I’m going to try a little experiment. I’m going to spec up two similar vans using the Ford Transit Configurator. These will be based on the Custom SWB chassis, have the same engine and similar whatnots, with one huge difference.
First off, the Transit Custom Sport:
Specification:
| Body Style | DCiV |
| Length | 310 L1 |
| Height | Low Roof Height (H1) |
| Model | Sport |
| Engine & Transmission | 2.0L EcoBlue 170PS FWD 6-speed manual |
| Colour | Race Red |
| Trim | Dynamo Emboss on Eton in Ebony/
Salerno Leather in Ebony |
| Fuel Consumption – Combined (WLTP): | 37.2 mpg ( 7.6 L/100 km ) |
| CO2 Emissions – Combined (WLTP): | 199 g/km |
Pricing Summary:
| Recommended Retail Price (exc. VAT) | £37,710 </td |
| Additional Features (exc. VAT) | £635 </td |
| Colour: Race Red | £300 </td |
| Lane Departure Warning | £335 </td |
| Total Recommended Retail Price (exc. VAT) ‡‡ | £38,345 </td |
| Recommended Promotional Price (ex. VAT and OTR costs) | £38,345 </td |
| Recommended Retail Price including OTR costs but excluding VAT | £39,240.83 </td |
Recommended Retail Price £46,014 inc. VAT.
You can check out this spec at www.ford.co.uk/s/mFZX
Now sure, ’tis a purdy van, with about the same umph as a Mk1 Focus ST (albeit with a lot more weight), but £46,014 is a lot of money,
But can we spec a better van for less?
Well…
How about the Custom Trail?
Specification:
| Body Style | DCiV |
| Length | 320 L1 |
| Height | Low Roof Height (H1) |
| Model | Trail |
| Engine & Transmission | 2.0L EcoBlue 170PS FWD 6-speed manual |
| Colour | Race Red |
| Trim | Salerno Leather with Palazzo Grey stitching/
Salerno Lether in Palazzo Grey |
| Fuel Consumption – Combined (WLTP): | 37.7 mpg ( 7.5 L/100 km ) †† |
| CO2 Emissions – Combined (WLTP): | 197 g/km †† |
Pricing Summary
| Recommended Retail Price (exc. VAT) | £35,865 |
| Additional Features (exc. VAT) | £300 |
| Colour: Race Red | £300 |
| Total Recommended Retail Price (exc. VAT) | £36,165 |
| Dealer Contribution (exc. VAT) | £630 |
| Recommended Promotional Price (ex. VAT and OTR costs) * | £35,535 |
| Recommended Retail Price including OTR costs but excluding VAT | £37,060.83 |
| Recommended Promotional Price (inc. VAT and OTR costs) | £43,648 |
Recommended Promotional Price £43,648 inc. VAT.
You can check out this spec at www.ford.co.uk/s/mFtQ
So… basically the same van (albeit with out the Lane Departure Assist, the stupid stripe, nicer looking wheels and a more snorty grill). All at a saving of £2366!
That could keep you in fuel for a week! Plus you wouldn’t be constantly looking at that overstripe and wishing it gone.
Would I, if I had the money to spend on what I class as a “big, comfortable estate car”, buy either of these? Well, no. I’d add a few extras to the Trial: www.ford.co.uk/s/mf86 and be looking at £46,042, and consider the extra few quid worth it for not looking like an overstripe bellend.