my responses in red

All Transits have the 6R80. The most powerful engine offered is the EcoBoost V6, and according to Mark Kovalsky transmissions are sized according to engine torque rather than GVWR. My T-350 has the exact same transmission as my F-150 does.

Interesting...the Fiesta has a 6-speed "PowerShift" automatic that operates like an automated manual transmission. No torque converter, but it has an automated clutch and changes gears just like a manual transmission. The Transit Connect also has this transmission.

You don't have one of those, do you? The Transit Connect is a completely different vehicle than a Transit.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ce8d53a831.jpg

The only thing common between the two is the "Ford" emblem, and the name "Transit" on the door.

The Transit Connect does not have a Powershift. It uses the 6F35, like the Escape. The Fiesta and Focus use the Powershift automated manual. I've driven a number of CVT's and they shift like the centrifugal clutch on the go karts we played with when we were kids :) Like an infinite torque converter, sort of, with no shifting at all that you can feel (except for simulated steps on some cars to give the feel of a real transmission).

And yes, I wonder if Jaime is talking about a Transit or a Transit Connect; I think Ford was stupid to use this naming convention. In Europe there is also a mid-sized FWD Transit Custom... If they really want to use the Transit name for 3 vehicles, you'd think they could use identifiers that signify SIZE like "small, medium, large". There is nothing about the word "Connect" that makes me think "small" and nothing about "Custom" that makes me think "medium". This is almost more stupid than all the car makers using letter/number designations. (MKS, MKC, MKZ, MKT...or for a real laugh look at the Infiniti lineup.)

Hard to keep track of the players without multiple programs :) Sometimes I wonder why this stuff is important to me, but I've been memorizing car specs since I was 10 years old in 1962...

George

The two vans I drive both say Transit 150 on them (one may be a 250) but they are transits, and a fiesta…

So the big Transits have the 6R80 which is a traditional automatic transmission and the Fiesta would have the Powershift, which is a manual trans that clutches and shifts automatically. They may feel similar but neither of them would feel like a CVT; they have discrete and separate gears.

I would not expect either of these to feel like a CVT because the CVT doesn't shift. When you hit the throttle hard, the engine revs will rise into the power band and simply stay there as the vehicle "catches up" to the engine using the infinitely variable gearing of the CVT.

If you ever have the opportunity to drive a known CVT vehicle, check it out. My now-engineer son and I went and drove the Saturn Vue (crappy CVT with low power 4 cyl) and Nissan Murano (better CVT with a powerful V6) shortly after they were introduced...maybe 2002 or so when my son was 14(?) We had a loaner Subaru Crosstrek a couple years ago when my (stick shift 5 speed) Forester was in for service, and I have to say I was impressed with how far CVT's have come.

George

You have valid points, I do have a bike (scooter) that is a 250CC motor with CVT and I have driven that many times, but the transits are frustrating at times when you mash the pedal and it takes a moment to figure out what it wants to do...:-X18

I have not driven one, but cars did not downshift instantly in the old days either--they had mechanical and vacuum controls instead of today's electronics. But without lockup torque converters, the engine would begin to spin up instantly. These days, the computer has to confirm what you really want to do (is your foot gonna stay down on the throttle, or are you gonna stab it and take your foot right off, etc). Then it has to unlock the torque converter if you are semi serious, and then downshift if you're really serious. And even electronically decide if it's gonna give the engine a lot of throttle or not quite a lot. All in the interest of gas mileage and not over-reacting to a driver with a nervous foot.

My new Dodge Grand Caravan has a little "thinking time" on the horn activation that drives me crazy. Every other vehicle I've had, when you hit the horn for a gentle little toot, it gives a gentle little toot (I use these to politely wake up a napping driver). The Dodge takes a half second to sound the horn...and makes it hard to meter out what it takes to get a little blip of noise.

Computers are great but they can suck too. I have 2 cars with stick shifts and enjoy the directness of those especially in my older '91 BMW, but my newer '09 Subaru has an electronic throttle which I can feel when it tries to out-think me. I kind of miss the "snap" of old carbureted cars with accelerator pumps that were seriously responsive when you hit the throttle (at the expense of using more fuel with the squirting accel pump and probably too rich a mixture for today's emission rules and even for optimizing engine life).

George

Get with the times people. It is the metric system!
the 80 in 6r80 is 800 newton-meters. NOT 800 ft-lbs
800NM ~ 590 ft-lbs

Ha! So it is. At the age of 64, I don't think I will even see the US car industry move from horsepower and lb ft to kilowatts and newton-meters. No poetry there. I still think in terms of engine cubic inches a lot and remember the "61" conversion factor for liters. And our road signs are still in miles and miles per hour.

George

Transit updates
 

We have unfortunately been have many issues with our transits. They have been in the shop quite often. One has had the throttle body assembly replaced twice (it won't go faster than idle when it breaks), 1 turbo replaced, split plastic intake hose replaced, and a cracked intercooler replaced. Another van has had all the door lock actuators replaced, ecm and bcm replaced, 1 throttle body assembly replaced, all they keys replaced due to bad transponders, and a fried drIvers side headlight wire harness replaced. And our 2015 3.7L transit has had all new coils, new blower motor and resistor, and many fried wiring harness replaced. All the transits keep having water injestion issues while driving in the rain. Air filter gets wet and eventually disinegrates and gets sucked up into the motor causing extreme power loss. Ford has yet to determine why the air filter box keeps getting water in it. This is a major issue since we are down here in South louisiana and it rains often. The highest mileage we have on any one van is 35k on a 2015 3.5 ecoboost( that's the first van I've described with issues on this post). Fuel economy is still an issue with every van. Very poor fuel economy. So far we are not impressed with these trucks as soon as the 8 year 150k mile warranty runs out they are all getting sold. The plan is to phase them out and replace with 4x4 f250-f550 crew cab 6.7 powerstroke trucks with utility tool boxes on the backs.

Been away a while----thanks to all who've contributed and apologies for not keeping up here.

Thanks 2002exPSD, helpful info and the very info I'm seeking. To my mind the first 3-5 years of any new platforms in-service experience will significantly affect my decision whether to purchase a Transit or simply look for another gently used E-Series. From a tradesmans POV Transit's approach ideal but small nagging issues that could have been designed out of the production models bother me.

Success of the E-Series prompts me to initially favor Ford but as much as it troubles me the Pro Master is nicely configured too, at least from my needs/wants perspective. Making that leap into a Chrysler product is scary as he77---not had a good feeling about that brand since the late 60's. :)

Because I tend to buy only vehicles with 50-70K miles already on the clock I'd hope the vehicle would have already had all its issues ironed out. I'd loathe buying brand new only to have it spend so much time in the shop or simply not performing as I need. The level of up-fitting I do makes me highly dependent on one main vehicle so transferring my tools and equipment even once a year is something I don't care to consider as part of ownership.

I will follow up on the dedicated Transit forum too but at last viewing it wasn't really helpful or speaking to my concerns or questions, those of reliability for the most part.

This has been an interesting read----thanks to all who've added their own experiences. :-X22

Hey JWA: I wouldn't hold my breath for the ProMaster to be any more reliable than the Transit. The base drivetrain is identical to what is in my minivan which seems really pretty weak-kneed for a big payload.

And Chrysler is going thru EPA investigations on its diesel engines right now, so no telling how that will come out. Sounds like they have "sort of" cheated the emissions testing. Not as blatant as VW...

If you look at Consumer Reports reports, Chrysler and Fiat sit squarely at the bottom of their reliability reports. I just bought a lifetime warranty on my Grand Caravan ($2500 but lots of peace of mind if I have costly problems down the road with a transmission or something)...I am currently waiting for the dealer order for a new $2000 radio/navigation unit to come in at 11k miles... I do really enjoy the new minivan, though. My wife adores the dual 8-way heated seats and we will never again get another vehicle without them.

My long-term bet would be with the Sprinter and the Transit, when Ford gets their act together.

George

If a company tells me they are disappointed with the Transits and want to replace them all with PSD SuperDuty's, I can pretty much wager they are using the vans beyond their specs. I'd have to seriously question who sold them on the idea that a sub 10k van (or 10,300 tops) would be a suitable replacement for an F550.

YoGeorge I'd temporarily lost my better judgement saying anything Chrysler-built was a serious consideration. :) Along with your observations their reliability since having been acquired all those years ago has just sucked. :eek:

What I do like about the Pro Masters is their stock body configurations---very nicely designed, would fit my work truck needs very, very well.

By the time I'm ready to buy most likely it will be a Ford Transit---Sprinter's not to my liking due their own body rust issues, at least the earlier USA versions.

Frantz that does sound like a bad choice, someone along the line simply not doing their research about capacities and suitability. Sorry for the buyer.

On another note----I've heard of front end geometry issues due incorrectly built unibody "chassis" as in this thread: http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/w...et-far-33.html Keep in mind that thread is a whopping 48 pages long first begun in late 2015. Page #33 post #324 somewhat sums this up well enough.

The owners patience is over whelming and unfortunately he's in limbo between Ford USA and Ford Canada, neither one doing too much to resolve the real issue. The one reason I'm hesitant to buy brand new is because of issues like this however I'd have insisted on at least a 50 mile round trip test drive with the salesman, would not accept any new vehicle exhibiting these symptoms.

Like Tom's failure-to-start issues the suspension issues seem isolated yet its troubling too. Buying a few years old would conceivably avoid these sorts of problems assuming the original owner paid attention to performance and driveability or at least tire wear. :)

I do want to stay with Ford especially if the Transit proves to be a solid and dependable long-term as the E-Series have been for me.

Funny but I drove and considered a Sprinter back in 2003 when I bought my E150. Had a good deal going on a demo but was concerned about body rust and didn't really want a diesel. And that was when Chrysler was bouncing between Freightliner and Dodge as a brand name and I did not want to be caught with an orphan. I recently looked at the new MB Metris and that is a really nice (but smaller) package and almost thought about one of those in lieu of my Grand Caravan. But the lumbar hump in the seatback destroyed my back in a half hour test drive and I pulled them off the list. Plus premium fuel was needed for the turbo 2 liter 4 cylinder engine. Great box, though.

I am guessing they may be doing better with rustproofing, and with Transits being as new as they are, they may have similar or even worse rust issues than the Sprinter.

That said, I have looked at a few ProMasters lately and they seem to be very well laid out. The US Postal Svc is using a lot of them. So the jury may still be out on their reliability...the 3.6 Pentastar in my Grand Caravan has more horsepower than the old 4.6 in my van did.

Take care,
George