I think UPS, DHL and US Postal servioce has already purchased over 120,000
total units.
A friend of mine has one he uses for deliveries.
He says it gets 18-25 MPG but doesn't handle hills or winds well with the
low powered diesel.
It cost him right at $38,000.00 with no frills other than an extended
warranty.
Possibly there are diesel options in Europe that make it perform better
there.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Wasson" <briwasson@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: Nvc-but maybe future vans-pretty please VW

> I haven't driven the LT yet, but did have the opportunity to drive a
> Mercedes Sprinter for over two weeks this July while staffing a bike tour
> that followed the Tour de France around France. After driving it thousands
> of kilometers, I really fell in love with it. The CDi engine coupled with
> the 5 speed tranny had lots of power and returned decent mileage. The
> turning radius was great, it was comfortable to drive, and felt very
nimble
> when driving the tiny little back roads of France and in heavy traffic in
> Paris. All in all, a very nice design and very roomy.
>
> I'm starting to see a lot more of these in the USA (rebadged as Dodges and
> Freightliners), and I think as word gets out a lot of service people will
be
> buying them. I did see a US-built camper conversion of the Sprinter at an
RV
> dealer, but they wanted something like $85,000 for it. That's a lot for a
> campervan, I think.
>
> I'm going to keep my eyes open in few years for a used Sprinter and maybe
> look into doing a self-conversion into a camper.
>
> Brian W.
>
>
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>

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