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A Bristol couple turned to Mercedes-Benz for a very special vehicle when they needed to carry a most precious cargo – their rapidly growing family!
Kate and Vince Greenwood chose the stylish Mercedes Vito Traveliner after the arrival of twins Brooke and Tyler.
The couple, who live in the Bishopsworth area of the city, already had a four-year-old son, Rocco, and quickly realised that with the new babies, plus all of the extra paraphernalia they must now carry, their previous family car was no longer up the job.
So they resolved to find a more practical vehicle. Several ‘people-carrier’ cars were considered and then disregarded before they hit upon the solution, in the shape of their new Mercedes Vito.
Based on a Long-bodied version of the standard 111CDI Vito van, their new Traveliner is comfortable and car-like to drive. It has eight seats, each with a three-point inertia reel seatbelt – so grandparents and friends can be easily accommodated, along with the family – and windows all around. It also bristles with class-leading safety features, including the remarkable Adaptive ESP® anti-skid program.
The vehicle was supplied by Bristol dealer Commercial Motors (South West) and can swallow plenty of luggage, even with all the seats in place. In contrast, most MPVs offer only seven seats and a fraction of the space.
“When it comes to value for money the Vito Traveliner is unbeatable,” declares Mrs Greenwood, a staff trainer at private bank Coutts & Co. “For the cost of a seven-seater people carrier, we have a luxurious eight-seater with bags more space. For safety reasons, I also wanted a vehicle with proper seats rather than the occasional rear seats you get in the boot of some MPVs.”
The Greenwoods specified a number of optional extras on their already generously equipped Vito Traveliner. These include metallic black paint, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome side-bars, privacy glass all round, wipe-clean leatherette upholstery, a multi-function steering wheel trimmed in leather, the Parktronic parking and manoeuvring aid, a ‘soft feel’ dashboard and an upgraded stereo system.
“As it’s our family ‘car’ we wanted it to be a comfortable and practical as possible,” explains Mrs Greenwood. “So it was nice to be able to choose things that you know you are actually going to use.”
Mrs Greenwood and her husband, a self-employed bricklayer, traded in their saloon car for the Mercedes.
“I’m the sort of person who likes to take the ‘kitchen sink’ with me whenever I go anywhere,” she continues. “So having so much space available is fantastic. The Vito Traveliner swallows the twins’ double buggy, while access is great through the sliding side doors and tailgate.
“The Vito is also lovely to drive and doesn’t feel that big on the road. The visibility’s fantastic and because the seating position is quite high I feel safe. The optional parking sensors also mean that parking’s never an issue.”
The Vito comes with a market-leading, unlimited mileage, three-year warranty and, thanks to its unique Service ASSYST engine management system, also boasts long servicing intervals.
“Family and friends call us the A-Team when they see us in it,” quips Mrs Greenwood. “But they all think it’s a great vehicle and very practical, especially as we can take the seats out. It’s certainly the best vehicle we’ve every bought!” |
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