These are so cool, pricey but cool.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
10/14/2016 at 13:49 • Filed to: None

Apparently, MB can’t build enough of them either.

Sorry for the cruddy 2nd pic, but look, a real t-case and front axle. Neat.

DISCUSSION (30)

Mercedes Streeter > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 13:56

They rust like crazy though. I’ve even seen some that are only a few years old that already have rust in the door sills. Not surprising, the current generation of Sprinter was engineered in the DaimlerChrysler days.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 13:58

RWD versions are much less expensive. Great for camping, mountain biking trips, etc. A co-worker has one, we can fit 6 people and their bikes plus gear and a dog comfortably.

Klaus Schmoll > Mercedes Streeter
10/14/2016 at 13:59

I also think that the plant in Turkey operates under some “this is good enough for a commercial vehicle” standard.

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 14:00

That doesn’t happen to have a California plate does it? Looks identical to the one that lives around the corner from me.

BeaterGT > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 14:02

I have a recurring dream where I roam the country in one of these filled with mountain bikes.

HammerheadFistpunch > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/14/2016 at 14:04

Yeah, if you don’t plan on needed the 4wd than a RWD will take you most pretty far.

HammerheadFistpunch > RallyWrench
10/14/2016 at 14:04

Nope, Utah.

HammerheadFistpunch > BeaterGT
10/14/2016 at 14:04

This one is full of seats...which is strange.

gawdzillla > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 14:10

thought very hard about getting one

could not justify 20k over a silverado

ended up with a silverado

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 14:13

My school has a bunch of the work version of these which they use for mail delivery around campus. They are all super rusty.

HammerheadFistpunch > gawdzillla
10/14/2016 at 14:14

yeah, the cost is pretty outrageous. I mean you could get a ram ecodiesel and a decent camper shell for the same price.

BeaterGT > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 14:16

Party van!

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
10/14/2016 at 14:27

Seriously, Sprinters rust like old Datsuns!

Baskingshark > BeaterGT
10/14/2016 at 14:32

Me too except replace bikes with surfboards and country with west coast

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
10/14/2016 at 14:47

Which is sad since I really love the Sprinter. They look so good when they aren’t rusty. I’m kinda amazed MB hasn’t engineered a new one yet, I think this gen has been around for longer than a decade?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 15:18

Yeah for sure, especially with a decent driver and good tires. He wanted AWD, but it was out of budget. Someday, he says.

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter
10/14/2016 at 15:21

Do they? I see Sprinters every day and I don’t recall them being unusually rusty unless already battered as well.

Cé hé sin > Klaus Schmoll
10/14/2016 at 15:24

They’re made in a lot of places but I don’t think Turkey is one of them.

Mercedes Streeter > Cé hé sin
10/14/2016 at 15:29

In the rust belt of the USA? I think it’s easier to count the Sprinters that aren’t rusted vs the ones that look as rusty (or worse) as this guy:

Kinja'd!!!

The only ones I have not seen as rusty as this van are newer ones used for livery service and/or RVs...Although the liveries typically get washed habitually and the RV variants usually don’t travel in the winter.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 15:30

And then there are companies that take these further. There is one near me I have posted in my DOTS that is super nice.

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter
10/14/2016 at 15:36

Can’t recall ever seeing one that bad, no.

What’s a livery service?

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
10/14/2016 at 15:39

Vans have crazy long design cycles, because their intended customer just wants something that works and doesn’t much care about anything else. The Ford E-series platform dates back to the mid 70's (they’re still selling cutaway versions). GM’s current van platform is a baby only dating back to ‘96, with a major refresh in ‘03. The old Dodge B-series/Ram Van platform went largely unchanged from ‘71-’05ish.

shop-teacher > Cé hé sin
10/14/2016 at 15:47

I live very close to Miss Mercedes, they rust like crazy around here, like old Datsun quickly. They rust quickly enough that some companies are switching back to American style gas V8 vans. They use a lot more fuel, but they’re a lot cheaper to buy. The Sprinters often rust out so quickly that their fuel savings never offsets the extra cost of the van, because the van doesn’t last long enough to make that payoff.

Klaus Schmoll > Cé hé sin
10/14/2016 at 15:50

You’re right. I confused them with the Transits.

Roundbadge > Cé hé sin
10/14/2016 at 15:51

Can confirm, I’ve seen a number here in the US lake-effect snow belt with leprosy.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
10/14/2016 at 16:12

I miss the Ram Vans. *sheds single tear*

And that makes sense actually. I think the champion of “long in the tooth” designs is Ford, with their heavy duty and full length SUV models being practically unchanged forever. See also: Ford Escape.

Mercedes Streeter > Cé hé sin
10/14/2016 at 16:13

A livery is basically a limo that doesn’t want to call itself a limo. After the death of the Panther platform, Sprinters and Lincoln Navigators quickly crowded in and took their place.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
10/14/2016 at 16:14

Yes, nobody knows how to milk a platform for all its worth better than FoMoCo. See also: Panther.

Chinny Raccoon > Cé hé sin
10/14/2016 at 16:54

They rust here too. I think the rustproofing has improved on the more recently built ones, but the early ones of the current shape went scabby quickly. It’s due for replacement now so maybe Mercedes will finally sort this out.

aaronet > HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2016 at 19:56

There is a family at my daughter’s school that has a 2wd version of this as their family car. They do have 8 kids so I guess it makes sense.