Wow, never got notifications that I got a reply, was talking to dh about vehicles and thought I'd see if there were. Thanks for the in depth reply!
I'm updating as I've come across lots of other people in the search for a vehicle with a large family.
I also looked at the NV passenger van and found it to be too small inside. There's no space for luggage/stuff and no headroom at all... I also recently found out that the NV has terrible gas mileage.
I also looked at the bigger SUVs like the Suburban/YukonXL/Sequoia but they were too small inside. They are also more expensive than the Sprinter.
Totally agree. We put a lot of kms on our vehicles (my Caravan is just shy of 300,000km), so this was a huge factor in crossing these vehicles off the list. Plus the appalling lack of cargo room. I also don't care for crawling in and out of the 3rd row of the SUVs.
Here's how we addressed the checklist:
1. It's a Mercedes... every visit to the dealership is costly. We have a mechanic that is certified by BMW and Mercedes, owns his own independent shop. His rates are half of the dealer. He gives us invoice price on the parts. Still costly? Yes, but after owning a vehicle of this type and doing regular maintenance, we were actually spending less than our Chrysler per year.
2. Diesel fuel is costly (good thing the engine is very efficient - We have the V6 but a 4cylinder is now available and is even more efficient). Working out the mileage/cost vs any of the GMs and Ford Excursion, it is far far more cost effective.
3. Parking is difficult but you get used to it... Get the rear view camera option! Well, not sure how to solve this for everyone, but DH has a commercial drivers license (Fire Trucks/Cement Trucks/Long Haul Trucks/Concrete Pumps/Dump Trucks, just a few he's driven). I used to drive for oops, and can parallel park a 5 ton. The Sprinter, sans backup camera, is a breeze to park. At least for me.
4. You need to pay attention to height limits of parking structures - the van probably won't fit in 95% of them
Good thing to note and I did think about that. Fortunately, it's extremely rare I'd ever be anywhere that would have those restrictions. Only one place I frequent has a parking garage and there are, oddly, Sprinters parked inside.
5. You need to pay attention to height limits on roads - the van may not fit under low bridges, spans, etc. The minimum height limit I usually look for is 9'. (There is a road in Connecticut called the Merritt Parkway that is restricted to vehicles under 8' in height. The sign that shows this restriction can only be seen when entering the parkway going south from I-91. If you enter it in NY going north, you won't see this restriction and blissfully enter the parkway unaware. Luckily, all bridges are higher than 9' and we made it through with our roof still in place.)
Bridges like that are rare where I am (Western Canada). The only bridge with that kind of height restriction in the closest city has frequently stuck out of towners in their motor homes. That one is duly noted! :jive:
7. You need to get the rear AC if you want your passengers to be comfortable during the summer months... unfortunately, we have had issues with water leaks during thunderstorms (it's been fixed 2x now) Duly noted. While the kind of weather that would necessitate using AC is short here, I am a baby and need it. Same could be said for heat in the winter. Need vents everywhere, no need for Noggle city, if it can be helped.
8. You need snow tires during the winter (I don't have snow tires on it now but wish I had.. maybe next winter I'll get a set) Done and done. Tire Rack is on my bookmarks already.
9. Not very luxurious for a Mercedes Benz (it's a commercial vehicle after all). This is a plus, actually. It means it may take the abuse from regularly hauling 5+ children. After inspecting it at the Auto Show, I was actually quite happy with these features, including the flooring. It can be swept out and wiped down. I can't stand carpet in cars.
10. You might end up paying higher tolls because of the size of the vehicle (this happened to us while crossing the George Washington Bridge - the attendant saw the van and charged us more - we get around this by having EZPass on the van and we get charged like a regular car/van) Good to know. Luckily, the nearest toll to me is about 3000km away.
As for alternatives to the NV and Sprinter - there is only the 2015 Ford Transit (which is not available yet). I'm not sure if you can get the Ram ProMaster as a passenger van. Checked out the Transit, and it's now out for passengers. I got as far as looking inside it and walked away. Looks very cramped. The Ram Promaster is out as a passenger, currently looking for info on it, pricing, etc. It may be more economical than the Sprinter.
The Sprinter is now out in AWD now, and may be worth looking at, except for the sticker shock of new.