The MSRP for the car you described (4x4 EB with convenience, luggage rack, and trailer packages) on the Ford website is $40,415, so $35,000 sounds like a great deal to me.
I would definitely pick the expy over the minivan - it's been redesigned quite a bit for 2007, and there's a lot of excitement - it seems like a great truck. The published fuel economy is 14/20, but in all of the reviews I've read, the average seems to be around 17 or 18 mpg, depending on what type of driving you do.
I think your choice is clear - I ordered an expy el LTD and I can't wait for it.
That's just my opinion...