OT: Ford Transit Connect Wagon - the new Element?

[eddief]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121113/CARNEWS/121119943

not conventionally pretty, but maybe just right utilitarian.

[AngryScientist]

Damn you ford. No manual trans option and no deisel option.


Looks promising otherwise though.

[mike p]

My opinion only, but as far as the big three go, I think Ford is killing it! The Fiesta, Escort, Fusion, Mustang, and new Taurus. Best of all no Bailout!

Mike

[EDS]

That thing is Pontiac Aztek ugly.

[fourflys]

That thing is Pontiac Aztek ugly.

man, that is harsh! ;)

[maunahaole]

Don't expect a ton of refinement with the transit connect. It is a work vehicle, first and foremost.

[victoryfactory]

Seems to be a updated version of what we used to just call a "van"
People need this kind of vehicle for work and family.
Not like an Element which was more of a lifestyle niche vehicle
with sports flavor.
If the element had just a bit more engine and a few more inches of
load bed I would have got one. But before they announced my dream
"Element XC-AWD" they cancelled the whole program!

so I went with a Forester

VF

[ultraman6970]

That car has been in europe for centuries, ugly but i like it. THat with diesel would be a nice commuter and would kill the chrysler/honda dominance in the minivans market.

[Elefantino]

I'd rather have the Tesla and the two racks.

[dancinkozmo]

My opinion only, but as far as the big three go, I think Ford is killing it! The Fiesta, Escort, Fusion, Mustang, and new Taurus. Best of all no Bailout!

Mike

That thing is fugly, but i agree with you about fords newer cars...i think that mulally guy knows what hes doing....

[eddief]

of the Transit Wagon will be a hit among the sporting public. small footprint (near the same as the Focus), big space, excellent fuel economy, unique looks.

[Lewis Moon]

My opinion only, but as far as the big three go, I think Ford is killing it! The Fiesta, Escort, Fusion, Mustang, and new Taurus. Best of all no Bailout!

Mike

This. I've wanted a transit since they came out in the US. Would probably need a bit of sound proofing to make it stereo ready though. Dogs, bikes, woodworking, camping...I need something this size.

[Lewis Moon]

That thing is fugly, but i agree with you about fords newer cars...i think that mulally guy knows what hes doing....

Bill Ford started it, though.

[staggerwing]

That thing is Pontiac Aztek ugly.

Not quite that ugly, but close.

Really needs the Focus front end treatment; which they've recently migrated to the Escape. An improvement, IMO.

And "Yes Please" to diesel and MT options.

[Ralph]

It's way more vehicle than an Element. I had a 2010 Element for two years. This vehicle goes way beyond that car.

[dancinkozmo]

Hi ralph...how did you like the element ?

[gavingould]

i was a bit interested when the first Transit Connect started showing up in the US a couple years back, this one is even more interesting. bring the diesel or give it the C-Max hybrid drivetrain and the plot thickens. still no way i'd call it a wagon though, looks way too tall.

the TDI Sportwagen i bought a couple months ago, now that's a wagon.

[cachagua]

I'll admit, I've looked with some interest at the Transit. But until they fix the ugly (and a few other details), I'm sticking with my VW Vanagon. Even twenty years and 150+K old, it still has advantages nothing else can touch.

Enthusiasts are putting twice and three times the original sticker price into restoring/modernizing Vanagons (I'm not, but for no other reason than poverty) -- loyalty like that tells you something. 3/4 ton load capacity, limitless interior space, the most car-like to drive of all the full-size vans, optional 4WD -- putting a modern powerplant into one brings it up to par with any of its current competition. Interestingly, one of the tastiest engine conversions uses... a Ford inline-4!

Ford wants to call the Transit wagon “so unique it's a revolution in seven-passenger transportation”? I yawn in their general direction. It's been done -- and they'll have to do it better to get my business. Not that I'd begrudge them if they do -- if they introduce something that's really better than my Vanagon, I'll be first in line to buy one!

[572cv]

When they start putting a "european style" common rail diesel in these, and a manual transmission, I'll be scurrying to get in line. Otherwise, not so much.

[Louis]

That thing is Pontiac Aztek ugly.

IMO we're devaluing the word "ugly.' The Aztek is ugly, while the Transit Connect is merely not that great looking.

This is common - formerly strong words that really meant something have gradually faded through over-use. One example: "hero."

[slidey]

Egad! :eek:

Also, doesn't the front end, especially the grill look like its from the Mini?

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121113/CARNEWS/121119943

not conventionally pretty, but maybe just right utilitarian.

[Ray]

My opinion only, but as far as the big three go, I think Ford is killing it! The Fiesta, Escort, Fusion, Mustang, and new Taurus. Best of all no Bailout!

Mike

Agreed, but all three are a lot better. I'd look at cars from any of em now and that wouldn't have been the case 6-8 years ago. And no direct bailout, but they were lobbying like crazy for the bailout because without the other two the supply chain would have all but disappeared and they'd have gone down with the other two.

-Ray

[pjm]

I've always dreamed of having my own airport shuttle:rolleyes:.

[BumbleBeeDave]

IMO we're devaluing the word "ugly.' The Aztek is ugly, while the Transit Connect is merely not that great looking.

This is common - formerly strong words that really meant something have gradually faded through over-use. One example: "hero."

. . . you're my hero. Yours was a heroic effort and a noble sacrifice--to inform us of this. :rolleyes:

BBD

[malcolm]

. . . you're my hero. Yours was a heroic effort and a noble sacrifice--to inform us of this. :rolleyes:

BBD

I think the bee man is being a bit sarcastic, but it's a politically incorrect thing to say, but it rings of the truth to me. It seems like more and more people are being considered a hero just for doing what is expected or their job. Same with service, just getting what is expected has become great service.

[Ahneida Ride]

Damn you ford. No manual trans option and no deisel option.



No manual ..... that truly sucks !

[Ahneida Ride]

It's way more vehicle than an Element. I had a 2010 Element for two years. This vehicle goes way beyond that car.

Element has manual tranny !!!!

[Ralph]

Hi ralph...how did you like the element ?

I liked the Element fine. It was kinda crude, little noisey inside, not very aero for fuel econmy, but hauled my bikes good. Upright with fork mount inside. Mine was auto. However.....wife didn't like it....even though it was our 3rd car, so not a primary vehicle for us.

It was a EX model I bought new for $20,700 dollars and sold (to Auto Nation direct....Internet sales) for $18,300 dollars 2 full years and 20,000 miles later. So Elements have sorta attained cult status and don't depreciate much.

Replaced it with a new Honda CRV EX L with NAV (bought at invoice....maybe drive it a couple years cheap). It also holds my 56 CM bike inside with a fork mount. And it's a fairly nice car (for it's price range), and get 33-35 on trips at 70.

I view these Transit Connects as way more utility than about any of it's competitors....except maybe Nissan....and the V8 Nissan hauler uses a lot of fuel.

[MadRocketSci]

This is common - formerly strong words that really meant something have gradually faded through over-use. One example: "hero."

my peeve is the overuse of "amazing"...

i'm usually not amazed....

[dbrk]

Can I put two bikes inside the vehicle (I'd be happy to lay them atop each other)? Does it handle and perform more like a car than a van? This thing looks like a spruced up mini-van. Okay, but not for me. The Subaru Outback as well as the Volvos have become "crossover" vehicles and Audi isn't doing wagons anymore. I know that I'm the dinosaur but I want an honest station wagon that's not too big, not too ugly, and doesn't run me what it takes to get into the MB E350AWD. Talk about a niche customer.

The folks who designed the new Ford Fusion went looking at Aston Martins, now that Ford doesn't own them anymore.

[Ray]

Can I put two bikes inside the vehicle (I'd be happy to lay them atop each other)? Does it handle and perform more like a car than a van? This thing looks like a spruced up mini-van. Okay, but not for me. The Subaru Outback as well as the Volvos have become "crossover" vehicles and Audi isn't doing wagons anymore. I know that I'm the dinosaur but I want an honest station wagon that's not too big, not too ugly, and doesn't run me what it takes to get into the MB E350AWD. Talk about a niche customer.

The folks who designed the new Ford Fusion went looking at Aston Martins, now that Ford doesn't own them anymore.

Douglas,

Maybe not up to your standards, but you can get two bikes in the back of a Honda Fit, standing up with the forks attached to fork mounts bolted to a 2x4. Definitely drives like a car, since its essentially the civic in hatchback form. It's not a wagon, but it acts like a small one.

Btw, how ya been?

-Ray

[Ralph]

There is a good reason Ford doesn't bring their diesel over here. (And I know a few companies like VW, BMW, Audi, etc do sell one here in relatively small numbers)

If you take the best features of the diesel....direct injection and turbo charging.....and apply that to a small beefed up gasoline engine (steel crank and forged rods as an example), you get close to the same TQ in a 2 L gas engine as you do in a 2 L diesel, you get at least 90% of the fuel economy, using a fuel...87 octane...that's around 10% cheaper than diesel. The engine is considerably cheaper to build, can be made (balance shafts) to feel more refined, the owner doesn't have to stand around in a greasy oil pit when fueling using gloves, and it's much simpler to meet emission requirements which are only going to get harder for diesel to meet. And (most won't believe this) the longivity of both engines is very similar. Light duty diesel car engines not made heavy duty like Cat and Cummins truck engines.

Ford, BMW, Chrysler, GM, and even Mercedes are building engines for US cars using this technology. No need for expensive diesel. Plenty of 3.5 L V6 Eco Boost engines in F 150's are racking up 150,000 to 200,000 miles in tough conditions successfully.

[dancinkozmo]

I liked the Element fine. It was kinda crude, little noisey inside, not very aero for fuel econmy, but hauled my bikes good. Upright with fork mount inside. Mine was auto. However.....wife didn't like it....even though it was our 3rd car, so not a primary vehicle for us.

It was a EX model I bought new for $20,700 dollars and sold (to Auto Nation direct....Internet sales) for $18,300 dollars 2 full years and 20,000 miles later. So Elements have sorta attained cult status and don't depreciate much.

Replaced it with a new Honda CRV EX L with NAV (bought at invoice....maybe drive it a couple years cheap). It also holds my 56 CM bike inside with a fork mount. And it's a fairly nice car (for it's price range), and get 33-35 on trips at 70.

I view these Transit Connects as way more utility than about any of it's competitors....except maybe Nissan....and the V8 Nissan hauler uses a lot of fuel.

Thanks for the info :)

[Rueda Tropical]

Can you remove the 3rd row and fold the second row seats level with the floor so you have an open cargo space?

[eddief]

Inside, buyers can select a five- or seven-passenger seating configuration and choose between XL, XLT and Titanium trim levels. Fold-flat seating and a choice of hinged rear doors or a conventional liftgate should make loading and unloading cargo relatively straightforward.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121113/carnews/121119943#ixzz2CR3EjwCe

Can you remove the 3rd row and fold the second row seats level with the floor so you have an open cargo space?

[Louis]

my peeve is the overuse of "amazing"...

i'm usually not amazed....

I'll show you what's amazing: Apple was just given a patent for the e-reader "page turn." NYT story is here (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/apple-now-owns-the-page-turn/?smid=pl-share)

It's a good thing we have all these top-notch software engineers working on today's BIG problems.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/11/16/technology/bits-pageturn/bits-pageturn-tmagArticle.jpg