Ford may soon have a new member in its royal family, as the 2015 Transit is asserting its dominance upon Flower Shop Lane.
Autoblog reports the Blue Oval moved 20,488 2015 Transits in 2014, half of which — 10,030 — were sold to plumbers, caterers and hotel shuttle fleets in December. In that same month, the Chevrolet Express took second on the podium with 5,611 sold, while the outgoing Ford E-Series — the current king of Flower Shop Lane with 103,263 units sold in 2014 — took third at 5,256.
Ford representative Mike Levine took to Twitter to express his joy at the news, dubbing the Transit a “game changer.” Per an interview with the publication, Levine cited his employer’s commitment to its customers’ needs, as well as the vast configurability of the Transit and its smaller sibling, the Transit Connect.
AutoPacific auto industry analyst Dave Sullivan added that the van’s lower base price — in comparison to competitors like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — also helped in winning the sales game for December. However, he warns the Transit will have a major challenge ahead this year, as it will have to take up the throne abdicated by E-Series.
It’s Mike Levine. Mark Levin is a conservative radio host and writer of various books about the evils of the federal government. :)
I am eager to drive a T250 chassis cab. If it drives well, it will be equipped with a flatbed to replace a ’99 F350 flatbed. Payload numbers of the Transits are impressive. Sprinter makes nothing in a C&C below 10,000 GVW.
When the time comes, we will look hard at a Transit to replace the ’06 Sprinter passenger van. Our experience with poor paint and transmission issues with the Sprinter in 150K will trump the merits of its great handling.
I have a savvy customer waiting for these too. He realized he can get a utility body added to one of these cheaper than a SuperDuty truck. Knapheide makes one, waiting on Reading to put one out too. I think it’s a smart move.
For our needs, several factors come into play which push us towards the Transit:
– 5″ lower bed height
– 2-ft longer bed length (need to contact Eby about this)
– higher payload than 1/2-ton
– likely better maneuverability
– likely better fuel economy
All of these factors trumped the bottom dollar since we didn’t officially price a T250 and compare it to a 1/2-ton or 3/4-ton pickup yet. I guess that we aren’t savvy enough.
No-brainer then, I’d be a little more hesitant using a Transit as a replacement for a 3/4 ton pickup. I’m guessing that the chassis and drivetrain are at the top end of what they can handle. In the long run a lightly loaded Superduty might be more durable than a fully loaded Transit.
You sound like Big Al From Oz, or you are channeling him . What you describe is coming to pass in Australia, the flat bed versions of the Euro Vans, have payloads from 6000lb to 10,000lb. They are replacing some Japanese Light Trucks
Is Flower Shop Lane a meme I don’t know about? Who coined this term? Can we just say “small businesses” instead?
I coined it! It’s to go with Truck Mountain and Green Valley (for the hybrid/CNG/eco-diesel trucks, though I haven’t much chance to use that one) in the map of the United States of TTAC that I made up in my mind. And of course, Truck Mountain came from a news summary in 2013 I did about Ford’s truck lord Doug Scott. :)
You should take it upon yourself to create some sort of picture of this map, we would all like to see.
Perhaps I will.
I’d be interested in seeing a map like this but based on on internet use but of TTAC readership!
http://www.worldmapper.org/animations/internet_users_animation.html
Saw my first Transit the other day. Tall roof version, extended length (who knows?). Surprisingly sharp looking thing in refrigerator white. Kinda wish I still drove a van for a living.
Can I get a circle window and some modern shag carpeting? I actually like this to pull a smallish camper.