(Everyone says "Hi!" To Nick, who is here to Transit Connect share his story property with B & B - JB)
last year when my wife and I were first look minivans, I went to the Ford dealer check the new Transit Connect. I really liked the van, with its emphasis on utility, its original charm, and the Euro pedigree. My wife, our minivan driver designated, would not give him the slightest consideration. She considered more appropriate for a cremation business for mobile pet for mom duty. We ended with a Nissan Quest, which I mentioned here and with which we were very happy.
Last year, I started a surfboard company. This meant that I borrow the quest for long periods at a time. It also meant that it was time for me to consider doing something suitably capacious way for me, give me a perfect excuse to add a Transit Connect to our fleet.
I started looking for a one year old used model certified. My dealer assured me they were "so rare hen's teeth" and suggested that I consider a new F-150, which he had plenty in stock. As always, the Internet came to the rescue and I found a Ford Transit Connect XLT Wagon LWB 2014 (now known as the "FTC") 1,500 miles with less than 30,000 miles for the affordable price of $ 17,500.
there was held a courtesy van to the dealer, and they were ready to ship to me. The equipment list is long: leather, SYNC, backup camera and alert system, three rows of seats, Bluetooth audio streaming, and security. That's a lot of car for a little over seventeen great. Does a lot.
The FTC does nothing to hide its European roots. My window sticker indicates the van was assembled in Valencia, Spain, and almost everything I read on the truck indicates that this is the case. Curiously, however, the VIN starts with "N" indicating the Turkish assembly. current-gen pickups While all previous-generation FTCs were assembled in Turkey, US-bound should all be Valencia-born. The conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe it has something to do with tax avoidance chicken Ford's plan, but maybe they just had a few million remains stamped VIN plates to recycle. Regardless, the van is a true product "One Ford", giving it some unique features that allow it to stand on this side of the pond.
First, the efficiency of the space is fantastic. Seven passengers can hold, and everyone can wear a stovepipe hat if they want. The windshield is massive; in fact, the visibility is all around much better than most modern vehicles. It is as if you drive a tank, one in which you can confidently place the wheels and are assured from all corners. It is hard to think of another vehicle that is also practical. huge space for passengers (or lockable storage), cheap to buy and use, good on gas ... Transit Connect has got to be one of the most global commercial vehicles available.
Be it so Euro comes with some drawbacks eccentric. The FTC minimal wind and insulation of road noise. There is a ton of space, but some of the typical storage compartments vans on US market. Two cup holders in the front, a small center console, a standard glove box and door pockets on each side: that sums up the useful storage space. At the rear, there is basically nothing, just a flat load floor. The lack of storage under the floor or floor contour ensures that all boxes or grocery bags will be rocking around every turn you make.
There is a very large shelf above the driver's head, which looks great at first. I found that I do not put much there, though, because all you do in place, there must install a narrow profile, be light, and also be accessible without look, even while you 're pushing your arm all the way there if said slide element at the front. It is difficult to understand what life is really good for.
Small dashes for change and parking passes in the console no security of these items as well. On the positive side, there is a massive cavity of the passenger side of the upper part of the dashboard (for scooping soup on?), And strangest of all, a small, shallow (2 inches maybe) bin under the passenger seat with a locked lid that should make this practical vehicle for travel to and from Ciudad Juarez.
most eccentric of all (and a nightmare for the aesthetic sense Mehta) This is the only vehicle I have ever seen with a setback in inside the future plastic black triangle, and on the back corner bottom of the window of the driver and front passenger, of all places. I think it is for the buffeting wind? It will be easily pierced by an inadvertent elbow meathead from day to day
Finally, on the negative side, it must be said :. (? Or Turkish) who think a Spaniard - built, low-volume Ford is going to be a paragon of reliability? There are already some rust-spotting on the roof.
If you can live with the risks and quirks, however, the FTC workout basics down pat, with its origins discussion. The steering is responsive, light in slow speeds, but support the progressive construction as the pace increases. The six-speed automatic is one of the best modern self-shifters, I drive, keeping the engine in its power band and not too eager to change gear.
Combined with the visibility and relatively tight handling, it is easy to hustle the truck. I find myself speeding up damn near all the time. Good thing the cops ignore me, obviously thinking, I'm late for an alpaca cremation. In comparison, the control of the Nissan Quest in our family team is like driving a bowl of pudding. It makes you want to simply slide in thrones La-Z-Boy, CVT drone as low as it can go, pilot with one finger, and plod your way to your destination.
Do not, however, confuse my will shake the FTC with it accelerates quickly. In contrast, the 2.5-liter non-turbo Duratec four delivers the power of 169 asthmatic donkey. I do not know what is the 0-60 (meters guess my ass 10 seconds), but I can tell you that when I hit one time to pass a car, as the bleating high engine speed and the van gradually increased, the conversation went like this:
wife: "is it a cylinder 4"
me: "Yes"
wife: ". .. .. I thought "
of course, there is an increase: an EPA rating of 20/28 I happily on average on the high side of this, see 25 mpg city and 29 mpg on. recent getaway highway 0 mile at 65-75 mph.
This is an unusual choice of vehicle for non-commercial duty. Yes, I use it for business, but 0 percent of the time, I l 'uses for travel and as a regular minivan for the family, the rights it works extremely well in its minimalist way. Interestingly, I think it can be a bit of a cult following. The friend of my son told him that my truck looks like "a soldier storm truck", which immediately cooled with preschool boys. ( Presumably, and based on the cover photo, which is "stormtrooper" as in Star Wars , not as in Sturmabteilung . - JB )
I got some compliments of each. them men, no women. When my wife goes in the van, there is a fun sense of resignation to her, as if she had always thought now I (and should) be driving something more ambitious. but no, this dork smile Hustling his strange Euro van on the road above average speed. So sorry to disappoint!
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