How about a nice gas non-turbo 2.4 litre 4 with 150 bhp and lots of torque. 0-60 in 12 empty or in 15 with a load should be enough and an engine like that should be able to pull 100 on a flat road. If you have to drive up the rockies/coastal range then I agree the V6.
No thank you. I have done the turbo and diesel thing and it isn't profitable. If a turbo packs up it is going to cost me $2000 to replace it (at least) and at least three days' down time which is more like $3000 more. Count on the same bill for an injector pump. Just dealing with an idle driver and the garage causes plenty of headaches. Finding a qualified mechanic, even at dealers to do such work can be problematic. I can buy a lot of extra gasoline for $5000. Even at $1.30 a litre, gasoline is still relatively cheap in Canada compared to places like the UK.
0-60 times and top speeds are immaterial for how I use my vans. They rarely go above 60 km/h. That does matter is service costs and down time.
I do feel, however, that any poster here who wants Ford to bring in diesels commercial vehicles should feel free to buy one. I would like to see how they hold up over a ten year period. Presently, I can buy a one year old E350 and count on getting a good decade of service out of it before I spend any real money on it. Said vehicle might have two or three unscheduled stops in that decade. That's how good the Econoline is. That is what I, as a fleet operator, want.
I have had two Transit Connects for almost a year now. They are ideal urban commercial vehicles, good space, fuel consumption and very reliable. So far only regular stuff such as tires and brakes.
