Andrew James Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 My connect is a Uk spec connect tourneo (tourneo is the USA wagon equivalent ) its a 2014 titanium in magnetic grey. 1.6 TDCI i purchased it with 9,000 miles.. the vehicle is to replace two work vehicles.. a nissan primastar van, and my lovely volvo v50 2.0d.. combining the requirements of two vehicles into one was not an easy task to find a suitable vehicle... My nissan primastar van was used to transport building materials to my guys on construction sites, both in the back load area and towing my ifor williams tipper trailer. the volvo was used as second family transport (2 kids), my choice of vehicle for visiting clients for my Architectural business, and general duties into towns and trips to to the french Alps for winter skiing and summer cycling.... I looked at several vehicles for not a short amount of time, and i will bore you with this process and how i ended up with the connect.. I was going to purchase the commercial kombi van version with crew seats, but strangely once i realised they did a passenger version and that the passenger vehicle worked out similar money, and includes much more creature comforts and niceties that would work better when in volvo v50 replacement duty it was a no brainer decision.. The 3rd row of rear seats was not a requirement and i intended to remove these.... but due to the how nicely they fold.. im going to leave them in.. My mods were to be primarily undertaken to enable use as replacement van , whilst maintaining the option of family/hobby use second.. vehicle as purchased pics sent to me as by dealer.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 26, 2015 Author Share Posted September 26, 2015 pic from on way home... achieved over 50 MPG, and initial impressions are great:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 26, 2015 Author Share Posted September 26, 2015 Mod lists to do.. Front Seat covers make loading platform in back that folds up and down to protect and hide seats. install crate load holding down system/ purchase new winter tyres & alloy wheels. fit tow bar ball & electrics. design company sign writing (orange)... or modify existing magnetic signs removed from other vehicles. purchase front rubber floor mats fit mudflaps front and back powder coat original wheels black paint brake calipers orange - just to add some detail install diesel chip/remap for even more economy & torque ( had one of these on my other diesels hoping for 60MPG on this...) fit front window wind deflector thingies (climair / heko) think thats about it for now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 26, 2015 Author Share Posted September 26, 2015 (edited) im looking at these two wheels in 16" with nokian wr4 tyres that are new out this winter. monaco gp or wolfrace eurosports the mock up van visualiser is with the eurosports.. with orange brack calipers that will match my company orange logos.. when added.. im going to stick with the 16" for comfort, and cost... we have some rubbish roads in places with some rather deep potholes... despite the gov't taking my hard earned in taxes they never seemed to get fixed up properly... im leaning toward the monaco's as they have a little more profile and in the pictures they look a little more pleasing... was looking for a matt black, but then thought that the gloss ones will be matt black the first day it rains and the road spray gets on em anyway Edited September 26, 2015 by Andrew James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 A minivan has never looked so good before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 Wheels on fitted with nokian wr4 winters:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 magnetic sure is a great colour to clean... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 some more post wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Winter rubber on already? Living atop a mountain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 ha ha no... getting ready.... wanted to see how they look... having said that i will leave them on all year any way... some of my driving is on wet grass so will give me more traction... they are less noisey than the ford fit continentals . Aj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 You'll lose most of the usable tread in the first summer, so I recommend a swap every season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 (edited) your probably right Mrtn... best leave the standards on for now.. Got the calipers painted on the back... look ok with standard alloys , look immense with the black alloys on. Edited September 29, 2015 by Andrew James Van it up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dongoose Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Top Job Andrew...easily the best looking TC I've ever seen. As you can see from the photos of my Juke, you're a man after my dark heart. I took it one step further and painted the rack crossbars black with roll bar paint. When I get my TC, it will go down the same road. Edited October 6, 2015 by Dongoose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 thanks dongoose, strangely when i click on your link it takes me to this. http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-35260-Plastic-Fastener-Remover/dp/B0002SRCMO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1444066637&sr=8-2&keywords=plastic%20rivet%20tool what on earths going on there..... im curious to look at your juke now tho... do you have one on order yet.... i cant fault ours yet.. ive built my removable platform in the back..(will post up pics). last week i was hauling building materials via trailer and in the back.. on sunday took 6 family members on a civilised ride out to the coast to lunch.. and this morning was back to work mode full of building materials... now that is a all purpose vehicle for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dongoose Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 thanks dongoose, strangely when i click on your link it takes me to this. http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-35260-Plastic-Fastener-Remover/dp/B0002SRCMO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1444066637&sr=8-2&keywords=plastic%20rivet%20tool what on earths going on there..... im curious to look at your juke now tho... do you have one on order yet.... i cant fault ours yet.. ive built my removable platform in the back..(will post up pics). last week i was hauling building materials via trailer and in the back.. on sunday took 6 family members on a civilised ride out to the coast to lunch.. and this morning was back to work mode full of building materials... now that is a all purpose vehicle for sure Doh...I must have pasted the wrong link...try THIS ONE. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 just fitted one of these http://www.bluesparkautomotive.com/carspecs2?carid=6644 was a real pain to fit due to the reverse engine layout .. I had to remove the air filter, battery, battery box, then get a mirror down the back of the engine to find the plugs to swap out.. a few cups of tea, three hours later all done..and like all things is about an hours job once you know what you are doing... i ve had it on for a few days now, the extra torque low down makes super smooth driving, cant comment on the mpg as been towing a loaded trailer for a few days but computer shower 43mpg at present... the diesel engine had a little turbo lag from the off and this device has cured it, which is all i wanted to achieve.. its now around 150bhp and 300nm torque with the standard setting... which is compromise between more power and more mpg... thumbs up so far.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dongoose Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 some more post wash Andrew, what specific wheel/tire size are you running here? These rims didn't come up on TSW's configurator for the TC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 there are quite a few options around.. wheels are these.. made in germany https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/alloy-wheels/monaco/grand-prix-3352/7x16-et45-5x108-63.4-132369 tyres are these made in finland https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/nokian/wr-d4/205-60-r16-96h-353982 both are available in 17" versions... but the black wheels and tyres make them look a real good fit, plus you get a smooooth ride:) cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 couple of at work pictures from this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 That trailer looks heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew James Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 yes its a tipper on my bigger vans i could load it with two tonne of stone... but the connect is rated lower....tend to get most of those goods delivered now anyway.. so its only used for moving bigger sized items, my aluminium tower or long lengths of timber.. pulls it lovely... very stable with plenty of power the diesel has bags of torque.. Aj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windguy Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 great job on the van. even more jealous of the 50mpg. that's double what I'm getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Looks like a cool rig Hope that trailer has Brakes Windguy remember its an imperial gallon 20% bigger, here is the review of the Tourneo Connect http.//www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufactures/ford/10468169/Ford-Tourneo Connect-review.html Let Me know if the link works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 (edited) Try this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/ford/10468169/Ford-Tourneo-Connect-review.html The MacPherson-strut front suspension might be from the Focus/C-Max, but the Tourneo doesn't have that car's directional stability Not sure about Gen2 but mine is extremely stable and precise in steering, apart from side wind, of course. Edited October 19, 2015 by mrtn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 The gen 2 handles very well. I think that the comparison was with the car . I think that the added hight would make a formula one type of suspension have less Directional Stability. As for the side wind, its a box pay attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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