Lesley wrote: LOL, oh yeah, the ProMaster. It ain't pretty. I'm a big fan of the Sprinter. Drove one from Anchorage to Coldfoot and back. Pretty damned comfortable for a big honkin' utility vehicle.
This is the second reference to your Alaska trip. I'm assuming some sort of article is in the works?
I also saw the new Dodge/Fiat van at the auto show and had managed to block it from my memory. Thanks a bunch...
I found out about these vans while trying to look up parts for my nv1500 transmission in my S10. Annoying as all be get out when its not what you are looking for.
I see these vans all the time now and the local Nissan dealership keeps about 4 in stock, 3 white, 1 black.
At some point the engineers and designers have to be drunk dialing each other and going "HA BITCHES!!! I told you I could I could put something on the road uglier than an Aztek!"
Yeah, the Nissan gets your attention in traffic just because it is so horkin' ugly. But in its defense, unlike the Sprinter its long term reliability should be pretty good. And before anyone says anything: have you noticed that FedEx and UPS aren't using Sprinters down here any more? 
For a few years that was all you saw. Now they are back to some boxy thing that looks like a Chevy step van or one of those Grummans.
Oh yes that new Dodge work van is some kind of ugly, it has temporarily dethroned the Nissan. I did an online class to get familiar with the basics and my first thought was, as noted earlier, there's a race between the different stylists to see who can design the world's ugliest van. Just waiting to see what GM comes out with next.
I didn't know people around here are soooo fashion conscious 
They are ugly, but they are super functional inside. Like Sprinter functional. And do you really care about anything else in a work panel van?
And the fact that they are nicer to drive and easier to maintain for the same price as the Chevy/Ford is just icing on the cake.
" Lesley wrote:
LOL, oh yeah, the ProMaster. It ain't pretty. I'm a big fan of the Sprinter. Drove one from Anchorage to Coldfoot and back. Pretty damned comfortable for a big honkin' utility vehicle.
This is the second reference to your Alaska trip. I'm assuming some sort of article is in the works?
I also saw the new Dodge/Fiat van at the auto show and had managed to block it from my memory. Thanks a bunch... "
I completed a hastily scribbled daily live blog during the journey, nothing like tapping out your thoughts on an ice-cold laptop before sleeping in snowpants and thermal socks:
http://www.auto-venus.com/en/through-the-windshield-an-arctic-panorama/1384/
http://www.auto123.com/en/auto-parts/sprinter-arctic-drive?artid=152157
and the Sprinter review: http://www.auto123.com/en/mercedes/sprinter-2500-cargo-van/2013/review?carid=1134006101&artid=153260
Had the chance to drive one (a couple, actually) when I worked part time for a multi-dealer group (includes Nissan!) delivering parts. Rides nice, not bad milage, and of course like a cave inside. Yes, a profile only a mother could love, but if that's what I needed I'd get one.
Saw the new Transit at the NYAuto Show, it was pretty massive. Seemed wider and taller than even the high roof Nissan Vans
UPS around me is still using whatever their normal is, FedEx however has all Sprinters now, the MB ones at that. Their oldest ones have close to 300k already. 
Just means I'm not doing enough delivering, only put 16k on the chebby last year. Bugger doesn't even have 70k yet(its an '03)
just a quick glance at the chrysler one.. I do not mind vehicles drawn with circles or with straught edged rulers.. but when the lines do not even line up in a reasonable way... The way the headlights curve up into nothing would keep me from buying that ProMaster.
fanfoy wrote: I didn't know people around here are soooo fashion conscious
+1
Im surprised a forum that prides itself on function first (and considers a vehicle that most auto enthusiasts call a girls car the answer to everything) is so quick to say "Hated it!" While snapping their fingers and promising to never buy such a monster.
But ive seen what happens when I dress myself so who is to say I know anything about style
I really, really looked at them when they came out to replace my dodge pickup (there was even a thread here at the time) but I calculated my towing miles and decided to skip it and rent when I needed to tow. The NV isn't pretty but it does all the things that I needed well, I don't care about looks; I drive a Rabbit and a Mazda5 but I do care about usefulness and the nv has hat in spades. I'm waiting for some high mileage reports and will probably look again in a year or so.
If anyone has first hand reports on them post here.
logdog wrote:fanfoy wrote: I didn't know people around here are soooo fashion conscious+1 Im surprised a forum that prides itself on function first (and considers a vehicle that most auto enthusiasts call a girls car the answer to everything) is so quick to say "Hated it!" While snapping their fingers and promising to never buy such a monster. But ive seen what happens when I dress myself so who is to say I know anything about style
You mean the gay hairdressers car? 
(I've heard it called that!)
the one with glitter coming out the exhaust?
Nissan NV: Inspired by Skeeter.
I would totally rock a van that ugly. People get the berkeley out of the way of big ugly vans.
I would love a van tall enough to get a motorcycle or two into without difficulty.
I spent the weekend with a 3500 SL Passenger NV, low top, in Java Metallic, 5.6L I borrowed from work. SWMBO graduated with her Ph.D. and we had the whole famn damily in town this weekend. I needed a means to transport 10 people, and Enterprise let me down, so I managed to talk the powers that be into letting me borrow the slightly used (12K miles) NV as a graduation bus this weekend.
For what we needed it for it was perfect. There was more than enough room (seats 12) it was actually comfortable, and the fuel economy wasn't as terrible as I expected.
I picked the NV up with the fuel gauge reading on E, but no low fuel light yet. I put $50 worth of gas in it, which got the needle up to almost 3/4 of a tank, I turned the NV back in after ~120 miles of mostly around town driving with just under 1/4 of a tank of gas. Some rounding and math has me showing the thing getting around 16 MPG. I was pretty gentle with it, trying to keep all of my passengers happy.
Optioned like what we used this weekend lists for $38K new, no clue what they're asking for it slightly used. I have no idea what everything else in the market goes for, but I did think that the listed price seemed a bit much. While it did have the leather appointed seats, blue tooth, front & rear sonar, tow package, etc. it didn't have navigation, or a lot of the other options, and it's still just a big box on wheels.
In reality, if the V6 gets a little better mileage, an NV passenger would be perfect for any commercial hotel, airport, etc. shuttle service.
Our families went on and on about how great having the "Graduation Bus" was this weekend, how comfortable it was, and how roomy it was.
As an added bonus, I noticed that traffic tended to get out of my way much more often than they do when I'm in the Volvo.
I don;t see the hate for this van's looks. It is different, but it is ugly.
I think they would make a great tow vehicle; I have my doubts it would comfortably tow a 24' enclosed trailer. The Hi-boy allows one to stand up inside, just like a cube van but a little less of a box. I like the front end because it is a standard truck vs. the PITA dog houses found in van. I won't ever own a van because I find them painful to work on.
We got one to test.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2012-nissan-nv-2500-v6-sv-standard-roof/
Beer Baron wrote: I would totally rock a van that ugly. People get the berkeley out of the way of big ugly vans.
Not only that, but when it happens to be a white panel-van with limo-tint on the front door windows, they also grab their children and pull them inside when you drive by.
It was really funny seeing the scowl on friends' faces when I first got my van earlier this year. Everyone is always a bit visibly bothered by it, until they recognize its me.
In reply to petegossett:
Thats because we used glow in the dark paint to write "Free Candy" on the sides with "Here kiddie kiddie kiddie" on the back.
All I know is that white ones look like Brian Griffin's head.
Alan Cesar wrote: We got one to test. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2012-nissan-nv-2500-v6-sv-standard-roof/
see, that NV just reminds me of a truck with a cap on the back
SilverFleet wrote: All I know is that white ones look like Brian Griffin's head.
Nicely done, sir. Nicely done.
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