Motors: Nugget like a home but without all the comforts
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The Ford Transit is the classic van. It’s been around forever and has become a byword for a tradesman’s workhorse but what’s really remarkable about the machine is how many reincarnations and spin-offs it has had.
There are long and short versions, double and single cab pick-ups, 4x4s, ambulances, fire engines and too many conversions to list.
The latest is aimed at the getaway weekender family who want the freedom to go where they want and as long as it’s legal, park where they want for an overnight kip.
The Transit Custom Nugget is basically a campervan, but with a price tag of almost £85,000 for the featured test vehicle, it should really be described as a compact home from home.
The one I tried was the longer Plus version which came with a toilet and washbasin at the backend along with a shower head but that’s for braver souls happy to have an al fresco freshen up.
It is well-equipped with LED interior lighting, a 40-litre fridge, sink and large fresh water tank, two-burner gas hob, heating system, side awning, front heated swivel Captain’s chairs, three-person rear bench that converts into a double bed and a raising roof with a separate bed for two people.
A folding table can be slotted into the space between the front and rear seats when they’re not being used for a bed.
The specialists Westfalia have done a remarkable job in cramming so much equipment into a limited space but apart from the cockpit I felt it was a little claustrophobic. I was on my own – I can’t imagine what it must feel like for a family of four hemmed in by the driving rain on a campsite in Skye.
The L-shaped working kitchen area reminded me of an aircraft galley with an abundance of cubbyholes and every available space adapted to accommodate the essentials.
The test vehicle came with mugs, cutlery, pots and pans, an electric kettle and even a bottle of washing up liquid.
At 5ft 10in, I couldn’t be described as tall but before I’d raised the extending roof I’d bashed my head many times on it.
Once it’s extended, there’s a remarkable amount of space up there, but really only for children or small adults who would no doubt enjoy clambering up the detachable ladder. The bed has a foam mattress with elastic spring elements which looks quite comfortable and the side material has plastic windows and mosquito protection, although it’s debatable whether it would keep out the midgies.
To raise the roof, there’s just one small clip and although the roof is quite heavy it’s well balanced and rises on pneumatic arms fairly easily.
Bringing it down again isn’t quite so straightforward. You pull on a loop and once it’s moving it comes down pretty smartish so you have to get your head out of the way and it’s tricky to tuck in the side and rear material at the same time.
On the road, the vehicle handles much like a fully-loaded big Transit and you are aware of the extra weight and the slab of rising roof which makes it feel a bit top-heavy.
The driving position is good and the six-speed auto box worked well. The two-litre EcoBlue diesel engine was well able to cope and I got some great economy around the 40mpg mark when taking things easy.
I would have thought there might have been the option of a four-wheel-drive version given that something like this will spend a lot of its time in the countryside and I would have liked a rear view camera. Visibility out the back window is limited by the kitchen cupboards and window blinds.
There’s all the driving equipment you need with satnav, cruise control, parking sensors and heated windscreen.
I enjoyed the brief experience with the Nugget but I like my home comforts and rather than this sizeable investment, I’d more likely plump for a cosy B&B or better still, a luxury hotel room.
