2009 Dodge Sprinter 3500 Cargo Van Waterville ME

2009 Dodge Sprinter 3500 Cargo Van By James Tate, DriverSide Contributor

DriverSide Overview
It’s no secret that Dodge is on the rocks. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have something good to offer. In fact, there exists a segment in which the company utterly dominates – cargo vans. Maybe you think we’re being funny, but this is an arena in which Ford and General Motors both compete, and their wares are completely underequipped compared to the lesser-known Sprinter. The Sprinter is a global platform, shared by big German names like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, and thus you’re actually more likely to see it in Europe than you are in North America. Offered with a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, two wheelbases and a huge list of options (including a dualie rear axle and beefier rear springs), there’s a Sprinter for everyone. With a 3,613 lb payload capacity, the 170-inch wheelbase Sprinter will haul more than the biggest Econoline you can buy, and it’ll do it while getting more than 20 mpg.
 







What's to Like
Where to start? The Sprinter is literally the Mercedes of hauling equipment, sporting a familiar interior with an intuitive climate control and an excellent Mercedes stereo. Despite its height, the driver sits low, with carlike controls making it easy to forget you’re driving a 170-inch cargo van that’s nine feet high.
 
What's Not to Like
Compared to both the Chevrolet Express and the Ford Econoline , the Sprinter is on the pricey side. By the time you start ticking some of the boxes on the vast option list, the dollar signs soar into the $40K range.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Unlike a Ford Econoline van or a Chevy Express, the Sprinter is intimidating to approach. In the parking lot, the long wheelbase model takes up a full two parking spots, and the height positively dwarfs anything parked at its flanks. Get inside, however, and there’s an inexplicable ease of operation that belies the machine’s size – better stated, it’s less daunting to drive than most minivans. Controls are intuitive and easy to operate, steering is well weighted and responsive and the suspension is surprisingly plush. The 3.0-liter diesel engine never feels stressed and offers more than enough oomph for tight freeway merges. Help comes from a well-chosen five-speed automatic transmission, which provides nearly imperceptible shifts despite the van’s significant weight. There’s something undeniably cool about driving a Sprinter. Unlike a simple van, the Sprinter just barely slides into the category of “commercial truck,” which garners respect from “fellow” truck drivers and boosts the ego.

Engine and Drivetrain
As mentioned above, you can have your Sprinter with an efficient 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine .

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