I once rented a Dodge Ram 1500 2 wheel drive with the V8 Hemi. Over 10 days it averaged 19 mpg. On the highway if I kept it around 55-60 it would eek out 28 mpg according to the trip computer. At 70 or so it was down to 21. Technology!

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Roy Nicholl
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 10:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Friday nvc: Sprinters

I hauled a cubic yard of sand in the LT recently (~1.5 ton) and averaged around 11litres per 100km (~21 - 22 miles per usg) … had I slowed down (truck has a 7’ high tarpaulin over the dump bed), I would have probably been closer to 10.  Empty, I routinely get 8-9 l / 100km on the highway and 10 around town.

That’s better than most North American pickups (1/2 or 3/4 ton) manage unladen.  

At 80kW (~109 hp), there’s not a heap of power in the LT (the newer MB 2.7/2.8 litre i4’s produce 130 - 156 hp) … but there is little notice in performance with a load.

BTW:  Fixed the parking heater this afternoon (though I won’t need it for four months) - the control unit was un-plugged … not sure how or why that happened.

> On 26-Aug-2016, at 22:05, Karl Mullendore <tdiguru@WESTYVENTURES.COM> wrote:
> 
>> Also, these European designs just don't have the reserve for use or 
>> abuse
> that conventional American Iron has. In many ways these can become the 
> Vanagon of the future with the unforeseen breakdowns and expenses.
>> 
>> Once you have a coach with the typical add on body you also have all 
>> the
> poor construction that typically goes with this. Most of these are not 
> long term 25 year 300,000 mile vehicles.
> 
> Again, I refer you to www.andeanroads.com This particular fleet of 
> Sprinters, FOUR-cylinder at that, are taking far more abuse in 
> Argentina than most USA-made (not American, btw) campers see, do very 
> well at it, all the while returning double the fuel mileage. I think 
> I'll stick with Mercedes, thanks.