Small vans are useless within the U.S., and once they have been a factor, not too many did passenger van obligation. Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Ford Transit Connect is among the few that did. Will its value make Van Life all of the extra interesting?
Now, earlier than we get into the outcomes on yesterday’s 1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback, we have to decide simply the place precisely you stand on the right pronunciation of the mannequin’s identify. Do you name it “Sell-ica” like a sane, regular particular person, or “SEE-lica” just like the British? Heaven forbid you pronounce it “Sell-EE-ca” prefer it’s some form of Latin Grammys contender.
No matter which method your mouth works, most of your fingers have been clicking that No Dice button over the Liftback’s $19,950 price ticket as shortly as they might. The end result was an 80 % No Dice loss.
Speaking of how one’s mouth works, I can let you know that mine likes hen. I like fried hen. I like Jacques Pépin’s Chicken Livers in Port Sauce. I particularly like grocery retailer rotisserie hen, each for its style and for its versatility.
What I’m not too loopy about is a hen tax.
What grew to become referred to as the “Chicken Tax” is a 25% tariff levied on gentle vehicles imported into the U.S. The tariff was imposed in 1964 by way of an govt order issued by President Johnson in retaliation for European tariffs on American hen imports. Hence the humorous identify.
To keep value competitiveness, many overseas producers needed to search for inventive methods across the tariff. Those included importing incomplete automobiles and endeavor closing meeting within the U.S., or, alternatively, sending automobiles which are outfitted in a method that skirts the rule after which changing them after import.
When Ford’s bean counters determined to import the corporate’s small business van, the Transit Connect in 2007, they took the second tack, bringing over the fashions as passenger automobiles, after which eradicating the seats and home windows in a U.S. store close to the port of entry. The firm finally acquired into just a little bother for doing so.
As this 2012 Transit Connect proves, not all the fashions misplaced their passenger mannequin props. Not solely does this 147,104-mile instance nonetheless have all its home windows and two rows of seats, nevertheless it’s painted in arrest-me pink reasonably than the extra frequent for the mannequin fridge white.
According to the vendor’s description, that is an XLT Premium passenger van. That means it has most of its lesser brethren’s choices as normal options. Don’t get the concept that it’s all that fancy although.
At simply 180 inches lengthy, the Focus-related Transit Connect is actually compact. Despite that, it may swallow as much as 129 cubic ft of cargo so long as that cargo consists of the three-place rear bench. If you want all of it, that bench may be eliminated.
Part of that area is afforded by the prolonged roof. That presents nice headroom for issues like Marge Simpson hair or Abe Lincoln hats. The seating is all upholstered in patterned grey fabric partnered with equally coloured plastics giving the inside a brilliant and cheery look. There’s loads of body-colored metallic in right here too. Enough to be sure that passengers don’t overlook the van’s business origins.
Powering the Transit Connect is a 2.0-liter DOHC Duratec four-cylinder with 136 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. Mated to that’s the usual four-speed 4F27E computerized. No, the Transit Connect gained’t be profitable any races, nevertheless it’s at the very least extra economical than a full-sized van. And much less creepy too!
Adding to the van’s sights are two units of wheels, one with all-season tires and the opposite sporting winter meats. They are all the identical metal wheel model so don’t get them confused! Another plus is a flexible roof rack. That will most likely require a step ladder to make the most of, nevertheless it’s useful to have nonetheless.
The title is clear and the van comes with what the vendor says is a “Key Warranty.” I suppose that signifies that the vendor warrants that the van will include a key.
What may somebody do with a small and considerably fundamental passenger van like this? I feel the probabilities are infinite. Before we will get to that form of dreaming, nevertheless, we have to get right down to this Ford’s $12,995 value.
What do you suppose, is that this Transit Connect passenger van value that sort of money? Or, for that a lot, does it lose the connection?
You determine!
York, Pennsylvania, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to RevUnlimiter for the hookup!
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Source: jalopnik.com