New FORD TRANSIT CONNECT - cool delivery van

[Grim Reaper]

Whatever they want me to test has still not shown up. I'll let you know when it shows up.

I hope its that full size, that would be cool and more to my needs.

The week after I posted I ended up have an unexpected load of 1100lb of batteries and a bunch of cabinets they mount in. Filled the Chevy Express to the ceiling and drove 200 miles back to my office on the bump stops. When my new van was being ordered I BEGGED for a 3/4 ton after blowing on the rear axle and transmission on the last van. Some desk jockey knows better then me what my needs are. It apparently is cheaper to keep putting axles and transmissions in then just buying a vehicle that is rated for the job I do.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Is the big Transit a truck? Can it be lifted?

The Transit Connect uses the UK Focus drive train, while you probably can lift it you may run into the same issues the Element/CRV owners do when attempting to lift those.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Is the big Transit a truck? Can it be lifted?

It is a truck, but I wouldn't lift it. It's not that kind of truck.

 

[kellymoe]

I'm digging this truck. I keep telling my wife this needs to be our 2nd daily driver. I can see it with BFG AT's, the back set up for sleeping, cargo droors etc.... room for mountain bikes, skis. It would be nice to get into ski boots with some room if the weather is inclement. It's ugly but in a good kinda way. I dont know, it's just kind of grown on me.

 

[dzzz]

The transit connect is tiny.
The transit, which is larger, has not been scheduled for US release AFAIK.
There are capacity problems with existing 4WD converted vans from ford and GM. I've looked at a ford Sportsmobile twice. With just fuel and water I estimate it's at its GVWR.
The European designed vans are even less suitable for back country 4wd conversion.
I find the existing Sprinters great for on-road RVs. But I don't know of a truely heavy duty van sold anywhere.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

grim reaper,
the Ford Transit will replace the Econoline fullsize vans in the USA. The Transit also has AWD versions as well as a lot of cool features.
http://www.ford.co.uk/cs/ContentSer...pper&childpagename=UKEN_ENGInE/Layout4&c=Page

The Transit Connect is to "connect" from consumer to light commercial duty.

After a delay announced earlier this year, Ford Motor Co.'s plan to sell its full-sized Transit van in the United States seems to be back on track -- albeit with an extra two-year wait.

The Transit is a European-styled commercial van that is expected to replace the Econoline van.

Ford had planned to assemble the full-sized Transit in Ohio beginning in 2011. The Transit is a different van, on a different platform, than the smaller Transit Connect that went on sale here in early July.

In February, in the middle of a recession-fueled cash crunch, Ford delayed the next-generation Transit. A new timetable was uncertain.

But now the full-sized Transit is expected to go into production in early 2013, industry sources tell Automotive News.

The Transit still is scheduled for Ford's plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, the sources say.

That plant currently produces the Econoline, which has held about half of the U.S. commercial van market for several years. The Econoline is expected to be discontinued eventually.

If nothing interrupts the current plans, it will bring to a close Ford's 40-year struggle to develop a single global van.

The issue has been debated since the late 1960s, soon after the original Transit debuted. But concerns about different customer preferences -- Europeans demand smaller, more fuel-efficient powertrains while U.S. van buyers like V-8 engines -- have torpedoed previous efforts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Transit Connect is tiny. I saw them in Europe and they are basically a Focus sized wagon with a tall roof. However, they are very practical for the size and still perfect for what Ford is marketing it as.

 

[dzzz]

I don't consider "maybe in 2013" a plan.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

I don't consider "maybe in 2013" a plan.

Your absolutely right, Ford has no plan to bring the Transit to the US.

On an unrelated note,
Ford was looking at the idea of a Econoline replacement and scrapped it in '03 because it was not economically feasible. The wanted to share platforms to save cost.
The decision came to globalize the large van onto one platform, the Connect.
This made a lot of sense with the superiority of the Connect to the Econoline as well as the success of the Dodge Sprinter (now to be sold only as Mercedes Van in the USA).

My last post on it was when Ford had the decision to intro it to the USA as a '11 model. That was planned and announced quite a while ago. It was no secret.
With the utter turmoil of this year in the auto industry, they pushed it back two years. Maybe thing will change again maybe not.

 

[jammyauto]

I think it's only a matter of time before we see the demise of the V8 powered body on frame van in the US. The US sprinter sales clearly demonstrate that the overall market favors a more fuel efficient vehicle. The owners who are towing heavy loads or building off-road vehicles are a tiny percentage of the market.

 

[87FoRunner]

After seeing and playing with one in person at my local dealer, I can honestly say this thing is freaking cool!

Like a blue collar, non nerdy, scion xB...Ready to be loaded with gear and hit a road trip.

 

[gary in ohio]

I saw a ford Transit Connect at the local dealer but it was a smaller mini van size not econline size vehicle. Looked like a minivan with a delivery van hump on the back.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

I saw a ford Transit Connect at the local dealer but it was a smaller mini van size not econline size vehicle. Looked like a minivan with a delivery van hump on the back.

Gary,
The Transit Connect is the tall, Scion XB type of utility car.

The Transit is the Econoline type of utility van.

Kind of confusing nomenclature

and this is how Ford avoids the chicken tax on the Transit Connect
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125357990638429655.html

 

[78Bronco]

I like the styling of the new fullsize and hopefully they will offer it with an economically priced diesel. It's a shame they aren't utilizing smaller turbo diesels across the entire vehicle line up to compete with VW.:smiley_drive:

 

[Grim Reaper]

:smiley_drive:Mine showed up yesterday. Drove it to the gas station and filled it up. Will drive it to Augusta Tuesday and Athens Thursday.

It wont meet my needs for work and I may well break it next week. The the round trip to Augusta will require a fill up on the return trip do to the small 15gallon fuel tank. Less then impressed with that. My AWD Chevy Express has a 500 mile range and gets 17mpg consistently ay 75mph and will haul double the cargo. I regularly bring the thing home with it riding on the bump stops.

This one is full cargo version with shelve that I may have to rip out to get enough room for my typical stock runs.

A FE gets it next. Hope the pick one in North GA and let him rip the bottom out. Some of the sites they have to go they tear up fullsize 3/4 ton trucks.

That said once I figured out the seat height adjustment also moved the seat forward and that caused my problems with getting the seat back enough to drive it. If it had a full interior in the rear it would be nice option for a family road only ute. It has enough room it could haul my bikes with one rear seat folded leaving room for the kiddo. The MPG would be nice.

Typical Ford Resale holds true you will be able to pick these up for under $5k in about 3 -5 years.

Till then I'll be picking up a 91-97 Toyota Previa that gets as good if not better MPG, Seats 7 and has dual A/C and more cargo room. Monster sunroofs as well. Maybe I can find a AWD 5 speed. Just cant get a AWD SC so I May have to make one. :smiley_drive:

 

[mhiscox]

Till then I'll be picking up a 91-97 Toyota Previa that gets as good if not better MPG, Seats 7 and has dual A/C and more cargo room. Monster sunroofs as well. Maybe I can find a AWD 5 speed. Just cant get a AWD SC so I May have to make one. :smiley_drive:

Unfortunate thread interuption, but where else here can you offer an opinion on a Toyota Previa . . .

This is a good example of how much opinions can differ among knowledgeable people. I had a Toyota Previa for a couple of years and among my fifty-plus vehicles, this one hands-down won the "Most Likely to Make Passengers Carsick" award. Strange layout (the engine's under the floor) and strange driving dynamics. Can't argue about the space, quality, AC, etc., but I didn't enjoy driving it and was glad to see it go. Zany looks, too.

And now, back to the Transit Connect . . .