Our rig is built on the last of the earlier design, a 2007 E350 with V10. I wished the deal we got in May of 2007 could have been delayed a bit to include the 2008 chassis, primarily for the improved braking systems. You can never have enough braking performance.
Some of the improvements introduced in 2008 has me wondering if we were better off with our earlier chassis. More CCC on our lighter weighted 9200 pound rig would seemingly offer a rougher ride.
I also like our earlier styling better along with the aftermarket lower bumper cover we have. It looks much more domesticated for the application. Not the commercial dump truck look of the design today. I also like our transmission filter outside in a bell jar, similar in concept to a motor cycle oil filter.
Still, I would have preferred the 2008, actually a 2009 to get the updated interior as well. I wonder if a 2009 interior could be installed into a 2007 chassis. There are likely a pile of challenges from connector mismatches for idiot lights, to other system incompatibilities. If it were feasible without such concerns, it would make for a fun summer project when I am later retired. Just get hold of a decent used 2009-2014 van with the right color interior and swap the dash board and door panels interiors. Then resell the used van at an appropriate discount.
I surely cannot argue even in my case that "older is better" because it simply is not true with the E-series. A little rougher ride and a bell jar oil filter doesn't make for a real argument. The E-Series get better as they get newer, styling aside :).
