Sprinters...

[Ruckuz]

Hmmm... extend the front and drop in a 5. 9??

 

[Elite1]

I want one of these 5 banger Sprinters, as a construction crew work truck. I am thinking of getting the largest cargo van they offer and then putting a bench seat behind the 2 buckets, Filling the cargo area with shelving, tool boxes etc.

I currently have an old 6. 9 International/Ford cube van. That thing is a dog and gets bad mileage. If the Sprinters are dogs, at least they get decent fuel economy.

 

[Ruckuz]

My complete review of a sprinter. . if anyone wants more thoughts before buying one.

I've driven them off and on for 2 years at work, last time was for 2 months straight.



Depending on how you are setting it up inside, they can be an amazing work vehicle. The first sprinter, was setup as a completely independant glass service vehicle. Independant meaning, the business was run from this truck. It was the regular height, regular wheelbase version. It had a full length glass rack on the left hand side, with a garage tool chest mounted directly in front of the side sliding door. Ladder, and supplies were hung on the walls, and lots of other stuff was on board. You had enough room to get inside and cut a piece of glass in the shelter, and keep all tools clean and dry. Aside from the climate controls... it was a great vehicle. Seemed like anybody could hop in a drive it no problem.

The second one i drove, however, was a bit bigger. It was the 3500 DRW Taller longer version. Being used to my CTD, i drove it no problem. A lot of employees are intimidated by it, and i wouldn't trust a few others with it. This truck was set up with all Weather Guard Bins, shelves and racks, with a glass rack on the other side. This truck is setup for the locksmith/automatic door guy, even with a desk inside. This truck is also great to work out of. However, i have used it to move materials and such, and didnt find it was the best vehicle for it. I'd say it depends on exactly what you want it to do, and set it up inside accordingly.



Corey

 

[EKlem]

There are a lot of good points on here about the sprinters but I think that the power issue is unclear. In town, they have good pick up and zoom around really well. It is on the highway that the small engine starts to become noticeable. I personally think that they have plenty of power for having 10 adults riding in them on the highway but they are underpowered for pulling a trailer(you shouldn't really anyways). Other than driving in high winds, they are by far the most comfortable and easy to drive full size van I have ever driven.



We leave for a 4k mile trip tomorrow taking 2 sprinters, my roomates CTD and my CTD with every seat loaded tomorrow. We do this every spring and they have been great. The driver fatigue is much lower than when we used to take E-350's.

 

[Ruckuz]

Hehe, sorry, i didnt mention anything about towing, because i'd never even consider towing with a sprinter. Thats a whole different story hehe

 

[Doubleclutch]

Sorry about the double posting... I couldn't get the link to work, then I couldn't get the DELETE button to work. But ya gotta love the "delete" key on the keyboard! Fat fingers and little buttons- something will not end well!
Greg

 

[Doubleclutch]

Just did a little looking into the new v6 diesel. Now I have reservations- It's based on the MB OM642 engine. Here's a informational link about the engine's automotive specs. : www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsID/2041216.002/country/gcf/mercedes/new-v6-diesel-engine-by-mercedes-benz

Aluminum block with cast grey iron cylinder liners, dual overhead cams, forged crank and con. rods with balance shaft, piezo-ceramic injectors, and electric variable nozzle turbo. and 18:1 compression to point out a few highlights.



It looks like the OM642 is the CRD being offered in the Grand Cherokee at 215 hp and 376 Ft-Lbs @ 3800rpm. or the E-class Mercedes at between 231hp and 221hp depending... It's also rated for B5 for you "greenies" out there Don't let all this information fool you, I'm just a mouse potato that did some google-ing to get this data. It will be interesting to see how the first batch of Sprinters hold up. I SUPPOSE there's a reason the engine was downrated...

Greg

 

[nickleinonen]

i haven't driven one, but i have unloaded lots of stuff from various sprinter vans. just yesterday i unloaded a 3 cylinder wabco air compressor assembly [complete with electric motor] and it weighed in at around 2500lbs. . that was out of a sprinter with a single rear wheel [suspension did lift up a good 4" when i did get the load off it on the forklift]
when i worked nights, i pulled out a load of parts for ge loco diesels. this one had dual rear wheels. from it i pulled out 2 fdl power assemblies [850# each] 2 aftercoolers for the fdl engine [±800# each] and a fdl dash9 turbocharger [±1000# or so] 4300lbs unloaded out of a van is pretty impressive i think [it might be even more weight, as the only # i really remember is the power assemblies, the others i am guestimating]

 

[therabbittree]

I am very very seriously looking at the new 2007 second gen sprinters. It would be a passenger, family van to take the kids and boy scouts etc in. . For towing I would still use my dodge cummins . . These new second gen '07 sprinters are MUCH MUCH nicer interior wise then the older ones. They are also taller, wider and generally a bigger vehicle. The engine compartment is roomier even for a v6 . . supposed to be more room then the older inline 5 engine compartment. You can get suspension seats, heated seats, heated windshield, bi xexon steering headlights, headlight washers, front & side & thorax airbags, TONS more storage compartements in the dash, Two sunroofs, 3 roof heights, espar heater, adjustable idle control, a few different axle ratios, back up camera, electronic parking sensors, tilt telscopic steering column instead of the older fixed , pivoting sunvisors, over head storage etc etc. We checked them of at a local dealer . . they had '06's and '07s there no passengers only cargo . . and they were night and day. The '07 dwarfed the '06 , much taller ride height, wider stance and ,taller, and was so much nicer and more refined. Only problem is the Price they are expensive on the mrsp. one decked out like I liked was over $50k sticker. . I don't knoweif the dealers will bargain like a pickup on dealer invoice and hold back etc. . because if so it may be feasible. . kinda like adecked out laremie megacab price tag and then what guys here have been buying them for. .

Oh and that Company Sports mobile, that converts them to 4x4's, is not offering a '07 sprinter conversion because they are saying DC is doing a 4x4 version in '08. read about it here: http://www.sportsmobile.com/6_news.html# . Looks like I will be saving for the next year for one. Our '03 VW Eurovan is nice but only 14- 18mpg and then sprinter can hold many more and you can stand up in em and almost stnad up ina the regular flat roof version. . etc etc...

Theat infor on the new v6 diesel engine rated more in the cars etc is nice to hear. . looks like you can soup em up then. Kerma TDI used to offer inj nozzles for the I5 version. . hopefully ya can get em for the new engine... .

Later,

Deo

 

[gilliland]

Forrest, just saw your post. I am south of you in Lake Jackson. Have you gotten a Sprinter yet? How do you like it? Have you found a "chip" for it yet? I drove a 2007 in Boerne and liked it, but power is marginal on the highway when trying to accelerate. Your thoughts? I love my 2005 Cummins but miss having the inside storage and room for more passengers.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I got it, and I hate it so much, I'm changing jobs! I'll be driving a Cummins every day soon!



Van Aaken makes a box for it... there are european companies that make boxes as well, but I was probably going to go with Van Aaken. I also spoke with DDP about honing a set of injectors for it, and they were very receptive to the idea, but wanted me to get a pyrometer on it first to see how hot it got stock.



not the worst thing I've ever driven, but FAR from the best. Overall, a pretty decent vehicle for what it is... nothing to really comapre it to. But I'm too much of a HP junkie. Can't wait till I get to drive a 500+rwhp Cummins every day for work :-laf