The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Van

2014 Ford Transit Connect XL

A 2.5L 4-cylinder, 6-speed automatic. No CVT!
169 hp & 171 lb-ft

Starting at $25,754
This one $30,729

That white, boxy panel van has been discontinued, and all automakers are simultaneously rolling out their new cargo van offerings, all with this European styling.

Chevy and Dodge have revealed their pre-production models, Nissan’s NV is for sale, and this is Ford’s entry, the Transit Connect.

Suits me, huh.

What’s missing….

No rearview mirror!

My tester didn’t have a rear view camera, or rear windows, so all backing up was done while holding my breath. If you order one, choose one of the two, but not neither.

Ford’s really pushing the customizing aspect of their van, because it’s geared towards the small business owner.

A flower shop or plumber could set up in here, or bet you could even run a food truck out of one.

Here’s my full review for the newspaper. There’s some good customizing example photos in the gallery there.

And confirmed, it will fit into a deep underground parking space, like mine here, which is a kilometre below the earth.

 

 

Fuel Economy Hasn’t Changed in 80+ Years

See the 3rd line down on the left.

Meaning, this 1931 Ford Model A achieved 20 MPG or 11.7 L/100km.

11 L/100km… the same as many cars today.

Come ON. Eyes are rolling out of my head.

Yes, today’s cars have way more features, both safety and comfort ones, are much heavier, and probably burn that fuel more efficiently, but for all the fuss made about the efficiency of today’s engines, shouldn’t this number be much lower?

(not picking on Ford, they make efficient engines, including their all-new 1.0L which I quite liked, review here.)

(Note – the fuel economy ratings are changing this year; here’s a column about that.)

 

 

Why All Bumpers are Starting to Look the Same

It’s not that our tastes are changing.

It’s because safety regulations now say a car’s front end must better protect a pedestrian in case of an accident, thereby limiting design and styling possibilities.

Read it online at Autonet.ca

Favourite line:

Put the phone down while crossing the street. Or use my trick and make eye contact with the driver. Because regardless of how the bumper is styled, it wins the showdown every time.

Cars hurt guys.

This all-new 2015 Chrysler 200, is a good example of such bumpers.

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What Driving a Luxury Car is Really Like

I canNOT find the photo of this column?! Vanished. Sorry! From memory, and very basically:

It’s not just buying a luxury car,
it’s the increase in accompanying costs

I mean like big luxury, like $6-figures+

Insurance goes up and it’s premium gas only. You find yourself parking at the back of lots, because repairing damage on a luxury car gets up there quick; parts and labour costs increase, and there’s less business that service such vehicles. And OMG if you crack a splitter.

2015 Jaguar XKR Coupe

5.0 L, V8

510 hp and 461 lbs.ft

Starting at: $109,125

This one: $118,000 

But ohhh to own a machine so fine.

Read it online at Autonet.

 

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