Keith Browning Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I was tooling around a forum in the UK - Apparently there is news that the replacement(?) to the Econoline is the European Ford Transit Connect??? Quote: Transit Connect: Ford will import the 2010 Transit Connect, a small delivery van sold in Europe. The FWD van is assembled in Turkey on a reinforced version of C1, the European Ford Focus platform. Ford is expected to build the Transit Connect in North America for the 2013 model year. Assembly location likely will be in Louisville. With higher gasoline prices, Ford anticipates demand for a four-cylinder, fuel-efficient van that can be used for small-item delivery or by some tradespeople. Econoline, Transit: After decades of flirting with the idea, Ford plans to move to a single global full-size van platform. The van, code-named V363, will be based on the Transit van now sold in Europe. The Transit is available in a variety of sizes and configurations, including FWD and RWD. The North American Transit is expected to go into production for the 2012 model year at Ford's assembly plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, which now produces the E-Series van. The E-Series, also called the Econoline, is expected to be discontinued when U.S. production of the Transit begins. Sources said Ford expects global Transit volume of between 400,000 and 500,000 vans annually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamageINC Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I don't see that as much of a problem except that they'll lose a lot of business from the customers that need a van and simply won't buy anything without a bigger diesel in it. Ambulances (for some reason), along with a lot of other conversion-style vehicles, are almost always E-Vans. At least around this area.. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect/ Interesting. I do agree that this vehicle will not be capable of handling some applications the current Econoline does. I simply don't see the Transit as a direct replacement. Perhaps they are counting on the F-Series to pick up those sales. This is all part of a major shift in the approach to the automotive industry in America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony302600 Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Isn't this market owned by the sprinter. Whoever needed one, alreay has one. Plus, sprinter's are widely used as ambulances outside of the U.S. so don't see why not they wouldn't be used here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 I don't know but the web site describes this "thing" as a light duty hauler. The Sprinter comes in different capacities and is similar in construction to an Econoline. We had one in the back being cleaned for delivery and I checked it out. Not bad actually and there is a TON of room in those things. I think we are looking at a totally different class of vehicle honestly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partsmanBB Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 They had 3 or 4 of them at the New York auto show this year, and they drew a lot of attention. One was outfitted as a cab, and I can see that being very popular here. I am a pretty big guy, but I had plenty of room in them. In fact, we are getting one for our parts deliveries soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamageINC Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Isn't this market owned by the sprinter. Whoever needed one, alreay has one. Plus, sprinter's are widely used as ambulances outside of the U.S. so don't see why not they wouldn't be used here. Probably because the Sprinter is a humongus pile of shit. We work right across from a Dodge dealer and they've had nothing but problems with that platform it seems. The MB Diesel in those things has been very problematic and expensive to repair, as far as I know. And as a whole platform they apparently just aren't holding up to the customer's demands. They've likely got the whole corner of the market here because there's nothing else for it to compete with. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony302600 Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 the open top in the rear picture with the ladder sticking out is kinda "ghetto." But, with the way everything is, Ford need's something to bring the stock up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shlep Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Personally I think this will be a huge hit in the larger city markets, I mean remember how many cargo Aerostars that were running the roads and many people are still running them because there was nothing of a similar size since GM stopped the Astro van. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Personally I think this will be a huge hit in the larger city markets I totally agree. But, it is not a direct replacement for the Econoline. It almost looks like it's on a minivan platform for crying out loud. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/surprise.gif I guess we will know better when we actually see one or get more details on it. If they offer a diesel we might have to go enlist some Britt's to join us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony302600 Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I miss my aerostar. 93 white exterior, blue interior, the classic rusted muffler hum. Loved it. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rockon.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetane Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Keith, You are confusing two different models. The Transit Connect is the small minivan built off of the c-platform that the FORD NA website refers to. The regular Transit is more of a full size van, it comes in a huge variety of configurations in both gas and diesel much like the Sprinter. Any of the Ford European websites should have a full description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 Thank you for correcting me on this. I re-read the original post carefully and you are right so I did Google it and found a lot more information. I snagged a few pics too! The first one is the Transit Connect, the last three are the full sized Transit in different configurations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 The Club Wagon doesn't have a left side sliding door? The Renault powered Winnebage didn't get very far, but that was a different time in fuel prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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