Sprinter as a Daily Driver

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Bigpapaporsche1

New member
I am looking for a RV on a Sprinter Chassis. I've had the Sprinter 3500 with the V6 Diesel and now I am looking for a Pleasureway Ascent RV which uses the Short Wheel Base, with the optional 4 Cylinder Gas engine.
Because I want this Van as a "Daily Driver," I think the V6 Diesel will be problematic, hence the Gas Engine!

Do any of you have any comments regarding the 4 Cyl Gas.
 
aksotar

aksotar

2017 4x4 144 Cargo
almost 4 years in Alaskan conditions with mine as my daily driver and no problems… I drove a 1/2T extended cab truck for years and get better mileage in my Sprinter…
I can’t speak to I4 vs V6, I haven’t had any engine problems with my V6 and for what I do and how I use mine I am happy I have one…
what makes you think the V6 is “problematic”?
 
Kajtek1

Kajtek1

2015 3500 X long limo RV
Take a clean sheet of paper, freshly sharpened pencil and calculator.
When mpg listed on the forum are like fishing records, you can find good data on fuely.
Calculate
-purchase value
-cost of fuel in the time period you think you will keep the van
-cost of service for the same period
-resale value.
Diesels in USA are not for just anybody, so calculate your DIY skill is all of that, or extended warranty.
 
Cheyenne

Cheyenne

UK 2004 T1N 313CDi
Bigpapaporsche1 said:
...and now I am looking for a Pleasureway Ascent RV which uses the Short Wheel Base, with the optional 4 Cylinder Gas engine.
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First a question for the Pleasure-Way experts on the forum - did PW ever build an Ascent on a Gas chassis? You may be searching for a unicorn!
 
Kajtek1

Kajtek1

2015 3500 X long limo RV
Shawn182 said:
Why would one be led to think that the V6 Diesel would be "problematic" as a daily driver?
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"daily driver" often comes with short commute in mind.
Doing few miles at the time will keep aborting regenerations and if not monitored - it can lead to troubles.
 
hilld

hilld

Well-known member
You should talk to an Amazon driver (ones that drives a Sprinter) to see how those vans are holding up. Probably the worst sort of abuse. Short distances, frequent stopping and starting, etc.
 
Philip53

Philip53

2021 2500 Sprinter 170, 4 cyl gas
Bigpapaporsche1 said:
Do any of you have any comments regarding the 4 Cyl Gas.
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I have a 2021 Cargo 170 with the gas engine. Just finished the build out - weighs 8800 lbs. Have only made a couple trips, and have been impressed as to the engine performance. I just don't know how it does what it does having such little engine displacement. Yes, yes, I know the 9 speed tranny is the real 'secret', but it still amazes me. I had a '17 Navion (at about 11,000 lbs), with the V6, and my built out van with the little gas has more get up & go at low speeds. Seems to do as well at higher speeds, but almost certainly not any better. So far, I believe I made the right decision on the gas engine.
 
ShaneHouston

ShaneHouston

Active member
I’ve had my 2021 Cargo Gasser for two months now & it’s my daily driver. 20 minutes to work every day. Halfway through my conversion. No issues. Plenty of power. Depending on how you drive determines your gas mileage honestly. If I drive the speed limit (60) then I get 20+. If I drive (75) with everyone else I get 16 or so. No complaints.
 
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Bigpapaporsche1

New member
I am thinking about taking the plunge and buy one of the two 2018 (actually built on a 2017 MB Chassis) Pleasureway Ascent I am looking at. Either one of these low miles Vans (3,000 miles and 13,000 miles) will do the job. However, as I mentioned in an earlier Post, I do have my reservations. in a previous Post Kajtek1 said it best,
"daily driver" often comes with short commute in mind.
Doing few miles at the time will keep aborting regenerations and if not monitored - it can lead to troubles."

I am considering buying one of the Van now and drive it and see how things works out. If problems do develop in the next 1-2 years, I'll sell it and buy a newer Model. It is my understanding that MB plans on killing the V6 Diesel in 2023 (Emission Issues) and make to 4 cylinder Gas engine std and the 4 cylinder Diesel optional.
 
asimba2

asimba2

ourkaravan.com
Bigpapaporsche1 said:
I have contacted Pleasureway and the have confirmed they did use the 4 Cylinder Gas engine in 2016, I didn't think I was chasing a Ghost.
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Only the 4 cylinder diesel existed back in 2016 and it's available again today. I would check with PW and see if they meant the 4 cylinder diesel--it's a great powertrain and gets significantly better mileage and driving range than either the 4 gas or 6 diesel.

If I have to drive any distance at all I take the van because it gets better mileage than my other vehicles. I'm at 24.1 MPG average over 40,000 miles.
 
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Bigpapaporsche1

New member
asimba2 said:
Only the 4 cylinder diesel existed back in 2016 and it's available again today. I would check with PW and see if they meant the 4 cylinder diesel--it's a great powertrain and gets significantly better mileage and driving range than either the 4 gas or 6 diesel.

If I have to drive any distance at all I take the van because it gets better mileage than my other vehicles. I'm at 24.1 MPG average over 40,000 miles.
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I was not specify in my question to PW, I was thinking the Gas engine, but they may have thought Diesel. I do know, that in 2017/2018 MB did offer the Gas engine in their Sprinter Chassis, including the 144/170 inch WB. Advance RV, in Cleveland Oh used some of them in their 170 RV Vans with good results.
I didn't know it until recently, but the MB's Website has a "Cost of Ownership Tab" thats let you compare the various Drivetrains against each other, i.e. 4 cyl vs V6, 4X2 vs 4X4, etc. This is a great tool!
If my "Game Plan" doesn't work, I'll buy a new PW Ascent, with either the 4 Cyl gas or the 4 Cyl Diesel. We currently own a MB GL450, which has their AWD System. My guess is that MB will offer the AWD System in their Sprinter by then also.
 
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turbolsvt

Member
hilld said:
You should talk to an Amazon driver (ones that drives a Sprinter) to see how those vans are holding up. Probably the worst sort of abuse. Short distances, frequent stopping and starting, etc.
Click to expand...
After having issues with my 2020 on a cross country trip a few weeks ago and visiting 4 dealerships over 4 states and finally my local dealership (#5) the one thing they all had in common was Amazon vans.......a bunch of Amazon vans. I pulled into one dealership in Phoenix and my draw dropped when I counted 35 Sprinters sitting outside of the service departmen.
 
K

klempak

Active member
turbolsvt said:
After having issues with my 2020 on a cross country trip a few weeks ago and visiting 4 dealerships over 4 states and finally my local dealership (#5) the one thing they all had in common was Amazon vans.......a bunch of Amazon vans. I pulled into one dealership in Phoenix and my draw dropped when I counted 35 Sprinters sitting outside of the service departmen.
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Well I would think they were all diesel as Amazon is using 6 cylinder diesel prior to 2022.
 
marklg

marklg

Well-known member
turbolsvt said:
After having issues with my 2020 on a cross country trip a few weeks ago and visiting 4 dealerships over 4 states and finally my local dealership (#5) the one thing they all had in common was Amazon vans.......a bunch of Amazon vans. I pulled into one dealership in Phoenix and my draw dropped when I counted 35 Sprinters sitting outside of the service departmen.
Click to expand...
Just for info, what dealer was that?

Regards,

Mark
 
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