You might find a used Lazy Daze on the market. I don't think they offer it anymore, but when we looked several years ago, they offered a diesel, but they've never offered a slide. Lazy Daze owners are very loyal, and tend to keep their units a long time...but hey, you might get lucky and find one.
There is a Lazy Daze group on Yahoo...I think it has a "for sale" section.
The reason you don't see many diesel Class C's, other than Sprinters, is because the engine sits in a dog house right next to the driver/ passenger, and having a diesel that close is really loud.
He wants the power, durability, and longevity of a diesel engine. I know, I know its debatable, but thats what he wants, and after all its his rig.
Does your friend understand that most motor homes put on very few miles compared to other types of vehicles? If he is researching used motor homes, have him pay close attention to the miles-to-age ratio. Many rigs put on around 5000 miles a year, often even less than that. How important is the longevity of the engine then? Much more attention should be given to the longevity of the house on it's back. Also consider that with so few miles driven anually, and most often gas costs less than diesel, the cost difference for going "gas" instead is not a huge dollar figure.
As far as power is concerned, the E350-V10 engine & transmission has 50% more power and torque than the Sprinter. And it is built "Ford Tough" as they claim.
My rig is a 2007 E350-V10 gas with only 14,000 miles on it today. I am very fortunate to have indoor heated storage for it so "age & element" deterioration is greatly slowed down. In the 4.5 years we've owned it, we are averaging 3200 miles driven per year. Some would say that is good, others say that is bad. But most people use their motor home as a vacation home first, and a vehicle second.
I personally feel a diesel is best utilized in delivery trucks that run up the miles in a relatively short period of time. When maintained properly, they contribute nicely to better fuel economy. But how many people drive 15,000 to 20,000 miles a year in their motor homes? Very few. If your friend's plan is to circle the country every year, then maybe a Sprinter is worth a good look. Some people tour the country on an annual basis following baseball teams, horse shows, auto racing, things like that. For them a diesel would not be a bad idea for the sake of fuel economy alone.
As far as longevity, a Ford V10 maintained properly can last just as many miles with less maintenance costs. If there was no price difference between an E350-V10 and a Sprinter diesel, then I would have something to think about. But to pay an additional $12,000-$14,000 for a Sprinter that will be driven so few miles per year, makes it an easy decision for me.
There are other factors that I did not cover both positive and negative. On the up-side, there is a general improved comfort and nostalgia with a Mercedes Sprinter. If that chassis tickles your friend, then just focus on that type. How do you put a price on that one? Since he must have a full size cab-over bed but no slideout, that makes his selection very limited. I wonder if Winnebago or Itasca would make something special for him. In these difficult times for the RV industry, some companies are open to doing special requests. Especially the privately held companies.
Winnebago did build one View model that had no slide out (unless my memory fails me)... it had the bunk-beds in the rear. One just came up for sale on the Yahoo View/Navion Yahoo group. You might join it to check out their "marketplace" section.
At the Tampa RV show last week, I asked Born Free reps to price a diesel Chevy with Allison Transmission. They promptly responded that the up charge is a whopping $11,500! I put pencil to paper at today's fuel prices and came up with 205,000 miles to just break even on the up charge.
I love the Born Free 24RB and would love to find a great used one.
There isn't room in the dog house for the diesel engine and the inter-cooler that makes that diesel engine better. Without the inter-cooler, which includes the turbo, the diesel not all that good of an engine.
Dusty R wrote: There isn't room in the dog house for the diesel engine and the inter-cooler that makes that diesel engine better. Without the inter-cooler, which includes the turbo, the diesel not all that good of an engine.
Dusty
Right. Mostly.
2004 saw the replacement of the 7.3 L Power Stroke diesel and the introduction of the new 6.0 L Power Stroke with more power than the 7.3, but still detuned from the same engine in the F-Series due to a lack of airflow in the engine compartment. The 6.0 Powerstroke is intercooled, however the 7.3 L lacked an intercooler. (Wikipedia)
In 2006, the 6.8 L Triton V10 produced 305 hp (227 kW; 309 PS) and 420 lb·ft (311 N·m) torque, 235/440 for the diesel. (Wikipedia)
As you can see, The power of the E-450 diesel engine is about the same as the gas engine. It will have better fuel efficiency, though; as of Dec 12th, the average gas price is $3.30 per gallon, diesel is 3.90. If one assumes 8 mpg for gas and 11 mpg of diesel, the operating cost per 100 miles (fuel only) is $48.75 for gas, $35.45 for diesel. That's an 18% savings.
There are many debate on gas vs. diesel but, for an E-450, it is no longer even a choice for the E-450 cutaway.
There is, of course, the used market for those who want the diesel in an E-450. It was never an extremely popular choice (due largely, one would assume, to the de-rating of the diesel engines for this platform), so they can be hard to find, but they are out there.
Those are the facts. Given all the facts, I would not discourage anyone from a diesel engine if that's what they really want; I just try to encourage an informed decision.
* This post was
edited 12/18/11 11:11am by Westronics *
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