Transit Connect opinions, not commercial use.

[james butler]

what i found makes a massive difference on the transit is making sure the tyres are properly inflated.
mines not often carrying a load but even so the front tyres are wearing more on the egdes than the middle of the tyres indicating underinflation.
ive put 5psi more in them so im half way between empty recomendation and full load recomendation and the MPG has gone up to the mid 50s on a run now compared to the usual high 40s mpg

 

[dobbslc]

I've found 64 mph on the cruise control is the most economical on the motorway run, so I stick to that on the DC too. Having to pull in an out of lanes whilst maintaining that has the bonus effect of keeping you awake too

The last bit about staying awake is interesting, what's happening on these ridiculous average speed limited sections of road where for mile after mile you have two, three or four lanes all traveling at the same speed? (except the stupid people or Romanian plated cars) I've nearly fallen asleep a few times on the M3 roadworks where some idiot has decided that 15-20 miles at 50mph is a good idea! OVER 2 years and it's still not open!

 

[Revs1972]

The last bit about staying awake is interesting, what's happening on these ridiculous average speed limited sections of road where for mile after mile you have two, three or four lanes all traveling at the same speed? (except the stupid people or Romanian plated cars) I've nearly fallen asleep a few times on the M3 roadworks where some idiot has decided that 15-20 miles at 50mph is a good idea! OVER 2 years and it's still not open!

When there are people working on the road I fully agree with the 50mph limit.
The trouble is most of the time you don't see anyone !!

 

[brightspark]

I nearly got caught out a few weeks ago they were working on a bridge local . 20mph limit I saw some yellow leads strung up and cameras on beams and thought nowt of it as my mind was on a few things came back 10 mins later doin 30mph and realised they were average speed cameras ohh great double fine and points dick.head springs to mind fortunately I've heard nothing and they must have been setting them up

 

[dobbslc]

When there are people working on the road I fully agree with the 50mph limit.
The trouble is most of the time you don't see anyone !!

The M3 is finished as far as I can see! Armco, central reservation, lighting, signs the lot. A sign says "cameras still in use for calibration purposes" which basically means we're gonna fine the crap out of ya when it's done.....

 

[wookie]

But what's the difference between 70mph a 2 lane motorway such as the M54 or A38m as apposed to only being able to do 60 mph in a National Speed limit dual carriageway?

Dual carriageways are a lower limit because you can have pavements, Tee junctions etc on them (i.e. more hazards) where as motorways don't hence the higher NSL.

 

[GRUMPY1950]

Think you will find its 70 for a car on a dual carriage way without trailer, Speed awareness course victim plus 3 points from last year, but hey I am an old reckless driver.

 

[wookie]

Think you will find its 70 for a car on a dual carriage way

If you follow the thread back we were discussing the speed limits applicable to Vans that aren't derived from cars hence the lower limits in force.

 

[Hood]

If you follow the thread back we were discussing the speed limits applicable to Vans that aren't derived from cars hence the lower limits in force.

And from what I can tell there are not many such vehicles. Even things like a Berlingo are usually not classed as a car derived vans as the laden weight is 2,000Kg or greater.

 

[brightspark]

I had a Peugeot 2ltr turbo van and it was car derived even with the stronger springs

 

[Hood]

I looked in to it a while back when there was a clamp down locally and the information seemed quite contradictory. In the end it seemed to basically boil down to two things, whether your reg documents said it was a car derived van or a goods vehicle and also whether the laden weight was above or below 2000Kg.
Further to that, even if your reg documents stated it was a car derived van but the laden weight was above the 2,000Kg, then you still came under the reduced speed limits for the goods vehicles and that you should really have the reg documents changed to reflect that.
On the flip side of things, if your vehicle is registered as a goods vehicle but its laden weight is below 2,000Kg then the reduced limits still apply to you until you get your reg documents changed, if you can prove (manufacturers info) that it should really have been registered as a car derived van in the first place.

Now this is just what I garnered from all the information I sifted through and I may be understanding things wrong but.......

 

[colnerov]

Hi, Another one for @Justme to clarify?

 

[octo0072000]

If you remember MK111 escort vans they had extra small window behind drivers and passenger windows that was to do with van speed limits before car derived vans were thought of

 

[colnerov]

Hi, Ahh, not sure I seem to think it's something to do with Custom and Excise and Duty or VAT.

Colin

 

[octo0072000]

think you mean purchase tax did we have vat then or not
also you could buy range rover van the original 3 door ones with the metal panels covered in vinyl to match the roof over the windows just remove after 2 years i think it was
and instant car also to do with claiming back against business

 

[Revs1972]

I think it's down to if it's N1 or M1 on the logbook.
Mines a T5 Kombi of which most are M1 which give them car speed limits .
However , mine is a T32 Kombi and therefore is N1 which is van speed.
But it meant I could claim back the VAT on it as I bought it through the business

 

[Dodge20]

Just to throw a curve ball into the debate on speed limits, connect tourneo is subject to car speed limits yet is mechanically identical to any other connect. Where's the logic in this?. Especially if the speed limits are imposed due to vehicle weights.

 

[Hood]

Just to throw a curve ball into the debate on speed limits, connect tourneo is subject to car speed limits yet is mechanically identical to any other connect. Where's the logic in this?. Especially if the speed limits are imposed due to vehicle weights.

Probably classed as a people carrier rather than a goods vehicle due to rear seats.

 

[Revs1972]

It can't be solely weight based - a coach has a higher speed limit than a car+trailer or a 7.5t+ wagon...

Most coaches i've followed have a higher speed limit than a keen rep in a BMW

 

[james butler]

Just to throw a curve ball into the debate on speed limits, connect tourneo is subject to car speed limits yet is mechanically identical to any other connect. Where's the logic in this?. Especially if the speed limits are imposed due to vehicle weights.

i think its because in a car legally everyone has to be strapped into a seat so potentially a lot safer then a van with a half ton lump of iron lets say held down with one ratchet strap to stop it banging about.
ive seen the result of a front end smash of a van that had a big commercial engine in the load bay, all the straps snapped and the engine hurtled into the bulkhead which stopped it but the bulkhead was pushing the passegnger seat forward slightly with a humongous dent in it.

i suppose they see it if it was travelling 10mph more it could be a lot worse.