My nephew has been a Mercedes mechanic for over 25 years. He knows these vehicles backwards and forwards, knows all of the trouble spots on different models of different model years. While Mercedes is his bread and butter, he advises me that they are not the most reliable vehicles on the road as one would have every right to expect of a vehicle of premium price. As a matter of fact, far from it. Driving a Mercedes Sprinter may be all the rage but I do believe most people are not aware of the insanely high costs of Mercedes ownership. Parts are OUTRAGEOUS. $1000 for a bloody shock absorber, really? Further, when you suffer a breakdown in Timbuktu, Montana, good luck trying to find a Mercedes dealership, or even mechanics who are familiar with their vehicles. On the other hand, Ford dealerships with qualified mechanics and genuine parts are just about EVERYWHERE, in just about every town down to a population of about 2000 people. I never cease to be amazed at finding Ford dealerships in the most unlikely podunk towns across the country. For my money, a Ford Van makes the most sense, as compared to the M-B Sprinter.
You bring up some amazing points! And while I have yet to make videos on Mercedes I I already came to the conclusion that Ford is a better way to go simply for the sheer amount of dealerships and service centers all across the country. Mix that with reasonably priced parts and (hopefully) in stock availability and you've got the makings of a van that has far more ease of ownership than it's German counterpart.
I went with a 2021 Ford E350 cutaway van with a 14'5" box and it has a 84" interior height and 79" interior width. A 12,500 lb towing capacity. The 7.3 gas motor with a 5star tuning package is good for around 450hp and 470 pounds of torque. It's a great platform for a van conversion.
Ok ya I think you're on to something with the cutaway! Way more room, easier to work with a square instead of all the radius angles in a classic van. And WOW!...that engine sounds like a dream (although probably not going to be kind to your wallet, lol). Have you started converting it already?
Ford does make the best Van no doubt. But with that comes a high maintance cost over the life of the Van. The Dodge Van being more simplistic from its engine to drive train definitely costs less over its ownership. So, which one ? Depends on how much one wants to spend really. Also mechanically the Dodge is more reliable and costs less to repair if the neen arises. just saying
My nephew has been a Mercedes mechanic for over 25 years. He knows these vehicles backwards and forwards, knows all of the trouble spots on different models of different model years. While Mercedes is his bread and butter, he advises me that they are not the most reliable vehicles on the road as one would have every right to expect of a vehicle of premium price. As a matter of fact, far from it. Driving a Mercedes Sprinter may be all the rage but I do believe most people are not aware of the insanely high costs of Mercedes ownership. Parts are OUTRAGEOUS. $1000 for a bloody shock absorber, really? Further, when you suffer a breakdown in Timbuktu, Montana, good luck trying to find a Mercedes dealership, or even mechanics who are familiar with their vehicles. On the other hand, Ford dealerships with qualified mechanics and genuine parts are just about EVERYWHERE, in just about every town down to a population of about 2000 people. I never cease to be amazed at finding Ford dealerships in the most unlikely podunk towns across the country. For my money, a Ford Van makes the most sense, as compared to the M-B Sprinter.
You bring up some amazing points! And while I have yet to make videos on Mercedes I I already came to the conclusion that Ford is a better way to go simply for the sheer amount of dealerships and service centers all across the country. Mix that with reasonably priced parts and (hopefully) in stock availability and you've got the makings of a van that has far more ease of ownership than it's German counterpart.
I went with a 2021 Ford E350 cutaway van with a 14'5" box and it has a 84" interior height and 79" interior width. A 12,500 lb towing capacity. The 7.3 gas motor with a 5star tuning package is good for around 450hp and 470 pounds of torque. It's a great platform for a van conversion.
Ok ya I think you're on to something with the cutaway! Way more room, easier to work with a square instead of all the radius angles in a classic van. And WOW!...that engine sounds like a dream (although probably not going to be kind to your wallet, lol). Have you started converting it already?
Ordered a 2022 promaster 3500 ext highroof.
Ford just cancelled my 2022 Transit order after 7 months; they want me to order a 2023 at $4000 more and I don't know if I stay in the que?
Good information, thanks
My pleasure! I've got some more videos in the works for you too so make sure you're subscribed to see when we drop new videos. :)
so hard to find one now, even the used ones. expensive too!
6' 7" height vs the sprinter at 6' 2'.
Those 5 inches make ALL the difference for us tall guys doesn’t it?
@@RidgelineVanCo That's what she said.
@@uppertributaries lollll tooo good!!!
Ford does make the best Van no doubt. But with that comes a high maintance cost over the life of the Van. The Dodge Van being more simplistic from its engine to drive train definitely costs less over its ownership. So, which one ? Depends on how much one wants to spend really. Also mechanically the Dodge is more reliable and costs less to repair if the neen arises. just saying
Bro...listen....thats what I was trying to do...can the damn irritating music ..Can hardly hear YOU for this crap noise in the back ground.....
Noted!....I will be sure to keep the music a little lower in future videos. Thanks for the feedback.
Well there are gonna be a lot more homeless people in the next few years looking for Vans to live in so Ford is going to need to up its production.