Ideal surf vehicle???

[mortontoemike]

They are also only about $20 -$25K as opposed to $60K MF4. And economical on the Hwy. I didn't think the reviews were that bad but I don't know trucks..

[KUS]

Gonna post the Ducato series motorhome pix for ya, mtm, those things ROCK, wish i could get one here they won the top inno prize 3 years now and the Fiat gets rave reviews, unlike the poor Sprinter

[downwind dave]

The Transit is not a truck but a big ford focus. i saw one in alberni yesterday, looked pretty neat!

[mortontoemike]

This doesn't sound like bad reviews.

"Transit Connect arrives with a global reputation for durability and toughness dating back to its 2003 launch, when an expert jury of European commercial vehicle journalists named it International Van of the Year."

I also read that: "Ford Transit Connect is built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial vehicle platform" not a car chassis.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/news/idx/16/ ... INEUP.html

I'm not a Ford nut but I like the price and how compact it is. With 6 ft cargo bed though boards may have to go outside.

[downwind dave]

my bad. theres both a ford transit van and a ford transit car/wagon. i guess they really like that name

[more force 4]

Yes, there seems to be two vans, the 'real' Transit and the Transit Connect (which is what is coming in here now. Here's one review:

basically ford transits are crap ive driven a few and they are terrible lacking power and everything about them is just cheap and nasty
heres a link if anybody is interested or heres a more interesting site about watching paint dry

The van has had some bad reviews eg. and excerpt:

Early on, in the mountains on Interstate 91 at speeds of 65 to 70 miles an hour, the engine was working its heart out at around 4,000 r.p.m.{and....} The second row seats, which are split 60/40, flip and fold forward against the front seats. Unfortunately, they don’t fold flat into the floor and cannot be removed without tools, limiting the utility of the cargo area.

from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/autom ... ?_r=1&8dpc.

Gets about the same mileage as my Sprinter, but can only fit a 6 ft package in if you get your tools out to remove the seat. Of course its cheaper (not by $40K though MTM!! Spinters start at about $40K, the very base model Transit is $27K)

To be fair, there are some good reviews for both versions http://www.whatvan.co.uk/index.php?o...=807&Itemid=71 and http://www.whatvan.co.uk/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=71
I know the US contributors are complaining about the lack of the diesel engine there; apparently its really good and makes the vehicle really economic.

That website is really interesting if you want to see the enormous variety of vans and van-like machines available in Europe.

Anyone know if the Canadian ones are like the US versions to get around the "chicken tax"? Another quote

All Transit Connect vans are shipped to the US with Windows and a full set of seats
Then the seats are ripped out and shredded, the glass is taken out and metal panels are bonded into the window holes...

[eastside]

With the demise of Chrysler/Benz, the Sprinter is probably headed back to europe with it's diesel engine. Why would we want small torquey vans when we can drive gas guzzling Econolines? Hopefully they will sell some of these even without the most sensible engine. It's a step in the right direction.

[KUS]

not a Ford nut but I like the price and how compact it is. With 6 ft cargo bed though boards may have to go outside.

Well, that IS Ford's MO and that is why nobody should buy one.....kinda like shopping at Walmart for clothes....unless u turn over the new vehicle every 2-3 years u will hate your Ford guaranteed after that time period....and most of us cannot afford to do that (turn it over that is, everyone can afford some hatred, haha)....AND there is dick for resale value cuz everyone knows this. Also putting boards on the outside where they and big sails or masts are in the sun or available low on the roof to be ripped off (or a serious clue of your day's intentions for business associates or family) seems to me to defeat the purpose of a van altogether....might as well drive the smart car then with the boards hanging out the back

[JL]

http://www.pleasureway.com/models_ford_traverse.php As beautiful as the fiat in the gallery is we live in Canada ... If I need a repair in Dawson creek etc. I would like to be driving a N/A product !!!

[voodmon]

It has a console between the front seats, so no stuffing boards between them which i can do in my old 1995 4 cylinder odyssey, which i paid 19,000 cash for in 2002 with 58,000 klicks on it, ( and by the by made in japan Hondas will go at least 400,000km, i use full synthetic oil all the time, and run a K+N air filter plus bosch iridium +4's turns it into a hot rod)I can load 20 8 foot 2x4's between the seats and close the rear hatch, the roof on the ford is also too high to really think about boards on top, a nice idea not practical in my book and the fuel comsumption for a smaller 4 cylinder 2 litres with less horsepower and torque versus my 2.2 vintage japanese odyssey is the same, yes it the ford has a 1500lb payload versus my 1000lb and more headroom, but needs a re think, if they could rethink it to an 8 foot cargo area that would work for masts etc, again my odyssey allows the masts to slip under the front seats, the old peugout 505 wagon had space for a full 4x8 sheet of plywood on the flat, with the odyssey they go on the roof, half sheets however fit inside> and like Kuz says, since i bought my odyssey in jan of 2002 i have replaced tires, always michelins the v rated ones with aramid sidewalls rated for sustained 140mph from tires unlimited, the new michelins by the way have a 600, rating good for 100,000 km, and yes i had to do a brake job last year, four wheel discs, 800bucks Tires unltd, and this fall a rad, gotta admit the vehicle is 14 years old, but otherwise that's it for the 7 years i have ownd the vehicle. Now, if we could just get honda to make us a perfect windsurfing van, i know rain x loves his, it's bigger than mine, zodiac mind warp also has one about the same vintage as mine a japanese one, nuff said. cheers all.

[JL]

I drive a Toyota Sienna Tim & have learned to live with the utility, reliability & comfort !!! Here is a Sienna pop-top http://www.bigwavedave.ca/gallery/thumb ... ?album=571 These guys make some interesting conversions. Check out the pre-owned: http://www.sportsmobile.com/ & If you can get your head around right hand drive: http://www.japanoid.com/images.php?data=16

[mortontoemike]

I can't afford a new anything anyway so y'all will see me in the Blue-ga 1985 Ford Econoline Get Away for another year. It leaks and smells questionable but so far it keeps on chugging and for $3000 it was a steal.

And you are right KUS. My Ford Tempo ruined Ford's chance of ever selling another Ford anything to me.

[KUS]

And you are right KUS. My Ford Tempo ruined Ford's chance of ever selling another Ford anything to me.

yeah, see the thing is, everyone tries it at least once....because it looks okay, the price is right..... I did twice (at the same time so I have that as an excuse) and the van wasn't sooo bad (tho parts were a killer and so was the mileage) but the Taurus....oh man My partner at work bought against my advice a focus.....now he's got one engine light after another, leaks, wobbles, door lock all of a sudden doesn't work....what newer car does that Sorry, I'm a bit biased in case nobody has noticed every carmake has the odd lemon...but not like FixOrReplaceDaily

[more force 4]

With the demise of Chrysler/Benz, the Sprinter is probably headed back to europe with it's diesel engine. Why would we want small torquey vans when we can drive gas guzzling Econolines? Hopefully they will sell some of these even without the most sensible engine. It's a step in the right direction.

The Sprinters are going to be marketed under the Mercedes badge and MB dealers will be given the option on whether to carry them (some don't want to touch them because they have the whiff of being commercial and for tradesmen, gee the passenger vans are often used for limos )

The real problem for any European van is the fuel quality in Canada and the US. Ultra low sulpher here is 15 ppm; in Europe its something like 10. Europe also has higher cetane levels (more HP, more torque, better mileage). So the European engines won't work as well here and may have problems. Another Bush 'lets deregulate' type problem, apparently.

[nanmoo]

...but not like FixOrReplaceDaily

After working in and around the our automotive shops since I was a kid I have to disagree. There aren't really many "bad" cars out there with a few exceptions. Ultra economy cheapo vehicles like the Escort, Focus, Cavalier or Neon are just bad all around, what do you expect for a new car less than $15k... Chances are if you own a cheap vehicle it will be a POS regardless of brand. If you ask around repair shops I think you will find they say they don't see one more than another.

Except,

The exceptions are all years of Dodge Caravans (and variants) and Ford Explorers. Without a doubt these two vehicles have been the lifeblood of the Transmission repair industry since their inception. What is funny, is that despite terrible quality reviews year after year from a variety of sources (I think this year it recieved the worst initial quality rating from Consumer reports), the caravan is still the best (and generally cheapest in its class, coincidence?) selling van in Canada. I guess people prefer price over quality. Up until a couple years ago there was a good chance your Caravan still only had a 3 spd transmission!!! High revving, fuel guzzling, excessive wear and tear? you bet!