Mercedes' little Metris holds a special place in the hearts of many Roadshow editors. We had one in our long-term fleet for a year -- which we inexplicably/lovingly named the Wu-Tang Van -- and it was a trusty companion for a year's worth of video production work.

The Metris hasn't changed all that much since we said goodbye to the Wu-Tang Van, but I think it's important that we revisit our old long-termers from time to time, just to make sure we aren't just looking back at them with rose-colored glasses. After a few days of hauling things and running errands around Los Angeles, I'm reminded of all the reasons why we liked our long-term Metris as a work vehicle. But I'm reminded of its tech-related weaknesses, too.

You better work

The Metris is compact as vans go, but it's not exactly small. It's available with 126-inch and 135-inch wheelbases, the longer of which is what I've got here. Stem to stern, this Metris measures 211.4 inches, which is about 5 inches longer than an S-Class sedan. It's slightly wider than an S-Class and obviously taller, too, so diminutive as it might be compared with something like a Sprinter, the Metris is hardly tiny.

But at the same time, the Metris is easy to maneuver. Its turning circle is about 2 feet smaller than that of an S-Class, so you can easily whip it around tight city streets and it's a cinch to park in crowded lots. The high seating position gives you a great view down the short hood, and the low beltline means side visibility is ample, too. Be sure to order your Metris with rear windows for the best experience.