Mercedes Sprinters - Are They Really All They"re Made Out to Be?
What's so great about the Mercedes Sprinter anyway? A good question - the higher-priced Sprinter van is still a relative rarity in the US and Canada, compared to the E350s and the older Dodge/GMC/Chevy V8-powered vans.
Is it better? I'd say yes, for these reasons:
My Sprinter camper, a 2008 Dodge Sprinter 144" high-roof cargo van, cost me $30K including tax, when at the time the MSRP was around $45,000.
Dealers were willing to negotiate because of the state of the economy, and because the dealer I bought from had ten Sprinter cargo vans on their lot: given the economic crash of 2009, no one was buying vehicles.
The newer NCV3 Sprinters are more expensive, but you're getting a much more refined and capable van.
What about the "expensive broken van" issue, and finding a mechanic? All Sprinters have been built by Mercedes, regardless of their grille badging, and Mercedes has a justified reputation for quality.
Mercedes Sprinters have been made for a long time - There is a huge fleet of Mercedes Sprinters on the roads of Europe (Mercedes estimates one million Sprinters have now been manufactured), and almost 200 Mercedes and Freightliner dealers in North America selling and servicing Sprinters.
A Sprinter van is as capable as it is because of the many refinements of the engine and the computer systems that produce efficient performance and handling.
Does it really get such great fuel mileage? In a word - yes.
Depending on the weight of your final Sprinter RV, the Sprinter has astonishing fuel economy compared to almost any other RV: 18-22 mpg is not exceptional among Sprinter drivers, and mileage has been reported as high as 30 mpg for an older 2.
7-liter Sprinter driving at 55mph.
It all adds up to this - if you're looking for the best base vehicle available in North America today for a camper van/RV conversion, the Mercedes Sprinter is the best choice by far.
Is it better? I'd say yes, for these reasons:
- It's powerful AND fuel-efficient - fuel prices will continue rising, so you'll want the most fuel-efficient chassis you can find.
With the older 2.
7L turbodiesel (up to 2006), the 154-hp 3.
0L turbodiesel (2007-2009), or the newer 188-hp BlueTEC turbodiesel (2010 onwards), you have the best combination of power and fuel-efficiency on the market.
You have to drive it to experience the truth - at speeds from 30-60 mph, because of the amazing torque of the turbodiesel engine, you have great passing power and quick response. - The handling is remarkable for a vehicle this size, and this tall - if you have driven other high-roofed vans, you'll be surprised at the way this van corners, and its stable feel at highway speeds, even in high winds (the internal height on a high-roof Sprinter van is 6'4", the high-roof van measures roughly 9' tall overall).
The cornering, acceleration and deceleration are ably assisted by the Adaptive ESP system, which includes anti-skid braking, Acceleration Skid Control, Load Adaptive Control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, Roll Over Mitigation, and understeering control, giving a rock-solid feel on the road, even fully loaded. - It's got all the amenities of a modern passenger car in a van- everything you would expect in a modern vehicle is already standard: driver and passenger airbags (and optional side-curtain airbags), electronic braking, ergonomic controls, power locks, power windows, heated mirrors, with tons of possible additional options.
- Great interior room for a camper conversion - a 144" wheelbase Sprinter high-roof cargo van has an interior height of 76 inches (6'4"), 70 inches wide (5'10"), and 128 inches (10'8") from the back of the front seats to the rear door.
That's plenty of room to get in everything you want, and much more height and width than any similar-size domestic van! - Strong aftermarket and conversion specialist support- There are many companies specializing in parts and accessories for Sprinter RVs, from full-blown high-end Sprinter RV factory conversions to small custom parts suppliers.
As the Sprinter's popularity continues to increase, so will its share of the market, and the number of manufacturers producing RV parts and complete RV designs. - It's a green choice- The Mercedes Sprinter uses a fuel-efficient, clean-burning common-rail diesel.
Mercedes already certifies use of B5 bio-diesel is acceptable with the Sprinter.
Mercedes has been developing an electric Sprinter since 2006, with more and more impetus to soon bring this to market.
Our personal Sprinter RV uses a dual-panel solar system for all electric power, and a diesel-powered cooktop/heater, eliminating propane use entirely.
My Sprinter camper, a 2008 Dodge Sprinter 144" high-roof cargo van, cost me $30K including tax, when at the time the MSRP was around $45,000.
Dealers were willing to negotiate because of the state of the economy, and because the dealer I bought from had ten Sprinter cargo vans on their lot: given the economic crash of 2009, no one was buying vehicles.
The newer NCV3 Sprinters are more expensive, but you're getting a much more refined and capable van.
What about the "expensive broken van" issue, and finding a mechanic? All Sprinters have been built by Mercedes, regardless of their grille badging, and Mercedes has a justified reputation for quality.
Mercedes Sprinters have been made for a long time - There is a huge fleet of Mercedes Sprinters on the roads of Europe (Mercedes estimates one million Sprinters have now been manufactured), and almost 200 Mercedes and Freightliner dealers in North America selling and servicing Sprinters.
A Sprinter van is as capable as it is because of the many refinements of the engine and the computer systems that produce efficient performance and handling.
Does it really get such great fuel mileage? In a word - yes.
Depending on the weight of your final Sprinter RV, the Sprinter has astonishing fuel economy compared to almost any other RV: 18-22 mpg is not exceptional among Sprinter drivers, and mileage has been reported as high as 30 mpg for an older 2.
7-liter Sprinter driving at 55mph.
It all adds up to this - if you're looking for the best base vehicle available in North America today for a camper van/RV conversion, the Mercedes Sprinter is the best choice by far.