DannyD
Veteran Expediter
Yes, I'm referring to the Sprinter.
I just got back from my last run today. I am PEEVED right now. If I said what I really felt Lawrence would pull the plug on my post. Maybe even expel me as a member. The kinder/gentler version of what I'm thinking is I hope whoever designed this friggen thing would be kidnapped by al-qaeda.
Except for the gas milage & that ya could stand up in the back, I didn't like this thing before. My back is always killing me everytime I drive this thing. The radio controls are to far over to the right. The wiper fluid doesn't squirt up well at all. I thought I was out so I went to add some. Nope, I was 3/4 full. Just a whole slew of bad design things. Then ya add to that what another Sprinter driver I was talking to today called "nickle & dime" things.
My dome light fell apart awhile ago, at around 3000 miles. I've plugged a spotlight in the lighter, but I also need the lighter to plug in my back massager cuz the seats are so dang uncomfy. Yes, I can get a splitter, but w/ this piece of chyt I don't trust it. So I'm stuck fumbling around when I want to switch appliances to plug in.
Today we had a storm. Nothing earthshaking there. I live in Michigan & knew I'd be in one eventually. 2 of my runs had 2 hour & 3 hour waits respectively to get loaded. Again, part of the job. Those things happen. What WOULD have been nice though, is once I was loaded, to get in my van & go & NOT have to be messing w/ the mother ($)#*U$# van all nite long. Now I REALLY hate this thing.
Instead what I got was the realization that they didn't design the windshield wiper/defrost system very well either. I had about a 50 mile run. From Metro Airport in Detroit to St. Clair, Michigan. Three times I had to completely pull over because so much ice was on my windshield wipers that I couldn't see. Several times (maybe 17-25, kinda lost count there) I had to slow down while driving, to maybe 10MPH & reach out the window & kind of snap the ice off. This is NOT how I want to be doing my deliveries.
A lot of this could be alleviated if the defrost could have 100% of the heat sent to the windshield. I felt to stupid to ask why this can't be done, but I found out today that I'm not the only one who doesn't know how to do it. I talked to 2 other Sprinter owners today. They both told me if there's a way to do it, they don't know how. The best this flippin van will do is send about 50% to the window & 50% out the vents. If ya close the vent, a little more heat goes to the window, but not much more.
I work for a company I'm really pleased w/. I get a lot of late nite runs & don't have to be up early. I get to sleep in my bed at either my house in Flint or down here by the airport every nite. I like the people I work with. I like how ya can go in pretty much when ya want & leave when ya want.
In about a months time, I've went from wanting to go in at 10AM until midnite if they had the freight. Then it went from noon until midnite, then from 2-3PM until midnite. Now it's 4-5 until midnite. I can see it happening right in front of my eyes. The reason for this is cuz I don't want to spend any time in that #()@#(@ van.
My back if fine now. It was hurtin like a dog when I got out of the thing about 45 minutes ago. It's tough to want to work when it's a constant aggravation w/ something.
I won't do anything illegal, but I really & truly do hope someone steals this thing. I'm going to talk to my recruiter & see if they'll take on any cargo vans. I know I'll make less money per run, but when ya get to the point of not wanting to work cuz of your vehicle, I'm sure I'll end up making more overall & be a lot happier for the simple fact that I'm comfortable.
I basically want to go back to the Ford where the only thing I know I'll have to do is replace the blower motor on a semi-annual basis.
Anyways, I've written a book here. I've mellowed out a lot since I started this post. I do have to tell ya, it's a great therapeutic thing to write out your frustrations & to wish someone who designed something that causes ya so much grief to die a wretched death. =)
Thanx for reading my rant,
Danny
I just got back from my last run today. I am PEEVED right now. If I said what I really felt Lawrence would pull the plug on my post. Maybe even expel me as a member. The kinder/gentler version of what I'm thinking is I hope whoever designed this friggen thing would be kidnapped by al-qaeda.
Except for the gas milage & that ya could stand up in the back, I didn't like this thing before. My back is always killing me everytime I drive this thing. The radio controls are to far over to the right. The wiper fluid doesn't squirt up well at all. I thought I was out so I went to add some. Nope, I was 3/4 full. Just a whole slew of bad design things. Then ya add to that what another Sprinter driver I was talking to today called "nickle & dime" things.
My dome light fell apart awhile ago, at around 3000 miles. I've plugged a spotlight in the lighter, but I also need the lighter to plug in my back massager cuz the seats are so dang uncomfy. Yes, I can get a splitter, but w/ this piece of chyt I don't trust it. So I'm stuck fumbling around when I want to switch appliances to plug in.
Today we had a storm. Nothing earthshaking there. I live in Michigan & knew I'd be in one eventually. 2 of my runs had 2 hour & 3 hour waits respectively to get loaded. Again, part of the job. Those things happen. What WOULD have been nice though, is once I was loaded, to get in my van & go & NOT have to be messing w/ the mother ($)#*U$# van all nite long. Now I REALLY hate this thing.
Instead what I got was the realization that they didn't design the windshield wiper/defrost system very well either. I had about a 50 mile run. From Metro Airport in Detroit to St. Clair, Michigan. Three times I had to completely pull over because so much ice was on my windshield wipers that I couldn't see. Several times (maybe 17-25, kinda lost count there) I had to slow down while driving, to maybe 10MPH & reach out the window & kind of snap the ice off. This is NOT how I want to be doing my deliveries.
A lot of this could be alleviated if the defrost could have 100% of the heat sent to the windshield. I felt to stupid to ask why this can't be done, but I found out today that I'm not the only one who doesn't know how to do it. I talked to 2 other Sprinter owners today. They both told me if there's a way to do it, they don't know how. The best this flippin van will do is send about 50% to the window & 50% out the vents. If ya close the vent, a little more heat goes to the window, but not much more.
I work for a company I'm really pleased w/. I get a lot of late nite runs & don't have to be up early. I get to sleep in my bed at either my house in Flint or down here by the airport every nite. I like the people I work with. I like how ya can go in pretty much when ya want & leave when ya want.
In about a months time, I've went from wanting to go in at 10AM until midnite if they had the freight. Then it went from noon until midnite, then from 2-3PM until midnite. Now it's 4-5 until midnite. I can see it happening right in front of my eyes. The reason for this is cuz I don't want to spend any time in that #()@#(@ van.
My back if fine now. It was hurtin like a dog when I got out of the thing about 45 minutes ago. It's tough to want to work when it's a constant aggravation w/ something.
I won't do anything illegal, but I really & truly do hope someone steals this thing. I'm going to talk to my recruiter & see if they'll take on any cargo vans. I know I'll make less money per run, but when ya get to the point of not wanting to work cuz of your vehicle, I'm sure I'll end up making more overall & be a lot happier for the simple fact that I'm comfortable.
I basically want to go back to the Ford where the only thing I know I'll have to do is replace the blower motor on a semi-annual basis.
Anyways, I've written a book here. I've mellowed out a lot since I started this post. I do have to tell ya, it's a great therapeutic thing to write out your frustrations & to wish someone who designed something that causes ya so much grief to die a wretched death. =)
Thanx for reading my rant,
Danny
. Figure out what's wrong and fix it yourself, or ask others for advice. Yes, you paid $40K, but any vehicle is a rather complicated piece of machinery, and if you want perfection you'll have to pay a lot more than that. The things you whined about can all be fixed easily. Send Daimler Chrysler a list of the things you don't like, and if they get enough complaints they may pay attention and do a better job next time. 
