Our local Dodge dealer stopped by my place with one for me to check out a couple weeks ago. We've traditionally run diesel Econoline 350's for our smaller deliveries and they've served us well. But we do run into issues where the volume of the load rather than the weight pushes us into the next truck up (An F-Super Duty box truck) which is much less efficient and "pleasant" to drive. I've got to say I was impressed by it in person. It's an easy driver, good visibility.

The one I drove was the 1500 118"WB model which is their shortest model, roughly the length of the Econoline, although the turning radius is more compact. Much larger inside (very boxy), larger rear opening and the ability to load standard 40" x 48" pallets through the side door (not possible on the Econoline). With FWD the floor is lower, too. Option for 3 across seating.

The V6 is 280 hp and supposed to deliver 21ish mpg. It'll be interesting to see what numbers the diesel produces once it's available. The $4K upcharge might be tough to justify mpg-wise, maybe easier to justify if it proves to be more durable. It's not uncommon for us to run our light and medium duty trucks into the 250K mile range.

Load capacity on the 1500 is 3900 lbs. We occasionally carry a couple ton pallets of fertilizer or infield clay, usually less than that but bulkier. So it's a bit of a quandry. To legitimately carry 4000 lbs. you need to bump up to the 2500 which is only offered in the 136" WB with the higher roof (101" tall overall) which would keep it out of many parking garages (hauling show displays to different trade shows isn't uncommon).

Fiat has been running them around Europe for decades, my concern is the durability of the Chrysler/Dodge running gear they've bolted to it. I'm content to let them get a year under their belt, maybe for FedEx or UPS to run some in their fleets, and see how they hold up.

Looks promising, though!

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Has anyone seen one on the road?

I haven't seen a single one that wasn't on a dealer's lot. I'm kinda bummed since I really like the ergonomics and layout. I was hoping they'd have all of the bugs worked out by next model year when I'll be in the market for a replacement for our venerable E350. They might not sell enough to find out what bugs need to be fixed.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

A local business near my house has two short wheelbase ones, embarassingly I've never noticed what business they are in.

I saw one wrapped, that was a plumbers van. Also SWB.

Sprinters are really popular in Columbus for whatever reason, I see a dozen every day it seems.

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

on a lighter side.

its a joint venture by Pug Citroen and Fiat - so it should have excellent design with dodgy implementation and all the beauty parts of the body should fall off in 1 year.

I bet stretch would like to explain this better.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

I have seen quite a number around here, they seem popular.

Swamp a lot of the utilities run the Nissan vans now, including the Water Company where my dad works. They love them.

__________________
2006 CL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2026 Genesis GV70
2007 Tiara 3200

im seeing more and more NV200s, the little nissan van, but none of the promasters yet. I might check out a couple of them just for shiggles, would be fun to see what a new work van is supposed to be like. I have never bought or owned a single work van where the left butt cheek of the side of the drivers seat is worn away to nothing and I have to prop myself up

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

The Nissan NV looks promising but I'd need a high roof version to address the same issue the Econoline and Chevy Express vans suffer from which is cubic volume. Then I run into clearance issues for that vehicle's typical use.

While most of the time I run out of room before hitting the weight limits, the ability to carry up to two tons on standard 40"x48" pallets is a must. Unfortunately that rules out a Sprinter. The ProMaster has a lower overall height but still has a taller and wider cargo area with its lower floor height.

The new Ford Transit looks promising. I'm in no hurry so I'll just wait and see.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

That little Nissan van is kind of neat. If they hold up well I can see picking up a used one for a company runabout vehicle. We used to have a seat-less Grand Caravan that was great for smaller deliveries and errands but it got T-boned last summer after 279K miles but I just haven't gotten around to replacing it yet. I've got bigger fish to fry first.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

saw one of the new transits today, bigger than i was expecting, sharp looking van. im going to have to look at those as well.
ive been kind of considering a bigger spare work van, really want a shorty G10 with the light duty suspension and 4.3, but those things are tough to find. mostly its guys who want exorbitant prices for beat to crap G20s or 30s.

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

they are spawning like crazy around here. took a long look at one at ye old depot, almost exactly the same size as my venerable 92 astro shorty, but without the rwd or tow rating. love the rear door design though, what a clever and good idea, the 60/40 split

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I paid about 7K extra for the cummins in my 03 Dodge. Its still worth 7K more in resale value.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The thing that van will not be capable of is towing. I see dually sprinters around here towing twin axle trailers with equipment on them regularly. Not going to be doing that with a front wheel drive vehicle. Practically every plumbing/hvac place around here are almost entirely sprinter in their fleets now...

I imagine loaded down the gasser v6 will get horrendous mileage. The new Nissan cargo van only offers gasser engines and its MPG's are terrible too.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

One of Mayor Mike Bloomtard's more crackpotted ideas was to mandate the exclusive use of Nissan NV200 moooomyvans as taxis. Fortunately, the mandate fell through, but one sees quite a few in use as taxis in the city. Much prefer the old/square Ford Transit Connect to ride in as a taxi. It has nice side windows. The NV200 has arrow slits for side windows with a little flap that slides back to get fresh air in back. Recipe for motion sickness, at least for me.

http://kinja.roadandtrack.com/i-want-a-goddamn-van-1555316386/+travis

I like this review. It really points out how ridiculous pickup trucks have gotten. A utility truck should be easy to load and haul things. Not require you to lift your items to armpit level to load into the bed like most damn trucks these days.

I'd rock a promaster van with a stake side bed.

Pickups are cooler.

__________________
2006 CL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2026 Genesis GV70
2007 Tiara 3200