Posted: 1/10/2014 11:39:59 AM EDT
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Does anyone know for sure when we will see the high roof Ford Transit here in the US? The website says Summer but I've heard Winter.
I'm interested in seeing how the diesel engine and (2) 6 cylinder gasoline engines stack up. |
| Hopefully it's better than the E150 I have. My 2011 E150 has spent more time in the shop than the 4 or 5 Chevy vans I had before it combined. Company I work for has been pushing the little Transit Connect vans on the field the last two years simply due to the better fuel mileage. Other guys that have them say they are dogs as far as power goes and have no room in them once they are upfitted with storage racks on each side. I have a hard enough time with what room I have in an E150 so I've politely declined getting a replacement in the form of a Connect. I've heard that the new Connects will have a little taller roof, but that doesn't much help the other issues. Hopefully the new bigger Transits get a little better fuel economy and they let us try them out. |
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You're talking about the thing that looks like a miniature Sprinter, right? I've put tires on two, and changed oil on another one here in IA.Two had IA plates and the third was from a state east of here, but don't remember which one. No. The Transit is just as large as the Sprinter. It is not yet available in the US The Transit Connect is the smaller vehicle that you might be thinking of. |
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No. The Transit is just as large as the Sprinter. It is not yet available in the US The Transit Connect is the smaller vehicle that you might be thinking of. Quoted:
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You're talking about the thing that looks like a miniature Sprinter, right? I've put tires on two, and changed oil on another one here in IA.Two had IA plates and the third was from a state east of here, but don't remember which one. No. The Transit is just as large as the Sprinter. It is not yet available in the US The Transit Connect is the smaller vehicle that you might be thinking of. That's it, my mistake. |
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I have the Transit Connect for work it has several great things going for it. Good fuel economy, 23 to 27 You can reach everything in it, my rear doors fold all the way back, it actually holds just about the right amount of shit for me Really easy to park, manuever honestly my fuel bills dropped enough to pay for the van so that in itself is important worst thing, driver ergonomics are not what they should be I really want the larger van with a diesel, they said it gets 30 mpg which would at least equal the little van
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I have the Transit Connect for work it has several great things going for it.Good fuel economy, 23 to 27 You can reach everything in it, my rear doors fold all the way back, it actually holds just about the right amount of shit for me Really easy to park, manuever honestly my fuel bills dropped enough to pay for the van so that in itself is important worst thing, driver ergonomics are not what they should be I really want the larger van with a diesel, they said it gets 30 mpg which would at least equal the little van I don't believe that for a second. The Sprinter just got a new 4 cylinder diesel put in it this year that gets about 24 realistically, and I don't even see the Ford's engine doing that. Honestly, I am trying to stay away from diesels which is why I am curious about the Ford Transit. |
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I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. |
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Quoted: Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. Quoted: Quoted: I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. |
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What I dont understand is, they are replacing the E series with the Transit. E series has been a workhorse for years. Wonder why the change? Quoted:
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I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. The Transit is an old vehicle that has been extremely popular in Europe. I see it as being better than the E series. The E series needs a redesign, so they decided to replace it completely. Most car companies have realized how high roof vans are going to be the standard. First they brought the Sprinter, and even with the high price it keeps selling and selling. So Dodge brought over the Fiat Ducato, another super popular European van, and renamed it the ProMaster. And now Ford is bringing over the Transit. |
| Does the matchbox van come with a higher cargo capacity for the extra room? One of my parts guys runs one and can't haul 4 brake drums and himself without exceeding it. I have seen it loaded with brake drums and clutches, poor van was ready to start throwing sparks. |
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Quoted: The Transit is an old vehicle that has been extremely popular in Europe. I see it as being better than the E series. The E series needs a redesign, so they decided to replace it completely. Most car companies have realized how high roof vans are going to be the standard. First they brought the Sprinter, and even with the high price it keeps selling and selling. So Dodge brought over the Fiat Ducato, another super popular European van, and renamed it the ProMaster. And now Ford is bringing over the Transit. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. The Transit is an old vehicle that has been extremely popular in Europe. I see it as being better than the E series. The E series needs a redesign, so they decided to replace it completely. Most car companies have realized how high roof vans are going to be the standard. First they brought the Sprinter, and even with the high price it keeps selling and selling. So Dodge brought over the Fiat Ducato, another super popular European van, and renamed it the ProMaster. And now Ford is bringing over the Transit. Have you looked at the Nissans? My buddy had the short version (not mini) and he loved it. Got repo'd  He had the E series before that and he said the Nissan was far superior. Sidenote: Have you noticed when you follow the Sprinters on the road, quite a few of them drive at an angle? Like the alignment screws up real bad? Noticed it quite a bit recently. |
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What I dont understand is, they are replacing the E series with the Transit. E series has been a workhorse for years. Wonder why the change? Quoted:
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I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. Car companies like to do strange things that the don't make sense to the public. See Chevy stopping production of the Caprice as a police vehicle and the Astro van as probably the most popular van used in the service industry. See Ford phasing out the Crown Vic as a police vehicle and the Ranger as probably the most popular truck in it's class. It makes sense to them in order to sell more of another line instead and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Be interesting to see how these new larger Connects sell as most large companies are looking for ways to reduce costs with smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, not go the other way. |
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Interesting. Have you looked at the Nissans? My buddy had the short version (not mini) and he loved it. Got repo'd He had the E series before that and he said the Nissan was far superior.
Sidenote: Have you noticed when you follow the Sprinters on the road, quite a few of them drive at an angle? Like the alignment screws up real bad? Noticed it quite a bit recently. Quoted:
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I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. The Transit is an old vehicle that has been extremely popular in Europe. I see it as being better than the E series. The E series needs a redesign, so they decided to replace it completely. Most car companies have realized how high roof vans are going to be the standard. First they brought the Sprinter, and even with the high price it keeps selling and selling. So Dodge brought over the Fiat Ducato, another super popular European van, and renamed it the ProMaster. And now Ford is bringing over the Transit. Have you looked at the Nissans? My buddy had the short version (not mini) and he loved it. Got repo'd He had the E series before that and he said the Nissan was far superior.
Sidenote: Have you noticed when you follow the Sprinters on the road, quite a few of them drive at an angle? Like the alignment screws up real bad? Noticed it quite a bit recently. I've looked at the Nissan NV high roof van, it's not bad, but it's got a long hood which takes away space from the back. I need 10' of space behind the partition in order to throw conduit and other stuff in. Also, the fuel mileage SUCKS, you are looking at 11MPG. As for the Sprinter, I never noticed it leaning. All roads are "crowned" so that the water runs off to the side, maybe you notice the Sprinter leaning more than a normal vehicle because it's so much higher? |
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Car companies like to do strange things that the don't make sense to the public. See Chevy stopping production of the Caprice as a police vehicle and the Astro van as probably the most popular van used in the service industry. See Ford phasing out the Crown Vic as a police vehicle and the Ranger as probably the most popular truck in it's class. It makes sense to them in order to sell more of another line instead and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Be interesting to see how these new larger Connects sell as most large companies are looking for ways to reduce costs with smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, not go the other way. Quoted:
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I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. Car companies like to do strange things that the don't make sense to the public. See Chevy stopping production of the Caprice as a police vehicle and the Astro van as probably the most popular van used in the service industry. See Ford phasing out the Crown Vic as a police vehicle and the Ranger as probably the most popular truck in it's class. It makes sense to them in order to sell more of another line instead and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Be interesting to see how these new larger Connects sell as most large companies are looking for ways to reduce costs with smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, not go the other way. I agree with you about the Astrovan being VERY popular, a lot of people in my trade are pissed that they can't get one or something similar. As for the Transit, it's not called a Connect. The little one is the Connect, the big one is just a Transit. You mentioned companies looking for smaller vehicles that are more fuel efficient. Well, the best of both worlds is larger vehicles that are more fuel efficient. The larger the vehicle, the less trips you need to take, which saves not only fuel, but labor costs as well. The problem is that the normal American van offerings such as the E series and Savanna vans get about 11-13MPG. The new Ram ProMaster is getting 17MPG with the 6 cylinder gas engine. I am assuming that the Transit will be doing about the same. THat makes a big difference to people like me. |
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Quoted: Car companies like to do strange things that the don't make sense to the public. See Chevy stopping production of the Caprice as a police vehicle and the Astro van as probably the most popular van used in the service industry. See Ford phasing out the Crown Vic as a police vehicle and the Ranger as probably the most popular truck in it's class. It makes sense to them in order to sell more of another line instead and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Be interesting to see how these new larger Connects sell as most large companies are looking for ways to reduce costs with smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, not go the other way. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I drive one of the regular size ones for work. I hate it. We used to have full sized vans but we downsized to the transits to save gas. The cab is super cramped and they barely move out of their own way. Other than the name, the Transit has NOTHING to do with the Transit Connect. Car companies like to do strange things that the don't make sense to the public. See Chevy stopping production of the Caprice as a police vehicle and the Astro van as probably the most popular van used in the service industry. See Ford phasing out the Crown Vic as a police vehicle and the Ranger as probably the most popular truck in it's class. It makes sense to them in order to sell more of another line instead and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Be interesting to see how these new larger Connects sell as most large companies are looking for ways to reduce costs with smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, not go the other way. |
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Very good observation. I have to stay low profile because we work in a lot of office buildings with parking structures that have limited head room. Then again, appliance guys dont need the head room in a van. Everyone says that until they work out of a high roof van. Then they always change their minds 
The ProMaster has a medium height roof and the Transit will have one too, but a little bit higher. Without a ladder rack on top, you will probably fit where a normal van with a roof rack and ladders fits. |
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Very good observation. I have to stay low profile because we work in a lot of office buildings with parking structures that have limited head room. Then again, appliance guys dont need the head room in a van. Everyone says that until they work out of a high roof van. Then they always change their minds
The ProMaster has a medium height roof and the Transit will have one too, but a little bit higher. Without a ladder rack on top, you will probably fit where a normal van with a roof rack and ladders fits. I am in the market for a cargo/work van as well. Like you I am interested in the newer offerings from both ford and dodge. I'm torn between buying newer used old style van like this 
Or continue to milk my old beater van and wait for a newer used promaster or transit(although I have not seen one in person). My problem is I'm a tightwad and hate spending any money or obligating to payments. So I guess really my plan is to Fred Sanford my current van til it really dies then be forced to jump. The new pro masters look cool I think, not sure about front wheel drive since I knw nothing of how that performs in a cargo van but the way the doors open 270 degrees and the low deck height combined with pallet sized door openings seems pretty functional. |