dmomberg
Annandale, NJ, USA
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/automo........les/autoreviews/27ford-transit.html?_r=1
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WVvan
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Interesting quote from the NYT article:
Quote:Americans are more familiar with Ford’s larger van, the E-Series, built outside Cleveland. That full-size van, commonly known by its former name of Econoline, can be equipped to handle a payload so large that it could, in theory, carry the 3,470-pound Transit Connect, said Rob Stevens, Ford’s chief engineer for commercial vehicles.
I can see it now. "Hey Buddy. My van could EAT your van!"
Sorry. You can't get there from here.
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photofinder
Grand Rapids, MI
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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Our Ford dealer has a couple of these on their lot and we stopped and looked at them a couple of days ago. Very cute, but I would have to see one decked out as an rv. They are pretty smalll; not much bigger than my KIA Sportage. According to the sticker in the window, they get 20-24 mpg.
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booster
Minnesota
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Joined: 10/14/2007
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It seems to be Transit day for me. First there was an article in the Minneapolis paper about them, and then I saw one on my way to work, as it passed me.
It is small. I was in my old Escort wagon, and we about the same size except for height, I think. DW's CRV is about the same size, it appeared.
The papar said it had 1600# cargo capacity and only 6' behind the front seats, so I don't see how they could do any real kind of RV conversion, unless it was a single bed and minimal everything else.
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mumkin
Minot ND USA
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Joined: 07/16/2004
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booster wrote:The papar said it had 1600# cargo capacity and only 6' behind the front seats, so I don't see how they could do any real kind of RV conversion, unless it was a single bed and minimal everything else.
Basically what I have in my Sienna conversion. But I have quite a bit more space both in length and width... less height though.
Mumkin
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Sunbird
Lizard Acres, Arizona
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Joined: 09/21/2001
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I believe I read that the Transit Connect (small) is built in Turkey.
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kelvin sky
Sterling Ma / Naples Fl.
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booster wrote: wrote:
The papar said it had 1600# cargo capacity and only 6' behind the front seats, so I don't see how they could do any real kind of RV conversion, unless it was a single bed and minimal everything else.
Here is a Professionally converted one from the UK with a sliding double bed on the top.......
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juliev
SE Minnesota
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Joined: 07/29/2004
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I started working at a Ford dealership this past Monday, and finally drove one of these today. They are quite small, and would be difficult to use as an RV since there would not be nearly enough room to stand in one. You could probably put an air mattress in the back and camp with it, but there really wouldn't be enough space for much else.
It was a fairly comfortable ride, but kinda noisy. It would be a great work vehicle though.
The 4 that we have at our dealership are priced from around $20K. They are assembled in Turkey, with an engine made in Spain and a transmission built in the US.
Julie
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
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WVvan
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I found this to be an interesting article on the importing of the Transit Connect vans:
Quote:Several times a month, Transit Connect vans from a Ford Motor Co. factory in Turkey roll off a ship here shiny and new, rear side windows gleaming, back seats firmly bolted to the floor.
Their first stop in America is a low-slung, brick warehouse where those same windows, never squeegeed at a gas station, and seats, never touched by human backsides, are promptly ripped out.
The fabric is shredded, the steel parts are broken down, and everything is sent off along with the glass to be recycled.
Why all the fuss and feathers? Blame the "chicken tax."
WSJ Article
I was at the local Ford dealer and took the opportunity to lay flat down in the back of a new Transit Connect. I'm 6' and part of my head was between the two front seats. Too small for me.
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