Mercedes Sprinter Cab

For my next van I am really tempted to upgrade to the new 7 speed auto Merc but am a bit unimpressed with the look and  layout of the cab. Is it me or is anyone else agree its looking abit out dated. I am sure there is nothing better to drive if you wish to go "auto" with you van.  But whilst Fiat, Peugeot and Ford are all updating their cabs, will Mercedes follow or does anyone know if they have anything in the pipe line ? What do you thinl of your merc and thank you in advance with any comments. Cheers Rob.

Mine is 2011 and they have upgraded the audio system in later vans and added a merc symbol on top of the gear selector but other than that the same I think.

The instrumentation is much more basic that on my previous Ford Wilton and the steering wheel is thinner and harder.

It tells you all you need to know when you need it and everything does what it should do. The cab aircon is excellent as is the cruise control/speed limiter system.

Mine has the 5 speed Auto which is flawless (after about 5,000 miles to run in) and I can't imagine the 7 speed is worse.

At the end of the day most time is spent in the back of the van and not driving it so, to me, the cab is irrelevant.

Thanx Peter, I appreciate that everyone is different but although I obviously enjoy being in the van once stopped and set up but I thoroughly enjoy the driving side and the adventure of being on the road and this can be a substantial amount of time if touring long distance and I just think IMHO Merc should think about updating their cab as they are not cheap.

We do plenty of miles, Pompeii last year, and never suffered from fatigue or discomfort so although it looks bland, it works well.

Be careful what you wish for! VW "upgraded" the dash on the new T6 and, on the "premium" version you now get gloss black inserts - which is utterly silly on a van. IMO, simple, functional and easy to keep clean is better than something that follows the latest fashion...

Mine's a 2010 Sprinter, and l just love it. Wouldn't swap it for anything. In fact it is such a joy to drive, l actually prefer it to my BMW 3X. I find it comfortable, everything that l need is to hand, and the gearbox is superb. 

Out of interest, what would you want Merc to change ?


philip

Hi
  I have a 2008 Surrey,I would not change the Merc,yes it is basic but it drives well and from the front it looks superb
  regards
      Alan

parigby wrote:Mine's a 2010 Sprinter, and l just love it. Wouldn't swap it for anything. In fact it is such a joy to drive, l actually prefer it to my BMW 3X. I find it comfortable, everything that l need is to hand, and the gearbox is superb. 

Out of interest, what would you want Merc to change ?


philip

Please dont get me wrong, I drive a new C class coupe and i love it to bits, the interior is fantastic, the gear box is simply superb, I am just saying when it comes to Merc motorhomes, the sprinter cab interior is a bit boring, I am sure it is extremely efficient but as people mentioned in previous comments the words "basic" and "boring"  come to mind. Maybe its a bit too commercial, no cup holders, pockets, tablet holders, areas for sat navs, just a few points. I guess i just like lots of features to play with / use in the cab and for the sort of money you pay, i would just like to think you are sitting in something a bit special.

There are two cup holders, glove box, 3 dash top storage areas, 2 high level shelves, door pockets with bottle compartments and in door storage lockers in the Merc bit of the cab plus pouches on the back of both front seats.

We changed from a 2004 Ducato to a 2008 Devon on the Sprinter. They are like chalk and cheese. The Merc is so much easier to drive and manoeuvre and the driving position is superb.The only thing I would like to see changed is the addition of a temperature gauge but that's a nitpick.
Cheers, Willy

Looking at the Auto-sleeper website video, the Mercedes range now has some controls (radio?) on the steering wheel.

OK  -  but what's happened to the missile launch controller and ejector seat button  - we've they gone ?

Thanx guys for all the comments, I think maybe, although I have sat in the merc cab, I should have looked harder and poked about abit more, and yes I did see that they have steering wheel mounted controls for 2016 range. Still top of my list to get the Merc 7 speed auto. cheers.

I've been driving a 7-speed auto for just a year now and find it absolutely great. Unlike me it is never in the wrong gear and- also, unlike me, it has never stalled on a 1 in 3 hairpin bend hill start!

It is worth remembering the M-B do not make Motorhome cabs, they make delivery-van cabs, which other folks fit fancy Motorhome bodies to!

Good to see that A-S now appear to be using UK-spec steering wheel and all that comes with it. Presumably the price has risen by the £1200 or so that they claimed to be saving (and passing on to us) by using the cheaper euro-spec?

Sorry for the change in direction but still relates to cab - I noticed at the NEC that the Hymer MLT 580 (on Merc chassis) had twin armrests for both cab seats and I have been told by various people that AS cannot put twin armrests in their cabs because of the width. In fact they can but you will have to remove the current ones and put Aguti seats in, at a cost of an extra £700 which I was really pleased with as I think its daft only having 1 armrest when you are camped up and relaxing. When driving using the door frame as an armrest is not comfortable. So that will be one upgrade I will be requesting.

Looking at their web site, the Aguti seats look ok and I guess can be trimmed to match the AS fabric.

I wouldn't pay that much for a couple of armrests in particular as the extra ones wouldn't get used when we are camping as Chris likes read sitting on one with her feet on the other and, this time of year, the oil filled radiator under her knees.

PLOUGHLIN wrote:According to this US Sprinter site, the standard seat has mounting holes already to accept a second armrest. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Post #9

Looked at the Aguti seat site, your choice but they look horrible to me.

 Its a shame they never said what part no.s were used or where they got the armrests from !!

yammy wrote:...............remove the current ones and put Aguti seats in, at a cost of an extra £700 which I was really pleased with as I think its daft only having 1 armrest when you are camped up and relaxing. When driving using the door frame as an armrest is not comfortable. So that will be one upgrade I will be requesting.

I would find more value in spending the £700 on upgrading the MB supplied audio system with a better combined built in radio/CD unit with Sat Nav - personally I find the MB supplied seats comfortable and easy on the body over long journeys and I rarely if ever use the arm rest. 
I didn't think A-S offered a cab seat upgrade?
Liam

Liam wrote:

............
I didn't think A-S offered a cab seat upgrade?
Liam

Sorry, it was abit misleading of me , AS didnt offer the upgrade, thats just what i was told by the Hymer salesman at the NEC if you wanted to remove the original seats and put Aguti ones in. !!