I saw a Transit today......
#46
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.
We don't have your needs, definitely do not have your gasoline budget, and our city ordinances prohibit using our yard as a parking lot for huge old trucks and trailers.
George
#47
Good for you. My wife and I are now empty nesters who need a van for our personal use and a large mini would be great for us these days. I still have my E150 but next time around we will likely downsize.
We don't have your needs, definitely do not have your gasoline budget, and our city ordinances prohibit using our yard as a parking lot for huge old trucks and trailers.
George
We don't have your needs, definitely do not have your gasoline budget, and our city ordinances prohibit using our yard as a parking lot for huge old trucks and trailers.
George
#48
Whatever you end up choosing, I hope it is satisfying and pleasurable to own. I'm not going to beat you up about getting a Caravan like the others are doing trying to get you to not buy one. I'm sure you are going to research, drive, and compare options, value, comfort, and personal preference without any real bias. At least you sound like that. If you do go Dodge in the end, way to go! If not, of course, drive what you dig!
We will be driving the big Transit, the Connect, other minivans, and *maybe* some sport utes. Now I want that midsize "Transit Custom".... Seems like what I want is often unavailable.
Peace out,
George
#49
The looks of the new Transit does take some getting used to. In it's lowest trim form in plain old appliance white it's kinda lame looking. In some of their good metallic colors with chrome trim it's more palatable.
If you really want to see ugly try the new Nissan NV200 mini van Its a whole new breed of ugly.
If you really want to see ugly try the new Nissan NV200 mini van Its a whole new breed of ugly.
#50
I think those new dodge vans got hit with the old ugly stick plenty too!! But you are right those nissan vans are horrible looking.
#51
The looks of the new Transit does take some getting used to. In it's lowest trim form in plain old appliance white it's kinda lame looking. In some of their good metallic colors with chrome trim it's more palatable.
If you really want to see ugly try the new Nissan NV200 mini van Its a whole new breed of ugly.
If you really want to see ugly try the new Nissan NV200 mini van Its a whole new breed of ugly.
I've seen a few photos and/or artist's renderings of Transit's with privacy tinted full side windows in a silver metallic exterior color---not too bad looking IMHO.
None of our E-Series would take the Best In Show award for overall appearance though---they're trucks and not so much meant to be sexy.
#53
To me those promasters look like fiat with a giant chin guard. And all of them I've seen have had the gray front bumper. It makes it look like it was an after thought. "Oh damn we forgot to design a front bumper, Let's just slap this big old gray thing on there."
#55
I'm not that sure that any of these are "much better".... We will be used to them in a few years, and I doubt that many who buy vans in this class give that much of a rip how they look. Reliability and operating cost are the big issue, and my gut says the Transit will do much better than a Fiat in reliability...
I thought the '08 Ford Econoline front end was gross and stupid looking but now I am completely acclimated and they look normal.
George
I thought the '08 Ford Econoline front end was gross and stupid looking but now I am completely acclimated and they look normal.
George
#56
I'm not that sure that any of these are "much better".... We will be used to them in a few years, and I doubt that many who buy vans in this class give that much of a rip how they look. Reliability and operating cost are the big issue, and my gut says the Transit will do much better than a Fiat in reliability...
I thought the '08 Ford Econoline front end was gross and stupid looking but now I am completely acclimated and they look normal.
George
I thought the '08 Ford Econoline front end was gross and stupid looking but now I am completely acclimated and they look normal.
George
Funny, I was not only appalled by the big change on the new Econolines at the time, but I also thought that way in 93? when they redesigned the generation too! I remember thinking they looked really funny. Of course, I love them now.
#57
I liked the '92 redo myself--the bulges over the wheel wells were kind of cool in my esthetic.
One of my visual problems with all big vans is the limitations as to tire and wheel size. It makes sense to use the smallest wheels and tires possible to keep the box as big as possible but the Sprinters with 225/75x15" tires looked really weird to me. Visually, I'd like to be able to use 33" tires on my van but no way would they fit nor is there any way to justify a lift or something. The new vans have small tires and wheels as well in higher load ratings.
The big Transit does have a slightly better looking front end, but the body side with windows looks strange and the proportions all look weird. Again, I'll be used to them soon enough, and it's unlikely that I'll ever own one unless things change; more likely I'll end up with a mini, but I've been driving my E150 for the last couple days and am content to keep that. My wife just found a tall wrought iron queen sized headboard at a garage sale today and called me to pick it up with my van. I don't think it would have fit in any of the minivans or SUV's but went in the E150 easily.
George
One of my visual problems with all big vans is the limitations as to tire and wheel size. It makes sense to use the smallest wheels and tires possible to keep the box as big as possible but the Sprinters with 225/75x15" tires looked really weird to me. Visually, I'd like to be able to use 33" tires on my van but no way would they fit nor is there any way to justify a lift or something. The new vans have small tires and wheels as well in higher load ratings.
The big Transit does have a slightly better looking front end, but the body side with windows looks strange and the proportions all look weird. Again, I'll be used to them soon enough, and it's unlikely that I'll ever own one unless things change; more likely I'll end up with a mini, but I've been driving my E150 for the last couple days and am content to keep that. My wife just found a tall wrought iron queen sized headboard at a garage sale today and called me to pick it up with my van. I don't think it would have fit in any of the minivans or SUV's but went in the E150 easily.
George
#58
My daily driver is a 75 E150 with a single barrel carbed inline six, jams-if-you-shift-it-to-fast three on the tree manual, and bounce-your-***-all-over-the-seat suspension with no sway bars. Don't get me started on the steering.
This thing is a Ferrari by comparison.
Don't get me wrong, I love my van. It's stupid easy to maintain. You pop the hood and hey, there is an engine. Look to the left and hey, there is an alternator. To the right, a power steering pump. Not much else to see. A few weeks ago, I drove it up on ramps and had the flywheel off in under two hours with beer and smoke breaks. I didn't even need to pop the hood. Once the doghouse was off, I could get to the upper transmission bolts with ease. The maintenance of any old vehicle is high, but when there are so few parts, there is not much there that needs to be maintained.
This thing is a Ferrari by comparison.
Don't get me wrong, I love my van. It's stupid easy to maintain. You pop the hood and hey, there is an engine. Look to the left and hey, there is an alternator. To the right, a power steering pump. Not much else to see. A few weeks ago, I drove it up on ramps and had the flywheel off in under two hours with beer and smoke breaks. I didn't even need to pop the hood. Once the doghouse was off, I could get to the upper transmission bolts with ease. The maintenance of any old vehicle is high, but when there are so few parts, there is not much there that needs to be maintained.
#59
Hi Guys,
Don't worry about the European, and here the German Transit.
We build that since decades.
The Transit doesn't have a V8 but is durable anyway.
For us a Transit is a common vehicle. But for you it might be scary.
We are different over here in the old world. I prefer the American V8 in my vehicles.
Anyways, the Transit takes higher speed and load without any problems.
Please, take care.
See you...
Ron
Don't worry about the European, and here the German Transit.
We build that since decades.
The Transit doesn't have a V8 but is durable anyway.
For us a Transit is a common vehicle. But for you it might be scary.
We are different over here in the old world. I prefer the American V8 in my vehicles.
Anyways, the Transit takes higher speed and load without any problems.
Please, take care.
See you...
Ron
#60
OK, so I actually saw one in person up close, next to me at the gas pump this morning. It wasn't the American Picker's tall version, but it was the full size Transit. Just confirmed what I figured; I like it! In 10 years I'll probably finally get around to getting one so when I do, at least I'll know I like it before I get it.