ProMaster, Sprinter, Transit - Most Reliable Cargo Van?

Wally wrote: I am in the market for a new full sized cargo van. My sense is the decision comes down to ProMaster, Sprinter, or Transit. Do you own one of these vans? If yes I would love to hear about your experience with respect to the vehicle's reliability.

I love my PM. But I'm only 20K miles in with zero issues, so take that for what it is. You get what you pay for, and we got the cheapest van because that's what we could afford. Regardless, I love it so far.

I do find it amusing that a "lack of pre-drilled holes" is listed as a Con. Those things are practically worthless for a full custom job. I'd rather grab my drill bit and rivnuts and have the holes right where I need them.  

If you arent going to be living in it I would get an AWD Astro. I have a full size Sprinter which has been incredibly expensive to maintain to a level that I am comfortable with. A fricking oil change is like $120 if you do it yourself. They are nice to drive and to live in but thats it. The newer models have worked out a lot of the issues but the older (especially the T1N) are nothing but design flaws.

I have a 99 dodge Ram Van, pre-sprinter, and it's super reliable and comfy. It shares a motor with a number of other dodge vehicles, so easy to get parts. I don't drive it anywhere gnarly, as it's RWD. I'm also looking at Ford E-350's. They are basically 2wd trucks with a van body(unlike the old dodge vans which are unibody I believe) so they have a ton of truck options for upgrades. You can find them with the powerstroke as well. all the new euro style vans seem cool, but super expensive and the #vanlifers have driven up the prices on reasonable used ones. 

Levi Kepsel wrote: all the new euro style vans seem cool, but super expensive and the #vanlifers have driven up the prices on reasonable used ones. 

just wait 5 years. the market is going to be saturated with vans and prices will plummet...

Ummm, this is a 2018 thread.  

In case anyone hasn't heard, diesel vehicles got a lot less reliable in 2007 with the emmisions requirements.  I got a 2006 Sprinter, but it's not what I'd call unusually reliable.  

My sprinter-owning friend told me maintenance would be $2k per year for my sprinter when I was buying it and two and a half years later that's proven correct even while doing some of the simpler maintenance myself. 2008 sprinter with 175k mi. I love the van, glad I built it out, comfortably lived in it. But next time I would avoid a diesel and buy an everyman van to keep life simple.

Peter Lansdale wrote: My sprinter-owning friend told me maintenance would be $2k per year for my sprinter when I was buying it and two and a half years later that's proven correct even while doing some of the simpler maintenance myself. 2008 sprinter with 175k mi. I love the van, glad I built it out, comfortably lived in it. But next time I would avoid a diesel and buy an everyman van to keep life simple.

I have an 06 and I wish my maintenance/repair was 2k a year. I kinda got a lemon though. I treat my Sprinter like a princess and she behaves that way, my buddy treats his like trash and at 550k miles the thing just puts up with it even though its held together with duct tape and bailing wire

I am also in the market for a van but no to live in full time. The Ford E-series vans seem like the best option. They are almost all truck parts which are readily available everywhere, have a diesel option, and are for the most part pretty damn reliable. You lose the high top but that isnt a dealbreaker on long climbing trips for me.

Unless you're made of money, I'd say get a fiberine hightop on an American style cargo van (Econoline, express, ram van). Especially an E-series, the Ford 300 and 7.3 (diesel) are both Legendary (yes capital L) motors in terms of dependability. The Express is a workhorse of a van too.

You won't get the fuel economy (still will be pretty close) but you'll more than make up for it in what you save on maintenance. I think the euro style vans are great if you're both ready to finance (Transit) and pay a significant sum in maintenance (Sprinter, Promaster). Though 05-07 (I think) were good years for the sprinters, but they're still full of Benz parts and spendy. Can't tell you how many sprinters of that vintage I've seen limping around Alaska because of plugged egrs.

Nathanael H wrote:  plugged egrs.

Mandatory mod is an ECU flash to delete the EGR. .....and replace the OEM turbo resonator with an aluminum unit,

I have a Ford Econoline that runs on CNG. It's been great so far! 

Mike Brady wrote:

Mandatory mod is an ECU flash to delete the EGR. .....and replace the OEM turbo resonator with an aluminum unit,

Oh word, did not realize this was an option. Good to know!

Nathanael H wrote:

Oh word, did not realize this was an option. Good to know!

And get rid of the dpf too. Modern diesels have been ruined by their emissions systems. And before some people mention the environment... Cow farts and burps are way worse than diesel mods ... So if you really want to save the earth stop eating meat.... Although if you do those mods you are technically breaking federal law and will have trouble passing inspection in many states. Check you local laws. 

I just had to take my sprinter to get 2 NOX sensors fixed when the warning light came on.... At least in california this is covered under warranty until 120k miles or something.....

I can't say I would recommend buying a sprinter with high miles.

With that said I love my van, but do your research..... No diesel engine will be perfect and the exhaust system is expensive to maintain.... Thanks EPA...

caesar.salad wrote:

And get rid of the dpf too. Modern diesels have been ruined by their emissions systems. And before some people mention the environment... Cow farts and burps are way worse than diesel mods ... So if you really want to save the earth stop eating meat.... Although if you do those mods you are technically breaking federal law and will have trouble passing inspection in many states. Check you local laws. 

So how do i get rid of the DPF? I know the engine's run fine without it..... links?

Gumby the White wrote:

So how do i get rid of the DPF? I know the engine's run fine without it..... links?

I think it depends on the year. They werent installed prior to 06 I believe. I think some years need actual hardware and some only require an ECU flash. Green Diesel Engineering is the company I went with. Be prepared for a lil sticker shock.

Gumby the White wrote:

So how do i get rid of the DPF? I know the engine's run fine without it..... links?

This advice was bad to questionable 10 yrs ago - before the companies that offered it were basically raided, sued and shut down by the EPA.

Bill Schick wrote:

This advice was bad to questionable 10 yrs ago - before the companies that offered it were basically raided, sued and shut down by the EPA.

The only thing questionable is the actual DPF. Green Diesel Engineering is going on 10 years of upfront business with awesome customer service. While it wasnt to address a DPF I have had one of their tunes on my 06 for about 6 years with nothing but good things to say. It address quite a few design flaws. Turbo lag greatly reduced, EGR delete, smooths out transmission which can solve/reduce the ridiculous "rumble strip" flaw, 20hp and 60 ft-lb torque gain, 12% MPG gain.

Mike Brady wrote:

Green Diesel Engineering is going on 10 years of upfront business 

Green Diesel was shut down.  You can still see some things on their site, but you can't buy.  You can probably Google to read about how the EPA raid went for them - I found it entertaining.