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New Ford van at dealers, soon (pics inside)
Went to chicago auto show, surprise, the floor had 4 vans there,
from a distance reminded me of our Aero's....But these have a distinct "work" mission, not too much emphasis on passengers.... Great looks from the side and rear, front is a bit ugly (sound familar?) Already running in europe, proven design! Tiny engine, great. No diesel, that sucks. 1 thing I did not like was the LOW seating postion, it is all headroom. The 'floor' is just as low to ground as a small car.... So it did not 'feel' like a van, to me at least. But it is very unique, and there was a bunch of people checking them out, unlike the E-class vans. It felt 'light' when operating the doors, but they declared it is built for heavy duty use...The van was ready for driving, duratec/trans were in place, it was not a concept. I even got a sales brochure, it's a done deal. http://home.earthlink.net/~marty601/van/1.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~marty601/van/2.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~marty601/van/3.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~marty601/van/4.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~marty601/van/5.jpg |
Ford Transit connect..... Here in Europe is rather popular. This is van built of Ford Contour/Mondeo chassis usually with small duratorq diesel. FWD car... not it is car like a van, but made as commecial vechicle. Good, reliable breadbox.....
This kinde of vechicles is popular in Europe and may be all companies make these cars... They call them Light (Small) commercial vehicles (LCV). Some pics... http://www.dickensgroup.com/images/u...lcv_mailer.jpg Fiat LCV (Doblo) http://www.avtomir.ru/common/img/upl...-UFO-500-0.jpg VW Caddy (Golf chassis) http://www.vw.net.ua/images/auto/vw_caddy_2.jpg All them are made on small cars' chassis. The only LCV made like aero (weldes in body frame, RWD, solid rear axe on leafsprings) is Russian City Van.... http://ua.autoreview.ru/archive/2007...V%203_1024.jpg But it is not started now, just presented..... Unfortunatly there is no new van like aero exept of new RWD mercedes vito Image of Vito 3.0V6 is here: |
Pablo:
That Mercedes Vito is the nearest thing I have ever seen to a replacement for the Aerostar. Is it available in Europe now? Some of the other LCVs you show in your post are neat (some are ugly), but if they are FWD they are not for me. I frequently tow a trailer (3000 pounds or 1400 kg) and I would never feel safe towing it with FWD. Hopefully the Vito will come to North America with the diesel engine still offered. |
I hope the 2.0 liter engine is better than the one in my Suzuki. I get no better mileage than my Aerostar, and it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
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Ahhhhhh ???????? If this is the future and the way our vans will start looking????????? you can count me
OOOOOOO UUUUUUUUU TTTTTTTTT let's not give up on what we have. I'm sure that there will be a few of our loyalist's that will for the most part and it always happens eventually, put our beloved Aero's out to pasture, BUT there are a few of us LIKE ME that will have an Aero 50 years from now. All hail the STAR and not these "I" Robot rejects All in favor say EYE All those opposed say...................whatever you want to say................ I ONLY SPEAK 85 THRU 97 BABY AND BLEED 3 to 4 POINT "oh" , BUT FOR THE MOST PART I WILL ALWAYS BE ON THE ROLL, WITH MY POWER WINDOW DOWN (when it is working), MY FINGER HAPPILY PRESSING IN THE CRUISE BUTTON AND HORN BUTTON (when my the clock spring isn't qwerking), LIVIN LOVIN LA VILLA LUCCA song on the equilizered cassette tape radio, THE ONLY THING RIGHT NOW NOT GIVING ME A PROBLEM IS THE FOOT FEED oh Oh OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, SO I GO DOWN THE ROAD IN BLAZIN STYLE WITH MY EXTENDED EDDIE BAUER SHE BUILDIN UP SO MUCH STEAM THE 4.0 BLOWS BY THE OTHER PEEPS CUZ DA MOTOR SHE IS SCREAMING, YEP-I'M THE CHAP MAYBE FORGOTTEN ABOUT, MAYBE JUST SITTIN' ON THE PARK BENCH in the year 2035 BEEMIN', THINKIN' BACK IN THE DAY, I SUDDENLY WAKE UP, WOW!!!!!! I WAS AEROSTAR DREAMIN'. Aerostar's rule break boxes druel support your neighborhood Aerostar chapter--------Please PLEASE remember to have all other wanna bee's NEUTERED OR SPAYED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Here's the link to the Mercedes UK web page for the Vito:
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/cont...vans/vito.html Here's what I gleaned from the site: Available 3.0L V6 turbo diesel, 204 bhp, 326 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 8.3 sec, tow a 5500 lb trailer, fit a sheet of plywood flat on the floor with the doors closed (long version), AND get 30 mpg!!! Not all at the same time, though. I think I want one. Too bad I have both financial and geographical restrictions. |
$30k plus for the Freightliner/Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter with diesel and they don't deal
not worth it for a van would have to change the seats out to get Aero quality seat |
Bla, poor replacement for the Aero, or even the Windy and Freestars.
Why can't they go RWD, it seems like Dodge has the right idea, people actually do like RWD/AWD, hence the large increase of PU's and SUV's. Too bad the Aero was ahead of it's time, and it's time to bring it back, with just a lightly freshened look on the front end, and they are good to go (maybe a little update to the interior controls, but I like the way they are now.) |
Originally Posted by 93nighthawk
Bla, poor replacement for the Aero, or even the Windy and Freestars.
Too bad the Aero was ahead of it's time, and it's time to bring it back, with just a lightly freshened look on the front end, and they are good to go (maybe a little update to the interior controls, but I like the way they are now.) |
New Vito has the same powertraine like Sprinter. But Vito has some problems with electronics, rather expencive to fix.... like for exampe DTR (immo), WSK and other thift protection toys...
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Other notes: -The seats did not compare to Aero comfort.
-The 4 vans i sat in all had manual trans, but brochure says auto is standard?? -this is a great van for deer hunters, as you can almost stand up in it. (good for dragging those suckers inside)! Plus, has no carpet in rear...easy to clean up the inevetable mess. |
Other notes: -The seats did not compare to Aero comfort.
That's why I love Aero -The 4 vans i sat in all had manual trans, but brochure says auto is standard?? Manual is standard for Europe, Auto is for Nothern America... Manual is option in the USA -this is a great van for deer hunters, as you can almost stand up in it (good for dragging those suckers inside LOL!!!! Plus, has no carpet in rear...easy to clean up the inevetable mess. Carpet is awailable too.... |
looks too small. wish the aero was still available, ive been looking fo a manual trans aerostar for awhile, i know they made them. ive only ever seen 2. this thing remids me of a mercury villager. guess the E150/4.6 is still the only choice for a small work van. if only you could still get a C6 or 3 speed coulmn shift manual trans.
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people say that ford want to use RWD Transit chassis for newer van, small truck a bit bigger then ranger and SUV (bronco-III). but ford have no money now for these programs so we gonna wait for depression end.
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Don't wait to long Pablo. We humans only live to be 100. Do your OWN thing. The H-E-Double hockey stick the rest. No potty mouthin' from me.
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