Mercedes Vitos are a breath of fresh air

An Essex company that installs and maintains air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment for ‘blue chip’ commercial clients has made a cool investment of its own – in the shape of two stylish Mercedes-Benz vans.

The new Vitos have joined the fleet at Cool Heat Services Ltd, where they have replaced vehicles by another manufacturer that had become too costly to maintain.

A 109CDI and a stunning 115CDI Sport Dualiner, the vans are used by the company’s qualified engineers to visit ‘blue chip’ customers such as Britvic and Tarmac Topblock.

Based at Cool Heat’s headquarters in Woodham Ferrers, they have joined a fleet that includes another Vito 109CDI which has given four years of trouble-free service.

“It was the proven reliability of our older Vito, coupled with the model’s long service intervals, that convinced us to opt for Mercedes once again,” explains Managing Director John Smith.

Cool Heat Services bought its latest Vitos from Thurrock dealer S&B Commercials. Their striking metallic silver paintwork is overlaid with the company’s distinctive blue and red livery and the logo of the Daikin D1 Partnership, for which it is an approved installer.

The 109CDI serves as a mobile workshop and is racked out with a shelving system designed by Cool Heat Services. It carries tools, vacuum pumps, recovery units and refrigeration cylinders, and may also be used to transport complete air-conditioning systems in boxes.

“The Vito’s suspension copes very well with the weight and the fact that it has a good turning circle makes it very manoeuvrable,” continues Mr Smith.

The Vito Sport, meanwhile, is powered by a punchy 150hp, 2.2-litre common-rail turbodiesel engine and is used by Mr Smith himself, as well as by colleagues.

As a Dualiner model, the Vito Sport has a second row of seats while retaining a practical cargo area. Its extensive specification includes luxury touches like cruise control, air-conditioning, a leather steering wheel and gearshift, electric windows and mirrors, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tyres, fog lights and extensive chrome trim.

Mr Smith was particularly impressed by the Vito’s comprehensive array of standard safety features. These include the latest Adaptive version of the ESP anti-skid system, which dynamically monitors the vehicle’s load status while on the move.