Your Opinions, Please

"PelicanHazard" (pelicanhazard)
10/08/2013 at 09:24 • Filed to: Transit Connect, Ford, Minivan, Oppo Opinions

The new Ford Transit Connect arriving early next year: is it Ford's return to minivans? Ford's website is going out of its way to call it anything but a minivan, calling the passenger version a wagon and the cargo version a small van. Wikipedia lists it as a "Leisure Activity Vehicle", whatever the hell that means.

To me, it looks exactly like a minivan (and that's okay!).

DISCUSSION (25)

Tom McParland > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:26

I kinda like it...but I have a strange soft-spot for Euro style vans.

PelicanHazard > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 09:27

It's stylish, no doubt, and Ford is touting a range of options that should also make it a joy to live with. But man, are they trying hard to not call it a minivan, even though it has dual sliding doors.

Volvosaurus-Rex > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:29

The US-style minivan is dying, and Ford never really had success in that market. They are soaking up the profits from the Escape and Explorer and are trying to leverage their global platforms by offering this euro-style van in the US since they don't want to spend R&D money developing a US-only van.

I like the euro vans, when I have enough money they will make good track runners for my motorcycling habit.

If you want a minivan US-style, I would have a look at the Flex.

Tom McParland > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:37

I think there is a rumor of a diesel possibly being offered in the future.

PelicanHazard > Volvosaurus-Rex
10/08/2013 at 09:42

Sorry, I don't quite understand: what's the difference between a US-style minivan and a Euro-style one? They both have sliding doors, boxy cabin, and FWD, no?

PelicanHazard > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 09:45

Wait. Something tells me if they do offer it, it'll be limited to the cargo versions at first.

MIATAAAA > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:47

This will never sell in the US as a family car. Ever.

The styling would make you feel like John and Kate Plus 8.

As we know, that's not a good thing.

Volvosaurus-Rex > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:47

Taller roof on the Euro-style.

Makoyouidiot > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:49

Van + turbo + 7 seats = awesome. Nuff said.

PelicanHazard > MIATAAAA
10/08/2013 at 09:50

...but I like the styling :(

PelicanHazard > Volvosaurus-Rex
10/08/2013 at 09:50

Oh, well then, bring them on! :D

MIATAAAA > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:52

Is this you???

Kinja'd!!!

Party-vi > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 09:56

"Leisure Activity Vehicle"

So future episodes of Bang Bus are going to be called "Bang Van"?

Slave2anMG > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 10:01

More like a tall wagon to me. I like it.

PelicanHazard > MIATAAAA
10/08/2013 at 10:04

Nope. Currently child-free and planning on staying that way for years.

Also, I think that's just a full-on van in that picture.

Dusty Ventures > MIATAAAA
10/08/2013 at 10:07

You're thinking of the full size Transit, he said Transit Connect, which is the same length as a Subaru Forester

MIATAAAA > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 10:07

Fine choice.

And it is (a Sprinter I think). But they have the same kind of proportions. Just different scales. I actually prefer the traditional minivan to these (I think), because it's more like a stretched out car. Operative word is "more".

These Transits look too much like a modern work van for my tastes.

PelicanHazard > MIATAAAA
10/08/2013 at 10:11

I'm not 100% sure which came first, but I do believe the work van was developed first, and the wagon from that.

Kinja'd!!!

cuts_off_prius > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 10:13

They won't call it a van, because vans are chicken taxed.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/…

PelicanHazard > cuts_off_prius
10/08/2013 at 10:19

Does it actually depend on what Ford calls it? I thought it would be taxed even if they called it a Gerfunkling Partoozy.

MIATAAAA > Dusty Ventures
10/08/2013 at 10:28

But it really looks like a full size transit, just scaled down. Maybe I need to see it in real life to give it a scale.

Edit: for example, in the main picture of this post, that car looks absolutely enormous.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 10:39

I really like this van because it's smallish and tallish enough to seem useful through my college years and that I can sell back because it'll probably be really well priced. :O

Dusty Ventures > MIATAAAA
10/08/2013 at 10:40

Looking at it I see where you're coming from, I think it helps if you focus on the ratio of front door length to overall vehicle length, or the position of the seats. Look at where the back of the second row is and the amount of space behind that and it doesn't seem so huge

duurtlang > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 10:47

It's a wagonized panel van. I think it looks like a less stylish Mazda 5.

duurtlang > PelicanHazard
10/08/2013 at 10:52

US minivans are larger than EU minivans. See: Renault Espace, VW Sharan. Those are full size minivans in Europe. It's a reason why the grown US minivans have failed in Europe for the last decade or so, despite being popular before.

However, I've got the feeling some of the EU vans that are designed as panel vans primarily but have an option for seats in the back are seen as minivans as well. Like the Transit Connect. This panel van heritage distinguishes them from the US minivans.