Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 03:46 pm, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
PLUMBER'S VAN: Peter Vandenberg says the Bentley guzzles gas. "But if it gets the company noticed it's a good thing."
Peter Vandenberg has just spent about $360,000 on a new Bentley – and turned it into a plumber's van.
He has been turning heads on Auckland's North Shore after he had his new pride and joy kitted out with sign writing, a roof rack and equipment for his company Atlas Plumbing.
Mr Vandenberg has been in the plumbing business for six months, having previously made his living in property development in London and New Zealand. He says buying a Bentley as a plumbing vehicle is a bit of a practical joke on the industry.
The response from the public has been excellent. "People have been coming out of bars and taking photographs of it. All the boys want to be taken for a drive." His competition has been more subdued. "There's just smiles and hmmm."
He admits using a luxury car has drawbacks – he has to clean it twice a day and the 12-cylinder, six-litre engine guzzles about $120 of fuel every two days. "But if it gets the company noticed then it's a good thing." His wife was not keen at first on the high-cost concept.
Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 07:22 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Heh, Interesting..... Good on him! Love it!!
Sure may attract a mass more customers as they would get the impression, expensive, Quality vehicle.... Equals high quality plumbing job (at a HIGH price of course!)
Still, its completely stupid as it makes the car look totally crazy (those Bentleys already are ), will attract more damage over time being a plumbing car and its just has a look and stare factor of what the hell are you thinking!!!
Another thing, flash equipment doesn't mean good work, My Daddy-o was a plumber many years ago (Now a drainage contractor) - a very, very good one, far better that the many below grade plumbers about today that do leaky jobs and he didn't have all the super flash gear just the good old genuine plumbers Hiace van and later a Hilux... So skill counts in the long run.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 06:55 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Proof that plumbers charge too much... yeah, I'm bitter over just having to fork out $850 for a new hot water cylinder (is there anything more boring to have to spend $850 on?). First guy I got in quoted me $2000 - maybe he was saving for a Bently too... moral of the story, never take the first quote...
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), will attract more damage over time being a plumbing car and its just has a look and stare factor of what the hell are you thinking!!! 
