Bijoy shares his thoughts on the world of vans!

I was never a van guy. Never thought I would be able to live in one as long as there was a half-decent bed and breakfast around. Some call it the ultimate retirement dream. Others are planning to quit their jobs and hit the road without wasting time. There are vans in many shapes which have crossed our existence. And we have enjoyed them too. True? Let’s check them out.

Back in college, a friend had a Maruti Suzuki Omni and boy, was it fun! It was Neptune blue in colour and I was, by default, the designated driver. An 800cc three-cylinder engine under your seat powering the rear-wheels and Dire Straits providing the backdrop, we painted the town red. We drove to the beach to play cricket, drove to college festivals, did combined study sessions and quite literally lived out of it for two years. The feeling of togetherness a van can invoke is sublime and if you haven’t done the van thing, you've really missed out.

I have to say I admired the ‘high-roof’ version though the taller roof made sense only if a panel van carrying white goods was launched. The Versa held some promise with none other than Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador – but bombed in the market. The Eeco which followed suit barely chugs along.

The grandmother of ‘van life’ in India was the Standard 20. I distinctly remember a rather uncomfortable family trip to the temples of Tamil Nadu during which my seat was on the engine cover. I had to stand up every 30 minutes or so when my bum got unpleasantly toasted. And we travelled only in the summer months.

Jeep-based Mahindra FJ 460/470 mini bus (with 4x4 option) was hugely popular as a mass transport option in the ’70s and ’80s. I am thrilled to see fully restored units being used by off-road enthusiasts down south. Mahindra toyed again with the van idea and launched the Voyager with Mitsubishi roots. Clearly it was too early for its time and occasionally you see rusted units plying along. Tata Motors had the right intentions when they sourced Renault bits and built the Winger. It looked perfect for the ‘van guys’ but it quickly became a school van with reliability issues. How can I miss the SsangYong-built Mercedes MB 100 and 140 which have a cult following even now.

Last month I encountered a van that is substantially bigger than the Omni. We hired a Force Motors Urbania for a family trip in Rajasthan – and it was the best decision we made. The Traveller would have been cheaper, but the Urbania was far more luxurious in the way it handled and the ride quality it offered. It was so good that I was tempted to send the driver packing and drive it myself from Jaipur to Jodhpur! The road was excellent and the overall experience was superlative. The 2596cc diesel engine (113bhp, 350Nm torque) is derived from a Mercedes-Benz motor and the five-speed gear box ensures that there is no hunting and the vehicle is tractable even at crawl speeds.

Also, it looks good. You can slap a Mercedes star onto the grille if you are that kind but even without that, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based design looks elegant and purposeful. The monocoque construction and essential active and passive safety bits come with the package. Bhagvan Singh who drove the vehicle was easy on controls and that helped elevate the passenger experience. And yes, the aircon was brilliant too despite the large glass area, as we were tackling the 38-40 degree desert heat. I was with super senior citizens and it was important that they didn’t feel tired and exhausted as we royally trundled the miles. Yes, a foldable step ladder would be of great help to climb onto one without creating a scene.

At around ₹30-34 lakh this vehicle is good if it earns the money back for the owner. But if I can share the ownership with a friend, it might make more sense.