LDV’s Deliver 9 large van is a new-generation replacement for the ageing V80, although the two are sold concurrently.
It is designed to compete with vans like the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter, and even received an electric version, the eDeliver 9 in 2023.
The line-up currently starts at $51,568 for the Deliver 9 MWB Mid Roof and ranges through to $68,411 for the range-topping Deliver 9 LWB High Roof 12 Seat.
I can understand why LDV is staying a bit quiet on this one. The fact is, you’ve modified the vehicle from standard, and LDV has absolutely no idea of the exact changes you’ve made. That makes it very difficult for LDV to comment. You’re probably going to get a more informed opinion by talking to the company that carried out the camper conversion. They may have seen this happen before and have a solution ready made.
As for the actual problem, even though you’re still within the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) limits, you might find that the weight of your conversion is not evenly spread across the front and rear axles. Placing heavy stuff at the rear of the van will inevitably compress the rear springs. It’s just a question of how much. Don’t forget to weigh the vehicle with all your camping and gear on board and the fuel and water tanks full, too, as this is how you’ll be travelling. Which means loaded up like that represents your real GVM.
Possible solutions include a firmer set of rear springs that will cope with the load better, or even a set of helper springs (possibly air bags) to assist the standard springs. Either way, these modifications need to be carried out by a specialist and may even need engineering approval to remain legal on the road.
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The simplest cause of a problem like this is the little sensor that `knows’ when the gear selector is in park. If the sensor fails or is maladjusted, it can’t tell the computer that the vehicle is in park (or neutral) at which point the computer won’t allow the engine to start.
However, before you start replacing bits and pieces, consider that this is a pretty obvious warranty job and LDV is obliged to fix it at no cost to you. Provided you have had the vehicle serviced properly and haven’t exceeded 130,000km, LDV’s responsibilities are quite clear.
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The bigger question is why you didn't just turn around and drive straight back to the dealership. A brand-new car like this should not have any of these problems, and it's a sad comment on the attention to detail (or lack of it) demonstrated by the dealership that pre-delivered the vehicle when all these things should have been checked. Let's not forget, this is what the dealer delivery charge is supposed to sort out.
The steering wobble is possibly a wheel with a missing balancing weight, particularly as it only appears at a particular road speed. But the steering wheel button issue could be a fault with the wheel itself, the on-board body computer that controls all this stuff or even the software that drives it.
Straight back to the dealer and don't take "they all do that" for an answer.
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The accessories list is currently a little scant. The company hopes to bolster the range of options for the Deliver 9 in 2021, likely including a cargo barrier/bulkhead, panel glazing, dual sliding doors and more. There could even be a nudge bar, bull bar or tow bar offered.
The cargo bay offers a competitive 10.97 cubic metres of load volume.
The interior of the LDV Deliver 9 2021 model is tidy, well thought out and prioritises smart storage for the driver. Vans like this are renowned for their ability to fit a lot in, with overhead storage, dash storage and underseat storage in addition to the regular cup holders (some on the dash, some in the flip-down armrest) and bottle holders (large ones in the doors, which have large pockets, too!).
There's a three-seat layout, two USB ports, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity, but no sat nav. The driver gets eight-way seat adjust, rake but not reach adjustment for the steering wheel, a 4.2-inch digital info display with digital speedometer, and a commanding view of the van's surroundings.
The Deliver 9 is avavaible in either Blanc White or Pacific Blue.
The LDV Deliver 9 van range is offered with a three-seat cabin layout only. The driver's seat is separate to the front two-seat bench, which is suitable for two adults. The cab chassis version of the Deliver 9 runs the same seat layout.
The Deliver 9 also comes in an 11-seat or 14-seat minibus, the latter of which requires a licence beyond the standard.
You're in the wrong space if you want to know how vast a van of this size can run the 0-100 km/h sprint. We'd estimate somewhere well beyond 12 seconds. It's large and square, meaning resistance through the air is an issue, and it only has a 2.0-litre engine, which isn't it's strongest attribute.