Ford looses Australia Post Contract

[DanielXR8]

First drive: Sprinter sales boost is in the mail

More common: Sprinter is about to become a familiar sight in Australia.

Australia Post signs up as Mercedes-Benz expands and upgrades its Sprinter range

By DAVID HASSALL 13 March 2008


WE ARE about to see a lot more of Mercedes-Benz vans in the future following a deal for Australia Post to replace most of its fleet of 1200 red Ford Transits with the German company’s latest Sprinter model over the next five years.

The Mercedes deal, which ends 25 years of Ford supply, comes on top of some other major fleet deals (including 380 to holiday rental company Maui-Britz) and makes the company confident it will increase sales of its biggest van, which already dominates the ambulance market.

For the 2008 model year, Benz has added a new short-wheelbase Sprinter model called the 311 CDI SWB (priced from $44,490) that will form the core of the Australia Post contract, which is for a minimum of 850 units between now and 2012.

From September, Sprinter buyers will also be able to order three models specifically designed to overcome the problem of carrying Australia’s wider cargo pallets – 1200x1200 versus 1200x800 in Europe – without losing payload.

The so-called Super Single models (SuSi for short) have bigger rear wheels and tyres (285/65/16) so that operators will be able to carry pallets that would not have fitted between the internal wheel-arches of traditional dual-rear-wheel vans.

Mercedes believes that its SuSi models – which have 1228mm between the arches instead of 980 for a dual-wheel Sprinter – provides a better balance of payload, floor space and overall size, and will gain sales from refrigerated van operators, the freight sector and mobile workshops.

Also in the second half of this year, M-B Vans will add an all-wheel drive Sprinter with high and low range, in both van and cab-chassis derivatives, which the company expects will find a market in the mining, tourism, forestry and emergency services sectors.

The current Sprinter was launched here in October 2006 and in December last year the company added the Sprinter Transfer, a 12-seat bus that can be driven on a regular car driver’s licence and uniquely comes with a standard five-speed automatic transmission.

Priced from $74,990, the 315 mid-wheelbase Sprinter Transfer mini-bus has a GVM of 3880kg and comes with dual front airbags and a roof-mounted rear air-conditioning system as well as the auto transmission.

The new Super Single vans will be priced from $53,990 for the four-cylinder turbo-diesel Sprinter 415 Mid Wheelbase model, moving up to $57,490 for the Long Wheelbase version. You then add a further $6000 for the more powerful 418 Long Wheelbase with its V6 turbo-diesel.

Like the new Vito compact van range, all Sprinters are powered by turbo-diesel engines – 2.1-litre four-cylinder units developing 65kW/220Nm, 80kW/280Nm or 110kW/330Nm (the latter with a two-stage turbo) or a 3.0-litre V6 developing 135kW/400Nm.

Other changes for the 2008 model range include seatbelt reminder warnings (both visual and audible), Speedtronic cruise control with built-in speed-limiter, entry-assist grab-handles and optional features including automatic sliding doors, door-close assist and keyless entry.

[b2tf]

does this mean my mail might actually arrive on time?

[GK]

Originally Posted by b2tf

does this mean my mail might actually arrive on time?

It must be because you're in Southern NSW that you have delays! Get closer to the city man! LOL!

GK

[apolloxbgt]

Oh well,nothing last's forever.

[ED Classic]

frig thats probably atleast half of transit sales wiped out in 1 hit

[GS608]

can see them dropping the transit van already

[leadfoot]

I hope they are an improvement over the older models.I have the misfortune of owning a 2001 model which was previously owned by a QLD government dept.So far over a years ownership I have spent just under $5500 in repairs.This is on a van with 130.000ks on the clock
Anyone who tells you about Mercedes quality is talking through their a***

[ED Classic]

Probly quality on their big 300k stuff but you hear some bad stories on your run of the mill stuff

[GT-E]

I heard they dropped a heam of MB Vito vans in Oz cheap because they failed some test in Europe as few years ago.
I do not know if there is much truth in it.

[TadKa]

where are mb vans made. I thought I read somewhere that they are actully koreon or somewhere

[GTPete]

Its not surprising. I bought a van recently, I looked at all the manufacturers and the Sprinter came out miles ahead.
Longer service intervals, better build quality, larger storage capacity.
I feel for Ford but the Transit is not in the same league as the Sprinter.

[russellw]

Transit volumes currently run around 170 a month so the 800 odd units over 4 years is probably not going to have a major impact on the sales unless the wide bodied units starts knocking off other sales.

Cheers
Russ

[calaway]

I have bought 2 Brand new Transits, the rear wheel drive cab chassis and front wheel drive mid wheel base. The ute is outstanding! Everything that you would want in this type of vehicle. Only issue is it needs an extra gear on the open road. Spins at 3000rpm at 110kms which hurts economy. But around town and general open road driving, one word for this ute, awesome!

The van, well I drove all the competitors. MB, Renault, Fiat, Volkswagon. Bought another Transit and haven't looked back. In the Vito range, you pay another $8000-10000 for an undersize engined vehicle. The 1.9ltr is shocking. The 2.2ltr in the Transit does the job really well, an around town nudges 900kms out of 65ltr tank.

So far the ute has just over 30k on the clock, the van 10k. Not a single issue with either of them. Couldn't be happier and will be soon buying another two vans. Won't even bother looking at the opposition.

[InfernoSR]

Looks like i'll have to keep my eye out for the sales on the old Transits now :P

[Hunter]

Well, an old AP Transit would make a fantastic shaggin wagon! So much room you could probably fit a queen sized bed in the back no worries...