Sorry to see her go!

Ford officially kills E-series/Econoline, replaces with Transit van

 

I went to fordtransit.uk to see this (thing) and theres no way it could be the family wagon or like my 02 E-150 Solar Eclipse. Tradesmen might get by with it, but............

 

I was just over in Europe and I saw just a huge number of these vans in different configurations and I was told by a few people that getting 500,000Km's out of one before any major rebuild was very common.

We will have to wait and see what drive-trains come to North America. The diesels get close to 40MPG!!! I will take that over the 17mpg I get now!

 

Awww...RIP to the Econoline. It certainly will have been a long run for a chassis dating back to 1975--38 years!

I do wonder which drivetrains we will see in the US Transits.

As for lifespans, there is the guy with the million mile van that required no major work; if well maintained, I think Econolines could also regularly go 200-300k miles.

I wonder if this will increase the potential resale value of my '02 E150 if I ever decide to sell it....

George

 

I wonder the same thing since I'm somewhat in the market now for a '05 or later E350 extended body cargo van, ideally with the V10.

If the Transit wil be available in different configurations like the Freightliner Sprinter it won't be that bad if a people hauler or conversion van is wanted. Drive trains and suspensions will be another interest especially to those who tow anything of considerable length or weight. I can't help thinking Ford will accommodate the USA market by making available the most common drive train options in use now.

I'm guessing if the Transit is the only van Ford will be offering soon enough they'll be so common and made so attractive to the general public we'll be hard pressed to remember why we were so hesitant to accept them originally!

Thanks for the article link BTW!

 

A sad day for full-size van fans. Hard to believe Ford is going to cede the #1 spot they've occupied for 32 years to GM with this move.

Thanks to our ridiculous government, I suspect this will create yet another barrier to people trying to make an honest living. They'll now be forced to use smaller, underpowered vans to try to get the jobs done they've been able to do with the Econolines.

What a shame. Love that hope and change…..sheesh.

TimR><>

 

If you have looked at the dimensions of European Transits, Tim, they have wheelbases ranging from 147 to 170 inches. And medium and high tops in the mix. So there will be a LOT more size capacity than the Econolines. And Ford has trademarked the names T-350, T-450, and T-550, so I think there are going to be some big and gutsy cargo carriers and conversion chassis in the mix.

As fond as I might be of the good old Econolines, I am going to reserve judgment as to the functionality of the new Transit. I don't think Ford is planning on giving up market share, and it's a pretty big commitment to make the big Transits in a US factory (they are investing 1.1 BILLION to convert the factory), so I'm guessing they will not be setting themselves up for failure. I just read that Ford has sold 6 million Transits in the rest of the world, so it's not a small player.

Only time will tell, however. As for smaller engines and more gas mileage, if we see $5-8 per gallon gasoline in the future for whatever reason, I'm thinking that the more economical vans will allow people to continue making a living where the current E series would be pushing fuel budgets.

Also, my wife has a great deal of difficulty in the passenger seat of my E150 during long trips because of the engine cover; it's a great seat for a left amputee but not so great for someone with knee problems. Actually, I hate sitting in the right seat as well. (The GM vans fixed this problem in 1996, but my 1996 Savana was the van from Hell that is the only vehicle I've ever traded in in my lifetime because I could not sell it to someone with a straight face--with only 66k miles on it.)

Let's talk in about 5 years and see how it's going...time marches on,
George

 

nooooooooo

 

Ford is still keeping the mobile home chassis version around. How they plan to phase out the e series: How Ford plans to phase out the best-selling E-Series I've seen quite a few buses now built on f450s instead of e series based as i'm used too.

 

I spent some time on the web and the big deal is it's 300lbs lighter and gets 25% better MPG....but it's also a UNI-Body and what's 25% of 14-19 MPG. The only gas engine in the UK is a 2.3 4cyl and I sure don't want a V6-V8 with a 4cyl drivetrain. Ford better Think First....LOL

 

RIP Econoline. You served us well. Routinely above & beyond.

Have liked what I've seen/read about the FORD Europe Transit. Would've imported a Transit from Europe if I had the $. Expect to be surprised w/what FORD America puts together in the T-250, T-350, T-450, T-550 model line up, after it "officially kills E-series".

Interested if a seldom mentioned story, that FORD Europe has apparently offered Transit in both front wheel drive & rear wheel drive, is true? If so, will both survive model consolidation? Globalization may demand light duty FWD & heavy duty rear drive versions?

Been looking at UMC Aeromate aluminum & FG step vans, based on Chrysler Caravan 4 & V6 drivetrains. Wanted a Fiat 242. Like Sprinters.

A new FWD V6 turbo diesel 6 speed 30 MPG Transit sounds fine to me. Don't want a 2012 E-Series w/V10.

 

All big vans were unit bodies until the 1975 Ford longnose came out as separate body/frame. Then the Savana/Express went separate body/frame in 1996--pre '96 GMC and Chevy vans were unit bodies. I had an '86 GMC 2500 van for a lot of years and miles and it was the best handling, tightest big van I've had. (The 305 engine, with a carb, stunk...) Prior to that, I had a unit body Ford flatnose van.

Dodge vans were unit body from day one until they were cancelled. I don't see a good unit body design as a negative for a van. It presents some complications when used as a chassis cab but they just tack a frame onto the rear of the cab as they did with pre-96 GM vans.

I am curious as to which engines Ford plans to use in the big Transit for the US market.

George

 

Having owned various vans including a 14’ Chevy P20 StepVan along with several E-types too I don’t see a lot of downsides to the Transit. I’m assuming its drive train will be similar to what’s currently available because the American market will demand it to be so. If Ford fails meeting demand of any segment another manufacturer will quickly fill that gap even though it might not be the brand of choice.
<O</O
If Ford produces a platform for the heavy duty market now covered so well by the E-Series that incorporates the Transit’s body along with its various options I can’t help thinking it will be accepted by the brand faithful. My needs almost always run to cargo/work use and the idea of increased roof and cargo door heights would drive my consideration quite a bit. I’m already contemplating a E-350 to which I’d add a fiberglass extended height top and rear doors greatly adding to the cost, whether a new or existing van. If the increased headroom and loading area were already to my requirements I’d be quite happy with Ford’s decision and change.
<O</O
Yes we’ve all grown quite accustomed to the E-Series and while the concept if far from being obsolete or lost its utility the potential with the Transit’s is very interesting. Converters will have to love the simple interior layout and certainly Ford will have another version of the Club Wagon too. Upfitters such as Quigley or Quadravan certainly have ideas, perhaps prototypes already in the works? I do know the various van upfitters like Adrian, Weather Guard and Amercian Van have extensive tradesman packages available for the Sprinter so the aftermarket has taken notice of what might be an emerging style of this type vehicle.
<O</O
Having read the articles and watched the video linked to this thread I too will wait just a bit to see what Ford has in store for us. If its anything like the venerable E-Series we’ll probably all be content and maybe chuckle how we were so up in arms about something we come to love!

Or maybe the nay sayers will have their day??
<O</O

 

I like it. But they won't get anywhere near 40 MPG, maybe 25 MPG if they sitck a sewing machine Diesel in it. My neighbor has an early Sprinter cargo that gets 23.5 but is completely gutless. People want performance, that's why Mercedes upgraded to the V6, power went up and MPG went
down. At any rate, for me, the Transit won't make economic sence for a long
time. Even at $10/ gallon.

 

Here's an answer to my Q asking "if a seldom mentioned story, that FORD Europe has apparently offered Transit in both front wheel drive & rear wheel drive, is true?

Not only is Transit currently available in Europe w/both FWD & RWD drivetrains, FORD also builds/sells an AWD version. According to this link:

Top Features - Ford UK

Got to wonder how FORD U.S. will rationalize demand from segment of American market wanting 6.8L V10 & 7.5L V8 motors w/current European 2.2L I4 & 3L V6 motors?

Transit is currently available in several lengths & several heights.

The more I read about Transit the more I like it.