Whether it’s a courier job delivering a single document or an entire van load, the name of the game is to get load X from location A to location B - right? Well yes, but as an owner driver, considering you may spend around ten hours of the day in your vehicle, shouldn’t the van you have chosen to spend more time with than your wife (or husband!) be the very best one for you? In terms of deciding what’s most important for your courier work you need to consider your priorities - comfort, size, speed, parking, economy and yes, even to be superficial - good looks! (Because really, let’s face it - who doesn’t secretly want to be dating the best looking AND smartest girl in town!) Of course, everyone’s different and this is by no means a definitive list - one mans pride and joy may well be another mans worst nightmare! But in the interest of fairness and equality we have selected (in no particular order) to feature vehicles that have been tried and tested by guys in the know, and we think cover all the bases. You decide!

PEUGOT PARTNER
For mid size courier work this workhorse has very few downsides. It has a great cab capacity (it actually holds three which is unusual for a van this size) and lots of dash room for those essential extras – drink, pens, A to Z’s, atlases, and lunch! It’s a sturdy little fellow and one of the best things about it is the easy access to the storage area. It has twin asymmetric back doors, and a sliding nearside door that can you save loads of time and awkward load stacking. It comes with a 1.6L diesel engine that really holds its own even on the motorway, and the powerful optional air-conditioning is also a welcome feature. (If you’re test-driving in summer, give it a burst and you’ll be sold! In terms of economy, the Partner gets about 45mpg, which is pretty great news for the owner driver in these times when a bigger van can seem thirstier than you on a Friday afternoon!

MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER
Just the name Mercedes evokes respect, and driving around in one of these do your reputation wonders! Any owner driver lucky enough to be considering a Sprinter can be pretty well assured it is one of the top of the line vehicles for courier work. It’s one of the larger vans on the road and its four cylinder, five or six speed transmission will get you out and on the along the motorway in record time. It has a huge load capacity, (up to 1400kg) and its hinged rear doors open out to 180 degrees as well as having a sliding left door as well for easy access. It’s a simple matter to load up and head off looking good! There’s loads of stowage in the cabin in the doors, centre console and above the windscreen, and the power steering will have you turning on a sixpence. This is one of the fastest vans on the road, and the 22-30 MPG fuel consumption is not bad for one so nippy. To say she’s a looker would be an understatement – with a streamlined Arctic White exterior, pert little snout, and the iconic Mercedes insignia shining on the bonnet, this is a girl with a whole lot of class. With the huge range available and Mercedes’ renowned reliability this one is ideal for the owner driver - but be warned this much style and class doesn’t come cheap!

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