Upsizing hugely?
Discussion
Sometime in the next twelve months I'll be swapping from my daily driver being a Nissan Micra to a Merc Sprinter 
... the Micra's the only car I've ever driven since passing my test (June 06), barring one test-drive this week.
What do I need to do/look at/concentrate on to adapt to this new ginormous van, continue to be a good and safe driver? Any obvious likely issues in terms of handling etc that I'm going to run into in the early days? Anything else I ought to be thinking about?
NB I'll be driving on an auto box with hand controls, if that's relevant.
Cheers folks...
... the Micra's the only car I've ever driven since passing my test (June 06), barring one test-drive this week. What do I need to do/look at/concentrate on to adapt to this new ginormous van, continue to be a good and safe driver? Any obvious likely issues in terms of handling etc that I'm going to run into in the early days? Anything else I ought to be thinking about?
NB I'll be driving on an auto box with hand controls, if that's relevant.
Cheers folks...
- at least at first.becca_ said:
Sometime in the next twelve months I'll be swapping from my daily driver being a Nissan Micra to a Merc Sprinter ... the Micra's the only car I've ever driven since passing my test (June 06), barring one test-drive this week.
What do I need to do/look at/concentrate on to adapt to this new ginormous van, continue to be a good and safe driver? Any obvious likely issues in terms of handling etc that I'm going to run into in the early days? Anything else I ought to be thinking about?
NB I'll be driving on an auto box with hand controls, if that's relevant.
Cheers folks...
Windows in the rear door(s)?. ... the Micra's the only car I've ever driven since passing my test (June 06), barring one test-drive this week. What do I need to do/look at/concentrate on to adapt to this new ginormous van, continue to be a good and safe driver? Any obvious likely issues in terms of handling etc that I'm going to run into in the early days? Anything else I ought to be thinking about?
NB I'll be driving on an auto box with hand controls, if that's relevant.
Cheers folks...
If not, the rear view will be much more limited, you will not see those who tailgate.
Or, a BIB, checking you out.
Sprinters are though, in the van world, renowned for their abilities.
Just get in it, remember the advanced stuff and drive it.
You'll do great 'cos you have the right attitude.
think yourself very lucky your getting an auto, the gearboxes are sodding awful. oh & you need arms that reach your ankles to be comfy in a normal one.
as others have said, watch your sides on turns you WILL get rather close to stuff till you adapt to how long it is.
they oversteer rather well on wet roads if yours doesnt have the stabilty/traction thingy. i believe your in a chair right? lift at the back? if so you probably wont have to worry about the oversteer too much as a bit of weight cures it.
as others have said, watch your sides on turns you WILL get rather close to stuff till you adapt to how long it is.
they oversteer rather well on wet roads if yours doesnt have the stabilty/traction thingy. i believe your in a chair right? lift at the back? if so you probably wont have to worry about the oversteer too much as a bit of weight cures it.
WhoseGeneration said:
becca_ said:
Sometime in the next twelve months I'll be swapping from my daily driver being a Nissan Micra to a Merc Sprinter ... the Micra's the only car I've ever driven since passing my test (June 06), barring one test-drive this week.
What do I need to do/look at/concentrate on to adapt to this new ginormous van, continue to be a good and safe driver? Any obvious likely issues in terms of handling etc that I'm going to run into in the early days? Anything else I ought to be thinking about?
NB I'll be driving on an auto box with hand controls, if that's relevant.
Cheers folks...
Windows in the rear door(s)?. ... the Micra's the only car I've ever driven since passing my test (June 06), barring one test-drive this week. What do I need to do/look at/concentrate on to adapt to this new ginormous van, continue to be a good and safe driver? Any obvious likely issues in terms of handling etc that I'm going to run into in the early days? Anything else I ought to be thinking about?
NB I'll be driving on an auto box with hand controls, if that's relevant.
Cheers folks...
If not, the rear view will be much more limited, you will not see those who tailgate.
Or, a BIB, checking you out.
Sprinters are though, in the van world, renowned for their abilities.
Just get in it, remember the advanced stuff and drive it.
You'll do great 'cos you have the right attitude.
BiB checking me out? Surely not.
Hooli said:
think yourself very lucky your getting an auto, the gearboxes are sodding awful. oh & you need arms that reach your ankles to be comfy in a normal one.
as others have said, watch your sides on turns you WILL get rather close to stuff till you adapt to how long it is.
they oversteer rather well on wet roads if yours doesnt have the stabilty/traction thingy. i believe your in a chair right? lift at the back? if so you probably wont have to worry about the oversteer too much as a bit of weight cures it.
It'll be all modded and adapted to be the right heights for me - electronic handbrake too - so hopefully the arm-reach problem won't be an issue. Bloody hope not anyway cos I'm five-foot-not-a-lot so don't exactly have a big reach...as others have said, watch your sides on turns you WILL get rather close to stuff till you adapt to how long it is.
they oversteer rather well on wet roads if yours doesnt have the stabilty/traction thingy. i believe your in a chair right? lift at the back? if so you probably wont have to worry about the oversteer too much as a bit of weight cures it.
Correct am in a chair, yep lift at the back so no oversteer
dammit... never ever experienced deliberate oversteer, would rather like to one day. becca_ said:
R_U_LOCAL said:
I see you're North West based.
PM me when you get the new van and I'll give you a days instruction in it if you like.
OMG!PM me when you get the new van and I'll give you a days instruction in it if you like.
Yes PLEASE, Reg.
What a very kind offer.
I will do that, as long as you're sure it's OK.
Becca
Some quick wins hopefully:
Best of luck
Some quick wins hopefully:
- before taking on the van, tape over your rear view mirror in the Micra, it will get you in the habit of external mirrors only. Appreciate you have rear windows.
- if possible, take your Micra and the Sprinter to a quiet car park, drive the Micra into parking space (both forward and reverse) then jump into the van and try the same, will demonstrate turning circle and size
- the width of your van = the outermost point of your external mirrors NOT your door skins
Best of luck
becca_ said:
Hooli said:
think yourself very lucky your getting an auto, the gearboxes are sodding awful. oh & you need arms that reach your ankles to be comfy in a normal one.
as others have said, watch your sides on turns you WILL get rather close to stuff till you adapt to how long it is.
they oversteer rather well on wet roads if yours doesnt have the stabilty/traction thingy. i believe your in a chair right? lift at the back? if so you probably wont have to worry about the oversteer too much as a bit of weight cures it.
It'll be all modded and adapted to be the right heights for me - electronic handbrake too - so hopefully the arm-reach problem won't be an issue. Bloody hope not anyway cos I'm five-foot-not-a-lot so don't exactly have a big reach...as others have said, watch your sides on turns you WILL get rather close to stuff till you adapt to how long it is.
they oversteer rather well on wet roads if yours doesnt have the stabilty/traction thingy. i believe your in a chair right? lift at the back? if so you probably wont have to worry about the oversteer too much as a bit of weight cures it.
Correct am in a chair, yep lift at the back so no oversteer
dammit... never ever experienced deliberate oversteer, would rather like to one day. 
if i got a double decker bus sideways once then a loaded sprinter WILL do it with effort 
its easy to get close enough to the wheel in a normal one, it just means the pedals feel like they are behind you. still sounds like you wont get that problem.
they go like stink if your getting a biggish engine & are reasonably quiet on the move.
that offer off reg sounds great, enjoy.
BOF said:
Becca,
I have been away for a while - how did it go with the IAM course?
BOF
It went great, I've chosen to hold off taking the test for now as my health's not been great and I've been doing very little driving but I've stayed in touch with the group and will be back when I can. I have been away for a while - how did it go with the IAM course?
BOF
Seems silly to take it in my Micra when I'm going to be driving a huge and vastly different motor quite soon, anyway.
Hooli said:
just try harder for the oversteer if i got a double decker bus sideways once then a loaded sprinter WILL do it with effort
The more powerful sprinters will oversteer when loaded too. Unfortunately i suspect becca will end up with a wheezy 308 Sprinter which can barely spin an inside wheel in the snow. The 316 is far more fun. if i got a double decker bus sideways once then a loaded sprinter WILL do it with effort Even with the tailgate gear you will have at least some view out of the back which is good, but as already mentioned your external mirrors are key so always ensure they are properly adjusted before you set of. They may have been knocked while parked and are usually more difficult to adjust than car mirrors once on the move.
Reversing will be very tricky. If possible get into a large empty car park with a few cones or coke cans or other markers and have a practice, getting used to how much lock, how much the van swings, what you see in the mirrors and what this relates to in reality. If in doubt get someone to guide you as the back is never quite where you think it is.
Normal driving forwards, not much different to a car other than the extra width and length but you soon get used to that. Improved view due to height in the seat which is good, but less able to slide through gaps in traffic (a la micra) due to size. Also you will not be so quick off the mark as you are used to so probably a bit more thought and planning at junctions, roundabouts and the like. You tend to sit much closer to the front than in a car (shorter bonnet/front) which will alow you to drive about two inches off the bumper of the car in front - compulsory in a van. Seriously though this does help when driving into spaces as you are more aware of where the front of the van is. You can also pull up very close to walls or other objects due to improved view at the front.
Depending on the model, Sprinters are probably the quickest vans (how many have you seen on the Mway at a ton plus) but do not handle as well as a Transit in my opinion. Also the high sided ones can be tricky in windy conditions, although this is a lot more noticeable on Mways etc. than around town.
You will probably find it is a bit noisier than your micra too as soundproofing is less of a concern with commercials.
Reversing will be very tricky. If possible get into a large empty car park with a few cones or coke cans or other markers and have a practice, getting used to how much lock, how much the van swings, what you see in the mirrors and what this relates to in reality. If in doubt get someone to guide you as the back is never quite where you think it is.
Normal driving forwards, not much different to a car other than the extra width and length but you soon get used to that. Improved view due to height in the seat which is good, but less able to slide through gaps in traffic (a la micra) due to size. Also you will not be so quick off the mark as you are used to so probably a bit more thought and planning at junctions, roundabouts and the like. You tend to sit much closer to the front than in a car (shorter bonnet/front) which will alow you to drive about two inches off the bumper of the car in front - compulsory in a van. Seriously though this does help when driving into spaces as you are more aware of where the front of the van is. You can also pull up very close to walls or other objects due to improved view at the front.
Depending on the model, Sprinters are probably the quickest vans (how many have you seen on the Mway at a ton plus) but do not handle as well as a Transit in my opinion. Also the high sided ones can be tricky in windy conditions, although this is a lot more noticeable on Mways etc. than around town.
You will probably find it is a bit noisier than your micra too as soundproofing is less of a concern with commercials.
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