"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
02/11/2019 at 18:30 • Filed to: None
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"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
02/11/2019 at 18:30 • Filed to: None | 6
| 5 |
Finally pulled the trigger on larger tires for the Civic today. While doing so, the tire shop filled me in on why I was able to find a good variety of heavy duty tires in the minuscule 185/60/R15 size: The Transit Connect.
Apparently that is the stock size for the little work van.
So, in honor of this, I submit my experience with the Connect.
I was one of the lucky Americans to graduated during the 2009 recession and as such, despite having a masters degree in engineering under my belt, I had a bitch of a time finding a job. When I did, eventually, find one it was a “any port in a storm” position working hourly for a small power engineering firm.
In retrospect, this was a good job. I learned a lot about industrial design, standards, power systems, safety, night shift, 4loko, alcoholism, overtime, plate-o-bacon, and field work. However the pay was shit and management both cared deeply about their people and also didn’t give a shit about their people.
It was weird.
Anyway, towards the end of my tenure there the boss purchased a 1st gen Transit Connect as an alternative to the massive work trucks we usually took to jobs. It was the basest base model with rubber mats instead of carpet. It smelled like rotten dog food all the time (we never figured out why) and was the slowest vehicle I’d ever driven.
And yet, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the little thing. The amount of room in it was staggering, the gas mileage was good, and it wasn’t bad looking. I was especially impressed by the overhead storage above the driver. Seems like it would have been a great place for radios, emergency equipment, recovery gear, or a flask.
So despite being terribad to drive , I still really liked it and continue to recommend them if you need good space in an economical package.
And now it has given me the joy of tiny LT tires.
Thank you, little Transit.
fhrblig
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
02/11/2019 at 18:53 |
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We got a fleet of 7 of them when they first came out, and yes, they all smelled like that. They were also profoundly unreliable. The transmissions were garbage. The cooling system was not good either. Only one made it to 200k, compared to the big vans that routinely go well past 300k. We replaced some of them with Nissan NV200s, and more still with Ram C/Vs. Both of those were way more reliable (yes, even the Rams).
lone_liberal
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
02/11/2019 at 18:57 |
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Fun fact: my Camaro’s tires are 235/60R15 and that is larger optional size. The base tires were 205/75 R14 when translated in to modern sizing . Tires have REALLY changed.
Kiltedpadre
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
02/11/2019 at 19:16 |
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I have been very vocal with my bosses that when our lease on three of our work trucks ends next year one should be replaced with either a transit connect or Ram Promsater City. The extra covered storage/work area would be great for some jobs.
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fhrblig
> Kiltedpadre
02/11/2019 at 19:43 |
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I hope the current Transit Connect is better. I have every reason to believe it is because it doesn’t share anything with the old one.
I like the ProMaster City but the 9-speed auto worries me. Probably not enough to avoid it if I needed a small van. The one I rented was quite nice, although I remember the controls were a bit weird.
The NV200 is too damn small. The CVT isn’t that bad in it (honest) and it gets great MPG but the cargo area isn’t even 6' in length. If they made an extended version and offered a different wheel size I would recommend them. The ones I maintained at my last job were the most reliable of all the small vans except for the terrible selection of tires in that size (I want to say 185 60R15?).
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Kiltedpadre
> fhrblig
02/11/2019 at 19:57 |
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I think the Transit Connect is the most likely to happen because all of the new vehicles they leased when they started the location where I work were Fords. Well, except the two Internationals that we have, but that’s because they’re both highly specialized trucks.
They have some Chevys, but they are currently involved in a lawsuit with GM so I doubt they would buy the Chevy version of the Nissan van. I don’t know if they have any history with FCA or not.
The Nissan would probably be big enough for our needs. We don’t generally carry anything large, but working with two guys out of even an extended cab truck when you’re doing 50+ water samples some days is a pain. We often have two decent size coolers, field test kits for chlorine and pH, gloves, torches, disinfection tools, hydrant wrenches, and hand tools. Some things can just be tossed in a truck bed, but retrieving them dozens of times as they slide around can be tedious.