In London, how much faster do you need it ?
It is ~ 7 blocks in 30 min in the congestion zones

So far in Europe, getting there quick is not as important as getting there cheap and minimizing / avoiding MOT costs ( not too sure if the 2.4 is in this category, the Focus with the diesel is MOT free ).

Some day fuel costs are going to catch up with the US, once the feds figure out the higher MPG / efficient vehicles and hybrid vehicles of today are using a lot more miles of roads for that same road use tax based upon 1993 ( think that is where it currently is from ) MPG averages.

Once this dawns on the feds, and they act on it, the POTUS's vision of fuel costing high 5.xx / low 6.xx per gal is going to change the mind set that 0 to 60 in 3 days is better than 0 to broke in the push of a pedal.

 

Guau!!! lot of guys tied to the past. Come on, give yourself the opportunity to evolution. We have here the transit since 3-4 years ago and I love it since first day. Never drive one neither a van but for me it's a very nice looking van with a great diesel motor very economy to use and own very capable and with very large configurations available and roof heights. Too bad only came here with only 1 air bag. That's one of the reasons I don't like it for my family use. Here Ford offer very striped versions. http://www.ford.com.mx/camiones/transit/ficha_tecnica/

 

Reagan was right, "The government is not the answer, it's the problem"!

 

Got that right.

Set something way back, and forget about it.
How do they fill the void, take the funding from somewhere else, always borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

Now that the funding is not there to be moved around, let it crumble.
Gets bad enough, borrow from China to pay Paul.
Or the Fed buys the bonds - wait aren't we borrowing money because we don't have it ???
- How does that work again ??? I am broke and get a payday loan from myself, and the money shows up in my account....... Hold on, what is going on here..

Think this is how it started in Greece & Italy...

 

They learned by watching someone with VERY poor judgement, just like we're doing! (or rather that gubment that's the problem is doing)

 

This was an invented here problem, just like the US is doing.

Greece was called Hotel California by a UBS analyst this AM, you can check out but you can never leave ( the Euro ).

Once "it" catches up with the US, we will be in the same state as Europe. We might even have MOT, where you pay more for you plates based upon the emissions.

If / when this happens, the Transit with the 2.4L diesel motor is going to look like the smartest move in a long time.

I still recall describing my '95 Ram to a coworker in Germany in 2000.
We were by the Nike Regional HQ, and they had the same MY RAM, but it was a 2500 dually with the 5.9L engine.
I told my coworker, look at that, that is my truck less the duals in the back, and I only have the 5.2L motor.
His answer ONLY a 5.2L engine ??
He thought I was goofy for:
1. having such a huge vehicle
2. I thought a 5.2L motor was a little on the small side.

 

Over here the larger transits are a direct competitor of the Dodge/Merc vans. Transits are the most popular option here as I'm sure the E-lines always have been.

A typical transit here has a 2.2TDCi engine which will kick out somewhere between 140bhp and 160bhp. i think you can get a 200ish bhp version with 350lb/ft. they certainly aren't build for speed but as somebody stated we pay upto £1.40 for diesel. We are also taxed on emissions. The MOT as stated is actually more like the SMOG test in the states. We pay an Annual Road tax based on the size and emissions produced by the vehicle. A mustang here in the UK cost £480 per year to tax or licence as you guys would say. thats before the £1.50 a litre to run it so economy does come before speed. Hence our "sportier" Focus' are 2l turbo not V8's although the power output is the same.

I doubt Ford will sell the focus in the states with Euro motors as many are euro specific as cities like London and other major cities control access based based on emissions too. Seriously you guys have it soo good!!
The vans them selves are legends in these parts though

 

hmmmm

 

Interesting. I do wonder what engine/transmission combinations they will have availablle in the US.

 

The Transit is a pretty funky looking van. Kind of wierd, in fact. That said, it's already growing on me. If they have a Sport version....

I have this current F150 because I wanted a 4X4 to get to some of the further out hikes, in winter. If Ford makes a Sport, or sportier looking version of the Transit for sale here in the US, that is available with AWD, I may consider one for personal use. I might look kind of goofy driving that bread box around, but in addition to carrying hiking/camping cargo and towing the teardrop trailer, which are reasons for having this current F150, the van would be a place to change clothes after hiking for hours. We feel a little exposed changing outside, especially in the winter.

I was watching youtube videos of them racing these Transit vans. My wife says, "Oh no. You're looking at another vehicle aren't you?"

I don't know. I though that when I first saw pictures of the Flex that I'd get one. When they came out I wasn't as impressed, and couldn't reasonably afford one anyhow. Maybe I'll think that the Transit is butt ugly. Then I wouldn't get one for personal use, but a butt ugly, functional van would still be good for work.

 

Here you go. Transit Sport, I believe from Germany.



And a 4x4 Transit, done aftermarket like is done with the current E150.

 

Just ordered 6 - 2012s for my biz,mine being a 350 ext 1 ton with 6.8 & 4:10s.

 

Wow - you can still get a van with the V-10!

Looks like the old Torq-Shift 5 speed auto.

 

Once they arrive upload some pics

 

I bought a new 1978 E-150,351cu, 4bl carb.

Captain Chairs and an unfinished cargo area. $6,700 out the door.

12mpg and when it was windy, the whole thang would rattle.

Leaked water like a shower head.

Tranny failed @90,000 miles and it got ate up by cancer rust.

I kept it 12 years and traded it for an lb. of red bud.

It still had the original battery in it when I traded it. Started right up!!