I have been thinking long and hard about my much-loved 2009 Mercedes Vito van. She is now 13 years old with 170k kms and goes GREAT, in all this time she has never let me down and we have had some wonderful trips around Europe together. I love driving my red Vito and the 3L V6 diesel engine and auto box are soooo sweet, she has a large fuel tank so I can drive 750km easily between fuel stops so she is perfect for long trips. I have also towed with her and I could easily forget that she was pulling a trailer and car, so effortless.
But a recent trip has highlighted her main weakness. The drivers seat is adjustable and thus comfortable with an armrest whereas the passenger sits on a bench (two folks, at a push) which is fixed and therefore NOT really first class travel. We drove to Marseille for a week and my poor passenger really suffered anything over 3 hours in the van, which made the journey harder. I had previously asked whether the bench seat could be removed and replaced by a single seat but no company would take the responsibility due to homologation, seatbelts and airbags unfortunately.
Well, very long story shortish, I found a 2017 LHD Vito in the UK and the dealer is willing to take mine in part exchange!!! I have been searching Ebay and Gumtree and Autotrader for ages and I finally found JUST what I need, a Vito van with loads of comfort (auto box and so on) so within 2 weeks I will drive mine over to swap. UNLESS I can find a buyer in Italy or France, in which case I can try for more money. So watch this space, I will be heading over to visit Slough Van Centre within next 2 weeks. I will sure be sorry to see mine go.
STOP PRESS: Now sold to a nice French guy so I must deliver her to Biarritz which is almost in Spain!
Service no limits! 
End of the line for the V6 Vito I’ve driven and also been driven in the Vito. What a fantastic van with the benefit of two side loading dots and rear boors for easy loading. In probably the best Colour bright red air con updated radio satnav system electric windows and a glass sunroof.
So it’s time for Simon to let it go and already has his eye on a newer van that’s last owner was McLaren race team that’s why it’ll be Lhd so makes perfect sense for Simon.
Looking forward to seeing the new van although the old van will take some beating has fantastic power and road presence in it’s tricking red.
So the start of a new chapter with the new silver arrows van 🤣🤣 let’s see if it lives up to the last one.
Wishing you all the best with your new van 👍👍👍
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Brian mate, nail on the head as usual!!! Three things really made me decide, firstly the MUCH more comfy front seat for the passenger, then the better economy for long trips and then the auto gearbox in the new van is 7 speed whereas mine is 5. AND the new van also has two side doors luckily so next week I am off to France to deliver the red one to her new owner!!!
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AND ps I am hoping that the guys from Maclaren have tweaked it a bit hahaha…
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We are the new owners of the Red Vito and we really want to warmly thanks you Simon ! The car is perfect you take care of it so well and we will do the same as you
It was a pleasure to meet you and thanks you to share all your memories with us.
Take care of you and your new car 🙂
Tito & Didi
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SOOOOOOOO nice to hear from you guys and to know that the Red Rocket continues to be loved hahahaha. A bientot, Simon
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