Vanaways

An unbeatable price convinced quad bike stunt performer Paul Hannam to buy his last Ford Transit from independent supplier Van Sales UK – but it was winning customer service and a hassle-free purchase process that brought him back a second time.

“When I bought my previous van I shopped around to get the best deal,” Paul recalled. “The price I was quoted from Van Sales UK was significantly lower than other outlets I tried, for a vehicle with the exact same specification.

“When the time came to replace that van I wanted the best value for my money again, of course, but that wasn’t my only reason for returning to Van Sales UK.

“Both times, the whole purchase process was so quick and easy and the vehicle delivered so quickly that I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else.

“I can honestly say it’s been the best buying experience I’ve ever had, for any product.”

Paul traded in his previous van for the new Transit, a long-bodied L3 version with high H2 roof, powered by a 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine rated at 185PS. As a Limited model the vehicle came with a high level of standard equipment but Paul has added a raft of options

including alloy wheels, front and rear sensors and cameras, adaptive cruise control, LED load area lights, an upgraded driver’s seat, Thatcham Category 1 alarm, factory-fitted towbar and tyre pressure monitoring system.

“I spend a lot of time in the van so I wanted to make sure I would be as comfortable as possible,” he said. “Now I’ve had a chance to live with it for a while I can say I definitely made the right decision. It’s a great vehicle to drive and as well-equipped as most cars.”

Each summer Paul tours the country, appearing at large agricultural shows and similar events with his quad bike display, under

Specialist equine vehicle manufacturer Foxy Horseboxes needs a stable supply of van chassis to build on – so step forward independent supplier Van Sales UK.

Director Hannah Gould explained: “We build vehicles to order, to our customers’ own design briefs – every one is different or personalised in some way. But we’re not a huge operation. We don’t have space to store a huge number of base vehicles, so to keep the business operating efficiently we rely on a supplier who can provide a regular flow.

“We’ve dealt with several suppliers, including manufacturers’ franchised main dealers, but Van Sales UK seems to be able to move the quickest whenever we need to arrange a delivery. This was the 17th vehicle they’ve supplied to us – they can invariably source what we want, when we want it, and the people are very honest, helpful and trustworthy. Dealing with Van Sales UK is always a very positive experience.”

She continued: “When we took our latest

order from a customer, for a horsebox based on a 3.5-tonne van chassis, I contacted Sales Executive Jamie-George Marsh who was able to give us a highly competitive quote, and the order was processed quickly and smoothly. Everything was done by email and mobile phone, with the minimum of hassle.

“The vehicle was delivered to our bodyshop, exactly as ordered, less than two weeks from my initial inquiry, so we were able to start work without delay and assure our customer that the build was on schedule,” she added.

The base vehicle is a Citroen Relay 35 with Bluehdi turbo-diesel engine, rated at 140ps, which drives through a six-speed manual gearbox and incorporates a stop-start system. Its Stallion bodywork is one of four models in the Foxy range, each of which can be customised to the buyer’s individual needs.

In addition to the standard list of features including a luxury upholstered cab, heavy-duty rubber-coated loading ramp, two full-height stalls with padded partitions and CCTV cameras to the horse area and for reversing, customers can pick from a range of options such as extra windows, storage, extended groom area and even a sleeping compartment.

Family-owned Foxy Horseboxes was founded by Neil Savage in 2004. It operates in North and South Divisions in Tadcaster and Sussex.

the name ATV Stunts. His performances include feats such as jumping his Honda TRX450 quad over cars, tractors and his own van as well as staging races and full somersaults with his special ‘rollover quad’.

The new van was delivered in time to help carry all Paul’s equipment to the Royal Bath & West Show in June. “It’s a great vehicle and a really practical size,” he added. “With my trailer hitched to the towbar I can transport four quads as well as all my gear, including a 5m2 inflatable shelter which is my base of operations, merchandise stall and kit store at events.

“I only found out after I’d already bought my previous vehicle, but Van Sales UK’s Sales Executive Ben Jerrett is also a quad enthusiast and we’ve both worked for the same specialist dealer in the past, so he has a good understanding of what I need from a van and was very helpful in arranging both the vehicle specification and a competitive finance package.”

Van Sales UK, a division of parent company Vanaways, is an internet-based business. With no shiny showroom or yard full of vans waiting to be sold, overheads are kept to a minimum. Its sales experts work over phone and email networks, taking inquiries and orders and matching customers up with their perfect vehicle selections without ever needing to have contact with either.

The company has been trading since 2017 and now supplies an average of 250 vans per month.

Director Chris Jakeways said: ““We can source any vehicle a customer wants, but for many people these days the brand of their new van is not a primary concern – especially as, under the skin, in some cases two or even three models from different manufacturers can be nearly identical.

“What’s more important is to make the process of getting that new van on the road as painless as possible.

“That’s where we score, by cutting the number of steps a vehicle takes between rolling off the production line and arriving at the customer’s premises, and by slashing timeconsuming paperwork.”