US Postal Service Metris van

[t1snwrbrdr12]

I work on these primarily as the old guys prefer to work on what they’ve worked on for the last 20 years (llv’s and ffv’s).

The pro masters are getting beat to $*^t, need tires about every 15k, rear shocks, coolant leaks, electric fan failures left and right, body’s taking a horrible beating, and cams/lifters/cylinder head issues here and there. We have 3 down for engines now but that hasn’t been commonplace.

The metris is not holding up near as well as the pro master (which isn’t holding up well either). The metris need tires AND brakes between 2k and 10k miles. It’s out of control. And we aren’t smart enough to source anything aftermarket for these, so the factory replacement brakes are not going to last us any longer. The drivers are also breaking the HVAC and radios left and right due to the mail tray being so close and them just throwing tubs across and hitting knobs. I can replace the parts but I can’t make them work, that requires a trip to the dealer.

We aren’t equipped technology wise to handle the pro masters or metris.

You should see the jasper book on metris. They’re remanufacturing all the common failure parts, and it’s scary how big the book is and how essential the parts that they are remanufacturing are.

 

[nthach]

I remember the Van Hool debacle with AC Transit. Especially with Gillig being right in the AC Transit service area at the time (before they moved to Livermore). The drivers hate those things and a lot of passengers complained about how they tossed them around.

https://eastbayexpress.com/the-buses-from-hell-1/

And there was talk about how the General Manager managed to arrange for expensive employee travel to Europe as part of the deal.

https://eastbayexpress.com/belgium-or-bust-1/

I don't know about you but I see a ton of Sprinters as work vans. The primary plumber I hire had a Ram ProMaster but then traded it in for a M-B badged Sprinter. And as delivery vans, FedEx and Amazon have a ton of them with the M-B badging. I think they're often preferred for their height where they can stack packages on shelves.

The first time I'd ever seen a Sprinter was at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming with one of their delivery vehicles. But that was in a ritzy area where I suppose having the three pointed star on a work vehicle didn't seem all that strange.

Every AC Transit driver I talked to hates the Van Hools with a passion. I think they’re cool looking buses, just not made for American roads and transit usage.

I’ve seen the Amazon Sprinters, but IMO, Amazon needs to buy Chevy - cheap, Firestone can fix them with the cheapest AutoZone or O’Reilly parts and it will still run. I’ve seen painters and electricians in downtown SF use Sprinters. The Transit and Promaster rule downtown SF however as a workvan. The local Benjamin Moore dealer has a Sprinter for their paint deliveries. It seems like the Sprinter in the US is a “lifestyle” van turned into a camper, like a modern-day VW Vanagon.

 

[y_p_w]

Every AC Transit driver I talked to hates the Van Hools with a passion. I think they’re cool looking buses, just not made for American roads and transit usage.

I’ve seen the Amazon Sprinters, but IMO, Amazon needs to buy Chevy - cheap, Firestone can fix them with the cheapest AutoZone or O’Reilly parts and it will still run. I’ve seen painters and electricians in downtown SF use Sprinters. The Transit and Promaster rule downtown SF however as a workvan. The local Benjamin Moore dealer has a Sprinter for their paint deliveries. It seems like the Sprinter in the US is a “lifestyle” van turned into a camper, like a modern-day VW Vanagon.

Amazon seems to split it between Sprinters and Ford Transits. I think I'm seeing more Transits in the East Bay now.

I see the occasional Freightliner Sprinter. The old Dodge or Ram badged ones are mostly retired by now.

Westfalia got bought by DaimlerChrysler, although they've since divested. But they're still making Sprinter and Metris camper vans.

Not sure about putting out nearly $200,000 for a Winnebago Sprinter conversion though.

 

[ryster]

One would think it would have been less expensive for the USPS to purchase Ford Transit Connect Cargo vans than the Mercedes Metris. Not to mention the positive public image of the USPS driving Ford vehicles. For several years around here the USPS was using Ford Windstar "cargo" minivans, so it isn't like Ford hasn't worked with the USPS in the past.

 

[10WSmuckers]

I can see the electric Transit being the top choice for mail carriers in dense urban areas once it's produced

 

[c502cid]

I sell sway bars. I love all of these high center of gravity vehicles.

 

[doublebase]

Our residential semi-rural mail carrier has been driving one of these for several months now. The whole lack of manufacturer badging is very strange to see. It is almost like the USPS doesn't want to make it obvious that they purchased Mercedes vehicles, especially considering their current budget and service "issues".

For 20 years the have been running basically ford explorers drivetrains, and I don't remember there being a Ford logo on them (as far as I can remember anyway). They just sure don't look like a Ford Explorer.

 

[nthach]

One would think it would have been less expensive for the USPS to purchase Ford Transit Connect Cargo vans than the Mercedes Metris. Not to mention the positive public image of the USPS driving Ford vehicles. For several years around here the USPS was using Ford Windstar "cargo" minivans, so it isn't like Ford hasn't worked with the USPS in the past.

View attachment 73677

If they were built in the US, they also would meet Buy America standards too.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

I can’t say for sure, but I have been told (by no truly “in the know” source) that USPS tried to get transits, promasters, anything more domestic…but none could make right hand drive.

I can tell you that some parts for our FFV (the explorer/ranger based vehicle) are very difficult and very expensive to come by. They are supposedly an Australian intended chassis? Could be wrong, sounds silly, but that’s what I’ve been told in the shop.

 

[Dennywires]

What's wrong with the Nissan nv200?

 

[nthach]

I can’t say for sure, but I have been told (by no truly “in the know” source) that USPS tried to get transits, promasters, anything more domestic…but none could make right hand drive.

I think Honda is exporting the RHD CR-V made in Ohio or their Allston, ON plant in Canada to Japan(Honda’s been exporting more vs. what they import from Japan) despite the fact their Thai plant has been building in RHD for the Indian/Japanese/Australian market.

Toyota’s Princeton, IN plant also builds the Highlander in RHD as the Kluger for Australia and Japan(it’s the sole plant for it) but while a hybrid might be good optics environmentally, the Highlander might not handle the USPS duty cycle. There is rumor Toyota wants to bring all US/Canadian/Mexican market RAV4 production to Kentucky to replace the Avalon’s loss and their Canadian plant is the sole LHD source of the non-Land Cruiser based Lexus SUV lineup(RX/NX).

 

[dareo]

OMG USPS + MBZ = Ouch. This is why they gotta charge me $8.15 for a priority envelope now.

 

[SubLGT]

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/03/20220325-usps.html

"We are pleased to be moving forward with this much needed investment in our fleet. ..........we have determined that increasing our initial electric vehicle purchase from 5,000 to 10,019 makes good sense from an operational and financial perspective.

Many of our 190,000 delivery vehicles on the road are more than 30 years old and lack basic safety features which are standard in most vehicles today. The safety of the men and women of the Postal Service is our number one priority, and they have waited long enough for the NGDV......

Today’s order demonstrates, as we have said all along, that the Postal Service is fully committed to the inclusion of electric vehicles as a significant part of our delivery fleet even though the investment will cost more than an internal combustion engine vehicle....... We will continue to look for opportunities to increase the electrification of our delivery fleet in a responsible manner, consistent with our operating strategy, the deployment of appropriate infrastructure, and our financial condition, which we expect to continue to improve as we pursue our plan."

—Postmaster General and USPS CEO Louis DeJoy​

Unlike the current Long Life Delivery Vehicles (LLV) the NGDV will feature air conditioning, improved ergonomics, and more advanced vehicle and safety technology—including 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, air bags, a front-and rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warning, and automatic braking. The vehicles will also have increased cargo capacity to maximize efficiency and better accommodate higher mail and package volumes.

It is expected the NGDVs will begin appearing on carrier routes in late 2023.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

 

[K.Aoi]

Over the last couple of months a lot of the Dodge Caravans USPS used have been replaced with the Metris as well around here, I remember doing a double take the first time I saw one. Mercedes & Daimler have started giving the US another shot, they are bringing Daimler motorcoaches to the US again under the MB badge rather than Setra. I won't be surprised if we start seeing MB or Scania branded OTR trucks before long.

 

[K.Aoi]

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/03/20220325-usps.html

Yeah this should have been like 95% EV. The gas powered ones are barely an improvement in fleet mileage vs the grummans. Sure, more comfortable for drivers and probably a lot more reliable and less prone to catching on fire, but still disappointing they focused on gas powered ones.

 

[K.Aoi]

I can see the electric Transit being the top choice for mail carriers in dense urban areas once it's produced

Only if they offer a RHD variant which they've so far declined to do.

OMG USPS + MBZ = Ouch. This is why they gotta charge me $8.15 for a priority envelope now.

The Metris is very reasonably priced- they start at $35k.

 

[K.Aoi]

I work on these primarily as the old guys prefer to work on what they’ve worked on for the last 20 years (llv’s and ffv’s).

The pro masters are getting beat to $*^t, need tires about every 15k, rear shocks, coolant leaks, electric fan failures left and right, body’s taking a horrible beating, and cams/lifters/cylinder head issues here and there. We have 3 down for engines now but that hasn’t been commonplace.

The metris is not holding up near as well as the pro master (which isn’t holding up well either). The metris need tires AND brakes between 2k and 10k miles. It’s out of control. And we aren’t smart enough to source anything aftermarket for these, so the factory replacement brakes are not going to last us any longer. The drivers are also breaking the HVAC and radios left and right due to the mail tray being so close and them just throwing tubs across and hitting knobs. I can replace the parts but I can’t make them work, that requires a trip to the dealer.

We aren’t equipped technology wise to handle the pro masters or metris.

You should see the jasper book on metris. They’re remanufacturing all the common failure parts, and it’s scary how big the book is and how essential the parts that they are remanufacturing are.

Sounds like maybe USPS drivers should start taking better care of their equipment. I'm struggling to believe they're destroying tires and brakes in less than 10k miles consistently

 

[nthach]

Sounds like maybe USPS drivers should start taking better care of their equipment. I'm struggling to believe they're destroying tires and brakes in less than 10k miles consistently

AFAIK, isn’t a Metris more or less built off the CLA/GLA/A-Class platform? Granted, the Mercedes of today is bastardized and isn’t like the cold but durable Teutonic Mercedes of the 1960s-1980s.

 

[K.Aoi]

AFAIK, isn’t a Metris more or less built off the CLA/GLA/A-Class platform? Granted, the Mercedes of today is bastardized and isn’t like the cold but durable Teutonic Mercedes of the 1960s-1980s.

Somehow these exact same vehicles are used in all sorts of commercial uses in Europe, South America and Asia and do their jobs just fine. I'm thinking a lot of issues are due to people just being used to beating the crap out of their vehicles instead of taking proper care of them and that shouldn't be blamed on the vehicle. But hey at least they aren't catching on fire like the LLVs are prone to do

 

[nthach]

Yea, my feeling why Mercedes, BMWs, Audis and VWs don’t hold up to
American abuse and use cycles is due to roads and service. Yea, Germany has the Autobahn but traffic in the urban parts of the country and on parts of the fabled Autobahn is almost as bad as LA/San Diego/SF or NYC/NJ. Germany also has stricter standards for mechanics and even buying parts - I think Germany wants their mechanics to pass an apprenticeship and prove they can work, and parts quality is better.