Rethinking a Sprinter for the Bay Area

[riggyk]

So I've posted this as a response in an older thread so apologies if this is a redundancy/repeat post....

For those unaware, a quick breakdown on my dwelling itinerary:

1) Making a move to the SF Bay Area.
2) Plan on continuing the 9-5 corporate life once I get there, but am currently in the process of getting a pipeline for networking lead/interviews etc. IE No clue where I'll be working yet.
3) A good friend down in the bay proper area has offered me a room at his place until I get on my feet. Hopefully only 1-2 months and thus will need to put my vehicle in public parking (monthly for that time).
4) Currently searching for a vehicle to make the trip.



SO.. phew now that that's out. I went to drive a high top sprinter today, and have had my sights on a sprinter for some time, but when I was driving it today, it all hit me like a ton of bricks. 

Is this thing totally impractical for the "what-if's" of my situation? And is it also totally impractical for one guy in compact SF? 

 - What if any garage close to my buddies in the bay wouldn't accommodate the size of a sprinter?
 - What if I land a job in the financial district or somewhere that only offers worker parking in a ramp somewhere and that's a nightmare trying to park the thing?

I guess in the end it's all up to me whether I'd like to risk it, and whether i'd be working in say Palo Alto or anywhere else aside from Bay proper...... but is a sprinter potentially toggling between bay proper and the surrounding areas just not worth the clunkiness and large body? I'm a little put off by the sardine'd feeling of an econoline, but it seems like it could simply prove way more practical given the above, and potentially half the price, and more nimble? Plus it incentivizes me to spend time truly being outdoors and then using the van as a crash pad and not a dwell pad.

Any feedback pals?

 

[AngryVanMan]

The wheelbase on that one 2006 Sprinter you posted was only 2" more than a "normal" full sized van, so maneuverability would be about the same if you don't get a long/extended one. The overall height could be a problem in parking garages though. I'm seeing a lot searching Google that are like 6-5" to 6-8", or one has limited 7-2". Even a normal full sized van with no roof rack can be over 7' tall depending on features, suspension, tires. If you can't get lot or street parking, any van could be tough or incompatible with many shorter garages. You might need to think about a minivan for absolute best parking garage fitment.

edit: I was just thinking about how funny it would be to see a "slammed" Sprinter dedicated to city roaming and parking; riding on the bump stops scraping over the speed bumps

 

[AngryVanMan]

Sorry to bust in on your thread again, but have you seen CycleCruza on YouTube? He's from Ohio, but he's got a sweet setup in a van with his bike parked inside. A bike is really great in California because you can legally filter between lanes in traffic, it can cut your downtown commute times drastically. Something else to think about or consider.

 

[steamjam1]

As a former downtown SF tech worker, I can say without a doubt that a hightop Sprinter won't work out all that well. You want something small like a mini van, or at maximum a SWB full size van with a bicycle or something to tool around in. If you want to sleep on the coast on Highway 1, (Yer not supposed too, but in certain places south of the City, its tolerated as long as you don't cause no trouble. Ive done it many many times) then you'll be OK with a hightop sprinter as you can just take the 1 straight to downtown SF.

If your in the P-A, (Palo Alto) then you'll be OK with a Sprinter. Its the same for the south bay, and further south into Santa Cruz, where you can be in something really sh*tty looking and mega huge and no one will bother you unless you bother them. (for the most part.)

 

[steamjam1]

BTW, haha... If you get down here WELCOME to the great SF bay area! The land of UN-affordable rents, pissed off Gen-X-ers who thought they would be further ahead in life now that they are mostly in their 40's, instead of being stuck in dead end, and generally meaningless lives, dreadfully bad driving skills, poorly funded road repairs, and people who scream at you at the top of their lungs for being a NO GOOD COMMUNIST for having mushrooms on your pizza. (True story)