Waiting for my 2014 TC

[KeyWestLes]

Greetings. Ordered a new TC in February with an open delivery date. I've been told to expect 12 weeks to 6 months for delivery! I am curious as to how others are doing with orders for the '14 models. This will replace my aging Caravan as my primary service vehicle and am looking forward to the upgrade, of course.

[Willie]

Welcome Les. I'm guessing that in Key West you are using the TC for a tourist oriented bossiness,

I owned an original 1984 2,2L, short-wheel-base, Caravan with a manual transmission. It was a great little workhorse and got good gas mileage too.

[robertlane]

Greetings. Ordered a new TC in February with an open delivery date. I've been told to expect 12 weeks to 6 months for delivery! I am curious as to how others are doing with orders for the '14 models. This will replace my aging Caravan as my primary service vehicle and am looking forward to the upgrade, of course.

Welcome to the Ford Transit Connect Forum and the Ford community!

I just checked the plant schedule that there doesn't seem to be any downtime for the Transit Connect - they are running full tilt!

[Johnyguy]

Greetings. Ordered a new TC in February with an open delivery date. I've been told to expect 12 weeks to 6 months for delivery! I am curious as to how others are doing with orders for the '14 models. This will replace my aging Caravan as my primary service vehicle and am looking forward to the upgrade, of course.

hello

may i ask what model did you order and did they gave you a final price?

i ordered a silver xl model with option like second raw glass rear defroster,cloth seat ,quick clear windshileld,heated electric mirrors,got a price of $22,774 with $750 rebate plus tax and fees. was it a good deal?

[gharis]

Hi

I ordered my XLT TC on 12 of February. Still no car, no information from the dealer at all, when it will arrive. When I ordered it I didn't know that it will take so long. The dealer said me it will take from 4 to 6 weeks. I got my VIN number but where I'm looking no information either. Maybe the dealer gave me wrong number.

Sorry for my english.

[windguy]

Hi

I ordered my XLT TC on 12 of February. Still no car, no information from the dealer at all, when it will arrive. When I ordered it I didn't know that it will take so long. The dealer said me it will take from 4 to 6 weeks. I got my VIN number but where I'm looking no information either. Maybe the dealer gave me wrong number.

Sorry for my english.

gharis,

maybe you can pm ford through their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FordTransitConnectWagon

I've seen others state they have been waiting a long time and a Ford rep has offered to check into it for them

Below is a cut/paste message showing this

good luck!

Howard L Ring Wish I could get one. Have had one on order since mid Feb, still no word. Sharon, what you describe with the windows is a common problem. Many vans and even cars have it. My Chrysler T&C had it, as did my Mazda MPV. It used to help to pop open the back window panels vents. I found this on a Honda Odyssey site, "If you don't like the buffeting of the 2nd row, crack open a front window. Putting a front window down a small amount will reduce or eliminate the buffeting."

May 1 at 8:27pm

Ford Service Hey Howard,

I’m happy to check on the status of your order. Please send me a private message with your VIN or order number and dealer code, so I can look into this for you.

Mariel

Ford Service

May 2 at 2:57pm

[gharis]

Thanks. I will try to look there.

[A'lynn]

I ordered an XL with tow package on January 28 and have heard nothing from the dealer or Ford.

[windguy]

I ordered an XL with tow package on January 28 and have heard nothing from the dealer or Ford.

that's a long wait. stinks not knowing what's going on.

try what I suggested to gharis above. go on the ford facebook page and pm one of the Ford reps. worth a shot. good luck!

[gharis]

I tried https://www.facebook.com/FordServiceUS . Guys tried to help me, and said that it it is in production. Next day I found that looks like mine already build . I found it on http://www.etis.ford.com page. You need to have VIN number of you vehicle.

[windguy]

I tried https://www.facebook.com/FordServiceUS . Guys tried to help me, and said that it it is in production. Next day I found that looks like mine already build . I found it on http://www.etis.ford.com page. You need to have VIN number of you vehicle.

great news.

when do you expect to get delivery or is that a big mystery question?

[gharis]

Like you told, delivery date is a big mystery. I still waiting for day when I will see the Window Sticker on the web

[Rich Arsenault]

I bought a 2014 TC XLT XWB three weeks ago. Black, off the local dealer lot. It's everything I would've ordered anyway (except for bigger/nicer wheels and tires..an easy fix). It replaced a 2000 Chevy Astro cargo van that reached the end of it's useful life. So far I love this van and have hauled my g/f's Ninja motorcycle, large snowblower, and numerous trips to the food wholesalers for my pizza business. It's comfortable for me ( 5-11, 175lbs) and I get 23 mpg. One gripe: The aux input is hidden in the center console; I'd rather it on the dash but it's no biggie. My only immediate upgrade is for a divider because I think it will help with climate control in the cab area.

[gharis]

I already lost count. Looks like 17 weeks. Still waiting.

[windguy]

I already lost count. Looks like 17 weeks. Still waiting.

that's insane.

Ford should give special orders priority over dealer inventory orders.

Those vans are going to sit on the lot until someone buys them.

When an individual customer places an order, you've already got a buyer who wants it.

Too bad these aren't made in the states. Seems that would speed things up a lot. The whole importing and customs BS goes away.

Edited June 16, 2014 by windguy

[Johnyguy]

that's insane.

Ford should give special orders priority over dealer inventory orders.

Those vans are going to sit on the lot until someone buys them.

When an individual customer places an order, you've already got a buyer who wants it.

Too bad these aren't made in the states. Seems that would speed things up a lot. The whole importing and customs BS goes away.

while there is no way to get the van faster a smart think to do is after like 2-3 months waiting to look around and and see if other dealers may have got a similar van so you can have it because as you know dealers order to have it on the lot so you may get lucky finding your van earlier never know its worth a shot

[KeyWestLes]

Ok... so it's been MORE than 5 months and here's my story. I ordered the TC in mid-February. My research (no thanks to the dealer OR Ford) tells me that the TC was built in Valencia Spain and was shipped on a Ro/Ro ship from there to Baltimore, arriving on or about June 26. My repeated requests for tracking/status updates from Ford (through the Ford Facebook page) and my dealer have ended with either silence ('we'll get back to you'), or the famous phrase that I have have heard multiple weeks and am now detesting: 'It's still in transit, please check-in with us next week". How does a vehicle sitting in Baltimore for the past 3+ weeks qualify as being 'in transit'?!? Eric from the Facebook page advises that Ford cannot tell me just where the TC is because Ford has these 'privacy' policies. What?

I have been given the VIN, I have even been provided with a pdf of the window sticker. It's just that no one will tell me where the TC is or when it may arrive at the dealer, 90 minutes from Baltimore.

My theory, and this needs to be confirmed or denied by an independent source since Ford cannot be relied upon, is that the TC come to Baltimore as a passenger van (like in earlier TC's) and is modified to be a cargo van: rear seats removed, cargo floor installed, metal panels where the side/rear glass was. No reasonable thinking person would believe that it takes 3 weeks to outfit a TC. So... my theory is that Ford doesn't have the side metal panels in red to replace the side glass (or perhaps is out of stock on some other component), so the TC just sits there, waiting for another Atlantic-crossing ship, with no updates coming from Ford.

I keep hoping someone would just tell me the truth. The dealer told me to expect maybe a 12-week delivery, and now knows nothing, telling me that their Ford rep can't help them. Ford on Facebook is a sad joke. Eric is polite, yet worthless in his customer service position. SOMEONE knows where the TC is. Why can't I?

[KeyWestLes]

hello

may i ask what model did you order and did they gave you a final price?

i ordered a silver xl model with option like second raw glass rear defroster,cloth seat ,quick clear windshileld,heated electric mirrors,got a price of $22,774 with $750 rebate plus tax and fees. was it a good deal?

I ordered a Race Red LWB cargo TC with a few nice options. I was offered a $500 rebate and I thought the total price on it was reasonable. 5+ months and still waiting.

[PerfectHold]

HI All -- ordered my XL LWB in Feb and got mid June. First thing I did was remove the third row seats (now stored) and cut a piece of surplus carpet to protect the "floor". Now I can have a pallet of product I sell fork lifted into the back to save my back. Surprised by the lack of nooks and cranies to store odds and ends. Would like to see how that overhead console can be adapted.

[windguy]

@KeyWestLes

sorry to hear your van is in limbo.

your theory might be true if you read older articles regarding the chicken tax maneuvers Ford has done.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/feds-watching-fords-run-around-on-chicken-tax-riles-customs-officials/

there hasn't been anything written more recently about this so I guess we have to assume it's still being done today.

Another theory I thought of is maybe your dealer has a cash flow problem. Ford accepted the order from the dealer months ago when they had their bills paid up but perhaps since then they are behind and Ford won't release any more vehicles to them until they pay down their debt. So maybe they are on a credit hold.
This is something you will never get any info on either through the dealer or Ford.

Is this a large or small dealer?

Wonder if they've gotten deliveries of other vehicles recently?

hope things change for you and your van gets delivered. fingers crossed!

Edited July 26, 2014 by windguy

[KeyWestLes]

@KeyWestLes

sorry to hear your van is in limbo.

your theory might be true if you read older articles regarding the chicken tax maneuvers Ford has done.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/feds-watching-fords-run-around-on-chicken-tax-riles-customs-officials/

there hasn't been anything written more recently about this so I guess we have to assume it's still being done today.

Another theory I thought of is maybe your dealer has a cash flow problem. Ford accepted the order from the dealer months ago when they had their bills paid up but perhaps since then they are behind and Ford won't release any more vehicles to them until they pay down their debt. So maybe they are on a credit hold.

This is something you will never get any info on either through the dealer or Ford.

Is this a large or small dealer?

Wonder if they've gotten deliveries of other vehicles recently?

hope things change for you and your van gets delivered. fingers crossed!

Interesting thought, @WindGuy. You're right, I'll never know about that. They are a small dealer with a decent small-town reputation. I have no idea of their other vehicle deliveries (I am no longer living in that state but wanted my old 'home boys' to get my business). Here's the latest: On Friday, I drew a line in the sand. I told the dealer that if they coud not provide me with a definite delivery date by this Tuesday afternoon, I'll cancel the order and get my deposit refunded. The dealership owner is now supposed to be involved with a 'New' Ford rep and will be conferencing on Monday. Stay tuned.

[windguy]

@keywestles - I like your style. put a little pressure on the dealer and Ford to figure this out.

the lack of visibility is bad business on Ford's part. They have a whole organization in charge of importing these vans and processing them.

Ford's inventory database knows exactly where each vehicle is and its disposition.

wish you the best of luck. please keep us posted

Edited July 28, 2014 by windguy

[KeyWestLes]

My dealer rep emailed me today and said he, the Ford rep and the dealership owner are still 'working on this'. I would think (in my world) that 2 phone calls to the right people - max - would be enough to seal the deal. The clock is running...

[KeyWestLes]

I keep learning... But first! The sales rep emailed me and said that Ford got to the bottom of the problem and is expediting the delivery, so the TC is now scheduled for delivery by this coming Monday at the latest. There is a world-wide company called Pasha that does the logistics for (some?) Fords. No one is offering an explanation as to why the TC has ben sitting at Pasha's lot for the past month, but I am not going to rattle their cage that much. I just want the van.

[KeyWestLes]

Approximately 18 hours after telling me that they found a Ford logistics guy that would expedite the delivery of the TC, the dealer calls me and says it was delivered and going through the prep process! I am most pleased to hear this, but it doesn't negate the frustration I have had with the whole delivery process. Since my dealer is out of state, I think that I will realistically have it in my driveway in about 10 days. I'll post pics at that time.