factory Sprinter 4x4 in 2013?
- Thread starter haven
- Start date
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Anything new with this? I read elsewhere that it wasn't coming.
I've had a decade's worth of about a half-dozen "solid," "any day now" rumors and we're still waiting for it to happen. About five years in, I changed from hopeful to "I'll believe it when I see it." It just doesn't seem Daimler thinks it's important.
You probably shouldn't expect any. The word I heard (admittedly second-hand) is that MBz threatened to cut off Oberainger from their parts supply if any of their conversions turned up in the US. That's the reasoning I heard for why South Africa's Sportsvans had to stop offering their conversions through U.S. suppliers after only two conversions were done.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Iglhaut responded; They don't sell kits or components and only install their parts at their facility in Germany. One could send a Sprinter over, but you're responsible for handling the import/export documents yourself.
This is pretty much what Oberainger told me years ago; no parts shipped outside the USA, they'd only install components on new Sprinter's.
There is a way around this, but would be a bit expensive.
cwsqbm
Explorer
From their POV, its not. The lack of 4wd doesn't cost them sales because no one else makes a comparable van with 4wd. They probably floated the 2013 rumor just in case Ford announced that the new Transit was coming to the USA with AWD/4WD (which it's not
). Blame our lawyers (liability - the reason we can't get even the parts here) and bureaucrats (certification costs make niche versions unprofitable).
imcolej
New member
From their POV, its not. The lack of 4wd doesn't cost them sales because no one else makes a comparable van with 4wd. They probably floated the 2013 rumor just in case Ford announced that the new Transit was coming to the USA with AWD/4WD (which it's not
Blame our lawyers (liability - the reason we can't get even the parts here) and bureaucrats (certification costs make niche versions unprofitable).
Has the no awd option on the 2014 ford transit been confirmed? This bums me out. Guess I have to go give ford a public flogging on their Facebook fan page...
They'll remember me from my no US ford ranger rant :violent-smiley-031:
I'm inviting you to respond to the poll: http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11080&highlight=AWD
And to write to your dealer and to Mercedes Canada/USA.
Currently here, most of us have either a GMC Savana AWD or a Pickup 4x4 with an aftermarket close box. Neither can beat the fuel economy of a Sprinter, Therefore if Mercedes sell it at a right price, they could do some good sell.
And to write to your dealer and to Mercedes Canada/USA.
Currently here, most of us have either a GMC Savana AWD or a Pickup 4x4 with an aftermarket close box. Neither can beat the fuel economy of a Sprinter, Therefore if Mercedes sell it at a right price, they could do some good sell.