On The Road
A lot of work was put into keeping the Razorback rigid at the rear and the ride it gives is almost as good as you would expect from a standard Transporter. Roll round corners is nothing to be concerned about and responsiveness is up to scratch. If anything the van under-steers but weighting from the power rack-and-pinion steering is good.
Feel at the front end seems unchanged by the mechanical shenanigans at the rear, but the van’s higher overall weight inevitably hits performance. From 0.50mph the Razorback loses three seconds on the standard Transporter, crossing the line in 16sec; it’s 5.5sec slower from 30-50mph, at 12.9sec. Both the hill climbs we make around our Kent route were interrupted by traffic on the laden run, but the unladen times point to a bit of a slog up the slopes.
To be fair, however, while the Razorback is no rocket ship, it’s not bad.
Brakes failed to impress, with long stopping distances, but the van was under control throughout. The handbrake, which is routed around the loadbay, is a hell of a heave to pull on and was unable to hold on any test slope. Razorback says this shouldn’t be a problem and is probably just a question giving the callipers a quick clean.
The standard Transporter gearing has the right ratios for all conditions with easy changes marred a little by the stretch for the gearstick.
Razorback says it made a conscious decision not to isolate the engine when the floor was unlocked so the van could be moved quickly in case of emergency. A light on the dash shines red when the loadbay is not in the locked position and an alarm will sound if you try to drive the vehicle.
Cab Comfort
Like all other Transporters, the Razorback has a functional and comfortable cab. Seats are supportive and the ventilation and heating will keep you happy in most situations the weather throws at you. Controls are in sensible positions and of sturdy design. The only difference with this cab is the indicator light, alarm and stiff hand-brake for the loadbay.
Visibility is good all round and a window is retained in the bulkhead and on the back of the loadbay area so drivers can keep a beady eye on the cargo.# It’s odd, but the bulkhead doesn’t seem to have cut noise as much as we might have thought. Decibel-meter tests gave results slightly worse than the 1997 Transporter test, but it still feels quieter, even if it measures differently.
The radio is good and storage is adequate – there’s a cup holder and some space – but a cab this size should have a lot more.
