How are the newer E350s
 

Hey there. We may be upgrading soon from our 2005 E350 extended (V10) and would like to know what you guys think/know about the newer vans... 2008 and newer.

We're interested in the extended vans with power (v10).
Any issues we should be aware of?

Thanks!

Hardly any change to 2008... mostly cosmetic.

Major change is Electronic Stability Control on the passenger versions.

Major issue - buy one now (I would buy new) before the Es are discontinued... as it is Ford's announced plan to do so by 2014.

Huh? Ford is going to discontinue the E-series vans? Have they lost their minds? Where did you read about this? Are they planning to unveil a totally redesigned van to replace the E-series? First the Ranger and now the E-series.

Good grief. I just did some reading on Wikipedia that has me totally bummed out. Ford is going to replace the E-series van with that ugly and underpowered Transit that they sell in Europe. It is butt ugly!!! If that isn't bad enough, I read that the Transit is a front wheel drive 4 cylinder diesel. It probably does 0-60 in 20 minutes or so. This sucks!

I bought a used 2008 12 passenger with a 5.4 L, 6 months ago. It had 50,000 KM on it.

Empty, it sat with negative camber so I installed heavier duty coils and had an alignment done

.

One of the joys of the E is to discover that they haven't changed key components (rear and side swing doors) in something like 20 years.

I was typing this on my BlackBerry and it submitted reply before I was finished. As I was saying......

Trailer wiring was a little strange. I bought the Ford harness for the plug and the Brake Controler but never found the battery or brake controler wires at the back of the van. I ended up hard wiring those two.

For child seats the 3 person benches have 3 hooks for tethers but only have latches in the center facing forward. Not a big deal.
Its a 2008 but all over the body you see stamped "Ford R&D 1992". They haven't changed the body much, but the chassis has been updated quite a bit it seems. It drives and handles fine.

Fuel economy in 4000 miles is: 12
overall, 16 Hwy, 13 pulling a pop up, 11 city. Not great but 1/3 the price of a comparable Sprinter leaves me $30K for gas.
Overall I'm very happy with it. I would not buy one new but used they are a real bargain, 2 years old and 1/3 of current MSRP.

We're anxiously waiting delivery of our new 2011 E-350 XLT. I'm pretty excited about the dashboard re-do they did in 2009 and has carried over the last couple model years. The e-series finally has a bonafide glove box! :-X10

Mine is coming with the integrated brake controller and up fitter switches (for future "development")- as well as the back up camera and reverse sensors. With our 5 small children, we prefer a sliding side door - a no cost factory option that is nearly impossible to find on a used passenger van!

We're retiring our '95 E-350 HD XL, that's given us a little over 8 solid years of service. It's been a tank, that no matter what, always gets us where we're going (like the time we drove from Pensacola to Tampa without 3rd gear!).

Anyway, we're hoping for some modern conveniences in the new van - Ford Sync, remote start, power windows/mirrors;) - with the familiarity and reliability we've come to expect from the Econolines.

My only regret is that I ordered the 5.4 V8 instead of the V-10. But, wi thgas going to as much as $4/gallon this year, maybe that wasn't such a bad decision!

As was stated earlier in the thread.....if you're thinking about a new E-Series, get em while they're hot! The Econoline, after 50+ years of service is being shown the door in 2014.

TimR><>

I have a theory that Ford is having second thoughts about the E series going the way of the Ranger:

See prediction 4 and also thread...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...edictions.html


If I am right, you will see the 6.7 in the E series as early as an early 2013 model year.

And the terribly Ford Transit full size relegated to an also ran imported from Europe to test the waters.

Ford just can't let GM have the van, and diesel van market all to itself.

Let's hope you're right! It'd be such a mistake to kill off the best selling van for 30+ years. But, if they can't make it work with the govnt Eco-standards, I don't know what they can do.

TimR><>

There is a way to make it work by putting in ecoboost engines in the 250s and 350s for gassers.

Then a diesel with a smaller version (maybe 1/2 a 6.7 motor) will be fine.


For the 150, they can build a slightly stretched version of the Transit Connect (small van) and stick a small diesel in it.

When you guys get back to looking for the Virgin Mary in a piece of toast, we can get back on topic! Sheesh.

The Van market is skewed at the moment. Contractors who swear by their Ford vans have not bought anything in since 2008 -- housing market crash.

In NYC at least, there more E vans than people. Even more than Crown Victoria yellow cabs. I understand that Sprinter would work for flower delivery, laundry, but the Building industry is a totally different animal. In many job-sites, if you showed up with a GM van or Sprinter, you were banned entry. "you break down and slow down everybody". Sprinters have weak chassis for joboxes, pipe, wire, conduit, etc. Sprinters are also too high for ladders.

Same with cabbies -- in the last 2 years, they got everything else, hybrids, etc. Guess what are they replacing this junk with -- proven Crown Victoria cabs.

As construction recovers so will the Econoline, dead or alive.

The real problem is if Ford introduces a totally new van, it will be years (2 or 3) before the suppliers and upfitters have all the nice things that go into a E series ready.

Cabinets, racks, specialized carriers (like for glass sheets), etc.

Plus, a lot of trucks with equipment installed inside (e.g. carpet cleaners, etc.) will have to do a brand new install.

I don't think Ford realize how attached to the Es people are.

As for the Crown Vic... there is no choice but to switch sooner or later... it is out of production.

I agree with you. I see it everyday. For these guys, E-vans is not a nicety -- it is how they do their jobs and feed their families, and there isn't anything even close. This is their religion.

I only see NYC, but I have been in most other major cities -- E-vans dominate. It's just the construction industry is subdued right now. Building supposed to grow in 2011 and 2012. Some say by 2013-2014 it will be back in full swing, just like 2006-2008. I agree with you also that Ford is having second thoughts about discontinuing the Econoline. They just can't ignore that huge market.