| Author | Message | ||
     Pwnzor |
...wife says I'm nuts.  | ||
| Thumper74 |
There's a company making 4x4 conversions! | ||
| Hootowl |
With a dinosaur/volcano scene painted on the sides. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I know they're useful, better mpg, etc, but damn those things are gross looking. | ||
| Rick_fears |
Saw one with a dually rear axle.... was pretty garly. | ||
| Nobuell |
I have considered the same. It would be perfect for hauling the race bike and gear to the track. Put a hitch platform on the back to carry the gas cans would work well. Beats having an enclosed trailer to deal with. They are not to pleasing to the eye. I vote for a Yosemite Sam mural with a metal flake paint job and a couple porthole windows on the side. Oh wait, that sounds like my van from the 70s. | ||
| Dwilson357 |
As stated already a van is superb for 4acing....I never had the coin for one this nice but a couple long drives with a friend to ride motocross we slept inside with the bikes chained up outside...had a full tool kit....it was a sweet setup | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I am oddly drawn to them as well. Don't know why. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
They're very useful tools. I know that this is the first Transit model to be sold here, & I believe built here too. There's a double cab van version in Europe, a favourite with the Pikeys. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm partial to the Dodge ProMaster. Now available with a 3.0L 4 cylinder turbodiesel. In the Winnebago Trend (a 23 foot motorhome built on the PM chassis), we're seeing them arrive from the midwest, towing a car...with 20.8 mpg showing on the trip computer/EVIC. WOW. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Again, it's a platform already proven in Europe as the FIAT Ducato, upgraded & toughened for the N American market to cope with the greater distances & poorer roads here. Both are a treat to drive & far removed from the old E series Fords & B series Dodges or Sprinters they replaced. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oh, I agree. Us dumb Americans are finally catching up to the EU as far as efficient vehicles. I've got nearly 15k miles on my Grand Cherokee diesel (VM Motori 3.0 turbodiesel V6) and I have literally put air in the tires...diesel in the tank...filled the DEF a whopping ONE TIME...and one oil change. And, in a 5500# full time AWD SUV, I get 25mpg up and down a mountain for my 17 mile work commute, and a hair over 33mpg for steady highway driving. yea...I love me a nice diesel. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I'm torn between the diesel or the EcoBoost. It's not really supposed to be pretty to look at, I'm all about function over form when it comes to a utility vehicle. My E350 Super Duty is getting a bit long in the tooth, with over 340,000 miles on the clock she still runs like a champ... BUT I really want something I can stand up and walk around in the back. | ||
| Strokizator |
The Mercedes Sprinter is available in 4x4 right from the factory. I have a 2008 "Dodge" Sprinter class C motorhome and the 3.0 diesel/5 speed gets the job done. If you don't need 4WD then you get the 2.1 diesel + 7 speed transmission which is a nice combo. Available in 2 different wheelbases and 3 cabs, just like the Ford. Maybe a bit better looking, too. I don't know how price compares between the two. If your wife still has that classy Flex she got a while back I can see why she gave you a slantindicular look when you mentioned the Transit van. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Yes, she's still driving the Flex, in fact we're thinking about trading up to the Platinum model with all the sunroofs. I'm a Ford guy, but I have quite a few Sprinters in my courier fleet, along with a few of those new ProMasters. The thing that kills me on the Sprinters and their variants is the repair bills. $3000-5000 for a turbo and a 10 day wait to get the parts is horrible. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
What engine in the Sprinters Matt? Also the new Dodge vans based on the Ducato chassis have FIAT engines not MB now. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I'm looking at the 4x4 Sprinters now... I didn't know that I need one of these! | ||
| Ourdee |
I like the Sprinters I've seen with graphics for businesses. | ||
| Pwnzor |
What engine in the Sprinters Matt? The ones we're having problems with are the v-6 diesels. The old I-5 diesels get better mileage and seem to have greater longevity. Part of the issue is I think many of the drivers don't understand diesels and abuse them like a gas engine. I've seen them in the yard, over and over again, just turn the key and drop it into gear without letting it idle at all. For my part though, if I decide to go with a new van, I'll be getting a Ford regardless of the higher price tag. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Here's a possible solution for the future Matt. I've used them before, good service, & cost effective. http://www.turborebuild.co.uk/shop/search.php?q=Me rcedes&searchbutton=Search |
