nphinc

It sounds like the TC is a perfect match for your biz. Not trying to sound "elitist", but I went from a BMW sport wagon to the TC. Accept the power loss, adjust your driving & you'll be fine. As you note, road noise will be a non-issue because of the type of cargo you carry (except for your return drive home empty at the end of the day). Or, you taking dirties with you. The TC tracks pretty good on the highway. Audio sucks & BT on mine is part of the Magneti Marrelli computer system. I can't figure out if it's Nokia or some other mfgr. Go to a dealer & pair your phone up. Make a couple calls on a test drive. Since I bought mine ('10 model 28k, used) I see the TC EVERYWHERE. My $.02.

Bummer-fill up today, just barely made 20mpg combined.

This thing has the Ford Work Solutions Marelli Magnetti unit. I checked the manual & couldn't decipher if it's Nokia's or not. I know the built in Nav is Garmin but not sure if BT is M/M or Nokia spec. Tried boosting phone volume but my BB 9650 doesn't appear to have BT volume control. Going to poke around some more but, like you, I suspect I'm going to have to live without a feature I feel is essential to safely operating any vehicle.

Is there anyway to increase the volume when using BT? I can barely hear the person on the other end thru the door speakers. Radio volume knob has no effect. Where is the mic located? I've looked around the drivers side door, etc. Just can't seem to find it.

Pulled into my local gas station last week. My buddy, who's the mechanic there, comes out & asks me "where's the rest of it?" I about fell out of the thing laughin'.

Bought mine used last week w/27.5k on the clock. Filled it up this am for first time. 23mpg combined. Not bad. A joy to fill up w/regular. Last car required premium.

I've been a TC owner for less than a week. Bought it used loaded w/options I'll never use like Work Solutions, the Dewalt Tool thing & bluetooth which sucks, which is too bad because I live on my phone for biz & was spoiled in my previous car. I got it cheap & it's design is almost perfect for work. If it was 6" longer & had a diesel (auto or MT) I'd have bought new. As it is, I accept it for what it is & I can deal with it. The lawnmower engine has me more than a little apprehensive, anticipating its longevity. I don't beat a car up, but I'm a little concerned.

I stuck a NEO Ventilator on it! ROFL!

Hi az, Yes. I fell in lockstep with the billions of satisfied TC owners:) I bought the XLT here in Nashville. No 255 doors & cruise was not an option. Now I've got options I don't want! ROFL!

Thanks Willie. I joined the billions of TC owners this morning. See you at the track...

I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. Been here since '85. The musical diversity here is Nashville's greatest asset. Country music is the face of Nashville & the butt of a lot of jokes. I used to make them, too. Funny, I've got a ton of Country touring acts, session players & studios. The session cats are seriously world class musicians. There's a lot of everything here. I wouldn't even look at an X-66/77/H1xx. My typical console moves are one man moves with the right equipment. I did do a 10,00 Maniacs show last night. Needed 4 guys to get it up on stage...

Hi Willie, My Ford E350 bit the dust a few months ago. The hardest thing to deal with if I go the TC route will be loading/unloading rentals by myself unless I can come up with a viable ramp system. My big truck had a Tommylift on it. You can safely & fairly easily load your rig in your TC. I also tried to fit the B3 in sideways behind front seats. the ROK's take up just a few inches too much room to slide the doors closed. If I buy, the stinky rubber mat will go immediately & I'll replace with a sheet of masonite. Easily disposable when it wears out but easy to slide a Leslie. I'll add a few pieces of E-Track. I'd suggest next time you need service on your rig to toss it in the TC & drive to Nashville! Thanks for saying hi. Got to go pick up a rental in a few minutes using my trusty old '94 toyota pick up & uhaul. I look like Jed Clampett... BTW, I found a '10 TC w/about 24k on the clock. Guy wants $16k for payoff. Great deal, but no cruise (deal breaker. I'm on the road a lot.) Also, no 255 rear doors. Down side is I have no need for the gingerbread on the TC I'm considering locally.

Dealer allowed me take TC to my shop today to actually load in. See attached pic showing truck loaded. The problem is there is no room for the ramp system I showed you. I need to be able to load/unload solo. I'm not 18 yrs. old any more. This stuff is heavy. So unless I can come up with a ramp/lift solution that isn't jury-rigged, the TC isn't going to work. I had one of my kids help me load. We tried different configs but loading area is only 4x6. Wheel wells are somewhat of an issue, but I can deal with that. Perhaps I can find a bumper attached ramp that can swing up against rear doors, or, something that can attach via a trailer receiver of some sort. There is no room in the TC to stow the ramp after it's loaded. Too bad. This truck is loaded. Found the keyboard for the Work Solutions too. Unfortunately, I'm a Mac guy. Anyway, we did the delivery & it performed much better than I expected. All in all, I put 60 miles on the interstate, scooted around town doing the delivery & got a real world feel for how it performs. If I can come up with a solution to loading/unloading I'll buy it.

Yeah, ramp might be doable. Dealer is going to let me bring TC to shop today to actually load a typical rental gig. I also just happen to have a rental at a studio at 8AM tomorrow. They'll be setting up today, so I might do the run in the TC. I'm more than a little concerned that the Hammond won't fit with the ramp installed. Some careful measuring will be done. Thanks azdamay. I kind of feel like the lone ranger. Not too much chatter about this particular vehichle. I just want to put my hard earned $ to work without having to get back into an E series.

Thanks for the reply. My cargo payload wouldn't exceed 800 lbs. I was looking into a Tommylift 650, but found a ramp system that would work. See: http://www.inlad.com/aluminumflatmountbifoldrampmodellb203690transitconnect.aspx Being as the TC sits relatively low, a ramp wouldn't be to bad. And I don't haul an organ & speaker every day. The TC would be replacing my wagon as my service truck. My everyday parts, tools etc wouldn't come in over 300 lbs. The dealer bought it at auction in Ga. He went on to say he thought it was a government owned vehicle. Autocheck doesn't specify anything other than fleet use, 1 owner. I do have a line on another TC for around 16k payoff. It's an XL version w/about 24k on the clock. With the little I've read about Ford's seemingly lack of attention & support to the communications technology they employ, I don't know it the XLT would be worth it. I live on my phone & bluetooth on my Bimmer was a big deal to me. I did pair my phone up very quickly with the TC today & made a call. Could barely hear sitting at idle. It would be next to impossible to hear running down the interstate. I appreciate the feedback.

Found this site. Took a '10 TC XLT for a short ride tonite. I've been around long enough to know negative comments about products are the easiest things to find on the innerweb. This particular TC has about 27,500 on the clock. Being offered by a local used car lot for $18,600.00. Asked if it was an off lease & they said yes. Ran an Autocheck on the VIN & fleet use came up. Truck is remarkably clean, stinks to death because of the rubber mat in the back. Loaded with all options (I think) Sync, Nav, Ford's Tool whatever you call it. Asked for bottom line price, quoted $18k + tax. They'll let me take it to see if I can actually fit a typical load into it. Hammond organs, Leslie speaker, bench & pedals. Just sold my '07 BMW Sportwagon & not looking for luxury. Is this thing a good deal based on your collective experiences? Feedback really appreciated. Thanks.