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What are your top five likes and dislikes? I have a few mixed ones- for example I don't like the 101 mph limiter, but I am glad its there- who knows how fast I'd be driving this thing if it wasn't. No, these are more unequivacal:
(One request: I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of "mirrors" in the dislikes. We all know the details of that, so there's no reason to expound.)
Top Five Likes:
1) Straight Line Stability: With a relatively high COG and slab sides, the Metris should not be a candidate for sustained triple-digit running. Yet I can run at that speed with one hand on the wheel, and even none. The Metris's straight line stability (a function of old school Mercedes-Benz steering geometry coupled with the self-steering component of the power steering system) allows one to travel on straight highways with your hands in your lap, occasionally reaching up to correct your course.
2) Front seats: While it is suffering from a bit of cosmetic wear that seems a bit high to me for a car with only 34k miles on it, the drivers seat is the second best seat, and best driving position, of any car I have ever owned. The seat itself loses out only to the peerless W124.
3) Visibility: I have no idea what Andre Smirnov over at The Fast Lane Truck was on about when he said the visibility was not the best in the segment. Yeah, sure, the Sprinter and Transit, and I presume the ProMaster, have better visibility. As do other things that are a lot taller. For a vehicle where I can almost slide my bum onto the seat without raising it at all, the visibility is unparalleled. Not even a Vanagon has substantially better visibility.
4) Maneuverability: It might seem strange, but at 202.4" the Metris is one of the longest class-1 vehicles sold in the US, and excluding the Suburban and Expedition, has the longest wheelbase at 126”. Yet of any vehicle in the over 200" class and of many vehicles much shorter than that, it has the shortest wall to wall turning circle at 38.7 (keep in mind that Edmunds and other places usually use Curb-to-Curb for that number- I estimate the curb to curb for the Metris at 36.9”).
5) Ergonomics: With the exception of the window switches, which are located counterintuitively on the door, the controls are precisely where they need to be for best operation. The most frequently activated controls can be operated without removing your hands from the extraordinarily comfortable wheel. The other controls that are frequently used (drive mode selector, flashers, climate control) fall readily to hand and are easy to quickly adjust.
Top Five Dislikes:
1) Paint quality: Maybe its my van, but it really really sucks. First of all, the orange peel is comparable to a modern Rolls-Royce or Honda (ok, maybe I’m being unfair and remember days gone by when people actually put a vague amount of care into paint application at even the $250k price point). But the part I really hate is that the car has more scratches and paint chips than my W124 does- at 22 years of age and a gadrillion miles.
2) The drivers seat tilt adjustment: Nice big knob, easily to hold and turn. Adjusts seat nice and easy. If only it would hold the position I put it in (all the way up).
3) Lack of folding seats- I wish the backrests on the seats folded down. It would make creating space and removing the things so much easier…
4) Fuel economy: I had unreasonable expectations because the salesmen and the test route for their debut created an idea that these things could achieve 30+ mpg. Of course they can, going downhill, as in that test. I have been averaging 21-22 these days, until the accident, which has knocked it under 20 due to the compromised aerodynamics. This is compounded by…
5) The tiny fuel tank: Why the heck did they put an 18 gallon tank on this? I would have put at least a 25 gallon tank in, maybe a 30. I know I’m spoiled by my ’95 E300 Diesel’s 23.8 gallon tank (actually nearly 25 when you include the filler neck) and its consistent 35mpg at 80mph. (That produces an ideal highway range of over 800 miles.) Having to refill my tank at 300 miles drives me nuts. I was wondering if they offer a dual tank option I could retrofit (36 gallons would be acceptable, trust me!)
(One request: I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of "mirrors" in the dislikes. We all know the details of that, so there's no reason to expound.)
Top Five Likes:
1) Straight Line Stability: With a relatively high COG and slab sides, the Metris should not be a candidate for sustained triple-digit running. Yet I can run at that speed with one hand on the wheel, and even none. The Metris's straight line stability (a function of old school Mercedes-Benz steering geometry coupled with the self-steering component of the power steering system) allows one to travel on straight highways with your hands in your lap, occasionally reaching up to correct your course.
2) Front seats: While it is suffering from a bit of cosmetic wear that seems a bit high to me for a car with only 34k miles on it, the drivers seat is the second best seat, and best driving position, of any car I have ever owned. The seat itself loses out only to the peerless W124.
3) Visibility: I have no idea what Andre Smirnov over at The Fast Lane Truck was on about when he said the visibility was not the best in the segment. Yeah, sure, the Sprinter and Transit, and I presume the ProMaster, have better visibility. As do other things that are a lot taller. For a vehicle where I can almost slide my bum onto the seat without raising it at all, the visibility is unparalleled. Not even a Vanagon has substantially better visibility.
4) Maneuverability: It might seem strange, but at 202.4" the Metris is one of the longest class-1 vehicles sold in the US, and excluding the Suburban and Expedition, has the longest wheelbase at 126”. Yet of any vehicle in the over 200" class and of many vehicles much shorter than that, it has the shortest wall to wall turning circle at 38.7 (keep in mind that Edmunds and other places usually use Curb-to-Curb for that number- I estimate the curb to curb for the Metris at 36.9”).
5) Ergonomics: With the exception of the window switches, which are located counterintuitively on the door, the controls are precisely where they need to be for best operation. The most frequently activated controls can be operated without removing your hands from the extraordinarily comfortable wheel. The other controls that are frequently used (drive mode selector, flashers, climate control) fall readily to hand and are easy to quickly adjust.
Top Five Dislikes:
1) Paint quality: Maybe its my van, but it really really sucks. First of all, the orange peel is comparable to a modern Rolls-Royce or Honda (ok, maybe I’m being unfair and remember days gone by when people actually put a vague amount of care into paint application at even the $250k price point). But the part I really hate is that the car has more scratches and paint chips than my W124 does- at 22 years of age and a gadrillion miles.
2) The drivers seat tilt adjustment: Nice big knob, easily to hold and turn. Adjusts seat nice and easy. If only it would hold the position I put it in (all the way up).
3) Lack of folding seats- I wish the backrests on the seats folded down. It would make creating space and removing the things so much easier…
4) Fuel economy: I had unreasonable expectations because the salesmen and the test route for their debut created an idea that these things could achieve 30+ mpg. Of course they can, going downhill, as in that test. I have been averaging 21-22 these days, until the accident, which has knocked it under 20 due to the compromised aerodynamics. This is compounded by…
5) The tiny fuel tank: Why the heck did they put an 18 gallon tank on this? I would have put at least a 25 gallon tank in, maybe a 30. I know I’m spoiled by my ’95 E300 Diesel’s 23.8 gallon tank (actually nearly 25 when you include the filler neck) and its consistent 35mpg at 80mph. (That produces an ideal highway range of over 800 miles.) Having to refill my tank at 300 miles drives me nuts. I was wondering if they offer a dual tank option I could retrofit (36 gallons would be acceptable, trust me!)