Sprinter Vans

117K miles on ours over 9 years. As the signature line shows, we have covered all kinds of roads and terrain including two trips to Alaska. Wouldn't hesitate to go anywhere in it now.

• Quality and workmanship - As good as it gets in our opinion. Only minor problems and not many of them.
  
• Ease of dealer service - No problem for us. Dodge dealers continue to provide service and are close by. On the road, have only needed service once at a dealer and a Dodge dealer in Boston handled that nicely.
  
• Was it worth the upgrade to the camper vs DIY cargo van - Never considered anything but what we bought, it meets our needs completely.
  
• Would you buy another - Yes, although we bought our current B as a one and only and nothing on the market now tempts us.
  
• If not, what would you buy - N/A.
  

On edit, can't do the math. We've been on the road for 9 years, not 8.

Two sprinters,one a B (80,000 miles) and one a C(20,000 miles):

Excellent
Excellent
Yes
Yes

Thank you everyone that answered.

The older models were handled by Dodge and FL dealers. Now it's MB & FL. My Dodge dealer hasn't had one since the bailout, yet he still works on them - buying parts from the central warehouse and FL.

RobertRyan wrote:

Bobojay wrote:
Chrysler has taken it's experience with the Sprinter and used that to make many improvements in the ProMaster under the skin vs it's European Ducato cousin

Looking at your Promaster versus the Ducato. I would say the major changes have been to make it cheaper and the ability to run a gas V6 engine as against a diesel.

Negative on the cheaper. The frame has been strengthened considerably. Full body rustproofing. Seats are much nicer w/integral air bags. Dash has been updated, plus more.
Yes on the gas engine and 6 spd. auto

Now back to the Sprinter question thread

Our 2006 (2007 build) Pleasure-way Plateau TS, is, if you look at it clinically, basically a commercial van, built on a durable, MB chassis with MB nannies,ie they help keep you on the road and no problems normally with cross winds. Newer Sprinters can make their own claims. Chrysler OR Mercedes Benz service Sprinters here are serviced locally without a problem. The diesel engine in the pre 2007 was an inline 5 cylinder:almost indestructible. The post 2007 including the 2007 have the V6 generally which IS strong and reliable. I am wondering about the claims for non service in some areas and were the MB and Dodge(Chrysler) dealers aware of specific needs. I have never had a transmission or engine problem and the drivetrain with 60K miles is happy as a clam. The resonator has been replaced but that is even rare now. I do like the idea of a Promaster v6 but they too can fail and that is just normal for mechanical devices. MPG: I get better mpg than most of the little grinders around here!!!

Excellent quality, no problems getting servicing, never considered doing the build ourselves, would buy again. We have about 72,000 miles, so it's still a puppy in diesel years.

Our mileage is great (23+ mpg average since we bought it used three years ago) and it really does the job in mountains. The van does what we need it to do - provide a cost-effective way to see a whole lot of the USA and CA with minimal hassle.

Those of you with the newer units - have you had any problems with DEF?

yr2017 wrote:
Those of you with the newer units - have you had any problems with DEF?

When the DEF warning goes on I fill it. No problem there.

2.5 gallons of DEF every 5k or so miles. It's available everywhere now. Cheaper from the pump at truck stops.
Just like filling the windshield washer reservoir, except a bigger quantity

No problem with DEF.