Am I missing something here? Isn't that exactly what the Transit Connect is?
It's a minivan with sliders on both sides. looks like a minivan to me.

 

Yeah, but it's much smaller than a proper minivan. The long wheelbase version has 104 cubic feet of space behind the first row seat. Our Odyssey has 148 cubic feet.

I wouldn't recommend a Grand Caravan. I drive a 2011 at work and the quality issues are maddening. The rear HVAC control dials just spin on their shafts, the seats rattle when you go over bumps, and the steering wheel buttons only work when they want to. The transmission shifted in such a manner to make you think it was ready to explode until they flashed the PCM under a recall. Was towed for an electrical problem at 37,000 miles and had a cylinder head replaced at 58,000 miles. It's at 63,000 miles at the moment.

 

If you want room and a Ford people mover ( besides the Transit ) I'd go with the flex. They have lots of room. They don't have sliders but the inside is like a school bus!!

I know the nightmare that is the mopile minivans!! My middle brother owns a 2003 grand caravan that is sitting in my driveway waiting for me to drop the gas tank and replace the fuel pump, filter assembly and all the hard brake lines. And my dad owns a 98 & a 99 grand caravan. I get the privilege of replacing the waterpump on the 99. At least it's a 3.3L and not the 3.0! The 2003 has 285,000 miles on it. The 98 has 265,000 and the 99 has 170,000. And I get to keep them on the road!

At least I did something right. My youngest brother drives an Eco-boost powered F150!

 

She must be related to my woman

 

The Dodge sites I frequent have plenty of Ford bashing to go around, so it's all good. We all form our own opinions, eh?

 

traitor

 

I wouldn't trade my Bubba for a Dodge, GM, or foreign anything, no traitor here!!! Heck, I wouldn't even trade Bubba for a nice new big Transit (I'd keep 'em both). And for the record, I defend the Fords there like I stood up for the Caravan here. I like what I like!

 

 

I think it's a natural tendency of people to bash what they didn't choose, and I really hate that. I think Chrysler makes some good products. I wouldn't call the Caravan a bad product, just that there are better options in my opinion.

 

The generally languish in last place for durability.

 

And for good reason in my opinion. But that doesn't mean lots of folks have great luck with them. Possibly my biggest problem with them is how fast they lose resale value.

 

It's still not even close. 83.2 cubic feet in the Flex vs. >145 in any minivan.

Wow, I'm trolling. THIS is what you all have reduced me to!

 

Uh? how is stating facts trolling?

 

I kind of brought the minivan topic here and the discussion is fine with me if it is with you.... As a big van replacement, I would do best with a large minivan (Mopar, Honda, Toyota are all around 150 cubic feet behind the front seats). Pretty far down from those is the Transit Connect (isn't that 104 with seats folded down?), the Flex and Explorer (80-85ish). One surprise is the Chevy Traverse and its brethren at 116 cubic feet or so.

Now the WEIRDEST thing in the world is the Ford Transit Custom....holy crap. I just found this.

Not in the US, but the prior big Transit came in FWD, RWD, and 4WD versions. Ford took the transverse FWD "small big" Transit and split it into a MID SIZED van that sounds like a great size for big personal use vehicles. Diesel only but check this out...dang:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit_Custom

195 and 210 inch lengths with the big minivans above falling in at 200 inches long and the big Transit starting at 219.

I find it even more stupid that Ford is using the Transit name on 3 distinct vehicles. Custom and Connect do not tell me anything about size.

George

 

Really what do I care. I daily drive a 96 E250 cargo van and it's my small vehicle. So I have plenty of room. I've also got a 89 E350 Extended Club Wagon ( no rear seats ) and my truck is a 91 F-Super Duty with a 14 foot flatbed. And if I still need more room I have 2 20 foot trailers, 1 car trailer and one enclosed. I'll just keep rebuilding my big old crap and let you worry about which new minivan has the most cargo room.