love of God - what is this supposed to be? And just what will it say about its owner? I haven't quite worked out whether it's a workmanlike van, toying with the notion of cruising when its not carting tools around, or a footloose and fancy-free hot hatch, feeling pangs of guilt for not being a little more useful in the hearts and small minds of the tools its carting around?

Gary Whittam, Commercial Vehicles Director at Ford adds his two-penneth; "The new Fiesta SportVan has been developed to meet the needs of drivers who want more car-like performance, style and fun, in combination with the practicality and durability of the fiesta van". What this waffle actually means to you and I is this. White van man meets boy racer. Plain and simple. Which means traffic lights are going to be a whole new battleground.

Gary also rabbits on ten to the dozen about; "..The small delivery van market is buoyant, thanks to a growing trend toward image - conscious customers". Really Gary ? So you asked for feedback from the City and Guilds qualified, Burberry-skinned future of small trades. Content with your measured response of "Ug"; you then set about putting this extensive research into practice and developed the SpannerVanT. Inspired.

Due to go on sale across Europe by the tail end of the year, on closer examination it does appear to be nearly socially acceptable however. Powered by Ford's nothing if not perksome 1.6litre (89bhp-producing) 90PS 204Nm Duratorq TDCi diesel engine means, in layman's terms, not a lot. Although when best describing the exact make, model, sub model, sub, sub model to insurers you'll find will take a while. Worth it though, seeing as the irksome little chariot boasts the acclaimed Durashift 5-speed manual transmission. So, you have both Duratorq and Durashift housed in a comedy-practical vehicle that by rights looks as though Duracell should battery operate it.

That said, the famed bunny-propeller couldn't muster the 150 Ibs-ft of torque Ford does that readily enables you to make suitable progress, when weighed down by a particularly heavy spanner in the back.

Body coloured (Whether the body be coloured Colorado red, Panther black, Moondust silver or Diamond white - which I thought was a shit tarts beverage?) front and rear sport bumpers, 12 spoke 16" alloys snugly fitted-out in 195/45 R16 rubber, tapered body-side mouldings and a discreet rear spoiler - says all that needs to be said about the driver. If still not entirely convinced, then an all-knowing glance at its high-intake front grille and sports fog lamps should confirm all initial fears.

Dark pewter and ebony gunmetal are the stylish themes that continue inside with sports front seats, a sports leather gear knob, leather-encased sports steering wheel (With silver spokes - Yabba dabba doo!) and for those still wanting more; there's a sports option pack offering apprentice plumbers - sports air-conditioning, sports MP3 connectivity, a heated sports front windscreen and electrically operated and warmed sports door mirrors.

Saved at the bell by what's doubtless a mightily impressive load carrying capacity, the SportVan does have many advantages over its rivals in this market-shifting class. And, whatsmore, on the plus side, it's not a Punto van.

So there you go cheap van insurance fans - just when you thought it was safe to venture out back on the roads, Vancover.co.uk give you cause for concern. At least something Vancover.co.uk's cheap van insurance doesn't do. Unlike say, a SportVan, Vancover.co.uk's cheap van insurance will make you a very happy chappy out on the road, why not call Vancover.co.uk today and find out why...

Date - 21/09/2006