After much research and debate, I placed an order for my van! Here are some details about what I ordered:
The Limited Slip Differential is the best option for snow and dirt roads. The Limited Slip helps you avoid that situation you are stick in the snow and one wheel keeps spinning but the other just stays still. I am trying to avoid the cost of a 4x4 conversion and hopefully the Limited Slip will get me by. As for the 3.31 ratio, it is a good compromise between cruising engine rpms (which can effect gas mileage) and acceleration/towing up hills. Why did I get a Transit?The short story is cost of ownership, serviceability, purchase cost as well as the aforementioned gasoline option. Coming from a sporty little hatchback, how it is to actually drive also played an important factor.
I spent some time working for a non-profit traveling around in a Sprinter van. It had its problems and was impossible to find a place to service, especially one that actually knew what it was doing. Either they where a little European car shop and didn't have room in their bays for the Sprinter, or they didn't have the knowledge (or patience) to deal with Mercedes' over-engineering. For that matter when they could service the Sprinter the prices where high because it was such a specialty. From Glow-Plugs not working to the driveshaft blowing through the block, a Sprinter was a no-go for me! Here are some more factors for some of the other vans out there: Promaster + FWD (for Colorado Snow) +interior deminsions -reliability and reputation (its a Fiat) -what its like to drive -clearance Nissan +price +build quality -antiquated concept/inefficient drive-train -ugly -big for the interior space you get Sprinter +nice features +dimensions +factory '4x4' -not the best '4x4' system! -cost of ownership -hard to find service (traveled in one for work, broke down in Utah, had to get towed to Reno and there was a huge wait at the one place that would service it!) -complicated systems/over-engineered! In the end the Transit was the best compromise. If I do convert it to 4x4 it will end up being a more capable system then the Sprinter's factory 4x4. The Promaster would have been a good choice, if for nothing else the front wheel drive (and I honestly like the way it looks best) but I have heard many bad things about reliability and build-quality.
0 Comments
|