Ford’s Transit Connect - It’s more than CUTE!
By Cathy D. and Bill Z.
It was 9:00 AM on a Monday morning in Phoenix, Arizona. The Ford Company invited Bill and me along with Ford dealers, fleet managers and commercial vehicle owners to a Ford product review and driving event. When an invitation is received to this type of event at the Bondurant School of Performance Driving, the expectation is to either test drive a high performance vehicle or a Ford product that utilizes a racetrack to “show its stuff.” At first glance, that didn’t appear to be the case.
You can only imagine the look on Bill’s face when we pulled up to the track. He saw a fleet of tiny white boxes with flowers all over them. The first thing I said was “how cute, I love them.” Bill doesn’t appreciate it when I refer to anything about vehicles as cute, except perhaps the VW Beetle. I heard Bill mumble under his breath, “too boxy, too European, too small, and too cute!”
The next big question we had was why were there so many orange cones set up on the racetrack in a zig zag formation. It was as if Danica Patrick was getting ready to test her latest moves. Given the style of the Ford vehicles, it appeared we would be testing how fast we could go on the streets of Phoenix in a mini van or moving billboard. Bill looked at our Transit Connect tester and thought, how fast can I go without tipping to one side. I paid no attention, because Bill says that about all vehicles; and trust me; he tries to make them tip!
Prior to getting in the driver’s seat, I was drawn to how the Transit Connects were staged near the orange cones. There were two, four and five seat models staged for various functions and lifestyles. The Transit Connect has minivan-like sliding rear-side doors and two rear “Barn Doors” similar to a commercial van. With the barn doors open, and in a fully pulled back position, I could envision the florist, the landscaper, the photographer, the mechanic and the dog groomer’s setting up their business neatly and efficiently.
I told Bill I want one of these. I think they are the best marketing tool a small business could have. With the body structure of the European boxed van, you have a clean, easy- to-read billboard for advertising your business or hobby.
I can just picture it, the Two for the Road USA logo, website etc. on the side of one of these darling vehicles. We could be seen driving around town, in corporate parking lots or supermarkets. For about $22,000 you can have an efficient 22/city 25/highway mini van, fleet vehicle and billboard. The price of a one-time print ad in a major glossy magazine is more than $22,000.
The Transit Connect is front-wheel drive and comes in XL and XLT trim levels. It has a 136-hp, 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle also has ABS, traction control, an antiskid system and front side airbags. There is plenty of power and safety for the right small business owner or fleet.
The commercial options, or as they are called “Ford Work Solutions,” are out of this world. For the large or small fleet you can get an in-dash computer with internet access and available printer, a tool inventory system, and a vehicle-tracking device. I also know you can get a Cable Lock security system to discourage theft of expensive tools too large to fit in the cab.
The Transit Connect commercial or personal vehicle is due in dealerships within the next five weeks. You must look at it and test drive it. Bill took that minivan around the cones at the track and no matter how hard he tried to find something wrong, he couldn’t. He took the curves like Bob Bondurant himself, and the Transit Connect stayed connected to the pavement.
By the time we were done with our test driving and Q&A… Bill had to admit, the Transit Connect was practical, energy efficient, billboard worthy and I believe he actually used the word “cute.” Wait, maybe it was Ford tough but cute!
For more on the Transit Connect, go to www.ford.com
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