2010 Sprinter search begins

[cspexpeditus]

Toyota does not artificially create demand for the Prius.

I don't know what Ohio territory is like, but I know here in FL there are very few if any Prius on dealer lots. The touring models are usually all that is available and it is not uncommon to see 2-4k over MSRP! I know, we have looked a few times.

Prius has been here for a decade now, and the introduction of the 2010 model-line does not substantiate the claim that production costs exceed US selling prices since the MSRP was further reduced on a car that now has a more powerful engine, longer range, higher EV mode speed (30mph), better battery, more efficient regeneration system, etc. Surely the production costs would be higher for 2010 than the '09, and yet they lowered the MSRP? I suppose if it's not Toyota dictating the price than the problem must be with the dealers that are not letting them go for under 30k.

Same reason they stopped selling the wonderfully built, smoking twin turbo Supra. They needed to get their fleet MPG down to allow for vehicles that would sell better in the US market.

That was probably the most kick-a$$ car of the 90's!!!

Buy the 170".

And when they finally make them available, let us know if you find a dealer willing to part with one at $35K. Something in a free market society about supply and demand. Why give up the farm if you have any vehicle that is in demand?

Will do. We may go look at some today, I think a local dealer has a few on their lot. There is a Miami dealer who has consistently had 4 or 5 at a time. Prices online are ranging from 40-48k followed by the words "make an offer." I'll try to offer thirty-something. That way, I figure I'll either get a negotiable offer or get laughed out of the dealership!

Thanks for sharing your advice, I really appreciate all the help I can get because this is going to a very expensive commitment.

[piper1]

Stick with the 170" but I wouldn't buy the extended 170".

Plan on replacing the Continental Tires real soon, better yet, make it a condition of sale that it comes with Michelins.

Be very careful adding springs, the factory single rear spring is rated for more. Adding a second spring is a good idea...just be careful you don't increase the rear height of the van more than 1/2 inch, and remember you still have the same brakes and axles...don't think you are going to be able to pile on the weight.

The DEF or AdBlue urea etc, is available at most Pilots, Flying J's (cheaper) and most any truck dealer (except International). The MB dealer is about the worst place to buy it.

Whatever you do....stick to the approved oils and fluids, otherwise the ownership experience will be less than stellar.

[chefdennis]

espex wrote:

Will do. We may go look at some today, I think a local dealer has a few on their lot. There is a Miami dealer who has consistently had 4 or 5 at a time. Prices online are ranging from 40-48k followed by the words "make an offer." I'll try to offer thirty-something. That way, I figure I'll either get a negotiable offer or get laughed out of the dealership!

there is a pretty big Mercedes dealer in miami that handles the Sprinter, they have a good selection and will discount considerably. I got a quote from them last thursday and my Son inlaw had his airline ticket to go pick it up....but when he made one more call, the dealer told him that he was paying the Van for XX,XXX, BUT there was a $500.00 Deal admin fee on top of that.....he bought in St Louis because of the "bump"....

Now i have sold cars and trucks new and used and managed a few dealerships...i have no problem with an Admin fee, but don't B/S me...give me the total price, especially when i am flying in from out of town to pay....

So make sure when you leave you have the total price and not a "low ball" and as was pointed out in another thread, if you find the unit you want, and are in need a few days to make the financial arrangement, put a deposit on it to make sure it is there when you go back, but be aware that even with a "good will deposit", you have nothing until you sign the purchase agreement.....a deposit looks good, but it isn't the be all to end all....

And as for a bunch of 08's and 09's sitting around, not so, yea a few here and there, but not too many that id forget looking at a 2010...the new motor while new has a better warranty and the mileage is improved to the point, over the life time, it just might make up any difference...and if you are leasing, the residual value might also offset and cap cost reduction that you can get on an older unit...just food for thought....

[cspexpeditus]

:...i have no problem with an Admin fee, but don't B/S me...give me the total price, especially when i am flying in from out of town to pay....

Plan on replacing the Continental Tires real soon, better yet, make it a condition of sale that it comes with Michelins.

Be very careful adding springs

The DEF or AdBlue urea etc, is available at most Pilots, Flying J's (cheaper)

Whatever you do....stick to the approved oils and fluids, otherwise the ownership experience will be less than stellar.

Thanks for the important tips. I wouldn't upgrade springs unless the dealer had the option, and I doubt a dually is worth the extra fuel costs.

Completely agree on Continentals, they are high-rated tires with laughable tread wear. We went through 6 tires in 38k on our SUV. Now running average rated Pirelli ATR and looking dryrotted after only 14k. Still have the original Continental spare underneath with no dryrot. Guess there is a trade-off to everything.

I would certainly be religious with the maint schedule. I have read many blogs from owners in the UK so I have a respectable understanding of that commitment.

As far as my expectations of breaking in to the business as an o/o or otherwise, I am fully prepared to set aside my earnings entirely to cover my overhead, especially the unforeseen. I have read nearly everything I can on the board, and from what I have learned so far, I understand a lack of emergency fund is probably the quickest way to end any otr opportunity. If my truck was out of service, I'll probably suffer but I know I'd still be able to cover my finances.

I'm not starting with the truck first, just looking right now, getting an idea of the real costs etc. I don't want to lease someone else's equipment. But then again, from a 'driver's' perspective I'm not seeing much upside to the added expenses of obtaining my own authority either. I just want to drive, simple as that. The college thing was enlightening but I don't want to be in a stationary box every day, I want to be in a box rolling on four wheels, instead.

[aileron]

Thanks for the important tips. I wouldn't upgrade springs unless the dealer had the option, and I doubt a dually is worth the extra fuel costs.
......

Be careful with the dually. I don't know for sure on 2010s, but on earlier models there was not enough room for a skid to pass between the wheel wells, making it worthless for expediting, unless you built up the floor above the wells.
So, stick with a 2500.

[geo]

with a dually they are 36'' between the wheel well
and are over 10,000 lbs

[cspexpeditus]

Be careful with the dually. I don't know for sure on 2010s, but on earlier models there was not enough room for a skid to pass between the wheel wells, making it worthless for expediting, unless you built up the floor above the wells.
So, stick with a 2500.

Thanks for the heads-up. I have no plans for a dually, just saying I didn't think the extra drag and fuel was worth the extra strength. I will be looking at 2500's.

[dhalltoyo]

Correct!

The dual wheel application reduces fuel economy.

In a GM platform it makes little sense to buy a dually with a GVWR of 10,000lbs when a single rear wheel now has a GVWR of 9900lbs.

In regards to the Prius, increased production levels can, and do, yield a decrease in costs. When the Georgetown plant opened I saw the MSRP on the Camry decrease. Toyota was producing units at Georgetown and still bringing in units from Japan. Mass production usually allows for greater leverage when buying parts from suppliers; therefore reducing final production costs.

Keep in mind that MSRP is a "suggested" price. If the market bares more in Florida...so be it.

[cspexpeditus]

Correct! The dual wheel application reduces fuel economy.

In a GM platform it makes little sense to buy a dually with a GVWR of 10,000lbs when a single rear wheel now has a GVWR of 9900lbs.

In regards to the Prius, increased production levels can, and do, yield a decrease in costs.

Its funny that the flat price of gas has had more people considering Prius lately. Used models coming off previous leases were fetching 26-28k when gas was at 3.80. When the gas prices fell so did Prius sales, I remeber everyone was buying up the Trailblazer SS for less than a Prius. Whats really frustrating is the 400hp SS 5.3l gets 1mpg better economy than our 275hp 4.2l. lol Soon we will have a Prius though

You mentioned that the duallys were just over 10k, and at the FMCSA website it says that vehicles under 10k did not need MC or DOT. But I am confused. If I were for hire, wouldn't I still need commercial tags, MC, DOT etc? I believe Florida requires it on vehicles under 10k also. And if operating under someone else's authority for interstate use, I think the commercial tags are required also? Could you help me understand this a little better. I know these requirements vary from state to state which is just rediculous.

[OntarioVanMan]

Its funny that the flat price of gas has had more people considering Prius lately. Used models coming off previous leases were fetching 26-28k when gas was at 3.80. When the gas prices fell so did Prius sales, I remeber everyone was buying up the Trailblazer SS for less than a Prius. Whats really frustrating is the 400hp SS 5.3l gets 1mpg better economy than our 275hp 4.2l. lol Soon we will have a Prius though

You mentioned that the duallys were just over 10k, and at the FMCSA website it says that vehicles under 10k did not need MC or DOT. But I am confused. If I were for hire, wouldn't I still need commercial tags, MC, DOT etc? I believe Florida requires it on vehicles under 10k also. And if operating under someone else's authority for interstate use, I think the commercial tags are required also? Could you help me understand this a little better. I know these requirements vary from state to state which is just rediculous.

Simple solution...go with Commercial tags and you are covered and no worries that some loco yoco isn't going to bust you...

[chefdennis]

As Ovm wrote, buy commerical plates...but that doesn't mean you are controlled by the DOT unless you are OVER 10,000 gvw...not all dual rear wheel "cube vans are OVER but are right at 10,000 lb gvw, so no DOT rules apply as far as logs, scaling and hours of service....now that being said, some companies have different requirements of their UNDER 10,000 gvw drivers and some follow some DOT rules while others don't, that tends to be more for insurance reason.....

When you lease with a carrier, you will carry their DOT #,s, but again, in a under 10,000 you are still not under the rule of the DOT.....it is when you cross that line and go to 10,001 lb and up gvw that you now have to follow all the DOT regs....

As dave said, with GM offering a 9900 lb srw gvw chassis now, there is no reason to even consider a dually for what we do....personally I'd like to "stretch" a 9900 lb srw chassis so that it would take a 16 ft long inside dimension box....that would be a great truck for expediting as far as i can see....

[cspexpeditus]

Thanks OVM and ChefD,

I guess what I am trying to understand is the basic definition of an O/O, and the advantage vs disadvantage being a solo act.

I thought an O/O was someone operating under their own authority. But what advantage is there to having your own MC compared to operating under someone else's? Isn't the OTR schedule the same either way, e.g. weeks or months on the road. I think what I am saying is, if you receive a load with no back haul, aren't you in the same situation of finding your own way out either way?

[greg334]

1 - in this business (niche market actually) most of the people (O/O) are contracted to a company (FedEx, Panther, Bolt) and operate under their authority.

2 - independents, true independents are O/O who have their own authority.

3 - there drivers who work for O/Os who are either contracted to a company (they are sub-contractors at that point) or O/O who are independents.

4 - Then there are fleet owners who are not O/O at all but fleet owners. They are a mix of the first two and have drivers like number three.

5 - this is a lot different than OTR because in this case dwell time is a factor more than OTR, meaning that there is a lot more sitting here than OTR and the versatility of the vehicle, (tractor/trailer opposed to straight truck) matters because T/Ts can haul everything the van or straight truck can haul and more.

6 - there is no schedule, this seems to be like On Demand Trucking.

[chefdennis]

I Own my van, I drive it myself as a Operator. I lease to Bolt and drive under their DOT Authority and they find my freight as i have a exclusive use lease with them, meaning i can only haul freight that goes through them...anyone can find their own freight with or without their own authority, but once a person without their own authority finds that freight, he lets a broker take a cut and book it.....

As Greg said there is no schedule...you might drop a load and then sit and wait for days until your carrier finds you another load.....this is not like the "trucking industry" as most people know it...we are not "drop and hook' or "drop and load", we are "drop and wait" for the most part

Now i think you are also confused on driving solo...that term as nothing to do with having the authority to haul freight...a solo driver or solo O/O drives my him or herself....a Team drives as a pair and in most situations can drive longer, more hours and miles then a solo...but... there are companies that do not restrict the hours of their CV drivers and let them roll....

I have no desire to get my own authority while driving a cargo van....the headaches of paper work, billing and the issues of getting paid timely or getting paid at all are not worth it to me...i'll let the broker/carrier deal with that and let them pay me up front and they can wait for their money...but thats just me....loading and driving all day, unloading then doing billing and paperwork from my CV does not appeal to me at all....but there are those that do it...more power to them....

As far as dropping and having a backhaul ...most drivers don't in this business...yea you from time to time be "pre-dispatched" with another load, but thats not as common as it once was...we drop and wait...hours, days, weeks if you are TJP !!

Keep reading here and asking questions, while it isn't rocket science, it is not as easy as falling off a cliff either!!!

[cspexpeditus]

Gregg, ChefD, again thanks for your insight.

I'm starting to get the picture. Chef, what you are saying is that your leased on but you are not a sub-contractor? Meaning you could hire a driver yourself to run your truck?

Also, does Bolt, Panther etc, require CDL for Sprinter? I would have no trouble acquiring one, but does having it restrict your hours of operation? I ask because I would like to be able to move my vehicle any time I want.

The other thing that concerns me is the Qualcomm equipment. I know from experience that adding or modifying new vehicles usually voids the warranty. The warranty is one of the main reasons why I would be going with a 2010 model.

Sprinter search update

Just spoke with a dealer. Best they could offer was MSRP on a 170wb 2500 w/ V1 option.