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How to personalise your van

There are two options for turning a boring white van into an eye-catching vehicle. The first is to purchase a special version offered by the manufacturer and the second is to customise your van with aftermarket parts according to you own taste.
Ford Transit Custom

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1st February 2021

VANS  offered nowadays compared to the ones from 20 years ago are more similar to normal cars when it comes to the possible comfort of driving.

Parking sensors, heated seats, air conditioning and many more features are available now in commercial vehicles. That’s the reason why many people are now deciding to own just one vehicle, which will be used for work and everyday purposes. That being the case, some vans would be a perfect choice, but what if someone would like to have a vehicle with a sportier look?

There are two options for turning a boring white van into an eye-catching vehicle. The first is to purchase a special version offered by the manufacturer and the second is to customise your van with aftermarket parts according to you own taste. In this article, we will help you decide which option is better for you if you want to purchase a Ford Transit Custom, VW Transporter or Mercedes-Benz Vito.

Special Versions from Manufacturers

If you are looking for an off-the-peg vehicle this will be the best option for you. All of the main brands have something with a little sportier look in their offer.

The Ford Transit Custom is available in sport trim which can’t go unnoticed thanks to pair of racing stripes going along the whole body of the van. The body kit includes lower bumpers, different side skirts, wider wheel arches and colour-coded side mirrors. Customers can choose either 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. The sport version has a few extra features inside the cabin like part-leather seats and an 8-inch screen. Unfortunately, this version doesn’t provide any increase in engine power output.

VW used to offer a Transporter Sportline, but after a facelift in 2019, it’s not available anymore. The German manufacturer didn’t leave us empty-handed though, as there’s the T6.1 available with with ABT pack The good thing with ABT is that you can configure your van by yourself and choose some elements according to your needs and budget. The most popular bodypack configuration includes a front splitter with a grille, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. There are more options to choose from too, such as alloys, quad exhaust or bhp and torque increases.

Mercedes-Benz, the same as Ford, offers a sport version of their mid-size van, Vito. It comes with lowered suspension, different side skirts, black roof rails, LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, bonnet and side painting. Inside you can find part faux-leather upholstery and leather steering wheel. There are many features which come as standard in sport trim like heated seats, air-conditioning, electric and heated side mirrors, cruise control, reversing camera and many more.

Aftermarket Parts

The aftermarket is full of different parts dedicated to all the most popular models and these can be used to change the appearance of your van. So many possibilities mean that your imagination and budget are the only limits. For many people, it could seem to be a bit more complicated as you need to purchase a kit and install it, whereas buying a van with a kit from the manufacturer is much easier and more straightforward.

When it comes to financing you may think that it is even more complicated, but you couldn’t be more wrong! Some of the van finance companies offer an option to include all customisation costs into your monthly price. Your upgraded van can be delivered 100% ready to your doorstep with all upgrades installed and without any hassle or spending any extra money than normal finance costs. It’s worth mentioning that usually the sales value of modified vans is much higher, then balloon. So, at the end of your finance, you can even earn some extra money.

VW Transporter has a long history of being modified, so there are plenty of different options to style your van. Some of the most popular modifications are front splitters, rear spoilers, sidebars and aftermarket alloys. All those modifications will look much better if you get your van lowered as well. That can be achieved with a readymade set for lowering, which includes lowering springs and coil-overs. Alloys are the worst as there are too many to choose from. VW Transporters can be fitted with up to 20-inch alloys.

The popularity of the Ford Transit Custom is increasing and with it the availability of different aftermarket parts for customisation.The same as the VW Transporter, the most popular upgrades are front splitter, sidebars, rear spoilers and alloy wheels, but some of the body kits include side skirts instead of sidebars.

Lately, many Ford owners have upgraded their vans with a ‘raptor style’ front grille, which gives a very aggressive look. Unfortunately, 20-inch alloys on a Custom tend to scrub the arches a bit, so if you don’t want to have that problem, wheels in a smaller size are going to be a better option for you.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito hasn’t been modified by as many as the VW Transporter or the Transit Custom, but you can still find body kits for it. The front splitter can be added even if you own a sport version of the Mercedes Vito. Depending on your preferences you can find side skirts or sidebars for your van. Moving to the rear you can add a rear spoiler or even change the diffuser for something fancier.

Interior Upgrades

Body kits and alloys are just the start for van modification. There’s much more to do inside your vehicle. Custom leather changes your van dramatically. The great thing with ordering new upholstery not from manufacturer is that you can choose every single detail like colour, stitches or pattern by yourself.

Add carpeting and extra interior lighting to your custom leather and you can be sure that your van will look much better than many standard cars. For those who want to go even further with their upgrades, there are many sound systems and video displays available on the market which are dedicated for some of the vans.

To sum up, it’s a good thing to compare models available in dealerships with the vans available through  some of the finance companies. A VW Transporter ABT, Ford Transit Custom Sport or Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport are great options if you are looking for a readymade solution. But if you want to own something more unique, a bespoke modified van will be a much better choice.

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Chris Wright

Chris Wright

Chris Wright has been covering the automotive industry nationally and internationally for 30 years. Following spells with consumer titles he became News Editor of Automotive Management (AM), Editor of Automotive International, International Editor for Detroit-based Automotive News, and Editor of Dealer Update. He has also co-authored several FT Management Reports and contributes regularly to Justauto.com

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