DD Motoring: The Italian Job

Christmas came early for this motoring correspondent as he took an early delivery of his new wheels last week!

I was hoping that Santa might have got me something as I was very good, but just in case I wasn’t an offer from Donaghey’s in Letterkenny got me ready for the New Year.

I have racked up over a quarter of a million miles covering the news and sport in Donegal in the vans I have owned since I started up my own photography business which we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary next year in 2017, so what better way to head into the second decade in business but with a new van?

My van of choice is based on what works the best for me. I have Convoy’s Jackie Harris to thank, who first pointed me in the direction of the Fiat Doblos. He had a great belief in them and when I seen that my school mate Martin McGlynn had his 2007 van for sale I decided to give them a go. This week I took delivery of my third Doblo van, which was a demonstrator with newly appointed Fiat Professional Van dealership Donagheys in Letterkenny.

This new van of mine was registered at the end of August but only had 27 kilometres on the clock when I took it out on its first test drive a fortnight ago, you would think that by this stage of my life I would have lost the excitement when getting a new car but I actually think I am worse now. To someone not into their vans or cars this van looks identical to the van I replaced it with but it feel so better on the road.

All the home comforts of a good family car is available in the new Fiat Doblo van. If you are spending a lot of your working day behind the wheel of your van, it needs to be as comfortable as possible, adjustable drivers seat for height and lumbar support is a good start then you have adjustable steering for tilt and reach will put you in the ideal driving position.

My van had cruise control fitted as an extra and an upgrade radio which can be control from the steering wheel all of which makes this van a pleasure to drive, and eats up the miles on long journeys. My demo model had the 90 bhp 1.3 multi jet diesel engine which now has been upgraded to 95bhp in the latest version but I have to say my engine feels more powerful than a its numbers suggest.

I think it’s the torque more than anything else in this small diesel engine that makes it such a joy to drive.

 

Meenaroy test
One of the great test locally for any vans pulling power it to head up Meenaroy in the road from Letterkenny to Fintown. From McFadden’s of Brennagh to the top of Mennaroy it’s a constant uphill drag, and the couple of bad bridges on the way make the test even more interesting as the break any momentum which really test the vans capability to build up speed again.

Our new Fiat Doblo had no bother making it to the top of the hill with out a change down in gear out of fifth. I know that that test will not be that fair on a van with a six speed gear box but this test really show the power and torque range in the van.

 

My Ferrari
As a great F1 fan I always joke with my sons that my Fiat is from the same family as Ferrari, which is true as Fiat are the parent company, and I always suggest that the Doblo name was supposed to given to one of the fine sports cars that the Italian giant Ferrari make but they mistakenly put it on the bonnet of a Fiat Van by mistake, but as of yet I haven’t seen a van sounding Ferrari rolling of the production line in Italy yet so i could be wrong in that theory.

In the mean time my new Ferrari van has nearly 1,000 miles racked up on the roads of Donegal. And I am looking forward to many more safe miles at work behind the wheel of my new Fiat Van; as happy as a big wane!

 

Happy Motoring Folks

 

Our Motoring Column will be one year old soon. I would like to thank all the garages in Donegal for letting us check out and write about their new cars we are looking forward to 2017 which should be another great year for motoring and motorsport on Donegal, thank you!

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