[Dale_R]

Ford sold 1,225 Transit Vans/Wagons in September.

 

[bbird]

Just how many of those actually got deliveried, I would guess 500:crying:

 

[PeterR]

This press release does not mention the Transit specifically FYI.

https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North America/US/2014/10/01/september2014sales.pdf

Dale, where did you see the Transit sales figure?

Thanks

 

[Dale_R]

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2014/10/01/september2014sales.html

Note the "click here for full release."

 

[PeterR]

Here, with total sales of 3,310 year-to-date.

Ford Fusion, Explorer, Transit Connect Post Record Sales Performance for September | Business Wire

 

[PeterR]

Thanks Dale, I also found another source, as just posted.

 

[PeterR]

Interesting that Ford's sales declined slightly, whereas GM and Chrysler's sales increased about 18% year-over-year.

GM, Chrysler sales soar in September; Ford down 2.7%

Concerns over Ford's truck sales, although no specific mention of the Transit or possible shipping delays, nor the 14-16 week lead time for order-to-delivery per ARI source linked in other thread:

________________________________
[quote from article]

On the other side of the spectrum was Ford, which sold 180,175 vehicles last month. The Dearborn automaker cut back on incentives of its pickups to maintain dealer inventory while production of its aluminum-bodied F-150.

“Ford has a truck problem right now, and that's not something you can say very often,” Caldwell said. “But the fact is that Ford is sitting on the sidelines while its competition is engaging a plush market of willing truck buyers.”

The Dearborn plant was down for about a month. Production restarted in late-September after being shut down since Aug. 25.

Caldwell added the extended production halt is creating “a lot more pressure on the 2015 F-150 to perform — and perform well — once it hits showroom floors.”

[end of quote]
_______________________________________________________

 

[packerbacker]

I saw my first Transit commercial during the Packers Bears Game on Sunday and actually saw 2 on the road last week, I started re writing the lyrics to Billy Rays song.... "That could of been Me".... Behind the wheel.... That Could of been Me.... LOL I wish Ford would get their Crap together!!

 

[PeterR]

Interesting article on the impact of the new F-150 roll out on Ford's sales numbers. By having two big design changes in one year, has Ford overwhelmed its production teams, and suppliers?

Why Ford won?t know whether its new F-150 pickup is a hit until next year - The Tell - MarketWatch

 

[blakej59]

I'm really surprised by the slow ramp up of Transit production. I wouldn't expect this is intentional and therefore suspect they have encountered issues that need sorting out. As with any vehicle, I think it's best to chill on purchasing for a while. Product quality will improve as miles are driven and bugs get worked out.

Jim

 

[PeterR]

Ditto to Jim's "chill" comment, until I can drive actual vehicles which have most of the features under consideration: Wagon, both wheelbases, low and medium roofs, opening side windows (Job 2?), rear A/C, etc..

Sounds like these test drives will not happen until winter or Spring 2015, and I will not order a vehicle without seeing the full-scale models. Too many variables and uncertainties until then . . .

I find it hard to believe that Ford is sitting by, under the apparent delusion that it is making friends here of loyal and faithful multi-decade-long customers, without releasing public comments about the slow progress, and anticipated pace for completion of the Transit line-up. The local sales representatives have been rendered dumb and mute, as well, by Ford's myopic "public relations." Not.

Loyal F-150 owners who may want to upgrade to the new aluminum bodies are probably a little hot under the collar as well?

Shameful and callous corporate behavior IMO.

 

[Epps]

Their out there, over the last three weeks I've driven:


Long wheel base, mid roof 3.7L van
Long wheel base, mid roof 3.5L van
Long wheel base, mid roof 12 pass wagon 3.5L
Short wheel base, low roof 8 pass wagon, 3.7L and sat in a 10 pass wagon


Epps

 

[ted]

Their out there, over the last three weeks I've driven:


Long wheel base, mid roof 3.7L van
Long wheel base, mid roof 3.5L van
Long wheel base, mid roof 12 pass wagon 3.5L
Short wheel base, low roof 8 pass wagon, 3.7L and sat in a 10 pass wagon


Epps

how did you like driving them? any downsides from one to the other?

 

[PeterR]

Thanks Epps, good to know, I will check in my area for new Wagon listings. Curious to know if you sat in the back of the low roof wagon and moved from one bench seat to the other? If so, did the sitting headroom feel OK, and did it feel cramped as you got up and moved from seat to seat?

In the short wheelbase Wagon, did the the rear bench seat have three wider seats, as seems to be shown in various photos online?

Thanks,

Peter

 

[Epps]

Peter:


Question: Did it feel cramped as you got up and moved from seat to seat?


Yes, not easy in the 8 pass, the 10 pass was great, I just wish the diesel could be had with it,

Question: In the short wheelbase Wagon, did the the rear bench seat have three wider seats?


Yes it did


The 3.7L is very weak and needs to be driven hard to get anywhere. My wife and I prefer the 130" wheel base for the tighter turning. We really don't need the extra space of the long wheel base, but can't get the diesel in the short wheel base wagon. If we could order anything we wanted, it would be a loaded 130" 10 pass wagon with the diesel.


Epps

 

[PeterR]

Peter:

Question: Did it feel cramped as you got up and moved from seat to seat?

Yes, not easy in the 8 pass . . .

[snip]

Thanks, I was afraid of that. The new low roof Transit actually has less interior headroom than my old E-350 Club Wagon, as a result of a lower overall exterior height to squeeze the low roof Wagon under the 7' - 0" vertical clearance limits of parking garages, some drive-through's etc..

This reduced height is a clear benefit for some drivers, but I am guessing that the cramped headroom will drive a decision to go to the medium height roof . . .

 

[PeterR]

Here is a 130" WB Wagon at L&L Ford in East Berlin PA, but like many online listings the "Medium Low Roof" title is ambiguous. The photo seems to show a low roof model IMO.

New 2015 Ford Transit K1Z Regular 150 Wagon 130" Medium Low Roof - 302A

No Wagons at all on Long Island NY that I can find.

Great search tool someone posted a few days ago:

Welcome to DealerConnection. Ford Dealers | Lincoln Dealers | United States and Canada.

 

[Epps]

Check out Lumberton ford in NJ, they have two 130" wagons.


Epps

 

[PeterR]

Thanks Epps, I will probably wait until some trickle out to the local dealers . . .