NEW Mercedes van! VW style Possible 39MPG?

[noonan1970]

Pretty sweet rig... Only available in Germany for now.

https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mercedes-benz/vehicles/camper-vans/camping-at-portugals-seaside-with-the-marco-polo-video/

[ultraman6970]

https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mercedes-benz/vehicles/passenger-cars/v-class/

[grawk]

I would buy the marco polo today.

[notsew]

Man, that is awesome. We borrowed my dad's camper eurovan for a trip to Banff this summer and it's such a great was to travel. Add in high mpg diesel (one of my buddies did a tdi swap in his westy, only took two engines to get right) and merc luxury...Awesome. Probably costs as much as a house, though (or at least a house in Iowa or somewhere).

Also, that video was terrible. More van, less lady.

[ik2280]

I'm not a huge fan of new Mercedes (owner of an '86 300SDL), but you can't beat a diesel, manual tranmission small van. So cool.

[eddief]

with the driver / chef / bunkmate options. Please.

[Volant]

with the driver / chef / bunkmate options. Please.

+1

[brockd15]

Probably costs as much as a house, though (or at least a house in Iowa or somewhere).

Looks like it comes in at about $60k. Ouch.
That thing does seem pretty cool, though.

[alancw3]

looks to be built on the new metris chassie that came out a month or so ago at mb dealers. currently only available with gas engine. i think it is called a vito in europe.

[rnhood]

Neat idea in a van, but as mentioned above this one might cost as much as a house. And the video did not show any porta potty facilities so I guess the girl has to squat on the beach for a bathroom break.

[palincss]

Looks like it comes in at about $60k. Ouch.
That thing does seem pretty cool, though.

A similar Roadtrek Merc camper is on sale at $124,000 so 60K would be a huge bargain...

http://www.colonialroadtrek.com/roadtrek_sale/etrek%20xl/10408/index.php

[Hank Scorpio]

when you can get the whole filet for less?

[oldpotatoe]

I would buy the marco polo today.

Only if it's a diesel....:o

Rather have this..with a new VW inline 4 engine or Subarau boxer engine.

[Ralph]

I record "Motorweek" during the week, and watch them all on Saturday or Sunday AM. This AM saw a review of the 2016 1.8 turbo gas Golf based Sportswagen. Overall size almost identical to Jetta based version, but improved over older model.

Slightly better acceleration performance than the TDi, same breaking and handling, about 5 MPG less economy, and about $3000 or so less money (model to model). You would never save that difference with better TDI fuel economy.

For the price (various versions and options)......the 1.8 gasoline version (good under stressed engine) seemed to be a lot of vehicle. Driving dynamics were praised considering it only weighs about 100 lbs or so (according to program) more than a 4 door hatch back. Program pointed out that in it's price range, considering driving dynamics, space for hauling, etc, not a lot of competition. They praised the vehicle while being critical of the ethics of VW re the diesel scandal. If public scorns VW enough, maybe it will force some super bargains on these 1.8 models. For the price, I would prefer the 1.8 anyway.

[grawk]

Only if it's a diesel....:o
that goes without saying

Rather have this..with a new VW inline 4 engine or Subarau boxer engine.

I had a '69 sportmobile conversion. But the vanagon never did it for me.

[oldpotatoe]

that goes without saying



I had a '69 sportmobile conversion. But the vanagon never did it for me.

Had a 1987 Vanagon Syncro(not camper)..owned it for 10 years, NO problems or issues..Wish I kept it....

[Tickdoc]

+1

yes, she really needs a friend.

[pff]

there are tons of cool cars in Europe that never make it here. At the very least if this one comes over the mileage will be halved.

[shovelhd]

Offer the 6MT in the GSW and I'll look at it, otherwise it is a non starter for me.

[weisan]

Just another glamorized version of a mini-RV. :D

[saab2000]

there are tons of cool cars in Europe that never make it here. At the very least if this one comes over the mileage will be halved.

This is correct. The manual transmission and 2-liter diesel they probably use in Europe won't be available here because the people who make decisions on this stuff insist that 0-60 times matter more than almost anything.

[malcolm]

I'll take this one.

http://www.sportsmobile.com/mercedes-benz-4x4-sprinter/

[grawk]

Had a 1987 Vanagon Syncro(not camper)..owned it for 10 years, NO problems or issues..Wish I kept it....


The synchro was awesome.

[buddybikes]

Bit of bike grease and grime loading to your favorite destination

[William]

Buddy was just looking at this one in PDX. The Merc is nice, but hard to beat the VW for price and utility.






William

[11.4]

Then there's the RoadTrek, built on a modified Mercedes Sprinter. Several models and everything is infinitely customizable:

http://www.roadtrek.com/models/rs-adventurous/

[54ny77]

sportsmobiles are the cat's meow.

I'll take this one.

http://www.sportsmobile.com/mercedes-benz-4x4-sprinter/

[54ny77]

of course, for the middle aged executive with a younger assistant/wife cyclist on the go, there's always a becker jetvan....

http://www.beckerautodesign.com/img/projects/brigger/1.jpg

http://www.beckerautodesign.com/img/projects/brigger/2.jpg

http://www.beckerautodesign.com/img/projects/brigger/4.jpg

http://www.beckerautodesign.com/img/projects/brigger/6.jpg

[BobbyJones]

Hoping someone can enlighten me...

I've been fascinated by these rigs ever since I was a child, but as I got older and actually started doing the things these vehicles are designed for I can't figure out the practicality of them here in the States (Sportsmobile/ AWD excluded). This is looking at this from a New Englander's point of view who has "road tripped / camped" across the US.

1) Every major outdoor destination spot usually has tight restrictions in the surrounding areas about overnight parking. Especially in New England coastal areas. If you're gonna stay the night with a vehicle, it's usually in a campground. Unless you've got a luxe RV, a tent is a pretty good alternative. Also, who really wants to stink up your interior space with cooking?

2) Any destination that lets you lets you stay the night in the lot requires a "self-contained" RV. These aren't them unless you're keen on carrying a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat.

3) Any off the beaten path spots require AWD.

4) I do know the flexibility of hunkering down in a Wal-Mart parking lot out west, but it's not quite as romantic.

From what I hear about spots out in the Western states it seems a little more possible to actually utilize these if you're in the know, so I'd love to hear people chime in.

[bismo37]

Looks like it comes in at about $60k. Ouch.
That thing does seem pretty cool, though.

I dig it. $60K seems too reasonable for that package. I was thinking $100K with all those features and accessories from MB. I'd hate to get it all beat up and dirty after one camping trip in the Cascades.

Still, I'd rather buy a used 4Runner for $20K and have it outfitted for another $10K to do the same stuff, maybe not as fuel efficient, as pretty or as luxurious, but then again, I wouldn't cry when a rock dings a fender.

[PaulE]

is available in the US now in commercial and passenger versions, it looks like it is the 10 inch longer version, 2024 inch overall length vs 197.4 for the base V class, and it has a 208 hp, 2.0 liter turbo gas engine. Looks like you can get the passenger version and load it up with all the options for less than $40k too.

Build your Merecedes Benz Metris (http://www.mbvans.com/sprinter/shopping-tools/build-and-equip/model-metris/bodyType-PV/wheelbase-126/roofheight-std/engine-4cyl/gvwr-6720#/summary/model/metris/bodyType/PV/wheelbase/126/roofHeight/std/powertrain/4cyl/gvwr/6720)

[palincss]

This is correct. The manual transmission and 2-liter diesel they probably use in Europe won't be available here because the people who make decisions on this stuff insist that 0-60 times matter more than almost anything.

Although, I'm not really sure anybody checks the 0-60 times on fully kitted out camper vans. Can you imagine a drag race with 2 of them? Certainly the original VW Westfalia's 0-60 time could have been measured with if not a calendar, then certainly with an egg timer -- and that didn't stop the enduring love one bit.

http://www.kingoftheroad.net/VW/vw-images/VW-SO-44_219-web.jpg

[PaulE]

with a VW bus, take this option