Ugliest van in the American Market?
#1
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No, it isn't the new Silverado...not even close. IMO, this has to be the most awkward-looking new 2020 truck on the American market (technically, a full-size commercial van)....the Ram Promaster. I'm not knocking its capabilities or versatility. It can obviously haul around a great deal, and is quite popular with a number of businesses as a result...I see a lot of them in my area. But OMG, that front end.............![EEK!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/eek1.gif)
Older versions had a small ram-symbol on the front end...the latest ones spell it out with a larger Ram logo.
In Europe, a Fiat version, called the Ducato, including a full-electric, is sold.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-promaster.html
![](https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ram/promaster-cargo-van/2016/oem/2016_ram_promaster-cargo-van_cargo-van_3500-high-roof_fq_oem_1_1600.jpg)
![](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2021-ram-promaster-mmp-1-1593097917.jpg?crop=0.825xw:0.849xh;0.111xw,0.0625xh&resize=1200:*)
![EEK!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/eek1.gif)
Older versions had a small ram-symbol on the front end...the latest ones spell it out with a larger Ram logo.
In Europe, a Fiat version, called the Ducato, including a full-electric, is sold.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-promaster.html
![](https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ram/promaster-cargo-van/2016/oem/2016_ram_promaster-cargo-van_cargo-van_3500-high-roof_fq_oem_1_1600.jpg)
![](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2021-ram-promaster-mmp-1-1593097917.jpg?crop=0.825xw:0.849xh;0.111xw,0.0625xh&resize=1200:*)
#2
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Mike, this thing has been out for a while, at least 3-4 years. In the past Dodge used to sell a Dodge Ram Van which was based on the Dodge Ram pick-up chassis. Then, during their partnership with Daimler, Dodge used to sell a Dodge badged version of the MB Sprinter in the US, and a few years they started selling the Pro Master. On top of being ugly, I believe it is also FWD, which is absolutely unacceptable for a heavy duty vehicle.
#3
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Yes, I know....I mentioned the slightly older versions with the smaller logo on the grille. (still ugly LOL) ![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Yes, I remember the Sprinter and the older Dodge models. They wouldn't win any beauty-contests, but are not in the same league as this ugly-stick.
Yes, it it FWD/unibody, so one cannot expect it to manage the kind of loads that you could with a Cummins-diesel Ram 3500 and dualie-rear wheels. But it apparantly does quite well for the type of hauling for which it is designed....note its popularity with business.
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
In the past Dodge used to sell a Dodge Ram Van which was based on the Dodge Ram pick-up chassis. Then, during their partnership with Daimler, Dodge used to sell a Dodge badged version of the MB Sprinter in the US, and a few years they started selling the Pro Master.
On top of being ugly, I believe it is also FWD, which is absolutely unacceptable for a heavy duty vehicle.
Last edited by mmarshall; 09-25-20 at 07:06 PM.
#4
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I just sold my old MB Sprinter earlier this week, and the guy who bought it from me arranged a pre-purchase inspection at a local Sprinter specialist shop, where the mechanic said they constantly see Sprinters with 500k to a million miles. As I was there, there was another Sprinter in there with 650k on the clock. Good luck getting that out of a Chrysler/Fiat product.
#5
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I don't know how well it does or how long it lasts, but somehow I think it's cheaper than its competition, and likely won't last as long.
I just sold my old MB Sprinter earlier this week, and the guy who bought it from me arranged a pre-purchase inspection at a local Sprinter specialist shop, where the mechanic said they constantly see Sprinters with 500k to a million miles. As I was there, there was another Sprinter in there with 650k on the clock. Good luck getting that out of a Chrysler/Fiat product.
I just sold my old MB Sprinter earlier this week, and the guy who bought it from me arranged a pre-purchase inspection at a local Sprinter specialist shop, where the mechanic said they constantly see Sprinters with 500k to a million miles. As I was there, there was another Sprinter in there with 650k on the clock. Good luck getting that out of a Chrysler/Fiat product.
It's true that, all else equal, one will probably get more miles out of a Sprinter....and I hope you had good luck with yours.
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#6
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Oooh that Promaster is just a pile of hot garbage.
It is truly nothing compared to the majesty of the Sprinter.
It is truly nothing compared to the majesty of the Sprinter.
#7
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Since this thread is about vans, the title's been changed.
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#8
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I think it looks better than that weird full size Nissan van, whatever it’s called.
#9
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#10
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https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/c.../nv-cargo.html
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/2012_Nissan_NV_2500_HD_--_09-15-2011.jpg/1200px-2012_Nissan_NV_2500_HD_--_09-15-2011.jpg)
#11
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Yes, that’s the one. The NV.
Just awful.
Just awful.
#12
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No, it isn't the new Silverado...not even close. IMO, this has to be the most awkward-looking new 2020 truck on the American market (technically, a full-size commercial van)....the Ram Promaster. I'm not knocking its capabilities or versatility. It can obviously haul around a great deal, and is quite popular with a number of businesses as a result...I see a lot of them in my area. But OMG, that front end.............![EEK!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/eek1.gif)
Older versions had a small ram-symbol on the front end...the latest ones spell it out with a larger Ram logo.
In Europe, a Fiat version, called the Ducato, including a full-electric, is sold.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-promaster.html
![](https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ram/promaster-cargo-van/2016/oem/2016_ram_promaster-cargo-van_cargo-van_3500-high-roof_fq_oem_1_1600.jpg)
![](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2021-ram-promaster-mmp-1-1593097917.jpg?crop=0.825xw:0.849xh;0.111xw,0.0625xh&resize=1200:*)
![EEK!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/eek1.gif)
Older versions had a small ram-symbol on the front end...the latest ones spell it out with a larger Ram logo.
In Europe, a Fiat version, called the Ducato, including a full-electric, is sold.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-promaster.html
![](https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ram/promaster-cargo-van/2016/oem/2016_ram_promaster-cargo-van_cargo-van_3500-high-roof_fq_oem_1_1600.jpg)
![](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2021-ram-promaster-mmp-1-1593097917.jpg?crop=0.825xw:0.849xh;0.111xw,0.0625xh&resize=1200:*)
#13
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Nobody buys a work van for its looks lol
#14
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You mean the Nissan NV? It is ungainly tall (my guess is you have to be careful cornering it, with its high center of gravity), but I don't see it as all that terribly ugly.
https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/c.../nv-cargo.html
https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/c.../nv-cargo.html
Frankly, American vans were utter garbage for decades. It's only after MB started selling the Sprinter in the US under Dodge brand, and later under their of MB brand, Ford got their act together and replaced the E series van with the new Transit van which is light years ahead of the E series and actually gives the Sprinter a run for the money. GMC still sells the awful old school Express van, and since Chrysler and Daimler went separate ways and Chrysler is now owned by Fiat they now sell the rebadged Fiat Ducato van badged as Ram Promaster instead of the rebadged Sprinter.
The one thing that I could never understand with Ford - they always had the Transit in Europe and the Econoline in the US, with Transit being vastly superior. They should have brought it here sooner.