OK, we had a little Transit Connect and lost it in an accident.

It was ok but with a bulkhead installed the seating was not comfy for long legs or long trips.

So, for a long time we have been waiting for the new "transit" (much larger than and not the same as the "transit connect") to come out.

First they told us it will be out in early 2013, then fall of 3013, then spring of 2014, now the excuse is it will be out in the summer of 2014.

I fully expect this summer to be told "fall 2014" then this fall to be told "Spring 2015".

We went to the auto show and have tried out sitting in the Nissan NV, and the Dodge Promaster and neither had the roominess of the GM cargo van (GM with the bulkhead installed even).

We seriously wanted to give the Ford Transit a chance in the running.

We are not going to buy several different makes of delivery van, so the brand we choose is going to be it for all future purchases.

Not only did they only have one there, but they had yet another lame excuse about how it was only “a prototype” and “no, sorry, we can't let you sit in it, or even pop the hood for a look-see”.

Is anyone else getting sick and tired of the excuses, delays, and general BS Ford is shoveling over the Transit?

 

Went in a new Transit passenger van at LA Auto Show. Not bad but dash takes some getting used to.

Was in a Transit cargo van at the Kitchen & Bath Show in Vegas - February.

I really, really like the Nissan NV vans, but not big enough. I have a 2001 E350 extended van. Although they are the same length, the Nissan's cargo area is 20" shorter.

 

Yeah, same with the Dodge Promaster being a short noseed van, the back cargo area is much longer than the Nissan NV.
Also, the NV has a HUGE turning radius.

How did you get into a "Transit" (not the smaller "Transit Connect") as they only have a prototype and refused to open it up?

 

Not certain, but they typically bring one the the NTEA (National Truck Equipment Assoc.) show here in Indianapolis. Trade show is Wed-Fri downtown Indy Convention Center.

 

Kansas City Assembly will start ramping up production of the Transit in a couple months. Releases for production parts are starting to show up at suppliers, which pretty much locks in the timeline.

I am sure you have heard a bunch of excuses from Ford, but what I know is;

1) The assembly plant was gutted and almost completely rebuilt for V363 finish assembly. No small undertaking.

2) Ford Europe is the lead on the Transit, since they already build it over there. BUT, the US versions will have very little in common with the European vans. This has caused massive delays in getting issues resolved.

 

Ah well.
We can't wait a couple months as the rental fees are killing us.
We are probably going to end up getting a Promaster by the end of the week.

 

There are a number of configurations of the new Transits here in Indianapolis at NTEA. I sat in a big one fitted with a bulkhead and found it very roomy and not confining. I am 6'1". Sorry, no photos, but all in all, pretty impressive.

 

I still don't get why the econoline is going away.

 

Because it is being replaced by the transit as the stand alone van.

It is still there as a cab/chassis for use as a heavy duty box truck.

 

Ya. I understand why, I just don't understand why, if that makes any sense

 

Someone high up in the Ford food chain is pushing for global platform vehicles. The theory is cost control.

That still doesn't answer your 'why', does it?

 

There was a Transit passenger van at the L.A. Auto show. A cargo version at the Builders / kitchen & bath show at Vegas last Feb 2014

 

Nope

 

MY prediction is the butt-ugly stupid Transit will fail.
It looks like a wanna-be flimsy Sprinter which is a tin can.
IF I were looking for a full size cargo van right now I'd search online for a BRAND NEW Econoline sitting somewhere.....there have GOT to still be some brand new ones out there!!
My employer just bought a NICE, NICE '13 E250 with just 1700 miles on it here locally.
The Econoline was a tried and true multi-purpose van, why Ford stopped producing it is beyond me!

 

Because the Econoline is old, inefficient to operate and produce technology. Face it, the Econoline has been in production essentially unchanged for 40 years. Not many products that old around, are there.

It is a gas hog and has poor space utilization compared to the more modern Ram and Sprinter platforms.