Newbie needs help

[Cahsadu]

Hey everyone,

I am new to the forum. I hope you well.

I am in the process of starting school in the next year and have decided instead of paying high prices for rent, I plan to look for a van to do my own conversion project.

I am currently in the south bay (San Jose, CA). I just recently find a sprinter 2006 that I am interested in. Knowing nothing about sprinter, I am hoping that I can get some help from the forum. If it is best, would there be anyone who is willing to check out the van with me, which is located in a dealership btw.

Thanks in advance.
Warmest regards,

 

[John61CT]

Do your due diligence asking around to find a trustworthy shop and pay them to check out the mechanicals.

 

[highdesertranger]

go over to the "Newcomers corner" and give us an intro, we will give you an official welcome. highdesertranger

 

[Firtree]

Have you read Waldon on Wheels?

IMO you’d be better off with a Ford or Chevy van even though the Sprinter maybe taller. Ford/Chevy cheaper to repair, very dependable.

-Does the Sprinter have a Dodge or Mercedes engine? Have heard the Mercedes is expensive for even normal repairs and the Dodge dealer won’t work on the Mercedes, a real mess. Later years might be better and I do see a fair number of business vehicles using Sprinters so my info maybe old.

Do some other internet searches like, ‘2006 Sprinter problems’ to hear what businesses, hard/daily users of the vehicle have to say.
Also check with insurance companies to see if there is any difference in insuring a 2006 Sprinter and a 2006 Ford/Chevy van. Do not tell them you are going to live in. May want to check with another thread about insurance and how to talk to insurance companies.

 

[steamjam1]

Welcome! and Hi from Santa Cruz! I originally started van dwelling after college to pay off my university loans. Your doing the right thing in San Jose as rents are absolutely insane while the cost of attending uni is sky rocketing far beyond incomes. My advice to you is not to finance a van, rather buy one outright that's in decent shape. Why replace rent for a van payment? Its still a payment that you can use for your educational needs.

Luckily for you, San Jose and most of the surrounding cities are tolerant of van dwellers. My van is registered as an RV and no one cares when I am there spending a night or two in an industrial area as long as I keep to myself and don't draw attention to myself. When I am downtown near SJS, I can't drive two blocks without seeing atleast two or three vans that are obviously being lived in.

I started out in an $800 van I slapped together to live in within three days and spent the next 6 months investing money into it that I would have otherwise spent on rent. I spent many a night in San Jose, Cupertino, Mtn. View, Then Santa Cruz, Monterey, etc etc. My $800 van paid for itself in ONE MONTH. Then two years later I had enough money saved up to buy a class-b RV.

It's a sad state of our higher educational system where kids haveto choose between paying for classes/books and having a roof over their heads. Even where I am at UCSC has a whole parking lot dedicated to students who can't afford the rents while attending classes that live in vehicles. There is a port-a-potty there and a security guard.

 

[Jacksonricher]

I started looking with the Sprinter van and then with more and more research I bought a Ford E250. I am so glad I did Do lots of research before you buy, I had a lot of " ah ha" moments and reality check moments and helped from doing the research. I post on this forum about what my options where and found sage advice and listened. I rewrote my goal van and within days I had a very good van basically dropped in my lap.

Don't be affraid to ask question on here, people love to help.

I am in East Bay also, I have around Concord,, Pleasant Hill, Martinez area for a few more weeks.

 

[closeanuf]

I've read too many horror stories on Sprinter vans to ever consider buying one unless I could just park it.

 

[John61CT]

If you buy one near new and sell before 120K, the cost per year and per mile can be OK.

But not an option for someone living month to month, and even a wealthy person should not own an old one unless a skilled diesel mechanic.

Many parts of the country very limited shops that will touch them.