New Ford Transit Van to compete with Sprinter Van?

[AimlessWanderLust]

Has anybody seen this?&nbsp; The new Ford Transit Van looks like it is poised to compete directly with the Sprinter Van.&nbsp; Same Euro-type styling, except with 3 different roof options, 3 different wheelbase options, and 4 different body options!&nbsp; It's pretty neat that they'll sell it as a chassis with sealed cab or even a cut away cab to add a large box.&nbsp; Oh, and did I mention the 3 engine options?&nbsp; 3.7L V6, 3.5L Turbo V6, or a 3.2L I-5 Turbo Diesel.<br><br>Probably way more money than any of us want to spend to buy a new van, but I think this is great as far as vandwelling goes!&nbsp; If they don't have the motor problems of the 6.0 diesels, in a few years I might try finding a used one!&nbsp; The only option that may or may not be a big deal is the lack of 4x4.<br><br>http://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/transit/2014/

 

[David]

Quigley is supposed to offer 4x4 versions and I'm pretty sure ujoint will also make kits to convert them. The owner has already shown interest in doing so on another forum.<br><br>The problem I see with them, is just like Dodge, Ford is stopping production of the regular style E vans. IMO the sprinter vans look way too commercial looking. I can't imagine anyone buying them as a family van so they must have given up on that market all together. That leaves on Chevy &amp; GMC in the full size family van market.<br><br>They can pass ok as a RV van, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to drive one of those around as a conversion style van.. However they are a lot more popular in Europe so maybe they will grow on the public, but IMO it's a mistake to stop making E vans, but guess they know their sales numbers better than me..

 

[AimlessWanderLust]

The transit connect is being up sized to minivan size or a little larger, which also can come as a cargo or passenger van. It certainly lends itself better to passengers and looks more normal, so I don't think people would hesitate to get that vs the larger transit for families.

 

[wagoneer]

It's about time. wait for the cool factor to wear off and buy used

 

[MrNoodly]

Dodge (and Freightliner) sold the Sprinter when Chrysler/Dodge was owned by Mercedes, who created the Sprinter. Now that Chrysler is owned by Fiat, Ram (Dodge Trucks) will be selling a version of Fiat's van, which has the basic proportions of the Sprinter, which looks like most other European vans. Ford's Transit has been sold in Europe for a while, so they're bringing it to the US. Whereas you could only get a diesel engine in the Sprinter, the Transit and the Fiat/Ram van will have gasoline engine options.The E-series vans were made in the same plant as the Crown Victoria and Town Car, both of which have been discontinued. So Ford is discontinuing the E-series, too. GM hasn't said anything about changing their full-size vans. Yet.

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Yeh, good vans these and widely used here in Oz for years now. Ford Transit have always been a bit cheaper to buy than the Sprinter here as I think I mentioned before somewhere.<BR>Here's an earlier model Oz campervan.&nbsp;<BR>Geoff<BR><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://liveimages.industrysales.com.au/caravancamping/general/content/gc5332431222739887655.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><BR></SPAN></STRONG></EM>

 

[David]

@ Aimless&nbsp;<br><br>The problem with substituting the sprinter for the lager E vans, is the fact that they wont work as a tow vehicle. With E vans you could get the V10 or the V8 diesel. The diesel they put in the sprinters isn't gonna make for a very good tow vehicle. Much the same as the Transit.. In Europe they only offer the&nbsp;<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">2.2-liter turbodiesel but&nbsp;supposedly&nbsp;they will offer a 3.5 turbo gas engine but that's still pails in&nbsp;comparison&nbsp;to the current V8's &amp; V10.&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">By going that route they pretty much&nbsp;eliminate&nbsp;the ability to use their vans as tow&nbsp;vehicles.&nbsp;<br><br>The other issue I see with them is they seem to only offer sliding doors and no more barn doors for side access.. It just seems like they are giving up a lot of things the E series vans had going for them, in exchange for having bigger cargo.<br><br>One plus that I did see is they will offer a AWD model like the Chevy Express has.<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.dbusiness.com/images/cache/a24367a90e494a0459b00ed3c7574ce7.jpeg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>lol not to mention the thing might be roomy but it's ugly as sin..&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"></span></span>