With so many vans, which one to pick?

[Luisafernandes]

Hi all!
I'm new to this forum and I hope with all the experience out there, some will roll my way and I'm able to catch it.
I'd like to thank Bob Wells for his gracious and prompt help with some email questions I had. Very helpful.

I'm 45 and live in the northeast, and I'm going through a divorce. My wife had stayed at the house until December of last year. Two months later I was able to go back in, and I'll be able to stay there untill we lose the house. Which could be a month, a year or two. Nobody knows.

So for the last one and a half years I've been seriously considering living in a van, and now I know that I'm not alone. There's many of you out there.

I've been approved for a new car loan and would like to buy something new, something that would be reliable for many years. Been thinking a lot about a Mercedes Sprinter 2500 170" WB. But the reviews I read are kind of mixed. Some love the van while others say it has many problems, including finding mechanics outside dealerships.

I like the idea of being able to stand up and to be able to shower, so on paper the Sprinter looks good.

I know that probably this type of discussion has been dealt with many times but I would like to know, am I doing the right thing here? What has been the experience out there with the Sptinter? Buy it? Don't buy it? Maybe buy something else? Help!!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Some people would find it hard to make payments on a vehicle while traveling. I couldn't do it, but more power to those who can.

Bob did a couple blogs about Sprinters and I can't seem to find the one by the Sprinter Expert. The differences in the year models were discussed in that one.

I did find this one on a Sprinter conversion...
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/dodge-sprinter-conversion/

Kinda wish I could afford one.

 

[Malibusurfer]

If I had the $$, I would jump at a Dodge Sprinter!!!

 

[Bela's Mom]

You can find a lot of information about Sprinters on this Sprinter website: www.sprintersource.com. The knowledge that I have gained about the Sprinter engine and common problems has been invaluable. I have fixed some small problems myself and at least can talk intelligently to the mechanic. I also have the service manual downloaded to my laptop for emergency repairs/or to help a mechanic on the road if needed.
I have 2002 Sprinter and I love it. However, finding someone to work on it outside of a dealership IS very difficult. Most places do not have the diagnostic software to pull the correct codes to diagnose a problem. There are some generic readers but you could replace alot of parts before hitting the right diagnosis.
If you are buying a new one, you would want to go to the dealership anyway, during the warranty period at least. No matter what the badge, they are all Mercedes; parts are expensive. However, they will last a long, long time if properly maintained.

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I forgot to mention that you have a Sprinter expert in Pennsylvania named Andy Bittenbender. Google him. He will tell you anything you need to know about Sprinters. He can also fix anything on a Sprinter and will gladly tell you how to do it yourself if you are so inclined. Great guy!

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So sorry...I just realized that I typed the website wrong. It is www.sprinter-source.com. I forgot the hyphen.

If that doesn't work...just search for sprinter forum.

 

[akrvbob]

I wouldn't consider a new Sprinter. I don't know how much they cost but I'm sure you can get a 2010 or newer Chevy or Ford with less than 50,000 miles and put the high top of your choice on it for a third of the price of the Sprinter. They'll get 18 mpg instead of 23 mpg but you will never get back the extra money you put into the Sprinter to buy it, especially with Diesel being so much more expensive than gas.

Not only that, but I have no doubt your repair costs over the next 10-15 years will be MORE with the Sprinter!! Every repair on the Sprinter will cost 2-3 times as much as the same repair to the American van and maintenance is also MUCH more with the Sprinter.

But, that is just my opinion and I could easily be wrong.
Bob

 

[Bela's Mom]

Nope, Bob, you're not wrong. Diesel is higher, repairs cost a lot more as does maintenance, however, the fluid changes, air filters, etc have longer change intervals. It does cost more overall and is a headache sometimes trying to find someone to work on it who knows what they are doing AND is honest.

When I bought mine, I was working, diesel was cheaper and it was large enough for me to take my aging parents on trips. It could also be converted to allow for a wheelchair lift if needed. Fortunately, I was able to find a used one that had low miles (77,000), and was able to pay it off while I was working. If I ever need another van, it probably won't be a Sprinter.

Having said that, I have replaced the things that usually need replacing at the current miles, got a new set of Michelins due to the recall and hope to have no problems for the next 100,000 miles as it is running well. I still love it (and its paid for, lol).

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Even if you can afford the monthly payments on a car loan, you are ALWAYS better off buying a good, low mileage USED vehicle that's two or three years old vs the same vehicle new.

Depreciation in the first couple of years is killer. A smart buyer lets someone else take the hit on that.

Put the money you save into your emergency fund.

Regards
John

 

[Belinda2]

John,
That is almost always the case. I got a new car less than a used one. I was willing to take the one and only advertised vehicle with all it's features and lack of features. It was way below Kelly Blue Book. I made the deal via the telephone and went states away to get it. They wanted a certified bank check. We agreed with the amount, and then I emphasized this was all I was paying. When I showed up it had a full tank of gas and a $400 bug deflector extra. I said the check was already written up. They took off the bug deflector, gave me the gas, and I had it paid in cash and off the lot in 15 minutes.

 

[Duck]

With that kind of money, I'd be looking hard at the Ram Promaster.
I was poking around one recently, and a lot of the design decisions make sense for living in it too.
Front wheel drive, means a low rear floor height, and small wheel wells, nice square sides that taper in less than the sprinter(tapering is worse than it looks, because the vehicle slopes in right where you naturally want to sit at the opposite angle).
Bumpers that are modular and designed for low cost replacement if damaged to appeal to fleet users.
Good visibility it seems like and an attractive purchase price relative to the Sprinter.

Though I have an E-series front end(ambulance cube on the back) I'd much prefer a more modern vehicle, just not enough to spend the extra money.

 

[Luisafernandes]

Post reply


Thank you for all the ideas and suggestions.
I do love the amount of room a sprinter has, but after reading more reviews I've decided not to go with one. They seem to have to many mechanical issues for my taste, and then there's finding a qualified mechanic without having to go to a dealer. Same issue with the Ram Promaster; finding a mechanic outside a dealer with be hard, since they are a Dodge in name only.
At the moment I'm leaning towards a GM Savana 2500 extended version. In the end I might go with something else. Trying to add the pros and cons.

 

[Bdog1]

Ram Promaster will be under warranty for at least 3 yrs. a factory service contract could make it 6 pretty easy. I'd be more concerned with its longevity. I don't see any around there parts.

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Longevity if the model I should say. Not the life if the vehicle.

 

[Duck]

http://olympic.craigslist.org/cto/4422124515.html
That looks like not a bad way to get started then.
30k miles. 5900$ 2001 Chevrolet 3500 Express cargo van with the 5.7 liter V8 engine

 

[spd2918]

The new Dodge / Fiat should get 26 hwy on regular gas. The high top is around $30K. That's great if you go with a new van.

The ProMaster is front wheel drive with a low floor. That means more headroom.

 

[decodancer]

Good call Duck, if I had the $$$ I'd grab that Chevy.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Good call Duck, if I had the $$$ I'd grab that Chevy.

It would be a long trip to pick it up, but a great adventure. If the guy wanted to trade I might even make the drive.