Goodbye Econoline

Dmace · Mar 6, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
Whats your point. I find it hard to believe you had noting but problems with all the Ford you have but no other brands.
Chris

My point was to elaborate (as asked above) on my comment on how I don't trust an auto manufacturer that can't sell a good reliable engine without some major problem or recall like Ford. I did rebuild a tranny on a 98 Dakota at 160k and two front wheel bearings on my 03 RAM at 100k but don't see either as "problems" considering the mileage and use.
I find it hard to believe you haven't had engine problems which are so common, try keeping a vehicle for more than 150k miles and see how they hold up...

By the time this new van comes out the EcoBoost will have a few more years under it's belt so it could be a real winner but I wouldn't want to work on it.

Ford850 · Mar 6, 2012

I think this is the third or fourth year of production for the Ecoboost design and the second year for the 3.5L version used in the trucks. From everything I've read, the absolute best reviews are coming from owners who are beating the living crap out of them. The owners who try to baby them and hyper mile them end up with lower MPGs and issues with their trannys trying to learn weak driving habits with all that engine torque wasted. The guys who are using their trucks for hard work, similar to the torture tests Ford did on that engine, love it the most.
This "new" van has been produced by Ford since 1965. They've built over 6 million of them. It is 300lbs lighter than the E series, and this Ecoboost will really impress those who move from the old 4.6 or 5.4 engines that are in the E series today. there won't be many versions of it available here compared to what they build in Europe, but I'll bet they will expand the line after it settles in.

aczlan · Mar 6, 2012

Hopefully they will keep the Diesel engine option. That is one of the reasons my parents bought the '99 E350 that they have and love. 200k miles without any major work to it (has had some transmission work when they got it, an alternator and an oil pump at 100k, normal suspension, brakes and tires)

Aaron Z

Diamondpilot · Mar 6, 2012

Dmace said:
My point was to elaborate (as asked above) on my comment on how I don't trust an auto manufacturer that can't sell a good reliable engine without some major problem or recall like Ford. I did rebuild a tranny on a 98 Dakota at 160k and two front wheel bearings on my 03 RAM at 100k but don't see either as "problems" considering the mileage and use.
I find it hard to believe you haven't had engine problems which are so common, try keeping a vehicle for more than 150k miles and see how they hold up...

By the time this new van comes out the EcoBoost will have a few more years under it's belt so it could be a real winner but I wouldn't want to work on it.

No problems, like I said. Never a starter, alternator, bearing, seal, tranny, ect. Yes, a few recalls, a power window, and tie rod ends but that's it.

Like was mentioned below I work the crap out of everything I own often towing 7,000# more than the tow ratings with my diesels. Maybe if I babied them I would have issues but I do not.

Chris

Dmace · Mar 6, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
Maybe if I babied them I would have issues but I do not.

Baby them?
Like trading them in before they hit 100k miles or parking them in a heated garage or airport hangar vs driving them day in and day out no matter the weather...?
Looking back, most of my problems with Ford's were right around 75k-100k miles. I guess if I didn't drive them much or keep them past 100k I would think they're great too.

Scooby074 · Mar 6, 2012

No diesel option = miss.

Funny, Ford Europe has a 4 Diesel engine options in front, rear and AWD configuration.
http://www.ford.co.uk/Commercialvehicles/Transit/Top-Features

/ Gotta keep pimpin those Ecoboost's i suppose

Diamondpilot · Mar 6, 2012

Dmace said:
Baby them?
Like trading them in before they hit 100k miles or parking them in a heated garage or airport hangar vs driving them day in and day out no matter the weather...?
Looking back, most of my problems with Ford's were right around 75k-100k miles. I guess if I didn't drive them much or keep them past 100k I would think they're great too.

My average Ford traded has had about 125,000 miles. Foreign cars and trucks, 170,000 miles. GM trucks 20,000 miles and GM cars 115,000 miles. One and only Dodge at 68,000 miles when the second tranny started acting up.

Chris

CompactTractorFan · Mar 6, 2012

Are they going to offer cutaway chassis too?

Red Horse · Mar 6, 2012

Dmace said:
I had a 7.3l IDI diesel that failed with cylinder wall cavitation and started burning coolant, had numerous 5.4l tritons spit out plugs, two V10 tritons with ceased plugs, a couple of Mustang 3.8's dropping valves and cracked pistons, three Ford Ranger 2.3's lose a timing belt destroying the head, a 2.0l Focus that went through ignition parts and fuel pumps like candy...
I could go on between my vehicles, family and friends' vehicles I fix and my companies fleet but you get the point.

On the flip side, I've owned/repaired many Chrysler/GM vehicles and rarely have seen these problems which are clearly design failures...

Wow- that is quite a litany of troublesome vehicles- I gather you are about 80 to have gone through so many vehicles. But what is truly amazing is that Ford has sold so many of these things-let's hope the word doesn't get out. I hope 60 Minutes or Dateline doesn't monitor this site because if it does Ford is in deep S--T!

Myself? I guess I'm lucky. Owned nothing but Fords since my first new Mustang GT in 1966. Worst experience? A real nice 94 Taurus LX with a 3.8 that came down with the infamous head gasket disease at about 88,000 miles--and that admittedly was not a good motor from that perspective.. Vehicle that the SHO replaced was an 07 Crown Vic Sport with about 97,000 when the new SHO came in. It had one trip to the shop in that time- an AC issue. CV I had before that had 216,000 on it! In its life, the control for the air suspension went, and it had one other issue associated also with AC control and another that was I believe knock sensor related. Never however had a road failure that brought me in on the hook. Opps- forgot about the 94 Taurus- Idler siezed and the serpentine went-made it to the dealer though. Not bad huh? Yeah I know-I'm lucky.

But thanks for the heads up on all the issues. And actually I was thinking of finding a nice clean F-350 dump with a 7.3 but based on your report I'll probably drop that idea. I also better let one of my kids know that his 5.4 150 that is pushing 150,000 is suspect-for sure he better not hook up his 23' Mako to it anymore because that will kill it for sure.

Again, "Happy Wrenching" and thanks for your insights