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A while back I heard the Econoline vans would cease production in favor of the newer transit/euro style vans small and large. Is this true, has Ford stopped making them? I was at a local dealer a few weeks back and noticed some brand new E-vans with superduty style grills for sale. Is Ford still making them for the commercial/gov. market and not the general public or are they history?
With all due respect to the 'Autoblog' link, that Dec '11 info is somewhat dated:
"When it launches the North American Transit in 2013, Ford says the new van will be available in multiple body styles, with different roof heights and with multiple engine options, greatly expanding the choices available to its commercial customers. And those who just want to buy a plain, white E-Series will still be able to do so, as Ford will not be discontinuing the model, at least not initially."
Latest info I've gotten is that the new Transit should make it to showroom by end of this year as a 2014.
Haven't seen anything confirming that "those who just want to buy a plain, white E-Series will still be able to do so". Have heard that some E-Series Cutaway Chassis & HD variants will continue.
Last I heard, the cab and chassis version will still be available but all others will be a thing of the past. I understand that the Transit has been popular in Europe, but we're not Europeans. We're Americans. This one-size-fits-all approach to building cars may look good on paper, but I am not so sure it will work when it comes to vans. Dodge tried replacing its line of full sized vans and we see how that ended up--they don't even make a full size van any more.
I wonder if these new vans our designed and built by Ford in the USA? Or have they simply just placarded their name on someone else's van as has been done in the past?
I wonder if these new vans our designed and built by Ford in the USA? Or have they simply just placarded their name on someone else's van as has been done in the past?
Oh no. Not at all. The Transit has been a mainstay for Ford in Europe for decades now. They have it in all kinds of configurations over there, even versions with small diesels in them.
Well the last experience we had with one of those euro designed vehicles was the 99' Ford Contour. Advertised as the "World Car". It had numerous problems and recalls and sits in the garage to this day. It is the worst car Ford has ever marketed that I've seen. Other wise I've been very happy with Ford products. Reliability and durability have been great. So your saying these Ford Transit vans are designed and built in a Ford plant, but where?
Like Avon Lake, OH has been the site of the FORD plant that made E-Series, it's interesting to note that Claycomo, MO (a NE suburb of KC) is the site of the FORD plant building the new Transit.