In this week’s Van Deal, we’re keeping the focus on medium vans. The Citroen Dispatch is the oldest van in this segment, having first gone on sale in 2007, but at £10,150 plus VAT, it’s also the cheapest and most-often discounted.
The offer, from Bristol Street Motors, represents a saving of £7,554 off the list price. For an extra £349 (£10,499 + VAT), customers can upgrade to an Enterprise-spec model from ‘Loads of Vans’, which features Bluetooth hands-free with USB socket, air conditioning with electrically folding and heated door mirrors, rear parking sensors and full steel bulkhead.
In the cab
Although the interior of the basic-spec models are very dated, they still feature a lot as standard including cruise control and programmable speed limiter RDS radio/MP3 CD player with steering mounted controls, remote central locking with deadlock, front electric windows, overhead storage shelf and height adjustable driver’s seat.
Load Area
What the Citroen Dispatch lacks in style, it makes up for in productivity. Measuring 2,254mm long by 1,600mm wide, by 1,449mm, the cargo area has a five cubic metre load volume, and the payload is rated at 988kg.
Access is provided via the barn doors at the rear, or either of the two standard side loading doors.
On the road
PSA’s 1.6-litre diesel unit, providing 89bhp and 180Nm, powers the entry level Citroen Dispatch, and achieves around 40mpg on the combined cycle thanks to its aerodynamic design. It’s a bit rough and ready on the open road, and it generates quite a bit of noise when travelling at speed. The five-speed manual transmission can be quite notchy.
Summary
The Citroen Dispatch may not be the most stylish van on the market, and it may not be the most comfortable to drive, but it’s cheap to run and, thanks to this deal from Bristol Street Motors, it’s also cheap to buy. The full Citroen manufacturer warranty is valid for three years or 100,000 miles, and service intervals are set at one year or 20,000 miles.
