Jump to content
Ford Transit Connect Forum
   

Daily Driver & Weekend Adventurer - 2016 Ford Transit Connect XLT Cargo


Recommended Posts

I have always been a used car guy that did all my own maintenance and repairs.  Until recently, when I found myself underneath the front of my commuter car with a transmission on my face. At that moment I decided I had better thing to do than replace the transmission on a purple 2001 Civic and started the search for the ultimate do it all vehicle. 

I am also no stranger to vans. I have owned and modified a 2000 GMC Safari AWD (same as an Astro) since about 2009. I picked it up from a dead old lady at 60k and am currently at 175k. I love the van life and the AWD is unstoppable, but the current 14mpg overall was not cutting it.  I don't think the 4" lift, 30" all terrain tires and overbuilt steel battle bumper are helping here.  This van has been from CT to CO twice and on road trips all over the Northeast  

Thats where the Transit Connect comes in. I had always liked the original, but the shorter wheelbase was a little tight for mountain bikes (more about that later). The newest generation with the long wheelbase  and creature comforts you would expect in a new car were attractive. Although this was not a full size Transit or Sprinter, it did check a lot of the boxes and would make a reasonable car to drive 120 miles round trip to NYC daily and parallel park in the ghetto.

 

The decision was made, I purchased a 2016 Ford Transit Connect XLT cargo on 12/1/16. Below are some photos. Build to follow. 

96465BE9-1A15-4132-8BE4-143E7EE22F2C_zps

79BA2492-7B35-4C26-AE2D-1957BC4693DC_zps

BC3D2334-CE13-44B8-8B7F-3A92550DF048_zps

8233C523-620D-452A-BFB3-FF037037DB7C_zps

D129A6D5-9A9D-450A-8FF9-355EF0595F27_zps

ABA1416D-4CB3-4BD4-8C89-C3BAA9CACD54_zps

Edited by Philly758
Link to comment
Share on other sites

   

Man, I can't wait to see what you will do.  That commute must be quite a bear......especially in the winter, stuck in traffic, and deep in the snow.  Are you going into Manhattan, or one of the other boroughs?  

 

When I was in Manhattan, most people I knew didn't have a car, and some didn't even have a drivers license.  There just wasn't anywhere to park.  Everyone got around on the subway or by cab.  And out of the people that I knew, I was the only one with a set of tools who actually changed his own oil.  

 

Keep posting the pics.  Especially when you start with the mods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, G B L said:

Welcome you will have lots of enjoyment  with the TC.  I will be good to see your  build-out.

You will miss the AWD of the 2000 GMC Safari AWD but you will adjust in time.

I still have the GMC because it's not worth much and will be difficult to part with.  I think I will be happy with the improved reliability, comfort and gas mileage.  

The Transit Connect space is pretty tight, tighter than my other van.  So modifications will be simple, functional and for the most part easily removable.  

14 hours ago, Fifty150 said:

Man, I can't wait to see what you will do.  That commute must be quite a bear......especially in the winter, stuck in traffic, and deep in the snow.  Are you going into Manhattan, or one of the other boroughs?  

 

When I was in Manhattan, most people I knew didn't have a car, and some didn't even have a drivers license.  There just wasn't anywhere to park.  Everyone got around on the subway or by cab.  And out of the people that I knew, I was the only one with a set of tools who actually changed his own oil.  

 

Keep posting the pics.  Especially when you start with the mods.

Currently I'm working near the George Washington bridge, they call it Washington Heights, it's basically the Bronx.  I would rather commute from CT than live in NYC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/9/2017 at 6:32 AM, Philly758 said:

I still have the GMC because it's not worth much and will be difficult to part with.  I think I will be happy with the improved reliability, comfort and gas mileage.  

The Transit Connect space is pretty tight, tighter than my other van.  So modifications will be simple, functional and for the most part easily removable.  

Currently I'm working near the George Washington bridge, they call it Washington Heights, it's basically the Bronx.  I would rather commute from CT than live in NYC.

Funny.  I came to the opposite conclusion when in Manhattan.  I'd rather live in NYC, than commute from CT.  I was the only non-Hablo-Espanol person in Spanish Harlem.  And this was long before gentrification.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...