Travato MPG...

My next unit will be a gasser as long as it has enough torque,the little better gas mileage is eaten up by the difference in the price of fuel and gas is more readily available.

That's right at what the Chevy vans get. Our 2007 would get 15-16 all day every day.
Agree, not bad. Here's a good video for you to watch, (if the link works)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6TSUeyowRw

My 1992 GMC g2500 vandura V-8 350 ci gets 16-17 mpg. Now it isnt as long, isnt loaded with all kinds of stuff, but it is from a time when economy wasnt that important either.

Wait for the diesel. At $3500 more,the extra mpg and longevity (providing the engine is decent) would be worth the wait.

I don't think Winnebago is going to put out a diesel version, probably because it would cannibalize their ERA sales. I could be completely wrong though.

There may not be a diesel version of these with RV credentials because of the transmission that's coming with it. Lots of folks will make a big deal out of the automatic/manual operation without understanding how it works. I read about it over the last few days, and being a car geek I understand how it works now and wouldn't be afraid of it at all.
From what I've been reading, this transmission is the source of the delay on the diesel setup. Chrysler has been toying with the software to make it more acceptable to the USA market compared to the way the Ducato version works.
The more I read the facts about this van, the more I like it. The biggest downside I see so far is the tiny tires they come with. The gas version's transmission has been around awhile and has been beefed up for commercial usage, so none of the drivetrain pieces are new and unproven

I'm curious about that transmission. I like the concept, an automatically shifting manual, which means that the power loss from the torque converter is made irrelevant.

As far as I know, the Ducato has "just" a plain old manual transmission. Not an AMT, just a six-speed with a clutch.

Here ya go. He drives a Ducato with the auto/manual. Makes some comments about the way it works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYSR-W-G45I

mlts22 wrote:
I was flipping through the October issue of Motorhome magazine, and the editor's note (Bob Livingston) mentioned a drive in the Winnebago Travato. He stated that what he got on that was "16 MPG under good conditions."

It seems that petrol engine is to anemic for the rebadged Ducato. It definitely needs the diesel.

boboyjay5 wrote:
Here ya go. He drives a Ducato with the auto/manual. Makes some comments about the way it works...

Very similar to Australian road conditions except on other side of road. He makes mention of the pulling power of the small diesel compared to his US SUV. In Australia that sized Ducato has a 4,400lb payload and can tow a 5,500lb trailer.
He made an error in his description of the Ford Transit, it is RWD anyway, it does not have to be converted to RWD. I wonder what "american tastes" are something that has been made more cheaply?.