The Ford Econoline van is Dearborn’s latest dead man walking. The line was introduced in 1961 and will conclude with the 2013 model year per Ford’s announcement yesterday. In the place of the venerable van will be the Ford Transit, which is the van the rest of the world has been getting for the past decades. While it feels like I shouldn’t care, this announcement strikes me as rather sad mainly because the Econoline name has been around for 50 years.
Vans are not fun to drive, not fun to work on, and are not fun to be lured into, but as work vehicles for tradespeople, parts runners, painters, smelly bands, plumbers, electricians, and casket makers, there ain’t much better. They are also great for racers. You can tow with them, sleep in them, store all your crap in a semi-secure location at the track, and slather your team logo all the way down the side.
Unless they decide to ditch out of the market, GM will own the “full size” van segment by themselves after 2013. The European Transit vans are certainly capable pieces, but the biggest available engine in one currently is a five cylinder diesel that measure out to a wopping 3.2L. The vans may be roughly the same size, but the euro vans have not half the sack the current vans have. You can opt a front wheel drive or real drive version in Europe currently. Not sure if that will be the case here or not, but unless something radical happens, you’ll be towing a go kart and not much else with these things.
The eternally cool Peter Egan of Road and Track and Cycle World Magazine has used and written about Econolines for decades in his columns. Anyone who has read him for any period of time has lived vicariously through his story of towing wayward project cars home, loading the back of the van with motorcycles, and generally praising the utility of the yeoman-like Econoline van.
Not much more to say, I guess, other than the fact that the meter is running if you are a Ford fan and want to own a full size, V8 powered van. After 2013 it is weenie Euro-spec junk for your Ford vanning needs. Who is going to paint a mural on one of those? Answer: Nobody.
Link: Ford Kills Econoline
Chrysler still makes a large van.
I have several friends that uses Transits as work vans..they do good over here,but i guess in the US it will show its lighter duty in towing..but it gets good mpg,and has enough torque to get away with some load..i wonder if the turbo diesel will be available in the US?…because thats the engine that works in them..lots of torque.
But the Transit will be one of several things that destroy US soil and land..it sure doesnt look american!!!
Ford Transit Connects are currently made in Turkey, I’ve fixed several of them at my body shop, they smell like a wet dog inside. The Chrysler/Mercedes/Freightliner/Fiat? sh*tboxes are also european and turn into rust buckets here in Michigan.
While I’m on the subject, last week I repaired a 2011 Buick Regal, made in Germany, and 2011 Cadillac made in Mexico.
Chrysler makes no van and not for nothing these e vans are junk.They have junk front ends and crap trannys. If you want a great full size van buy a Chevy. Let it die im not crying. POS!
The suits at FORD must be smoking some good sh*t. First they kill the Ranger, then the Crown Vic, and now the Econoline. Next they’ll come out with a front drive Mustang.
Before all you bangshifters go all euro hatin’ crazy everywhere, i’d like to point out some FACTS here. Here are the optional engines currently available for the ford e-series:
4.6 L 2 valve V8– 225 hp and 286 tq
5.4 L 2 valve V8 — 255 hp and 350 tq
6.8 L 2 valve V10 — 305 hp and 420 tq
In these applications torque is what matters and the 3.2 has tons of it– it has the same torque as the 5.4 L and WAY better fuel economy. In the world of vans, there is a replacement for displacement—it’s called diesel with a turbo. Bangshifters wouldn’t call the 5.4 sackless would you? No it’s a capable, reliable, but outdated engine that needs to be replaced. PROGRESS is a four letter word here it seems.
Oh man i feel for you lot getting the transhits!! i hate them i hate working on them very bad vans indeed! i feel for you all!!
Too bad for the E-series, but I’m sure it was gettin’ its ass handed to it for a while now. I have lived in Europe and was proud to see ” big three” vehicles there and now that what they sold overseas is coming “home” is pi**ing people off, I find that odd. I think that if we see what other countries are driving we will make a better one for the U.S. I think everyone needs to give Ford a break on this and wait to see what comes.