Fifty150

Try this company's online parts search for used parts. http://www.lkqcorp.com/en-us/Inventory-Search

Any advice on which tabs pop off, in which order, and/or if there is a certain way to pull or wiggle it out?

I should have thought about that location. It will allow you to plug in whatever you want to charge, and keep it all hidden in the shelf. That way, you can leave your computer in the car to charge, and nobody will see it. Back in the dinosaur days, I installed USB ports in the center console of my Transit Connect where the OEM power port is located in front of the cup holders. A little more "conventional".

I haven't heard any compliments. I live in The City. These vans are everywhere. A large majority are operated for business purposes. Very few private passenger wagons. I think that the commercial vehicle buyer is more interested in these vans, than the average person who usually steers towards SUV and larger vans like the Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna. None of my friends or family have even thought about this van/wagon. When they think of Ford Vans, they think of plumbers, and airport shuttles.

I tend to drive around with the 3 middle seats folded down, and the 2 third row seats up for passengers. Kind of gives it that "Poor Man's Limo" feel, with the tinted windows and red LED interior lamps. The phrase "Shaggin' Wagon" has been mentioned. And in this configuration, There is a lot of space for loading groceries and a cooler full of beer between the third row & the cockpit.

250 CC may be all that you need. There are small displacement bikes now on the market which seem really interesting. The Honda Grom & Kawasaki Z125 Pro look really interesting.. ...I've also been looking at the Honda Rebel & Harley Street. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjM-7CLhbjVAhUprFQKHXZLA68QtwIISDAF&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dvm8hIO_Z9YM&usg=AFQjCNEdcSSOBn5vEPX5J-jmF1nk7FIh9w

Ever been in the LA traffic at midnight, on a weekend, when everyone is out going to clubs & parties? That gets pretty bad too.

Are you doing the work yourself, or having it done by a custom builder?

Other small passenger vans, such as Honda & Toyota, engineer those vehicles for comfort. They don't even bother with a stripped down version or a cargo van version. My opinion is that you get what you pay for. 40K would put you into a much more comfortable vehicle, van, SUV, sedan, whatever. But at the price point of the Transit Connect, I am satisfied with what it does. You get a vehicle a little rough around the edges, that will provide basic transportation for up to 7 passengers, and can also handle light cargo. The Transit Connect, for me, is a lot more comfortable than a pickup truck or Econoline van. I'm never disappointed because I do not expect luxury car comfort.

Sorry to hear that you had to sit in LA traffic. When I'm down in The SouthLAnd, I try to ride a motorcycle whenever possible.

I usually load my passenger into whichever seat they want to sit in, then fold up the chair and place it behind the 3rd row. There is enough room back there to place a folding chair. But your set-up sounds pretty cool. Makes me think that I could use a motorcycle ramp to roll the chair right into the van.

That's actually pretty good mileage. I do all city driving, with the AC running, lots of stop & go, and a lot of sitting & idling. My milage has been in the teens.......15 - 18 MPG. Did you get a chance to stop over in SF?

Most dealerships and their techs focus on service items like oil changes, brake jobs, and the like. They could care less about trying to go into the vehicle's computer to program or reprogram options. They won't even bother with calling in to their own tech support line about stuff like that.

I think the AC unit is simply in the front of the vehicle, and duct work delivers cool air to the rear. The AC unit provides for cool air, and blowers move it around. The wagons have a fan control switch accessible to second row passengers, which does help. So while you don' havet 2 separate AC units, the wagon provides a second fan and duct work to move the cool air along. Tinted windows help. Your passengers simply don't "feel" the sun on their skin. The wagon has some interior insulation, as compared to the cargo van with bare metal. I drove E-150, E-250, and E-350 cargo vans for years. Believe me, it gets really hot in the back of cargo vans and the AC blowing out of the front dash vents just isn't enough to cool the cargo area. Ford engineers simply did not design a cargo van for the comfort of living cargo.......because most of the time, boxes and pallets don't complain. Get a rooftop refrigeration unit. Guys delivering flowers, fish, meat, produce, ice cream, et cetera, use them.

High Five from The City, up here in Norte Califas. I don't know how comfortable your son will be, with his chair strapped down. The ride is a little bumpy, at best, in a Transit Connect. After all, it's not a Cadillac.

The only problem is people backing into parking spaces and knocking off your lights.

Dude, your van interior is nicer than the apartment that I had in college.

Some people dream big. Highway tires with less rolling resistance. Better mileage.

Awesome. I can't wait to read about how the wiring goes.

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If Ford builds a plant to build them in The U.S.A., then anything is possible. All that The POTUS has to do is provide tax breaks, lend government money (which never gets repaid), and a few other incentives such as a government purchase contract.....and it could happen. Think back to the Chrysler K Cars.

Wow! Any idea what caused it?

Interesting. A 2-door van. We don't get that option in The U.S.A. But The POTUS is making America great again.