I'm about to get one of these for the next five years as my works van.
Has anyone got one or driven one? The new model has been out for a few months, I've been on the WhatVan site and read the write up, but I can't find any actual user reviews.
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I don't know what they're like to drive, but I was mortified to get thoroughly embarassed when I tried to overtake one up a dual carriageway hill in my Ibiza today- pull out to overtake, then 10 secs later pull back in and still be 15 feet behind it.
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You'll probably like it - most users do.
If you're buying it yourself, see if the deal can include some/all maintainence, as it'll pay dividends over your 5 years.
We know of a courier whos on his second, in 5 years (both as LPG fueled) & is really impressed.
Mercedes seem to be giving Transit a run for their money, these days!
VB
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Thanks for the reply Vansboy.
I work for a local authority who are purchasing and will be maintaining the van, it's a 311CDI LWB.
I've driven the previous model on the odd occasion which was quite enjoyable.
I've only seen two new model Sprinters on the road since they came out, one of which was a luton, they seem to be like hens teeth around these parts.
Quite impressed that it has Adaptive ESP as well as ABS and EBD, I'm all for safety features.
It'll be nice to have electric windows too. I've been using a hired Vivaro for months now and I've found it to be a really competent van, if a little lack lustre at 100ps as I travel permanently part loaded. I'm hoping the 109ps Merc will have slightly more poke.
I should be in the driving seat within a couple of weeks, I'll write a review once I've made my mind up about it.....
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Ha, you won't be 'sprinting' with a measly 109ps and a part load.
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Have driven a current 311 (LWB) a couple of times, Rugeley-Plymouth and back in a day on one occasion - they are quite quick and take heed of the warning in the handbook to use second for starting from rest without a load. First is really short and gives you a real shove in the back.
They feel a lot better with 1/4 ton in the back!
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The ESP in the Sprinter completely saved my bacon a couple of years ago when I had to make a couple of emergency swerves on the Autostrada. I couldn´t believe I´d avoided the smashup in front of me.
I would second the comment about starting in 2nd.
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From the speeds these things seem to do I thought the whole load space was filled with a HUGE engine!
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Xantia HDi.
Buy a Citroen and get to know the local GSF staff better...
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As a old shape 311cdi LWB driver myself (I am a whitevan man), people think it's got a 3 litre engine in it, when it's only got a 2.1 and 280lbft/Nm of torque!
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While it's not the quickest car on Earth admittedly, there are certain models of Sprinter that will waste my Mondeo TD both off the line and through the gears. I give them the utmost respect.
Cheers
DP
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Yep. I hired a 311 CDI High Roof ELWB a couple of years ago.. Massive thing it was - I thought it would be so slow it was going to be a painful couple of days.
Got in, pulled off and nearly smashed into the car in front - I couldn't believe how quick it shot off the line.
I've given these things plenty of respect ever since!! ;)
In fact, if I was buying a Merc tomorrow, I'd much rather have a Sprinter than a dull old C180K, for instance!
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On the downside the LWB vans are BIG.
Parked in Sainsburys on the way in to Plymouth for a coffee and it took up four parking bays.
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I remeber someone who drove a Sprinter single-car transporter saying that it would top 100mph!
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Sounds a terrific urban runabout. Suppose good ones are a bit dear though.
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they tend to flip on their side at 100mph as vans, not sure about car transporters ask your local insurance assesor.
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Do you mean as heavily loaded vans om? Or are we talking motorway sidewinds?
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Well I took delivery of this new shape 311CDI LWB a few weeks back and although it's a nice vehicle overall, I appear to have been the unfortunate recipient of a 'Friday afternoon van'.
On my first drive, it appeared to be holding back, and was quite lacking in any grunt whatsoever. I mentioned this to my fleet manager who didn't appear interested. I thought maybe it just needed loosening up.
At just less than 500 miles on the clock the van lost power on a hill and appeared to go into some kind of limp home mode limiting itself to 3000rpm. I ended up in first gear with the throttle planted to the floor but only managing walking pace to get to the top of the climb.
A trip to Mercedes diagnosed a faulty turbo boost pressure regulator and a new turbo was ordered on warranty. Strangely, the van drove like never before on the journey from the garage after the diagnosis, but it only lasted for that journey and it was soon back to its sluggish self, albeit not in limp home mode.
After another visit to Mercedes today, and a new turbo fitted, it's still very lack lustre and something is obviously still amiss. It's back to Mercedes tomorrow.
Another problem, not mechanical, the drivers seatbelt webbing was soaked wet through and this was traced to a faulty seal on the roof edge, which has apparently been fixed.
I hope these are just teething troubles and I'm glad i'm not trying to earn money with the darn thing,...
Has anyone else got one of these new shape Sprinters?? I've still not seen many on the road, I'm beginning to think they're all sat on ramps in workshops ;-)
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Colleagues in the construction industry have had them and not one good word do i hear. I have a large master van and i would never buy a rear wheel drive van again. Not even for towing
MD
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i would never buy a rear wheel drive van again. Not even for towing
Why's that?
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>> i would never buy a rear wheel drive van >> again. Not even for towing Why's that?
Cos towing a 1 ton trailer lightly loaded with a previous transit half loaded some stupid woman pulled out of a side turning in front of me and stopped smack bang in my lane. Braked as one would and the van just slid straight into her. Never happened with the master front wheel drive van and it never wheelspins when towing and copes with quite steep inclines here in Devon. This is even when said trailer is fully loaded. I used to laugh at front wheel drive, but not anymore. They stick to the black stuff better.
That's why mate....MD.
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Ha, you won't be 'sprinting' with a measly 109ps and apart load.
Get it chipped and you will>>
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Well, just like the washing machine that won't leak when the repair man arrives, the van behaved impeccably on the drive to the Mercedes garage this morning, and was the same when the fitter came to take a look. They can't work it out, I can't work it out!! I've been advised to take it straight back in if it starts to show symptoms of holding back again so that they can investigate while it's actually doing it. It seems that the new turbo hasn't solved the problem completely but may have improved it. I wonder what the odds are of having two consecutively dodgy turbos?!
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Had this new Sprinter for eight weeks now, and I'm thoroughly brassed off with it. It is very sluggish some of the time, but the rest of the time it's OK. The Mercedes dealer say there's no fault. There is quite obviously a major fault, but as I am the driver and not the owner (local authority) I'm having trouble getting my point across.
I had an episode where there was a sudden, strong burning smell which coincided with the exhaust sounding like a tank, this too was investigated and surprise surprise, no fault found. I'm no mechanic but I get the feeling that the exhaust / Cat is faulty and may be being blocked intermittently.
The van is back at the Mercedes dealer tonight, 900 miles on the clock, with a horrendous knocking/rattling from underneath the front when travelling on anything but a perfect road surface.
The soaking wet drivers seatbelt was finally cured at the second attempt by the dealer applying silicone over one of the seals on the B pillar which hadn't been finished properly at manufacture. This is an exterior seal and the repair looks a mess.
All in all, so far, it's a poor effort from Mercedes. I had expected better, much better.
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