"Mercedes" Ambulances Sending the Wrong Message?

MMiz

I put the M in EMTLife
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A local municipal service just received their Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulances made by Demers. They look impressive.

In a county with a per capita money income of less than $30,000 a year, does the blingtastic Mercedes badge on the front of the ambulance send the wrong message?
 

OnceAnEMT

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I've seen eastern-hempisphere systems with them, I believe my thinking is coming from the show Paramedics based in Australia. So its a thing. That said, I think it depends on the vehicle. Mercedes is a well known luxury brand, yes, but how does its fleet prices rank with Fords and GMCs here in the states (or Fords over there)? I don't think they will have automatic running boards with LED lit wheel wells, cooled cup holders, and 16 way automatic seats.

Anyone seen one of these state side?
 

Tigger

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The Mercedes Sprinter is similar in price point to other cutaway vans. It is also much more fuel efficient with more safety features. Mercedes is also building a plant to produce them domestically.

For awhile they were sold with Dodge and Freightliner badges, and apparently the Freighliner badged models will become more prevalent. Would a Freightliner badge be ideal? Probably but I doubt many will notice. It might have something to do with Demers being Canadian but I thought the Freightliners were sold there too.
 

Jim37F

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Lots of companies around here are buying Sprinter vans, some with the Dodge markings, a lot with the Mercedes markings...all I know is that IMO they are quite frankly a little fugly looking, narrow and tall like a stiff breeze would blow them over. Plus putting a straight light bar on the curved front just means it just sticks out and looks out of place leaving the whole aesthetics slightly off putting to me...but I'm just weird like that lol :p
 

Underoath87

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Lots of companies around here are buying Sprinter vans, some with the Dodge markings, a lot with the Mercedes markings...all I know is that IMO they are quite frankly a little fugly looking, narrow and tall like a stiff breeze would blow them over. Plus putting a straight light bar on the curved front just means it just sticks out and looks out of place leaving the whole aesthetics slightly off putting to me...but I'm just weird like that lol :p


It's just for work, not picking up chicks...
 

Tigger

Dodges Pucks
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Lots of companies around here are buying Sprinter vans, some with the Dodge markings, a lot with the Mercedes markings...all I know is that IMO they are quite frankly a little fugly looking, narrow and tall like a stiff breeze would blow them over. Plus putting a straight light bar on the curved front just means it just sticks out and looks out of place leaving the whole aesthetics slightly off putting to me...but I'm just weird like that lol :p

They actually have very similar dimensions to most Type IIs minus having a large (and heavy) fiberglass topper mounted to the roof...
 

chaz90

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I saw them used as a few Colorado ambulances and worked a few shifts in one. Ours had the Mercedes markings and didn't bring too many questions. The local newspaper ran a story when they came out that explained the cost savings despite the "expensive" badge.
 

cprted

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We have a few here. I believe the sticker price was in the same ballpark as the other offerings from Demers with a ford or chevy chassis and the maintenance costs were projected to be cheaper.
 

COmedic17

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We have sprinters for county cars to get though narrow passages. I'm not a fan. Throw a cardiac arrest and a couple Fire riders in the back and it's an extremely uncomfortable tight fit.
 

Kevinf

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We had one for awhile, their diesel engine was amazing; quiet, torquey, started up like a gas engine in the cold. Lots of leg room up front was a plus, but like many (most?) vanbulances the back was iffy.

A different perspective is this: In America a Mercedes is a luxury vehicle, in Europe it's a taxi :)
 

Smitty213

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Well the Southerntier of NY isn't exactly known for its affluence, but one of the transport agencies that we work with down there has recently begun changing most of their regular 911/IFT fleet over to these things. Backs were ok, theres had a pretty neat European design thing going on, but most of there guis and gals love em; besides what @Kevinf said, I guess they're built like tanks and are WAY more reliable than the standard Ford/GM rigs.
 

Kevinf

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I despise Ford's E-350 turbodiesel motor. It may be as durable as a tank, but man does it make a ruckus... and take up all the leg room. Whomever designed that cabin needs to be forced to sit at a desk with that motor bolted right under it for the rest of their career. I eagerly await the day when EV ambulances are commonplace. I've had my fill of engine noise and diesel fumes! Screw Mercedes rigs, give me Tesla rigs!
 

RefriedEMT

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There was one in my company's fleet in olympia, funny thing is most of the emts did not like it due to the smaller amount of space in the back although I thought they were okay since I am not a big person and rarely had more than just myself and one PT in the back with me.
 

DrParasite

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Durham County EMS just ordered a bunch of them..... per my last discussion with their Chief of Finance & Administration, they were about the same price as a non-Mercedes one, with a lot of nice little amenities.
 

RedAirplane

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In Europe, Mercedes Benz is partially a luxury brand, but is also well know for rugged and competitive buses, taxis, and trucks.
 

Bullets

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Cant specifically speak to the sprinters, but we have a rescue truck built on a two person conventional chassis that is badged as a "Freightliner" but when you pop the hood, a huge Mercedes motor sits there. The bonnet has a little "Powered by Mercedes-Benz" sticker on the side and i have to say the truck pulls a ton of weight and we never have problems with it. Its our mechanics favorite truck to work on. He says its very neat and logical
 

TransportJockey

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When i worked for AMR we had a Sprinter mod (type 3) that was badged as a Mercedes. I loved the thing except it was a little sluggish on acceleration from a stop. I would gladly ride in a fleet of Sprinters
 

281mustang

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We use Mercedes Sprinters were I work. I'm not a fan, I have to put my duffle bag on the dash because there is zero storage space up front and the seats practically don't recline. Not to mention the fact that they look ridiculous, driving around town in those things is practically a form of birth control.

The one positive thing is that I'm 6' tall and can walk around in the back while standing up.
 
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