P & J now has eight Vitos in service alongside a trio of Sprinter 3.5-tonners fitted with Luton bodies. They’re used by extraction system installation teams.
“Our Vitos typically cover 40,000 miles annually apiece and we’ve found that they are robust and able to cope with the demands placed on them,” says P & J director, Jane Bastow. “We’ve also been able to cut down dramatically on incidences of theft from our vehicles since we switched to Mercedes.
“In addition to the standard immobiliser we fit Thatcham Category 1 alarms and special armoured locks on the doors as well as solid bulkheads,” she continues. “This means that even if thieves manage to break into the cab, they cannot access the rear cargo area.” P & J’s latest Vitos also feature air-conditioning, an extra-cost option.