Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 11:18:49 -0800
Reply-To: Zach Kaplan <zakaplan@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zach Kaplan <zakaplan@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Off topic VW LT/Mercedes Sprinter question
In-Reply-To: <981287286.279.42044.l10@yahoogroups.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I just received from Freightliner the brochure on their new Sprinter full
size van and truck series which is basically a Mercedes Sprinter assembled
in their South Carolina plant from European parts. The Mercedes Sprinter was
introduced in 1995 and has become the best selling full size van in Europe.
For the US market the engine will be a 5-cylinder Commonrail Direct
Injection diesel with turbocharging, intercooling and 4-valves per cylinder.
The transmission will be a 5-speed automatic. Fuel economy is said to be up
to double that of a US V-8 powered full size van yet the performance is the
same as a V-8 (probably due to tremendous low end torque of the efficient
diesel).
This looks like a really awesome van which will blow Ford and GM out of the
water as far as full size vans go. It has all sorts of other advanced
features like a clean looking body, big windows, 4-wheel anti-lock disc
brakes standard and rack and pinion steering. The cargo version is supposed
to be available in the 3rd quarter of 2001, the passenger version in the 4th
quarter of 2001 and the chassis cab (both single cab and double cab) some
time in 2002. I'd highly recommend anyone looking for an efficient European
van and considering getting a VW Eurovan to hold off for the
Mercedes-Freightliner Sprinter. I've heard a fuel economy figure of 21 mpg
city and 35 mpg highway. That is probably for the low roof, short wheelbase
model but still great fuel economy for a full size van. They don't have the
prices out yet but I'm told it will be priced very competitively with full
size Ford and GM vans. It will have an optional left side sliding door, be
available in 3 wheelbase lengths and two roof heights. I know in Europe it
is available with all wheel drive, side window air bags, automatic engine
start-stop for city traffic economy and alternative fuel engines.
So I have two questions. The first is I'm sitting here with the Freightliner
Sprinter brochure next to a 1999 VW LT brochure I picked up in Germany. On
the cover of both brochures is a yellow cargo van with high roof option. It
is clear that both vans have identical bodies. The only differences are the
grilles and headlights and the Mercedes/Freightliner has 3 slots on its
right fender probably for the intercooler. Everything else about the vans in
the photos are identical: Aero black mirrors, door handles, body pressings,
radio antenna mounted at centre, front of roof line. Well I do see a couple
other minor differences in the front bumpers and the length of the grille
directly under the windscreen but these vans are essentially the same body.
So my question is what is the relationship of Daimler-Benz and VW on these
vans? Did they both design it together or did one of them design it and the
other is licensing the design? Are they made in the same factory? The
Freightliner dealer I spoke with said most of the parts of the Sprinter are
made in Spain and will just be asssembled in South Carolina.
My second question is how long does a vehicle that doesn't comply with
California emission requirements have to be registered in another state
before it can be registered in California as a used vehicle? The letter
Freightliner sent me ended on this ominous tone "Please note, that the
Sprinter will not meet CARB engine requirements until model year 2004, so
the vehicle will not be available to be domiciled in California until that
time."
Zach Kaplan
zakaplan@earthlink.net
