Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2014 Ford Transit Connect; Day 1

[Noto]

I think blocked.

What are you doing on this site during work hours any way?!

[wing]

Huh o manual in Canada before either?  I drove one in Detroit I guest that was probably a euro model.

[Ex-airbalancer]

No rear view mirror or backup cam.  What could go wrong?

I have had a rear view mirror since 2000 have not backed into anyone yet ;-)


Mark

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[2JDM]

I am not want usually to complain about the price of a vehicle.  But why are these small commercial vans so expensive?  Is it a low volume thing?  They have less power, less capability than the E series commercial vans of the past.  And they have less power, less comfort, less features of a regular minivan. 

Don't get me wrong I understand the need for them.  Heck I wonder how my lawn mowers fit in this thing? The do well in the Odyssey.  And I can sit 4.  But I still think these are $4-$5k overpriced.

The worst thing is that the 2015 commercial version of the Grand Caravan is a whopping $9500 more than the base passenger version. WTF?

That seems like alot but I'm sure it has a beefed up transmission, suspension, etc.

[wing]

Not sure about the commercial GC but this vehicle has a 1600lb payload which is considerable.  Minivans are usually closer to 500lbs.

[tooscoops]

ram c/v... also known as the cargo version of the grand caravan has an 1800 payload.

but no one ever opts for it... as mentioned, the difference in cost is huge compared to the base cvp... so all the shops buy the cheap van, take out the seats and just beat it up more... most salespeople tell them it is the same truck so its not always the owners fault.... sometime, get this... salespeople lie!

[dirtyjeffer]

That seems like alot but I'm sure it has a beefed up transmission, suspension, etc.

further complicating the matters is the chicken tax.
many of the small "truck" type products are subjected to a ridiculous import tariff to protect the "Big 3"...of course, how Honda, Toyota and Nissan have got around it is to make the products here (USA)...the previous Transit, despite being imported as well, got around it as they classified it as a passenger vehicle rather than a light duty truck.

[aquadorhj]

That seems like alot but I'm sure it has a beefed up transmission, suspension, etc.

further complicating the matters is the chicken tax.
many of the small "truck" type products are subjected to a ridiculous import tariff to protect the "Big 3"...of course, how Honda, Toyota and Nissan have got around it is to make the products here (USA)...the previous Transit, despite being imported as well, got around it as they classified it as a passenger vehicle rather than a light duty truck.

yeah, it was funny how ford had to import their own car as fully functioning people mover, THEN had the rear seats removed at the port just to get around the tax.

[tpl]

Surely the chicken tax would not apply to a vehicle imported directly to Canada from outside NA?

[OliverD]

That seems like alot but I'm sure it has a beefed up transmission, suspension, etc.

further complicating the matters is the chicken tax.
many of the small "truck" type products are subjected to a ridiculous import tariff to protect the "Big 3"...of course, how Honda, Toyota and Nissan have got around it is to make the products here (USA)...the previous Transit, despite being imported as well, got around it as they classified it as a passenger vehicle rather than a light duty truck.

yeah, it was funny how ford had to import their own car as fully functioning people mover, THEN had the rear seats removed at the port just to get around the tax.

They also had to remove the rear windows and replace them with body panels.

[Danno001]

Surely the chicken tax would not apply to a vehicle imported directly to Canada from outside NA?

Correct, but no effective savings vs. US imports as companies went through great lengths to avoid chicken tax in the US.

Example, on my tour of the MB Sprinter assembly plant in Charleston SC, you would see power train come into the building from one container and the matching chassis come in from a separate container and get mated in the assembly plant - all to avoid the chicken tax.

[Noto]

...but James, how does the Transit handle at its limits?!

...and is that a lunchbag I see?  Excellent cargo - I doubt that a normal van could handle the 1/2 ton Manwich that you have in your little Spiderman lunchbox.  I wish it was a Spiderman lunchbox

[dirtyjeffer]

Surely the chicken tax would not apply to a vehicle imported directly to Canada from outside NA?

the chicken tax is a US thing, but since our market is so small, most "imports" we get are dictated by the likelihood they can be sold in the US as well.

[mlin32]

Actually saw one of these on the road last weekend as a passenger (mini)van version.......it's quite nice.

Wish Ford had provided the 1,6 litre turbo version for this test....supposed to be a more refined, updated drivetrain.

[Noto]

This is a glowing review for Ford.  I've always said that Ford is doing well with offering customers things that aren't available elsewhere (decent handling in a cargo van, etc).  I'm very happy to hear about good brakes, too, because we get a lot of clients who are rear-ended by cargo vans and moving trucks (often times they fall asleep, but other times they just blame the brakes).

[OliverD]

Actually saw one of these on the road last weekend as a passenger (mini)van version.......it's quite nice.

Wish Ford had provided the 1,6 litre turbo version for this test....supposed to be a more refined, updated drivetrain.

Saw a dark colored passenger version this morning with tinted windows, and it did look good.

[Just_A_Fan]

Not sure about the commercial GC but this vehicle has a 1600lb payload which is considerable.  Minivans are usually closer to 500lbs.

Umm, that's what, like maybe 3 people?

Payload on a regular GC is 1530lbs according to their website . . .

[Solstice2006]

Wonder how it compares to the much cheaper Nissan NV200  Is it worth the extra $5000-$6000?

[tazcubed]

If the headlights on the Transit are anything like the ones on my Explorer, I'd have to agree - they're terribly weak and get even worse when it's raining. It wasn't until close to delivery that I found out the Explorer Sport didn't come with the HID lights of the Limited model (nor was there an option to upgrade). In the future, it may be a deal-breaker for me.

[pi314]

It's interesting some of these fords have sup-par headlights... the focus' headlights are really, really, good and not HIDs or anything