Dog lovers play the Extra-long game with Mercedes-Benz Citan
The retired couple, who live in the village of Freckleton, Preston, trialled German shepherds for 25 years, travelling all over the country and winning many prizes.
Their competitive days are now behind them, but Arthur and Brenda could not imagine life without dogs and still have two: Tasha, an eight-year-old German shepherd, and three-year old collie-cross Patch, who came from a rescue centre. They enjoy nothing more than getting out in the fresh air and walking their dogs, or working the allotment they keep near to their home on Lancashire’s Fylde coast.
Supplied by local Dealer Ciceley Commercials, the Mercedes-Benz Citan has given them an extra lease of life. “It’s absolutely smashing and ticks all the boxes for us,” declared Brenda, who worked as a weaver. “I love the Citan to bits!” added her husband, a former butcher. “It looks very smart and is a joy to drive, as well as being very practical.”
Arthur Ball“We used to run a Mercedes-Benz Vito van when we were trialling, which was caged out to carry five German shepherds. I had it for five years and it never let us down once. I’ve every confidence that our new Citan will prove just as reliable.”
The couple have fitted their new Mercedes-Benz with two of the cages they used when trialling, so they can transport the dogs safely. “Tasha and Patch are an important part of our life and they get really excited when they see the back doors open,” said Arthur. “They know it means we’re off for a walk.”
The couple took advantage of competitive Mercedes-Benz Financial Services funding arranged by Ciceley Commercials van sales executive Phil Markham, to acquire their new vehicle.
The smallest van ever to wear a three-pointed star, the Citan is also available in Compact and Long lengths, but the Balls chose an Extra-long model, its stylish appearance enhanced by the additions of optional alloy wheels and fog lights.
The Citan range incorporates a number of fuel-saving BlueEfficiency measures as standard, including the ECO start/stop function – which turns off the engine whenever the vehicle is stopped in traffic, then restarts it as soon as the driver depresses the clutch – low rolling resistance tyres and optimised alternator and battery management systems. The 109 CDI model chosen by Mr and Mrs Ball is powered by an advanced 90 hp engine and offers diesel returns of up to 65.7 mpg (combined cycle). Like all Mercedes-Benz vans, it came with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, while the manufacturer’s MobiloVan scheme includes free, round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance.
If you’d like to find out more about the new Mercedes-Benz Citan, we’d love to hear from you! Simply contact a member of our team and discuss your requirements in further by filling in our quick contact form. Alternatively, you can visit our Citan page in order to find out more about this small but mighty van.
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🏁 On 5th September, our all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 completed the 2025 EV Rally, driving from West Bromwich to Tatton Park, Cheshire ⚡🚛.
Along the way we:
☕ Recharged at Peak View Tea Rooms
🚚 Stopped at Sixt Van & Truck, Eccles
☀️ Showcased clean energy at Chamber House Solar Farm, Rochdale
🌳 And crossed the finish line at Tatton Park
Covering 248km fully loaded at 40t, the eActros 600 proved its range, efficiency, and cost savings – highlighting that zero-emission trucking isn’t the future, it’s here today. Get in touch with the team to put the eActros to the test
#evrally #explorer #collaboration #solarpower
✨ Another fantastic review for our Blackburn team! ✨
We’re proud to provide a service that makes things simple, stress-free and reliable for our customers.
Read more of our customer reviews here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
🍂 Autumn is here, and so are the chilly mornings!
Did you know that with the Mercedes-Benz app, you can pre-heat your electric Mercedes-Benz van before you even step outside?
✅ Warm and comfortable from the moment you get in
✅ Defrosted windows without scraping ice
All managed straight from your phone, giving you convenience and comfort whatever the weather.
❄️ A smart way to start your day as we head into winter.
⚽ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! ⚽
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St George’s Park – the home of England football!
Competing alongside eight teams made up of van drivers and Mercedes-Benz Van dealers from across the country, our squad battled hard and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing an impressive 3rd place overall! 🥉💪
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football – it’s a fantastic campaign supporting mental health awareness for van drivers, many of whom work in isolating roles. We`re proud to support this important cause. 💙
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd – a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! 👏⚽
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
🌍 Tomorrow we’ll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions — and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. ⚡🚛
We’re looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
☀️ Our eActros 400 has been out and about in sunny Scotland yesterday, with driver training sessions led by Jordan Lowe and Richard.
Great to see more drivers getting behind the wheel and experiencing the future of fully electric transport first-hand! ⚡🚛
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
💬 More great feedback for our Carlisle team!
This is what we`re all about — great service and working to keep you moving.
👉 Book your next visit with our team by contacting them today
https://ow.ly/baCN50WXZVc
⭐ Excellent feedback for our Carlisle team! ⭐
We’re proud to support businesses in Carlisle and beyond, keeping vehicles on the road and running smoothly.
Get in touch with the team to book your vehicle in today.
https://ow.ly/eI1l50WXZPK
We were proud to play our part in powering Sam Fender’s People Watching Tour – the first live music tour in the UK & Ireland to run entirely on electric trucks ⚡🎶
When called upon to urgently mobilise an additional Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, our teams in Bolton Service, Sales Support, Accounts, and Digital Services Consultant worked flat out to register, prep and deliver the vehicle within hours – ensuring the tour stayed on schedule and made it across to Northern Ireland.
This was a landmark moment for sustainable entertainment logistics, and we’re delighted we could play a part in making it happen.
The Advantage event is here!
Pop in and see the team or book your appointment on our website. These fantastic offers are only available this week.
Come and visit us at Ciceley Commercials Ltd, Commercial Road, Darwen, BB3 0DB.
📸 Proud moment!
We’ve supplied CoolVan with their first Mercedes-Benz van — the beginning of something special.
CoolVan are experts in fridge & freezer conversions & like us, they believe in doing things properly. Together, we’ll be delivering outstanding refrigerated vehicles for customers who demand quality & sustainability.
Huge shout-out to everyone involved. More vans on the way!
Last week we were delighted to join Bardsleys Garage & Recovery in celebrating their incredible 60th anniversary 🎉.
Built on strong family values and decades of dedicated service to the Atherton community, this milestone is truly something to be proud of.
The day was filled with community spirit, from the charity raffle (where we were pleased to donate a branded jacket) to the exciting handover of two brand-new Mercedes-Benz Citan vans to support their growing operations.
A huge congratulations to the Bardsleys family on this remarkable journey—here’s to the next chapter of success and many more years at the heart of Atherton! 🚐✨
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