Bakkie
vs OPEL Combo Cargo Van
Conventional small 'Bakkie' or pick-up VS. OPEL'S NEW COMBO –
which is BEST?
South
Africa has
traditionally been 'bakkie crazy' – and many of us grew up with some or the
other 'bakkie' in the driveway. Many businesses requiring a versatile workhorse
or delivery vehicle, would own a sub-one tonner 'bakkie' or two as part of
their fleet. It's no wonder that OPEL's famous CORSA bakkie, later
to be re-badged as the Chevrolet Utility, was
for many years the best selling bakkie in its class – selling well over 1000
units per month!
Go onto the roads in Europe however, and you will be hard-pressed to see a
'bakkie' on the roads. In Europe, every respectable business has a fleet of
'COMBO's or VANS.
So, what's the attraction of VANS vs BAKKIES?
Security
Let's
be honest – in South Africa you can no longer dare to leave anything
simply 'in the back of the bakkie' as you could in years gone by. So
most commercial owners opt to immediately fit a canopy to their 'bakkie'.
Unfortunately, the loading bay and canopies don't form part of the alarm system
of the 'bakkie' (if fitted at all), and break-in thefts are commonplace.
The canopy (usually made of fibreglass) is also an extra expense and is
secured by only a few clips - the first element to rip apart in the event of an
accident. Hinges and gas shocks often give problems or rip out, the load bay is
not part of the air-conditioned space, often has to be sprayed (for the more
discerning bakkie owner if the bakkie is not white), offers little headroom and
has little to no second-hand value.
In contrast, Cargo vans are designed as versatile
load-carriers, offer much more space as a result of lower load beds,
keep your valuable cargo and equipment out of sight and enclosed in an alarmed
and secure shell that is - an integral part of the vehicle's body. The sides
and back are also blocked out with metal sheeting, keeping your contents safe
from the preying eyes of criminals.
Driver
and Occupant Safety
The
cab of OPEL's new Combo is a comfortable place to
spend time, and there's an abundance of great safety kit available to make
working life easier. The 1.6 Turbo Diesel Engine delivers
enough pulling power to not only keep pace with traffic, but also for
overtaking manoeuvres and pulling a substantial additional load, such as a
bike-trailer, boat or additional cargo. The car-derived running gear means
the OPEL Combofeels good to drive, too.
Standard safety kit includes a driver's airbag, a full-height steel bulkhead to separate the cargo and passenger areas, Electronic Stability Control, Traction
Control, Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Emergency Brake Assist.
Side
Panels create more Advertising space
The OPEL Combo has a massive 3.3
cubic metres of load space, which is not only substantially
more than a light commercial bakkie with canopy, but also equates to
substantially more real estate for branding and advertising on the exterior of
the Combo (versus your conventional bakkie). With most
companies or fleets having vehicles on the road throughout the day, vehicle
branding of a single Combo can be seen by upwards of 70 000
pairs of eyes per day in busier metros, and let's face it, a tailor-made
business panel van (especially if it was just awarded "2019
International Van of the Year") simply looks a lot more professional or
'business like' than a bakkie!
Ease
of Operation
The OPEL Combo further creates
a mobile and weather proof working space for drivers or
operators. The van's lower load floor height can be a blessing for technicians
who are accustomed to pulling tools, equipment, and cargo out of a pick-up
bed. Think of the number of cycles these drivers go through - having to
load and unload cargo between twenty and sixty times a day!
The OPEL Combo'ssquarer body shape means there's
ample space inside, while a low floor makes access easy. The Combo also
allows for up to 600kg of cargo in the back.
