I have come to really like my Transit Connect, SWB, speedster van. What has amazed me is that I have yet to see an ad for this van in my local newspapers. I think Ford is missing the boat. This is an incredibly versatile vehicle and warrants some push.

 

I think it makes sense... but i also drive a Fiesta and have a Rampage plan to use for a truck (and an F550). Americans aren't the best at utility value. That's why Utes are huge in Australia but not here. The TC is a Ranger replacement, but most Americans can't wrap their head around a van as a truck. In Europe, most folks run van cut a;ways with beds if they need a pick up. F series is almost non-existent. Many of our commercial trucks here never use half their payload. I like the TC for personal use and modification, but I don't think the US has a market for it. The boxy little cars haven't done well (Scion, Honda, Nissan, even the Mini Clubman could be in the group), so I think that's probably what Ford is looking at.

 

Frantz;


You are right. I see all those pickups in the city and suburbs and have to wonder about the power of image. They must all think they are cowboys. I was a cowboy, raised on a ranch, in pickup country. And I have to admit that my pickup habit lasted for a really long time after I was a cowboy.


This connect is my first van, and I am loving it. I'd like it better if it had a little more clearance and all-wheel drive, but it's pretty sweet as it is. I can camp in this thing, drive like a maniac, and tow my small trailer with the dirty stuff.


I suspect that part of the lack of recognition has to do with priorities. Ford has a lot of innovative products on line and it's expensive to feature a new model. As it is, I am seeing transits all over the place, used as commercial vehicles for small business. It may well be that the demand suits the level of production, and that's just fine. I've got mine.

 

I'm a utilitarian, and I live on a farm. I normally just buy whatever cheap POS comes in as a trade that isn't inspect-able and take it home. If I were buying new, It'd be a tough call between the Transit Connect and F150. They cost pretty close when stripped down, which I think hurts the TC. D plan on the cheapest leftover '15 I see gets me just under $20k for a TC, vs $22,200 for an F150. That's not quite enough of a difference for me to give up the truck for the farm. My DD is a '15 Fiesta with manual trans and crank windows I got for around $14k, it works and I love how it drives.