Haf-E
Expedition Leader
Yes I don't get the appeal of the older vanagons compared to a sprinter (unless you are thinking syncro). The front area is just as usually with the swivel seats and walk thru seating... I can nearly fit a vanagon in the back of my high top sprinter 158 (long) sprinter... So much nicer having all the room and not having to deal with a canvas pop-up here in the windy and wet northwest. The lack of the engine in the back allows it to carry so much more UNDER my bed while still having a place to sleep and seating for 5 people at a table at the same time! I have a real queen sized bed set up all the time and still have 3 feet behind it before the rear doors to stand up and get dressed or change. Someone can sleep while others are at the table.
The mercedes diesel 5 cylinder engine is so much better than the waterboxer, subaru, or zetec - and I get 21 mpg all the time consistantly and can cruise all day at 75 mph if I need / want to. Parts are easy to get and reasonable - I haven't had much problems other in the last 200,000 miles / 10+ years. Used sprinter prices have really dropped and used parts are getting more common.
Off-road the sprinter is challenged and even a 2wd vanagon would do better - but a shorter van (140 or 118) would be better. I think the sprinter also has better clearance and comes with 16 inch rims stock to allow use of "real" truck tires instead of 14 inch car wheels.
I haven't even mentioned that the sprinter includes little things like a sweet 5 speed automatic, cruise control, ABS and airbags... and has a much higher cargo / payload capacity.
Give me a sprinter any day (unless your talking a syncro...)
The mercedes diesel 5 cylinder engine is so much better than the waterboxer, subaru, or zetec - and I get 21 mpg all the time consistantly and can cruise all day at 75 mph if I need / want to. Parts are easy to get and reasonable - I haven't had much problems other in the last 200,000 miles / 10+ years. Used sprinter prices have really dropped and used parts are getting more common.
Off-road the sprinter is challenged and even a 2wd vanagon would do better - but a shorter van (140 or 118) would be better. I think the sprinter also has better clearance and comes with 16 inch rims stock to allow use of "real" truck tires instead of 14 inch car wheels.
I haven't even mentioned that the sprinter includes little things like a sweet 5 speed automatic, cruise control, ABS and airbags... and has a much higher cargo / payload capacity.
Give me a sprinter any day (unless your talking a syncro...)
