"vdubyajohn" (vdubyajohn)
09/22/2019 at 08:30 • Filed to: Ford Transit Connect
0
19|
"vdubyajohn" (vdubyajohn)
09/22/2019 at 08:30 • Filed to: Ford Transit Connect | 0
| 19 |
2013 Ford Transit Connect. Anybody have experience with one of these,
I’m looking at one of these little trucks to be
my fishing/camping/bacchanalia
vehicle
.
I’m not sure about the transmission though. Do these have the same found on road dead tranny as the Focus and all the other troubled blue oval products?
Thanks!
Boxer_4
> vdubyajohn
09/22/2019 at 20:53 |
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I believe these have the 4 speed traditional automatic. I don’t know the reliability of those, however, it isn’t the problematic DCT.
fhrblig
> vdubyajohn
09/22/2019 at 20:59 |
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We had about 7 of them in the fleet at my last job. Constant transmission problems, cooling problems, and only one of them made it to 200k. Awful. The Nissan NV200 is substantially more reliable even with the CVT, and gets better mileage, though it is really small.
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fhrblig
> Boxer_4
09/22/2019 at 21:01 |
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It isn't the problematic DCT, but it is the problematic 4-speed. They were awful. It's too bad, because they had a lot of space. But they were poorly built and the interiors were crap too.
AestheticsInMotion
> vdubyajohn
09/22/2019 at 21:02 |
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I'll second fhrblig and say that the ones in my old fleet were terrible, and broke down significantly more than trucks with three times the mileage.
dogisbadob
> vdubyajohn
09/22/2019 at 21:04 |
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I wish there were more small 4-cylinder minivans! Probably easy to work on and get good mpg :o)
If you’re lucky enough to fi nd a 4-cylinder Sienna, that might work, too, but they are still expensive!
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vdubyajohn
> fhrblig
09/22/2019 at 21:23 |
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Thanks, that was the last thing I had to check before I started looking in earnest. Good looking little van/truck, don’t know why they lowered the roof back down.
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vdubyajohn
> AestheticsInMotion
09/22/2019 at 21:24 |
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Thanks, this is what I was hoping to hear. The real world experience, not the fact that they were so bad. I was hoping for a different real world experience, but in the end, I was still looking at a six year old work vehicle.
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vdubyajohn
> fhrblig
09/22/2019 at 21:25 |
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Also good to know before any purch ase, thanks again.
Urambo Tauro
> vdubyajohn
09/22/2019 at 23:03 |
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Quick tip: if you go to look at one in person, don’t drive yourself crazy trying to find a hood release in the cabin.
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fhrblig
> vdubyajohn
09/22/2019 at 23:38 |
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The NV200 really is a good little van, but it’s a little too little. I was surprised at how the CVT was trouble free. We had a couple of those too, and they were way cheaper to maintain. Problem is it has an extremely rare tire size where there are only a couple choices with the proper load rating and they’re all bad. $700 per set and they’ll last you 25k if you’re lucky AND if you rotate them constantly.
My favorite was the Ram C/V Tradesman with the P entastar V6. The transmissions are fine, as long as you use the right fluid and change it religiously. I know that one of them is still going strong at my last job and it now has over 350k. It did cost a bit more to maintain than the NV200 but it can carry a bit more and is way better to drive.
Monkey B
> vdubyajohn
09/23/2019 at 10:14 |
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I wouldn’t consider this generation...the 2nd gen is a far superior vehicle.
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vdubyajohn
> fhrblig
09/23/2019 at 10:53 |
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It’s beginning to look like Ram is likely the way t o go. I’m not as afraid of maintenance as I am having to replace a tranny halfway across the country. Reliability is key. Thanks again.
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vdubyajohn
> Urambo Tauro
09/23/2019 at 10:54 |
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I find it hilarious that there has to be a you tube video to explain how! lol
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vdubyajohn
> Monkey B
09/23/2019 at 10:55 |
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Agreed , but it’s the look of the older models that I like most. Had they continued the high roof I’d be more willing to check them out. I [plan on stealth camping my way across the country and will need some headroom. Thank you.
i86hotdogs
> vdubyajohn
09/23/2019 at 12:12 |
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You mentioned the need for a taller roof. If that isn’t a deal breaker, I highly recommend the 2nd gen. Depending on the year, you had a few options for engines: 2.5 duratec, 1.6L ecoboost, or the 2019 has a 2.0L GD I engine. All are paired to a 6speed auto that seem to be bulletproof from what I’ve read.
I have a 2016 cargo long wheel base with t he 2.5, and I love the thing. I race it, sleep in it, daily it, it’s the most versatile vehicle i’ve ever owned.
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vdubyajohn
> i86hotdogs
09/23/2019 at 12:23 |
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I wouldn’t call it a deal breaker, at least not far enough to keep me from looking at
the 2nd gen. I’ve slept in smaller vehicles, after all.
I really just liked the look of that earlier body style, but I know too many people having/or who
had transmission problems on Fords. Not a club I’m anxious to be a part of.
Thanks for the reply, I have to start all over ag
ain anyway so I’ll go check them out.
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fhrblig
> vdubyajohn
09/23/2019 at 14:01 |
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No problem! We had one of the Ram C/Vs lose its transmission around 230k, but that’s because all the fluid bled out after the driver ran over something. The others all went well over 200k.
We did have to rebuild the cylinder head on a couple of them; the mechanic said there was a design flaw with the early Pentastar heads that can be fixed when they rebuild it. The problems cropped up around 140-150k and apparently it doesn't affect all of them.
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Monkey B
> vdubyajohn
09/23/2019 at 16:11 |
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have you been inside the LWB 2nd gen? I think it may be about the same. 2nd gen has a pretty low floor...but even sans a few height inches it’s still a big hole. Empty LWB vans will handle 4x8 sheets flatly.
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vdubyajohn
> Monkey B
09/23/2019 at 19:50 |
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No
, I’d pretty much decided that I liked the look of the older one. Only started looking into it recently, but it didn’t take long to decide to stop wasting time on them.
I’ll look around and take a few test drives. Thanks.