Another eurovan to enter the US market

[Kingflynn]

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/fiat...ge-102431.html

She's pretty.

[David Meiland]

Yes she is.

[Ted S.]

I would be happy if we could get more diesel options in our American trucks and vans. I'd love to get a Durmax/Allison Surburban right now for personal use.

[David Meiland]

Just make sure to drive to jobsites in your Prius or your Leaf.

[Kingflynn]

Bringing the diesels with them is key. Imagine getting 33 mpg on your full size van? That's 900 miles for the same amount of fuel that currently gets me 320 miles.

Ford Transit Gets 33 mpg Combined:
http://www.green.autoblog.com/2009/0...d-189-g-km-co/

[Kent Brobeck]

Bringing the diesels with them is key. Imagine getting 33 mpg on your full size van? That's 900 miles for the same amount of fuel that currently gets me 320 miles.

Ford Transit Gets 33 mpg Combined:
http://www.green.autoblog.com/2009/0...d-189-g-km-co/

Is that the kind of mileage this van will get?

[Kent Brobeck]

Bringing the diesels with them is key. Imagine getting 33 mpg on your full size van? That's 900 miles for the same amount of fuel that currently gets me 320 miles.

Ford Transit Gets 33 mpg Combined:
http://www.green.autoblog.com/2009/0...d-189-g-km-co/

Why isn't Ford selling these vans in the US?

[Kingflynn]

Is that the kind of mileage this van will get?

I don't know, but the full size Transit is going into production here this year. It will be incredibly frustrating when they don't offer the super efficient diesels with it. From what I understand, the US has stricter standards for diesels, combined with higher taxes on diesel fuel, which keeps automakers from offering them here. So because of the stricter standards we'll continue to get 10 mpg rather than 30. Doesn't make sense to me. Although it keeps the gov'ts pockets lined with all that revenue from the fuel tax at about 50 cents per gallon.

[Tom Bainbridge]

fiat ducatto vans are a "non goer" for me, i fully admit to a personal prejudice against fiat as a vehicle maker

if i wasn't prejudiced. i would put them in the top third of my list

emmisions on all vans, in the uk have been tightened up considerably (make that REALLY tight) since the London "Low Emission Zone" started to exist about 2 or is that 5 years ago

diesel cost is something you should look at. it seems to be a reigonal thing

as of jan 2011, in the uk, diesel prices are 10 english pence a litre more than petrol (read gas) two years ago the price differential was around 2 english pence

edit. i've said it before, Ford (uk) had a tv advert that said that Transit's (read full sized vans) vans are the backbone of england's tradesmen

you could do worse

[Ted S.]

Just make sure to drive to jobsites in your Prius or your Leaf.

I did make the mistake of driving to a "important meeting" with an "inappropriate vehicle", and was told that.

I told them if you want to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs.

[Tom Bainbridge]

ted.............. and your vehicle for the meeting was?

i'm taking no sides on this topic

if an english guy turns up to meet me in a truck............... (remember this is england, not north america)

truck = a contractor who pretends to get his hands dirty, but isn't honest enough to drive a merc

edit2. i prefer a hard talking businesman in a merc, to a sharp talking shyster in a truck

the first is honest the second isn't

[Ted S.]

ted.............. and your vehicle for the meeting was?

A Ford cargo van with a 6.0 diesel.

I guess I needed to clean the injectors because I filled the parking lot full of black smoke.

The parking lot had a bunch of HERS Raters in it, a representatives from the MA DOER, and the States Energy Star program.

At least I changed my shirt, no one commented on that.

[Tom Bainbridge]

ted, a SIX litre transit, i'm getting "north american testesterone" here..............

for a vehicle (van) that weighs less than 2 metric tonnes, that's one hell of an engine, do you go oval track racing?

damm me, but the european "sport version" of the full size transit is 2.8 litres............. and it goes like "sh it off a shovel"

what do you need 6 litres to carry tools for ? :)

[Ted S.]

I need 6 liters because we can't get the little motors. I don't know why, I am perfectly happy stepping on it and waiting. I had one of my Father-in-Laws trucks for a while, a 7.3 litre powerstroke. Now that's a lot of mojo.

[popawheelie]

If you show up at my house with a diesel you probably won't get the job.
Don't like stinky diesels. Or macho pickups.