Hello All

[jlavalla]

I am a brand new Transit Connect owner, in fact I don't ever have it yet. The demand was so high that to get a wagon with accessories I wanted they have to go to Maryland to get it. Tomorrow is the big day and I can't wait. Bought a XLT wagon, Mars red ( burnt orange). I am using it for personal everyday use. I am a disabled Vet and now need the use of a mobility scooter to do longer distance walking. The scooter I have is an Extreme scooter, which is much larger than the normal granny scooter, and was towing behind a 2007 Pontiac torrent. Well towing is a hassle and the wife hated it so the search for a vehicle to carry the big scooter started. Dimensions I need for scooter are 48" high 63" long 28" wide. It is a three wheeler that will do 30 mpg. Go to extreme-scooters.com and check them out if you might need one and am like me, a 50 year old that is going to have fun if I have to have one.

so SUV is out. not enough height, Pickup truck seemed like the winner. Could easily put in back with a ramp or a bed crane. Problems with pickup are, scooter out in bad weather lift cranes are expensive and with the length I need a full size bed. Well nobody makes a midsize pickup anymore which means a f150, Silverado or a Ram, and finally the gas mileage. No matter what if you drive a full size truck you are going to average 15-18 mpg BEST. Then I saw a transit on the road and thought this is interesting. Did some research and realized this van ( or truck????) is perfect. And with the wagon trim I won't look like a service truck. But was still worried about length because I wanted rear seats, I called a local dealer and a salesman went out with a tape measure and found it to be extremely close. next day went to look myself and measure and look at vehicle. With seats folded I was right at 63". So we decided to try and fit scooter in it. Now on day three, hooked up trailer loaded scooter in the snow and went to dealer. He got a service tech and they lifted the scooter in, no small task with weight of 250lbs, and it fit. FINALLY I FOUND A VEHICLE.

Now having been a mechanical contractor after my navy years I was used to driving a van and what a bland interior is. On test drive though I was really pleased with the comfortable seat, wide range of view out windshield and handling. With the base price of these sooo low I could throw in some toys and make it more comfortable, in fact I got pretty much every accessory you could, remote start, rear camera, backup sensor,SYNC, electric defrost, molded mud flaps, all weather mats, 255 degree door opening ( ease of loading scooter), daytime running lights. And with ALL of this I was under $27,500. Unfreaking believable. So I hope to hear from others who drive this as a company vehicle and find out what they like/dislike and how reliable it is.

Thanks for reading the book, if you did,