r/nextfuckinglevel 16h ago

The Transformation of a Van

40.2k Upvotes

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4.6k

u/InternationalRead925 16h ago

I'm guessing that cost a bit of cash.

2.0k

u/PreferredSex_Yes 16h ago

Small loan of $150k /s

472

u/Bulls_Bears_ 16h ago

For the van alone

470

u/BigTomBombadil 15h ago

A new 2026 Mercedes sprinter cargo vans (no side windows) with the high roof and 170” (longest) wheel base, has an MSRP around $60k. Cheaper if you get it used.

131

u/Tybo929 14h ago

I've been surprised by the used price of these, given how expensive everything else is. They're affordable when bare bones.

85

u/Chuckfinley_88 14h ago

Because bare bones there is nothing to it. Engine, transmission, 2 front seats and a sliding door. If anything, 60k for that is overpriced.

6

u/Tybo929 13h ago

Seen them sub-40s, and yes, VERY bare bones. But it's a start for someone!

-1

u/molrobocop 8h ago

Yeah, because they're fucking pieces of shit that constantly break. You can count on a semi-monthly $1000+ mechanic bill. 

4

u/ai-kukae-a-make 6h ago

Uhhh what? Thats not really true. These vehicles especially the diesel versions are pretty bullet proof

4

u/molrobocop 5h ago

I follow a couple van-adventurers. Their experiences don't align with your own. "We've got another EGR code. It's in limp mode again." "The screen for the backup camera/radio isn't turning on. We've turned it off and on a few times. Nothing." "Shop says the parts for transmission are a month out. So we're stuck."

Which is a damn shame, as the platform itself is superior to Chevrolet, Fiat (Promasters), and Ford.

2

u/ai-kukae-a-make 5h ago

I own one and def can say the egr is a problem for this platform as for the others that’s not my experience but I get that it’s not everyone’s. If the egr wasn’t a pain sometimes the van for me has been bulletproof, running on 100k miles. That being said, those groups you only hear the problems that’s mostly what they’re for I’m part of a few myself.

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157

u/kingjoey52a 14h ago

They're probably run into the ground by delivery drivers.

112

u/CT0292 11h ago

They're definitely run into the ground by delivery drivers.

And plumbers.

And carpet layers.

And anyone who hauls small cargo that needs to be kept dry from the rain.

I love work vans, but used ones are often very used. This isn't granny going to church every Sunday. This is Mike the electrician going all over town every day to fix faulty wiring in people's houses.

23

u/Turtle887853 8h ago

And the idle hours might he worse than the active driving hours.

2

u/floridafreaks 7h ago

Very true, but they do tend to handle the abuse pretty well

1

u/runningraleigh 3h ago

Mike is my dude! He always makes time for my home repairs.

1

u/Scouter197 1h ago

Our first minivan ended up being a POS. It was used for local flower delivery. So many things went wrong on it...because the delivery drivers probably didn't care and treated it like crap.

2

u/toss_me_good 11h ago

They should be cheaper actually, these Mercedes sprinter vans are basically the most basic van you can get, in europe they are absolutely everywhere

2

u/TacTurtle 10h ago

They are still like double or triple what a low mile E-350 van goes for.

2

u/QcRoman 9h ago

I've been surprised by the used price of these, given how expensive everything else is.

They're unreliable. I used to work next door to a M-B dealer and the model year when these joined the lineup they quickly became the number one towed in vehicle on the lot.

2

u/CoolerRon 8h ago

German cars, especially Mercedes Benz, have terrible depreciation

1

u/Silver_Wolf_Dragon 12h ago

Look at used rolls royce's. I saw a 2005 rolls Royse for like $35k once. Dunno what was wrong with it but that had to hurt whoever bought it new

5

u/HomicidalHushPuppy 9h ago

Rolls cars are terribly unreliable (because they're made by BMW)

2

u/One-Tap-7757 11h ago

Its a luxury item with a very steep maintenance cost.

u/WokeCarDad 17m ago

$50k is affordable for whom lmao

1

u/SnooMacarons3689 13h ago

My dad had a Leisure travel van with a walking glass shower and a seperate toilet and only 1 slide

1

u/tila1993 7h ago

Be better off getting a Ford Transit $50K. I've got a 2020 transit I use for work and in 120k miles it's never had an issue outside of tires and brakes.

0

u/gamebus1 13h ago

Vans are horribly overpriced. And used are also overpriced and worn down.

1

u/New-Anybody-6206 8h ago

And not only are these unreliable, they're stupid hard to work on.

1

u/BigTomBombadil 7h ago

So are cars and trucks.

5

u/ClothboundBrick 9h ago

Do we lie for fun or because we’re a bot trying to create dissent?

14

u/Questionsaboutsanity 15h ago

per second!

1

u/GinjaNinja-NZ 14h ago

Up hill! Both ways! In the snow!

2

u/CrzdHaloman 9h ago

Check out your local surplus auctions, you'd be surprised what your city just tosses out for cheap. My brother in law just bought a 2020 van with 80k miles for $2600. Inspection only found the tires, passenger seat, and a side mirror needing replaced or repairs. It was so cheap cause the city was replacing all the vans with newer ones, even if the old worked perfectly fine.

2

u/Weebus 6h ago

Mercedes isn't a luxury vehicle outside of the US.  Their vans (even in the US) are relatively cheap.

1

u/specialcommenter 6h ago

If they bought it used more likely $30,000 and they did all the interior and accessory work themselves.

1

u/pic_N_mix 5h ago

Over on r/vanlife they will laugh at it. And say it’s worth $12k.

1

u/Angstycarroteater 4h ago

Nah my mom recently bought a 2026 camper Bauer edition and she got a loan for 96k and that had all the van had after they finished building minus the canopy part on top still way too fucking expensive but if she got that at 96k I’d say the van probably 50-60 then everything they did roughly another 100k

Edit: she is not wealthy either just throwing that in there she works at a grocery store

3

u/Sleeper-- 15h ago

$150k per second???!!!

1

u/zmbjebus 14h ago

$150,000 per second is a massive loan

1

u/Pixel_Knight 14h ago

They spent way way more than that on this project. 

1

u/Rare_Illustrator4586 12h ago

150k per second? Shit. Lol.

(/s)

1

u/Saelethil 11h ago

Why get a loan when daddy will buy it for you?

1

u/LegendaryHooman 11h ago

$150 THOUSAND PER SECOND???

1

u/Starscream147 7h ago

Three small beers…