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I am sure you have noticed the gradual disappearance of the once mighty Econoline and to a lesser extent GMC Savana. We have gotten to a point that Chevy has to rebadge the ugly Nissan NV200 and sell it as Chevrolet City Express. Really? GM needed Nissan's help to make a panel van? I am not even sure what Ford is doing. They are losing the blue collar crowd.
I’m glad the old E series is gone. I think the new fullsize transit is a much better service vehicle. Ford got just about every dollar they could out of that platform.
I can’t comment about GM, because pretty much they suck wind and I’m not surprised that had to re-badge a Nissan.
Dodge has the Promaster, but I have yet to hear anything about them.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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The Ford Transit line is basically copying the Mercedes/Dodge Sprinters, but with several sizes. I actually like them. No one likes the traditional vans any more, being able to stand up inside is a big seller.
The Ford Transit does an excellent job of upping the ante. Ford didn't forget a thing. The van platform is tried and true, ford last updated the e series in 1992. After 19 years of the previous generation.
Eco-boost engines, smaller powerstoke diesels. Lots of potential for business and fleet operations. That's the main customer of van for several years.
The Ford Transit line is basically copying the Mercedes/Dodge Sprinters, but with several sizes. I actually like them. No one likes the traditional vans any more, being able to stand up inside is a big seller.
The Ford Transit actually dates back to 1965... they're pretty much the OGs in this hood. And they, like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, were built to the specs of the European markets. Now, they're gaining acceptance in this market, whereas they would've been snubbed back when gas was 79 cents a gallon or less. You buy a cargo van, it's a business vehicle. And every expense which goes into that business affects your bottom line. So, you find a platform which is more specifically suited to your needs, rather than a general purpose platform which is excessive to the needs of many. Auto makers are going to follow suit.
I saw a Freightliner utility van a while back. It belonged to some air conditioning contractor. Never associated Freightliner with cargo vans. It was pretty big. Are Transits and Sprinters big enough for American contractors doing roofing etc.?
I saw a Freightliner utility van a while back. It belonged to some air conditioning contractor. Never associated Freightliner with cargo vans. It was pretty big. Are Transits and Sprinters big enough for American contractors doing roofing etc.?
The Mercedes, dodge sprinter and Freightliner where all part of Daimler for a while. The Freightliner version and the dodge version have since been discontinued.
I saw a Freightliner utility van a while back. It belonged to some air conditioning contractor. Never associated Freightliner with cargo vans. It was pretty big. Are Transits and Sprinters big enough for American contractors doing roofing etc.?
The "Freightliner" vans were simply rebadged Mercedes-Benz vans.. same deal with the Dodge Sprinters... all were assembled from complete knock-down kits imported by Mercedes. Daimler A.G. is the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling (1997 - 2009), Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, etc., and was also the parent of Chrysler until 2007, so they could play around with brand names... Mercedes is a major manufacturer of cargo, vocational, and utility vehicles, but not so much in the US market, so it would make sense that they'd want their product badged with a name which people in the market will associate with those things.
My company just gave me a new Ford cargo van (full size) with a 4.6 liter motor and after owning actually still own a Chevy Express (2010) well I want to sell the Chevy! (23,000 miles)
First off the Ford you start and go unlike the Chevy that needs extended warming up of the six liter motor and second the AC in the Ford is unbelievable! Within a minute It's ice cold and this is an open cargo van.
It's a good thing I paid a third of the sticker that Ford has. Mine's a passenger.
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