Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoughts.

[Electricmalc]

Am looking to downsize from Transit LWB to a used Connect.
Wondered if anyone has one and can tell me what they think of them, and any faults that have developed.

Not sure how I am going to get all the stock/tools/manuals in a connect. Will probably have to take boxes of parts to suit the jobs for the day, instead of carrying everything onboard.

Appreciate any thoughts

Malc

[Alex]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

We run 3 of them. Engineers love them, but not value for money. They will be 3 years old in May. All vans bought since have been Peugeot Partners, get them for less than 6K new and far more reliable.

With the Transits, biggest concern is excessive front tyre wear. In the early days were replacing front tyres after 3,000 miles. Now getting about 9k and have to have the tracking reset at every visit to the tyre fitters, as well as at every service. Take a look at the link.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/cwunwandcs/S … it_con.htm

Gearboxes are another weak link. Suddenly and without warning the clutch fails to operate. There is a slave cylinder mounted in the box, which needs the G/box out to repair/replace. Local independents won’t take it on, main dealer admits a good day’s work. The gear change arrangement is via cables from the gear shift, and those are problematical as well. Fortunately they have a 3 yr warranty.

The support from Ford has been rubbish as well, I complained regards the tyres, and all they sent was a questionnare regards the dealership that looked into it in the first place.

If buying second hand, I’d ask to see service history. If no action on Clutch G/Box, forget it.

Alex

[Electricmalc]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

Thank you Alex for taking the time to reply.

Mmm will have to take a look at the Peugeot Partners then.
I do have a 206 as a private car, dont do many miles, but am very pleased with it.

Cheers

Malc

[SimonCD]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

I would really reccomend the peugeot partner, had mine for three years 120k and a daily thrashing. it never broke down! have a transit swb now and the service from ford is the worst i have ever recieved!

[Electricmalc]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

Thanks Simon for your reply

120k, well that should see me out to retirement!!
Alex got me interested in NEW but not sure I could get one for under £6K
Haven’t looked too hard yet, what the differences in the partner models are.

Malc

[eastlmark]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

Had a rental once, felt like going back to the dark ages after Berlingo’s Kangoo’s etc.

[EFS]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

I bought a connect LWB just over three years ago and it has been great.
Considering how much time I spend in a van ordered it up with every avilable option except alloys (don’t want to look too flash).
It came with three years warranty and free servicing which has mostly been done overnight at no extra cost.
My front tyres go 25k miles at least, back ones a lot further
The service from Ford when needed has been second to none,but having said that I use the main Ford commercial dealer who operates 24/7 to cater for the big boys.
In the past I have tried Mazda & Fiat vans which were ok but having to deal with car orientated dealers for commercial vehicles servicing is a nightmare.
Only major problem I’ve had was this week when the exhaust gave up the ghost,but the Ford dealer fixed it same day and knocked 50{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} off as it was not long out of warranty.
So all in all not a bad experience so far but I wouldn’t have bought a van like this for an employee to thrash about in.

Steve

[expertcat]

I use the faithful vauxhall combo bought second hand from dealer with a warranty and head gasket goes within warranty.As fuel consumption goes 50 mile to a gallon on diesel not bad compared with belingos and kangeroos…..espicially as the combo is 7 years old and has done 126K…..the next will be the combo with side door.

[VillageIdiot2]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

We have 2 of them, when the others need replcing, will replace them with connects…… excellent load space and cab is fantastic. We have just replaced front tyres on 1, it has done 22K. TDCI so fuel consumption is great…… its a 10/10 for me 🙂

[nationalhomecare]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

Hi
I had one, i’m sorry to say it was the worse thing I had ever driven! Was an 1.8 diesel and was so so slow and underpowered, like the old escort van but heavier. Nothing but trouble with linkage cables and gearboxes, box came out on 3 occassions at main dealer, once to put the flywheel back on 😯 and twice for box related trouble. At 100,000 miles we got rid of it, tyre wear was awfull, mostly 5,000 mile mark. Was off the road every 6 weeks!!
I always bought Ford Vans and Cars and really liked them but that monstrosity put me off for life 😥
I now drive a Vauxhall Combo 1.7CDTi and its great! 60,000 miles trouble free, 20,000 mile service intervals, fantastic on fuel, avaraging 12,000 miles on front tyres (Continental). Comfortable to drive. The only gripe I have with it is the screen wash resevoir is too small and am always refilling it! And I keep loosing wheeltrims at £20 a time so they got cable tied on!
HTH 😉

[Electricmalc]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

Thanks Lads for all the replies.
Only thing is it has confused me more 😯
Will have to go see some soon, and make me mind up.

Malc

[Alex]

Re: Anyone use Transit Connect Van, Interested in your thoug

If it is any help, we have 3, and all 3 have had the same problems, exactly as National Homecare, Tyres, G/Boxes, as well as rear axles and the locking arrangement on the sliding doors. They have a 3 year warranty including servicing, but the Berlingos and Partners I use still come out cheaper. Partly because the initial cost was neary 4k less, and I sure don’t spend that on servicing & repairs.

Another irritation is the fuel tank is rather small, and have to be filled every other day.

Alex

[Author]

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