Loyalbutconcerned Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Largest-US-I...ml?x=0&.v=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 IMHO, articles like this will be having a lot of fleet managers putting the TC on their short list for fleet replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battyr Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Just think, if they pump up the hp a little, add a 6-speed, some fancy paint jobs and rear seat, they could get some consumer sales too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Just think, if they pump up the hp a little, add a 6-speed, some fancy paint jobs and rear seat, they could get some consumer sales too. Family One. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Family One. How are they going to get around the chicken tax on it then? Rip the interior out and put a new one back in? I know that the TC should be made stateside hopefully within the next couple years but what are they going to do before then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donaldo Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 How are they going to get around the chicken tax on it then? Maybe Ford can have upfitters install a passenger interior as is/was done with some of the Dodge/M-B/Freightliner Sprinter vans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 More imports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Appears on the fordvehicles site one can build the Transit "wagon" variant as a passenger type vehicle in XL or XLT trim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 How are they going to get around the chicken tax on it then? Rip the interior out and put a new one back in? I know that the TC should be made stateside hopefully within the next couple years but what are they going to do before then? Chicken tax doesn't apply to 'wagons'. The Transit Connects are all shipped over as 'wagons', that is, with a second row of seats and back windows. However, all that are destined for use as panel trucks have the glass taken off and recycled and the seats taken out and shredded. A family van/taxi would not need the windows pulled or seats shredded, since it's expected to be delivered with those things. That's right. Per one government regulation, the Transit Connect is a 'wagon' (chicken tax') But per another government regulation, the Transit Connect is a 'truck' (CAFE) Go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Re: 'Family One' Don't think that one's going to happen until the TC is built here, and even then, it's probably a non-starter since the Grand C-Max will be roughly the same size and will be a better fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Re: 'Family One' Don't think that one's going to happen until the TC is built here, and even then, it's probably a non-starter since the Grand C-Max will be roughly the same size and will be a better fit. agreed....TC would need a serious powertrain upgrade to embrace that move as well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 I know that the TC should be made stateside hopefully within the next couple years but what are they going to do before then? Likely nothing. Aftermarket, maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 This is just a guess, but I believe Ford marketing is watching this very, very closely. Remember, the future of Ford is in conquest sales. Lots of 'em never owned a Ford, and know Jack-all about the company or its historical products. They don't see cars the way we do, and brand name doesn't mean a lot. It could say Veeblefetzer, for all they care. The TC has a point of utility that has a strong appeal, with EU sales to prove it. So, my intuition is that the TC could have a very powerful appeal to that kind of mindset. It could be a reprise of the original VW Microbus, with better graphics this time around. I just wish they'd bring over the short wheel-base, regular roof-height version. Add RevoKnuckle and DSG and boost, lots of boost . . . 2008 TC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 (edited) This is just a guess, but I believe Ford marketing is watching this very, very closely. Remember, the future of Ford is in conquest sales. I concur. One of the biggest groups "ripe" for conquest are Honda Element owners. However, these are "discriminating" buyers and I expect few would buy a Transit Connect with its current powertrain and warnings like this on on page 153 of the owner's manual. WARNING ! Never tow a trailer with this vehicle. Your vehicle is not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available through an authorized dealer. Edited December 29, 2009 by theoldwizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 One of the biggest groups "ripe" for conquest are Honda Element owners. However, these are "discriminating" buyers and I expect few would buy a Transit Connect with its current powertrain and warnings like this on on page 153 of the owner's manual. An interesting thing to point out is that a Focus can tow with a hitch and Ford has seriously downrated the tow ratings on the Focus vs its European counterpart (when they where both on the C170 platform)...I dont see a reason why a TC can't tow something light weight with a hitch, unless Ford is in CYA mode Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F250 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Reddy Ice® brand, recently purchased 17 Ford Transit Connect vans for use by technicians servicing Ice Factory™ ice-dispensing machines located throughout the country. Now we know where 17 of them went. 1,165 sold in November WooHoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F250 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I expect few would buy a Transit Connect with its current powertrain and warnings like this on on page 153 of the owner's manual. WARNING ! Never tow a trailer with this vehicle. Your vehicle is not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available through an authorized dealer. Doesn't sound "Built Ford Tough" to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 For the same money ($21K), people can go buy an entry level F150 so obviously, people want something different in the Transit connect..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 One of the biggest groups "ripe" for conquest are Honda Element owners. However, these are "discriminating" buyers and I expect few would buy a Transit Connect with its current powertrain and warnings like this on on page 153 of the owner's manual. I'd love a TC with a consumer interior. I'm not sure element owners read their manuals. The Element has a Payload Capacity of 675#. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 ...I dont see a reason why a TC can't tow something light weight with a hitch... Wimpy automatic transmission (with no axillary cooler) and wimpy brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I'd love a TC with a consumer interior. I'm not sure element owners read their manuals. The Element has a Payload Capacity of 675#. But it does have a 1,500 lbs towing capacity. I can't find a GCVW rating for Element. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 (edited) I did a screen grab from the Ford UK website, hope this is of use with your discussion. Max Gross Train Mass implies they allow the diesel TCs to tow about 800 Kg (1700 lbs) Edited December 29, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F250 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 (edited) For the same money ($21K), people can go buy an entry level F150so obviously, people want something different in the Transit connect..... November '09 sales stats: F-Series 30,494 Econoline 4,705 very old neglected Ranger 3,271 Transit Connect 1,165 Apparently many more (Americans) want capable trucks not "something different" Transit Connects. Edited December 29, 2009 by F250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F250 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I did a screen grab from the Ford UK website, hope this is of use with your discussion.Max Gross Train Mass implies they allow the diesel TCs to tow about 800 Kg (1700 lbs) Cool, next time I'm in the UK I'll remember that. In spite of the "One Ford" slogan we get a European mini-van without the Euro diesel engine. Still, I wouldn't tow 1700 lbs with the TC's brakes/chassis on flat land even if it had a real powertrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 (edited) Cool, next time I'm in the UK I'll remember that. In spite of the "One Ford" slogan we get a European mini-van without the Euro diesel engine. Still, I wouldn't tow 1700 lbs with the TC's brakes/chassis on flat land even if it had a real powertrain. I'm with you F250, I tried to think of the words but this clip describes it perfectly: Really Funny Caravan Accident! Apparently many more (Americans) want capable trucks not "something different" Transit Connects. They're different markets, no one is suggesting that TC is an F150 replacement. A small inner city van has its place and buyers but it takes time to build sales. What amazes me is that both the TC and F150 start at the same price.... Edited December 29, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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