New sprinter vans...

snappy

snappy

YHDG's adopted son!!!
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Anyone else think the designers watched too much tango and cash back in the day....
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whats that little package delivery van ford has? it looks like the gadget mobile from inspector gadget.
 
the Sprinters have always been ugly IMHO... I think Ford has the "Transit" and the "Connect" both of which interest me for my work... Great on gas, but can carry a lot of tools.
 
I just can't get over how plastic-y the Sprinter looks. Looks like they took flat pieces of plastic and Krazy Glued them on for a body.
 
Apparently, It's not the "Sprinter" anymore, That truck was, and still is, Mercedes Benz (And Freightliner). That abomination is the Ram ProMaster Cargo Van. Based on the Fiat Ducato, and of course like all things Fiat, is ugly as sin...

http://www.allpar.com/trucks/ram/ProMaster.html
 
Blaze said:
Yeah, that thing is wicked ugly, looks like something the Europeans would love.
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I remember when the Sprinter version of the Mercedes came out in Europe. On my way to go skiing and they loaded up that van with about 12-15 people with a trailer behind it that was loaded to the gills with luggage for all passengers. That damn thing hauled all that weight like there was no load at all.
 
I saw one the other day at school with the doors open. They are ugly as hell but the shape of the box area looks to make it practical if you get get over the front end look.
 
mommucked said:
Those real tall sprinters look like they would be a handfull on the interstate on windy days.
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I used to work at an ambulance manufacture and drove one from Jefferson NC to Grand Rapids MI. Most of the drive was in stormy winter conditions. Believe it or not they actually handle really well. Fuel sippers too.... CRD
 
I wondered about a lightly loaded or empty Spinter w that tall profile, they look like they'd be tippy. I remember driving an old Econoline van empty and the wind pushed it all over the highway, though the steering may have been loose also.
 
I used to drive a Sprinter for work, EXCELLENT van to work out of, very reasonable fuel mileage ( 19-20mpg ) mine was a 3500 hi-top dual wheel. there was a certain amount of buffeting from high winds, and a loose feeling when following a semi at speed

the real problem with them was getting parts and the cost of repairs.

brakes EVERY 40-45k, rotors, pads and wear sensors ~$700 in PARTS, BUT you had to pull the parts and take them and match them up, seems there were several different part combinations they used and NONE of them were documented on build sheets.

My current work van is being replaced in the next few weeks, I kinda hope it's one of these ProMasters, more for curiosity sake and that it will have more room than my current Chevy 3500. though I'm kinda leery, the Europeans don't usually make vehicles for big people, being 6'5" it could get tight
I do miss the room and roof height I had in my old Sprinter.

oh, and as far as looks, who gives a fuck, it's not a fashion statement, it's a work van, if someone wants to give me one to drive, I'll drive it !
 
I drive a transit connect daily. It gets 28mpg always and is very easy to maneuver. I install automotive electronics and accessories for automotive dealerships on site and it works awesome for what I do. Only complaint that I have is it could stand to be a few feet longer and the center console sucks compared to today's standard if cup holders and cubbys.
 
jeepn-jason said:
center console sucks compared to today's standard if cup holders and cubbys.
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I believe this is a "European" thing -- they don't carry a lot of stuff around (skinny jeans/man purse), and they only drink espresso, so no need for big cup holders.
 
True that. The cup holders def work better for lattes than big gulps. I'm going to build a platform on the pass seat to hold laptop printer and office stuff and will try to include more storage into that as well.
 
Blkvoodoo said:
I used to drive a Sprinter for work, EXCELLENT van to work out of, very reasonable fuel mileage ( 19-20mpg ) mine was a 3500 hi-top dual wheel. there was a certain amount of buffeting from high winds, and a loose feeling when following a semi at speed
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Didn't that one break the windshield every time you put it on the lift?

I also remember something about breaking the timing belt at 100k...?
 
shawn said:
Didn't that one break the windshield every time you put it on the lift?

I also remember something about breaking the timing belt at 100k...?
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The windshield would crack across the span ( huge glass in that vehicle, one of the largest one piece the road ) if the body was twisted in any manner, so yeah, an un even lift, or driving across a construction site, unpaved lumber yard, would stress and crack a new windshield. once broken, it was fine.

The first year or 2 in the US had issues with weak timing gears, they would shatter the cam gear right around 100k, warranty battle for many to get it fixed ( new engine, parts collide, bad nosies, all that ) EGR issues, injector seals blowing out ( sounds like a rod knock ) minor stuff like charge air tubes blowing out ( squealing like a live skinned cat under a blow dryer and NO power, top speed 45mph on level ground ) tensioner pulleys, and my favorite, spewing $20 a quart trans fluid at random times and NO FAWKING DIPSTICK to check the level ?!?!
 
Blkvoodoo said:
The windshield would crack across the span ( huge glass in that vehicle, one of the largest one piece the road ) if the body was twisted in any manner, so yeah, an un even lift, or driving across a construction site, unpaved lumber yard, would stress and crack a new windshield. once broken, it was fine.
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Thats good stuff right there!
 
Those will handle beautifully in the snow I bet. *sarcasm* Front wheel drive only so once loaded all the weight is not over the wheels anymore. I do think that while the nose is ugly, at least they were thinking about what would need to be replaced in a wreck. If you nose that into most cars you will probably only bust up the bumper.
 
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