Supplied by dealer Northside Truck & Van, the Hull-based operator’s new additions are all long-bodied 314 CDI models – and, for the first time, Hurst Plastics has acquired the fleet on outright purchase.
Transport manager Jon Brake explains: “We’d favoured contract hire for its ease and convenience. However, a detailed ‘number-crunching’ exercise indicated that given the Sprinter’s competitive purchase price and low whole-life running costs, as well as its excellent warranty and breakdown cover, it made financial sense this time to buy our vans outright.”
All are supplied with a Mercedes-Benz Service Care agreement, covering all routine maintenance.
Other brands were also evaluated but, says Brake, “the Mercedes-Benz package is unbeatable”.
He adds: “I’ve been with this company since 1999, and since then we’ve tried vehicles by various manufacturers. The Sprinter has been the best by a mile. It’s a real workhorse, highly robust and with far superior build quality, as well as being really nice to drive.”
The Sprinters are powered by 140bhp, 2.1-litre engines, which employ both exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and BlueTEC selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to clean exhaust emissions.
They come with three-year, unlimited mileage warranties and MobiloVan cover, which includes free roadside assistance.