Scrum movers

The members of the first-team scrum at Voortrekker High School
who helped to rate the people movers currently on sale.
Front: Zako, Francois, Wynand, Bouwer, Aubrey.
 Locks: ‘Omo’ Mondré and Jason. Eighthman Bandisaaption

Rugby parents who have to transport half a squad used to have only the VW Kombi and the Mercedes-Benz Vito to choose from. 

Then Nissan, Renault and Opel introduced a badge-engineered van — now only on sale as the Opel Vivaro — and Hyundai shook the market with its H1. 

The arrival of the Ford Transit Torneo then spoilt the rugby dad for choice, while Nissan’s seven-seater MV200 cut through the bigger vans like a sevens player to add to the confusion.

All these vans have the latest in music-playing connectivity, air bags, disk brakes with ABS, at least seven seats and bigger-than-normal boots. 

While the warranties differ, the parts not excluded in the fine print are about the same and all have 15 000 km service intervals. 

To help pick a player from the bunch, we asked the first-team’s pack from Voortrekker High for their views on the scrum movers currently on sale in PMB.

THE Hyundai H1 2,5 VGT nine-seater bus automatic did not impress the teenager players with its looks or its narrow, moulded arm rests, but it did gulp down all their bags in the cavernous boot and — crucially — the dealer was on hand to drop the players back at the Voortrekker hostel. This before-sales commitment may help to explain why there are so many H1 vans seen on SA’s roads. 

The long Korean 2,5 turbo diesel also offers the most torque among the four contestants, (392 Nm between 2 000 and 2 500 rpm), a roof that is 1 925 cm high so that it fits under most garage doors, a payload of 1 018 kg, and it is beaten in price only by the smaller seven-seater Nissan NV200. The price includes automatic transmission. The style gurus in the scrum had to admit that while the H1 is not an impact player on the eyes, it does have a work rate worthy of Bismarck du Plessis.

After the Korean, the Ford Transit impressed the front row with its space, the flankers with its ease of entry and the locks with its head room. That head room can, however, create problems in the average garage, as the roof is 2 020 centimetres high, unladen.

The Transit offers a good median in price and space. It costs R20 000 more than the H1 and is half a foot shorter than the Korean. While not the strongest among the choices, the 2,2 Duratorq turbo diesel churns out its 310 Nw from 1 300, which means the van can cruise at just above idling revs. And the guys really liked all the cup, bottle and phone holders.

After experiencing both the Ford Transit Torneo and the Hyundai H1, the young men were wowed by all the elegance and ergonomic creature comforts inside the VW Kombi 2,0 TDI short-wheel base. 

As they sat with armrests folded down, admiring all the leg room, sun shields and third-row ventilation, the verdict was unanimous: “This one is awe!” That the Kombi is also the most expensive option among the four did not faze the front row. For as they pointed out, it is also about R100 000 cheaper than the other luxurious German, Merc’s Viano.

A little too much haiku and too little haka, say the players

NISSAN’S minivan is the bench player among the sliding-door contestants. 

Smaller and more nimble, it comes with a petrol engine that produces about half the power of the H1. But for the team on a budget, the NV200 does offer seven seats at a price that is R140 000 less than the VW. Basically, an NP200 bakkie with an open high-roof canopy, the NV200 will also fit into any garage.

Among them, the Opel Vivaro and Peugeot Teepee are the dark horses Previously sold as either the Renault Trafic or Nissan Primastar, the badge-engineered Vivaro does not have the power of the H1, but it is shorter and lower by a smidgen, making it easier to drive and park in town. 

About R10 000 dearer than the H1, the Teepee carries the heaviest payload at 1,2 tons and offers good looks and lots of nooks.

Several good vans are no longer sold new. This includes the Fiat Scudo Kombi, pricey when in 2007 but now a bargain — if you can find one. Built in collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroën, this multi-jet diesel was Van of the Year in 2008 with power and room to spare.

All three versions of the 2006 Renault Trafic or Nissan Primastar turbo diesels are also good finds. Designed as light commercial vehicles, they can do a half-million kilometres with due care.

How the vans stack up

For any load lugger, Newtons matter more than Watts, for Newtons show the size of the muscle, while Watts show the fitness. 

392 Nm H1

360 Nm Viano

320 Nm Teepee

310 Nm Torneo

2 50 Nm Kombi

240 Nm Vivaro

200 Nm MV200

Prices

R266 100 Nissan MV200

R365 900 Hyundai H1 nine-seater bus 2,5 auto

R369 900 Opel Vivaro

R385 600 Ford Transit Torneo

R402 300 Peugeot Teepee

R405 800 VW Kombi 2,0 TDI swb

R576 900 Mercedes-Benz Viano

What the think-scrum thought:

The best styling: VW’s Kombi 

The most comfortable: Ford Transit Torneo

The cheapest: Nissan NV200

The best offer: Hyundai H1