[blodn]

Mine's at 167,000, and even with the current problem, I still love it.

 

[surly Bill]

I think than any vehicle manufactured in the last 10-20 years should EASILY make it to 200-250k without any major problems. Assuming the owner maintains it according to the recommendations, and doesn't drive like an *******. Sure, you'll replace a few bolt-on parts like plugs or oxygen sensors or MAF and such things, but you shouldn't have to open up the engine or tranny if you're taking care of it.

 

[driley]

Most people here aren't going to get that, Bill, but me and Ghostshaper obviously did. I guess people think machines are perfect and you don't have to maintain them to keep them running. That's a shame. Just to be clear I'll say it. Cars are machines and machines break and need keeping up. There are no perfect ones. You have to maintain them. Some are more reliable than others by luck alone. Manufacturers aren't perfect. Dealers aren't perfect. Manufacturers get about as lucky as the rest of us from their suppliers. Some things just don't work out, like Transit brakes and torque converters. Some things are badly designed, like our guibos, heat shields and air box lids but 30 years from now the Transit will probably have conquered the earth like the E-series before it and all of this will be moot.

Can you imagine the bitchin' that would've happened online about the first few years of the Econoline vans back in the 60's/70's when you were lucky to get 100k out of any vehicle?

My 1980 Econoline was actually the worst vehicle I have ever owned.

It was pretty much junk at 70k. Bad oil leaks. Bad transmission. All sorts of rust problems, even though it never left the southwest.

 

[surly Bill]

I'm trying to think of the worst car I've owned, and I guess it might be the Dodge Raider (Mitsubishi Montero 2-door) I had for about a year in Colorado. It never broke down, but it was kind of gutless and may have been running on 3 cylinders when I traded it in; probably because I never replaced the sparkplugs or even looked at the motor. Later on, a girlfriend had a Diahtsu Rocky (like a deluxe Suzuki Samurai) that I was constantly repairing, but she got it used and who knows how much abuse it had suffered. All my other vehicles were very good, even the '74 Fiat 128 only left me stranded because of neglect and ignorance of vehicle maintenance (first car).
From memory: Fiat 128, Volvo 264, VW Thing, Suzuki Samurai, Toyota 2wd pickup, Dodge Raider, 3-4 Toyota 4wd pickups, '03 Sprinter, '15 Transit. This isn't counting the hobby of vintage cars, mostly Corvair variants.

So far, at 40k, the Transit seems to be fine. Other than the air filter disintegrating into the intake because it was wet, I haven't had any issues or hiccups. But, I wouldn't EXPECT any issues in the first 100k!

 

[Travlin]

Since the advent of fuel injection as standard the engine's cylinders each get balanced combustion gas mixtures, relieving uneven pressures on moving parts that led to premature death in carburetted engines. I have bought many modern (fuel injected) vehicles with at or over 100K miles and driven them to well over 200K miles. (had an AMC Jeep Cherokee I sold with over 350K miles, still running) The 100K lifespan is a fear factor that drives folks to trade in some wonderful vehicles that have a lot of life in them.


Having a Transit and a Focus with under 50K miles each is like owning brand new vehicles for me. I hope to get many years of life from them as they are both joys to drive.

 

[surly Bill]

That's RIGHT!

I forgot about the days of needing the valves ground and re-seated, and piston rings replaced. Modern engines are SO much better than the older designs.

 

[wayneygogo]

The excessive brake where is caused by a problem they had with some vehicles have the rear calipers reversed. Yes basically upside down and crossed from the factory. There are identifying marks on the calipers which can be checked at your Ford dealer. This is what caused the excessive wear

 

[alarmist]

The excessive brake where is caused by a problem they had with some vehicles have the rear calipers reversed. Yes basically upside down and crossed from the factory. There are identifying marks on the calipers which can be checked at your Ford dealer. This is what caused the excessive wear

Mostly true. Plenty of people had the caliper brackets checked at the Ford dealer, were told they were fine, and found them reversed when they checked it themselves.

 

[surly Bill]

Does someone have a pic of the CORRECT positioning of the calipers?

 

[wayneygogo]

Both of my doors blue wide open and I had to replace the doors and one of the fenders. I would suggest putting some type of chain screwing in a chain to the door and to the door jamb to keep it from overextending

 

[The Grand Tour]

Both of my doors blue wide open and I had to replace the doors and one of the fenders. I would suggest putting some type of chain screwing in a chain to the door and to the door jamb to keep it from overextending

You were just driving down the road and both doors blew wide open?

When you say "both doors", do you mean the driver and passenger door, or both slider doors, or both rear cargo doors, or what?

 

[Eiko]

I guessing he meant the front driver and passenger doors. I've had the wind catch them (while parked) when I opened them to exit the van. It felt like it could have tweaked the hinges. I can imagine a similar but more severe scenario occurring.

 

[surly Bill]

Only an idiot would buy one of these vans.

 

[Travlin]

Only an idiot would buy one of these vans.

Should we all raise our hands?

 

[alarmist]

You got nothing on me. I once owned a Ducati.

 

[surly Bill]

You got nothing on me. I once owned a Ducati.

At least it wasn't a Norton Commando

 

[Damaskinos_of_Athens]

.
Very first Transits, at keast in the UK had that issue and the joints had to be reengineered.

But they get their Transits from Gallipoli and we get ours from Kansas City, so that may not be relevant.
.

 

[Travlin]

At least it wasn't a Norton Commando

Or any British bike built under the reign of Lucas, Prince of Darkness.

 

[alarmist]

Or any British bike built under the reign of Lucas, Prince of Darkness.

heh