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We currently run three vans – three models (Ford E150, AstroVan, and Sprinter).
We’re standardizing on the Sprinter – will be adding a 2nd one in 2006. Why?
1. Gas mileage – our Sprinter gets over 22MPG. Our Ford gets about 14MPG. In this day and age, a huge difference. Not only great for our bottom line, but also a great PR move (we discussed this in a newsletter to our customers).
2. Side panels of the van – huge advertising space.
3. Realiability – the deisel engine is much more reliable.
4. Thus, length of service. Our Ford is about dead at 160k miles (we’re hoping to get 30-40k more out of it). With the deisel, we expect to get a minimum of 500k miles.
5. Size – At 6’2″ I can comfortably walk through the Sprinter. We can get more gear in it as well.
Hey B lowenthal Post a picture of your Sprinter.
Please.
🙂 i now am fixed on the sprinter.i want the bill board on wheels affect.not to mention good gas,lots of room and a head turner
Tim
You would look outstanding with those HUGE pipes sitting out the window while driving that Sprinter
We have a 1999 Astro & 2003 Chevy Express and are very happy with both. We do not put too many miles on our vans (average 15-18,000miles/year) most of our jobs are within a 10 mile radius. Our techs really like the smaller (Astro) when parking underground or cleaning houses right by the beach where parking is normally a big pain.
I have a 06 chevy express and it seems like i have just enough room for everything, where do you put everything in an astro.
I done a lot of reasrch on the sprinters. Yes, they’re exspensive. That’s the bad part. They’re a 5 cylinder diesel 2.8L with a turbo that’s made by Mercedes. You can get them with a nomal roof. The cheapest you can get them new is around 28K. If you’re lucky you can get one used. You change the oil every 10,000 miles. Being a diesel I don’t know how many quarts it take on each oil change nor do I you have to use sythentic or not. I would assume about 5 quarts and synthetic oil. They get about 25 mpg and as the get older they’ll get and easy 30mpg. You could get and easy 350K out of the engine. If taken care of probably 500K. I think they look a little wierd, but they’re nice. If I need one and had the money I wouldn’t hesitate. Actually I’m trying to save up.
I cleaned for some folks yesterday that just happend to be getting there bio-diesel system deliverd, I stuck around and watched the prosscess, I am now leaning towards a deisel van. They say you can make your fuel for about .70 a gallon, but I am thinking there not counting all the costs. ie: intial investment, picking up the waste oil, time. I still think it would make good fiscal sense, just shooting at the hip. when I get in the position to buy a new truck I will punch the numbers.
just a thought for now.
Boi Diesel will rise as the demand rises. Just like regular diesel has.
I have run a VW diesel for the past 7 years, something you never had available in the “land of the free”. A Sprinter is now on its way. The diesel makes sense once you’ve owned it for a number of years. The cost/mile keeps goiing down and down and down. Plus, this thing is built like a Benz, cause it is one! One a related topic, the cheapest part of owning a vehicle is the fuel. ask you accountant.
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