A real Mini Minivan

I call my Kia Ronda a mini minivan (it's kida hard to classify) but the new 2014 Ford Transit Connect is the real deal! It has sliding side doors and split-opening rear doors. I kinda like it.

It seems to be Focus based, so as soon as the ST version is out, I will crack the checkbook!

I would be looking long and hard at one of these for a future vehicle if something other than a 4 speed automatic was offered.

I really like how much space is inside these things.

wow.. they made it pretty

mad_machine wrote: wow.. they made it pretty

Wha?

Time to get those eyes checked.

For reference, THIS is a pretty minivan, but they don't make it anymore!

I thought you meant a microvan:

In reply to failboat:

Given that it is focus based, I would be surprised if it didn't come with the 6 speed auto out of that. MAYBE a manual but I have my doubts there.

Is there such a thing as a pretty minivan?

1988RedT2 wrote:

mad_machine wrote: wow.. they made it pretty

Wha? Time to get those eyes checked. For reference, THIS is a pretty minivan, but they don't make it anymore!

I won't disagree with you on that van.. but comparing the new connect to the outgoing one? It's pretty

http://www.ford.com/newsevents/news/newsdetail/?id=374&intcmp=fv-2127-transit-hp

pinchvalve wrote:

To my eye, the basic lines look like a copy of the Kia Soul, which I think is hairy butt ugly.

Oh, well. No sense arguing aesthetics.

It gets the 1.6 Eco-Boost IIRC.

It looks like this right now: Great for a business, but less so for a family. And as the owner of a Soul and a Hairy Butt, I have a different aesthetic.

In reply to pinchvalve:

Well, I'll give you this: It IS an improvement over the outgoing model.

Of course, no word on a 4 cyl diesel...

In reply to 1988RedT2:

Ooof. 2nd Gen MPV? IMO it suffers from appearing not wide enough for how tall it is, proportionally. See also: Toyota Echo, Chevy Aveo Sedan, the new Nissan Versa

Yep. An improvement over the outgoing model.

I'm going out on a limb and saying it'll be a cold day in hell before we get the manual trans version in the US, unfortunately.

Wait, the Transit Connect is not a min-van.

Ford says so.

In reply to failboat:

I thought that was the worst van Mazda ever made, aesthetically. The previous MPV was a Man-van (RWD)!

singleslammer wrote: In reply to failboat: I thought that was the worst van Mazda ever made, aesthetically.

So Aston makes minivans now?

I guess I was the only one coming in expecting a Mini with sliding doors and flat floors.

GameboyRMH wrote: I thought you meant a microvan:

At first glance I thought that said Super Scary.

GameboyRMH wrote: I thought you meant a microvan:

You know, drop the suspension, get rid of the bread box and put some form of sleekishness around the frame and there is potential for a small fun toy.

Or does it not have a frame? I can never tell with the strange Japanese stuff.

See? Potential.

GameboyRMH wrote: I thought you meant a microvan:

I came in hoping that OP had bought a Suzuki Every Joy Pop Turbo.

Ahem...

Oh, hai.

I'm interested in the Transit Connect for down the road when we replace our Odyssey. With all the in-town drop-off, pick-up that it does, the fuel mileage is no better than my Dodge Ram 4X4 with the HEMI. If this thing could get close to 25 around town, it would save us a fortune!

Actually, what we really need is the hybrid minivan. All of our in-town trips would be in the sweet spot for a hybrid... I'd love to see 35-45 MPG in-town!