"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
09/28/2014 at 10:33 • Filed to: None
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"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
09/28/2014 at 10:33 • Filed to: None | 2
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I've driven the standard-roof NVs before, but this was only my second time driving the high-roof version.
First, I'm going to level with you: I don't really like the NV. I mean, it does all the things a cargo van should do, but it sucks to drive. It feels way larger than it actually is. In reality, it's around the same size as the Chevy Express and Ford E-series vans, but you always feel like the NV is overlapping its lane. Also, its turning circle is so huge that it should have gotten an engineer at Nissan fired. God help you if you need to make a u-turn anywhere. The Express almost feels like a nimble sports car compared to this cow.
That said, the high-roof feels better to drive than the low-roof. I'm not sure why, but where the low-roof feels larger, the high-roof feels like it is actual size. It didn't feel as top-heavy as I expected, and cross winds didn't affect it as much as I feared they would.
The cargo area is of course huge, though we don't need the increased height. We only bought this one high-roof because it was hail damaged and we got a screaming deal on it. It's somewhat rare that we would need to fill a cargo van to the rafters. I can tell you that it handles a full pallet easily, but so do the other big vans (and the Transit Connect, surprisingly). Fortunately this one has a bulkhead installed, so you can fill it up pretty high without worrying about getting smacked in the head with loose cargo every time you brake.
All in all, the NV does the job fine. It just doesn't do it well. If I had my choice, we'd have nothing but Chevy Express and Ram Cargo vans in our fleet.
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> fhrblig
09/28/2014 at 10:37 |
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regarding the U-turn thing...
Doesn't the NV come with the 5.6 standard? Why not just steer it with the throttle?
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fhrblig
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
09/28/2014 at 10:40 |
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I'm pretty sure all of ours have the V6.
Even so, I suppose you could do that but most of our customers stupidly insist on receiving their cargo intact.
shop-teacher
> fhrblig
09/28/2014 at 13:08 |
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How selfish of them!