It looks like the passenger vans are on sale now

19151 Views 42 Replies 15 Participants Last post by USMC Vet, Nov 10, 2014

Rico

Discussion Starter · Aug 17, 2014

New 2015 Ford Transit-350 For Sale in Kansas City, MO | 336521

New 2015 Ford Transit Wagon 350 HR in Canton NC at Ken Wilson Ford - Carsforsale.com

21 - 40 of 43 Posts

PeterR

· #21 · Sep 18, 2014

Excellent feedback, Orton, much appreciated!

-- "No step" decal seems pretty after-thought-ish like the yellow jack "zit" on the right IMO
-- ply etc. flat on floor -- barely at 49"
-- room for 6' bed in 130" WB model TBD
-- also TBD -- 96" length of ply fitting behind first bench seat in 130" WB

If you noticed, do the rear doors have releases on the inside, so someone can exit from the back doors easily?

Thanks again for taking the time to check these details. I agree the Transit handles nicely. Front armrests near center are mirrored in a sense by the armrests built in to each door IMO. Very comfortable indeed.

orton

· #22 · Sep 18, 2014

PeterR said:
Excellent feedback, Orton, much appreciated!

-- "No step" decal seems pretty after-thought-ish like the yellow jack "zit" on the right IMO
-- ply etc. flat on floor -- barely at 49"
-- room for 6' bed in 130" WB model TBD
-- also TBD -- 96" length of ply fitting behind first bench seat in 130" WB

If you noticed, do the rear doors have releases on the inside, so someone can exit from the back doors easily?

Thanks again for taking the time to check these details. I agree the Transit handles nicely. Front armrests near center are mirrored in a sense by the armrests built in to each door IMO. Very comfortable indeed.

Rear doors have a simple release loop for opening. What they do not have is any handle to close the door from inside. You have to put hand on top of door and pull fast enough to close without catching your fingers. There are some holes to make it easy to add a door handle which I will do. No biggie but odd.

I agree on front seats not needing outside armrests. Someone did an excellent job designing the door panels so you have a very comfortable shelf to rest your arm on. I prefer the driving position and ergonomics of the Transit to my Sprinter. Most impressed on how they designed the suspension to provide excellant handling. Van drives more like a good car than a top heavy van.

Do hope it will be easy to disconnect the annoying chime when key is in the ignition and you open a door. You can not partially pull out the key to stop the noise.

tthrsn

· #23 · Sep 18, 2014

orton said:
I will be going to the Ford Tour test drive tomorrow in Berkeley Ca. and the dimension asked for is on my question list.

Can you ask them if the Front/Rear (Driver Controlled) Air Conditioning (order code = 57G) which has late availability on the cargo vans will be in the same location in the cargo van as the passenger van? Thanks.

Brad

· #24 · Sep 18, 2014 (Edited)

Having attended the same Transit event today as Dave, I came away convinced the Transit is the right platform for conversion.

Some observations:

I was expecting the EcoBoost model to be really zippy, and it certainly was. But I was really surprised on how responsive the 3.7L was. I assumed it would be kind of ponderous, but came away feeling it was a power plant I could not just live with, but be happy with. Was not expecting that. Now, because the course was essentially autocross-like, there was no opportunity to try the vehicles climbing hills at freeway speeds, and seeing how the transmission reacts. No doubt the EcoBoost would win there. Still, for 95% of my driving I think the 3.7 would work fine. I'm now back to weighing staying with the 3.7 where I had earlier decided on the EcoBoost.

Also very pleased on how the vans handled. Was expecting clumsiness, but came away surprised on how nuanced the handling was for such large and heavy vehicles.

Concur with Dave on the annoying musical chime emitted with key in the ignition and doors open. Maybe a wad of gum over the sounder would solve that.

Popped the hood open and liked the access. Would have been really stoked if the hood was supported by gas struts like on my wife's Outback. No luck, but that's OK - hopefully I won't need to be under there much.

After seeing both medium and high roof vans it became clear the high option will work much better for me. Still debating a driver's side sliding door - but that's "late availability."

On that subject, none of the Ford people there could speak to what late availability translates to - was a little annoyed on that. Like many, I have a couple late availability options in mind that would be fine if that means 1-2 months, but would be awful if it turned out to be 6 months. Based on the responses to "late availability," I knew asking detailed technical questions about dual batteries and the charging regime would not bear fruit.

The cab was nicely designed. Power steering response was excellent. Yeah, the front big-gulp cup holders were not ideally placed, but easy to get used to going to the back of the van. Like the big storage area above the windshield.

What I really liked though, was my wife thought it was fun to drive. Before that she was apprehensive about driving such a large van - no worries now. Except maybe for parallel parking.

Stoked on going forward...

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orton

· #25 · Sep 18, 2014

tthrsn said:
Can you ask them if the Front/Rear (Driver Controlled) Air Conditioning (order code = 57G) which has late availability on the cargo vans will be in the same location in the cargo van as the passenger van? Thanks.

My visit is over. the Ford folks at the tour did not know much. Asked about the late availability of the short arm rear view mirrors and remote start. Got: I do not know, ask the dealer.

kingkabong

· #26 · Sep 18, 2014

tthrsn said:
Can you ask them if the Front/Rear (Driver Controlled) Air Conditioning (order code = 57G) which has late availability on the cargo vans will be in the same location in the cargo van as the passenger van? Thanks.

I'm trying to figure this out now. I'm getting a cargo van, but wanted the rear AC for the dogs. Well, the system won't let me order it that way. Something about the rear AC not being compatible with the vinyl flooring in the cargo van? Seriously? Will update when I figure this out, not real happy at the moment.

PeterR

· #27 · Sep 18, 2014 (Edited)

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. Very helpful to hear.

One general opinion about this roll-out -- for which there is ample evidence (IMO) at this point: The new Transit is a "full-scale-model" design work in progress. "Late Availability" and "Job 2" mean basically "we need to re-think this, and we have no idea when -- OR IF -- it will be available." A new term like "Job 3" will likely come in soon, to describe design items which are being moved to a new rear burner on a new back stove, if you will.

The rear Air Conditioning obviously was not well thought out, along with the "zit" yellow jack in the Wagon model. Guess they started at the front of this new van, got it right with the dash, seats, and so forth (except for the tightness of the front seats making it difficult to get up and go into the back), and then ran out of steam near the back door?

The "No Step" warning label on the top of the rear AC grey hump, and the intake/discharge holes on this housing (which can easily be blocked by luggage and/or tools) bespeak of a design SNAFU for which heads have probably already rolled out the door. The notion of having this grey hump in the cargo van is obviously ludicrous, as not only will workers STEP ON the hump, they will be loading (for years) heavy material and tools RIGHT ON IT.

[electronic FAIL noise sounds very loudly]

Doh . . .

Add in the constantly changing dates for VIN, build, and delivery -- and well you get the picture . . .

For this lifetime driver of Ford Econoline vans (starting in 1970), this waiting process is frustrating to say the least. I want to drive a couple of different new models, order the right wagon (which will likely be the last vehicle for me), and get it RIGHT from the get-go.

Ain't happening.

With my car lease expiring in a couple of months, the window for ordering a new Transit has closed, I believe.

Hmmmmmm . . . .

PS Edit -- the saving grace in my decades of owning Ford vans has been the local dealer, whom Ford appears to have abandoned in this process. Not a good sign, as the world moves to another mode separated from personal service as the norm.

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PeterR

· #28 · Sep 18, 2014 (Edited)

orton said:
My visit is over. the Ford folks at the tour did not know much. Asked about the late availability of the short arm rear view mirrors and remote start. Got: I do not know, ask the dealer.

"I do not know, ask the dealer."

A good get IMO.

To which the dealer replies, "Ask Ford."

'nuff said . . .

Longboard

· #29 · Sep 18, 2014

tthrsn said:
Can you ask them if the Front/Rear (Driver Controlled) Air Conditioning (order code = 57G) which has late availability on the cargo vans will be in the same location in the cargo van as the passenger van? Thanks.

I ordered the front/rear A/C in a cargo and it has a scheduled build week of September 29th. Probably not late availability any more. My dealer told me it's the same location but he might have been just guessing.

Longboard

· #30 · Sep 18, 2014

orton said:
My visit is over. the Ford folks at the tour did not know much. Asked about the late availability of the short arm rear view mirrors and remote start. Got: I do not know, ask the dealer.

I also ordered the power heated short arm mirrors and have a build week of September 29th, so probably not late availability any more.

Reactions: 1

Longboard

· #31 · Sep 18, 2014

kingkabong said:
I'm trying to figure this out now. I'm getting a cargo van, but wanted the rear AC for the dogs. Well, the system won't let me order it that way. Something about the rear AC not being compatible with the vinyl flooring in the cargo van? Seriously? Will update when I figure this out, not real happy at the moment.

I ordered rear air on a cargo w/ vinyl floor and have the build week, so must be o.k.

orton

· #32 · Sep 18, 2014

PeterR: Do not think it is as dire as you describe. The Transit is a major undertaking by Ford with everything except the drivetrain being a new design. I fully expect some problems. Magical engineering if there are not some glitches.

Driving the result of Ford's effort offsets some of the communication difficulties. It is acceptable to have some items as "late availability" but it is not acceptable to dealers and prospective buyers to not be upfront with expected availability. Someone at Ford knows so that should be public knowledge.

I was impressed with the vehicle. They got the major part of the design right. It is better than the competition in my opinion. I will buy one. Fully expect some of the minor wrinkles to be ironed out in the next couple of years. Unfortunately at my age, I need to buy now. None of the wrinkles are a big enough problem to prevent purchase.

Chance

· #33 · Sep 18, 2014

Longboard said:
I ordered the front/rear A/C in a cargo and it has a scheduled build week of September 29th. Probably not late availability any more. My dealer told me it's the same location but he might have been just guessing.

I don't know either but would also "guess" the same. I looked at buying an Econoline cargo van with rear AC years ago and the air conditioner was located behind the driver-side rear wheel-well, exactly where passenger vans have it too. To me it makes sense that both would be the same (wherever they are located on a Transit) in order to reduce the number of parts Ford has to design, manufacture, and stock. On the Econoline the only obvious difference I noticed was the air discharge did not have a plenum going up to ceiling.

tthrsn

· #34 · Sep 18, 2014

Longboard said:
I ordered the front/rear A/C in a cargo and it has a scheduled build week of September 29th. Probably not late availability any more. My dealer told me it's the same location but he might have been just guessing.

Thanks for the info. As soon as yours arrives and dual sliding doors lose their "late availability" I'll order mine.

Longboard

· #35 · Sep 18, 2014

orton said:
Unfortunately at my age, I need to buy now. None of the wrinkles are a big enough problem to prevent purchase.

At least you still have the Sprinter to use! I might be ten years younger, but it's been nine months now that I've had to make do with the Honda since the demise of my NCV3 170" tall cargo conversion.
I'll survive Autumn, but I really don't want to make another trip to FL sleeping in the Element nightly.
What the Transit is it is, I'm sure it won't be junkie enough that I sell it before converting to opt for another Sprinter or Promaster instead.

PeterR

· #36 · Sep 19, 2014

Good points orton, but . . .

"What we have here is a failure to communicate." [Cool Hand Luke]

Time is also short over here, and my certainty over the Transit model desired awaits a number of test drives of various roof heights, lengths, and seat configurations.

Mainly the major SNAFU is communication IMO, especially between Ford and its dealers.

Maybe the transportation of finished vans IS the problem, but why not just put out a press release and announce this?

Reactions: 1

PeterR

· #37 · Sep 19, 2014

PS, orton, things may be a bit more "dire" than previously thought. The fleet management company ARI estimates that the Transit order-to-delivery time frame is more like 14-16 weeks [updated yesterday].

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/purchasing-ordering/3594-tracking-build-dates.html

Given that the Kansas City plant is rumored to be closing for weeks over Christmas to re-tool for "Job 2" etc., this would seem to suggest that orders not in the books yet may not see delivery until well into 2015, in my personal opinion.

USMC Vet

· #38 · Nov 9, 2014

Anyone know if there is a way to configure a extended wheel base (148) high roof 15 seat passenger van as a 3/4 ton (250)? Everytime I try it comes out as a 350.
Does the number of seats determine the size? Trying to get one with seats far enough behind the dor opening that converting last row to fold down couch won't interfere with wheelchair docking. Have seen pictures of the layout for 8 and 10 seat passenger vans, but not for 12 -15. Anyone have any?

Semper Fi

Longboard

· #39 · Nov 9, 2014

From what I can tell the Extended High Roof Wagon is automatically an HD 350, while the same van can be a 250, 350, or HD 350. That made the wagon not worth my consideration.

USMC Vet

· #40 · Nov 9, 2014

Might have used the wrong terminology, guess I should have said long wheelbase. Don't want the extended van. Does it still hold true with long wheelbase, high roof?

Semper Fi

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