I have owned a Mercedes/Roadtrek RV for about 10 years. I can say the difficulty in finding someone to work on your Sprinter is true. I have had to drive from Arkansas to California in “limp” mode because finding a shop that would work on Mercedes on a weekend was impossible. So decided drive to our destination half way across America at a top speed of 50mph. Not fun. Has happen 3 times that we had to drive significant miles on limp mode because computer detected issue and put vehicle in limp mode. Finding a shop other than Mercedes dealership to do routine maintenance has been an issue. Other than the bad air sensor and 2 faulty turbo resonators it has not needed work. But those 3 times were painful in lost time. I am shopping now and some complaints about Transits rear end vibrations are worry some. There is no perfect van. Each one has it’s flaws.
I am studying to get a van to customize. The Mercedes is not bad but price wise is to much besides the dealers here in the USA will charge you a lot money to do any repairs. The ram little to small since I like to get a van were I could stand. Then I looked at the transit specially the model t350 it's roomy. And I could get it taller. And it's easy to do repairs also is awd and you could have 6 tires. My inclination is for a Ford transit high roof t 350 awd. Thanks for the video
Interesting! but the Transit (wall to wall) in the back must be about 1850 mm because Tobias is 1840mm tall and he can sleep side to side (altough a biiit thight 🙈). And I agree, I also think the Transit is a better van 😀
I don’t know much about Europe...but in USA...I’ll pick promaster over transit ...Mercedes out of my mind...over price the high is ok but too skinny not wide enough to sleep sideways and very unstable on freeway with windy weather...and too expensive to maintain
We agree with your Mercedes reflections, same we concluded with 😀 ooo really? that is interesting 🤓 why would you pick the promaster over the transit? (just curious 🤓) 😀
In Europe, the travelling would be very much about travelling between different countries, eartern Europe and northern part of Africa. Maintenance and parts would be big one. All you need is one incident to ruin your trip. All the other stuff (decore & layout) are cosmetic and can be live with.
Good point! The Fiat Ducato we compared with here I belive had 120 or 130hp, the Ford Transit we have now have 170hp :) Both cars have front wheel drive, so for us not having AWD 170hp would be the minimum :)
Judging from how long they have been around. I expect both engines are proven work horses. Local travel not much between the two but for extended travel like going abroad, I wonder which one has the easier maintenance and parts. Thanks
That is at least why we went for a Transit over a sprinter, we read that it would be easier to get service and parts all over the world with a Transit, not sure if it's the same with the Ducato, but probably seing that Fiat, Citroen and Peugot use the same base 😊
Caution Usa and Europe is not same engine, exemple Ford transit is good in Usa and is bad in Europe , Ford Engine Duratorq/puma diesel is bad, in usa you have not this engine
Thanks for the discussion. Its leaning me from sprinter to transit now. Some good points.
Exciting, Raymond! You have to keep us updated on what you're ending up with 😀ps. one of the things we regret the most is not having 4WD/AWD 😏
I have owned a Mercedes/Roadtrek RV for about 10 years. I can say the difficulty in finding someone to work on your Sprinter is true. I have had to drive from Arkansas to California in “limp” mode because finding a shop that would work on Mercedes on a weekend was impossible. So decided drive to our destination half way across America at a top speed of 50mph. Not fun. Has happen 3 times that we had to drive significant miles on limp mode because computer detected issue and put vehicle in limp mode. Finding a shop other than Mercedes dealership to do routine maintenance has been an issue. Other than the bad air sensor and 2 faulty turbo resonators it has not needed work. But those 3 times were painful in lost time. I am shopping now and some complaints about Transits rear end vibrations are worry some. There is no perfect van. Each one has it’s flaws.
I am studying to get a van to customize. The Mercedes is not bad but price wise is to much besides the dealers here in the USA will charge you a lot money to do any repairs. The ram little to small since I like to get a van were I could stand. Then I looked at the transit specially the model t350 it's roomy. And I could get it taller. And it's easy to do repairs also is awd and you could have 6 tires. My inclination is for a Ford transit high roof t 350 awd. Thanks for the video
Those are great reflections, and guess we're a little biased since we're super happy with our Transit 😀 Good luck👊
1 Ford Transit
They have almost the same width but the interior of Transit is 1784 mm vs 1870 for Ducato. Ducato is 86 mm wider but Transit is a more good van.
Interesting! but the Transit (wall to wall) in the back must be about 1850 mm because Tobias is 1840mm tall and he can sleep side to side (altough a biiit thight 🙈). And I agree, I also think the Transit is a better van 😀
I don’t know much about Europe...but in USA...I’ll pick promaster over transit ...Mercedes out of my mind...over price the high is ok but too skinny not wide enough to sleep sideways and very unstable on freeway with windy weather...and too expensive to maintain
We agree with your Mercedes reflections, same we concluded with 😀 ooo really? that is interesting 🤓 why would you pick the promaster over the transit? (just curious 🤓) 😀
In Europe, the travelling would be very much about travelling between different countries, eartern Europe and northern part of Africa. Maintenance and parts would be big one. All you need is one incident to ruin your trip. All the other stuff (decore & layout) are cosmetic and can be live with.
Where is she? from
The European Fiat van and the Ram Promaster have different engines.
aha!!! We didn't know that!! that matters a lot I think 😉🏎
Theres no info on engine which I thought would be a big consideration. Sorry no thumb upload
Good point! The Fiat Ducato we compared with here I belive had 120 or 130hp, the Ford Transit we have now have 170hp :) Both cars have front wheel drive, so for us not having AWD 170hp would be the minimum :)
Judging from how long they have been around. I expect both engines are proven work horses. Local travel not much between the two but for extended travel like going abroad, I wonder which one has the easier maintenance and parts.
Thanks
That is at least why we went for a Transit over a sprinter, we read that it would be easier to get service and parts all over the world with a Transit, not sure if it's the same with the Ducato, but probably seing that Fiat, Citroen and Peugot use the same base 😊
Caution Usa and Europe is not same engine, exemple Ford transit is good in Usa and is bad in Europe , Ford Engine Duratorq/puma diesel is bad, in usa you have not this engine