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Test Drive Updated Ford Transit: Truck for every day?

The Kolesa.Ru portal suddenly looked into the segment, to which an ordinary motorist almost never turns. In the vicinity of Munich, we experienced an updated Ford Transit of hardworking minivan with a set of environmentally friendly options. And at the same time they thought: how does the transit feel as a car for every day?

I am sure that the frequent passengers of the route taxis probably believe that the driver of minibuses should be born. It is good that the test program of the updated Ford Transit did not turn on the ride of the streets versoned in traffic jams and collecting money from passengers. Otherwise, I would also think.

In the Munich airport of journalists, a dozen restyling Ford Transit was waiting. However, to recognize all the differences on the approach to the car could not even be able to make my future fellow traveler, the chief of specialized cargo media. Moreover, changes in transit with Gulkin Beak. Updated except the front bumper and radiator grille. But does the original and modern design choose people in the salons of commercial vehicles? I never considered commercial cars in the showrooms of the dealer centers, but I am sure that there is no answer.

The most convenient to get a job did not come out the seat is adjusted only in the same plane: back and forth. Adjust the angle of inclination of the back is impossible due to the partition between the cargo compartment and the cab. It has a small window in it, to see the goods through the salon mirror (only it is not clear: why?), And look back better through the side mirrors.

It seemed that the clutch pedal is too high, as well as a leisure platform of the left leg. To take advantage of the latter, I had to bend the knee almost at 90 degrees. However, some discomfort in arranging arrangement is compensated by a large number of all sorts of departments, shelves, cup holders, and two glove boxes in addition.

Same, the situation inside the new transit has become less reminded by a truck and more and more car. However, depending on what to compare

Parking transit during one of the stops on the test route was not particularly difficult. By the way, the most compact transit has 4.8 meters long and 1.9 in the width of exactly the same overall parameters at the Mondeo sedan. True, in the height of half a meter below, but this fact will hardly make it difficult to maneuverability, but the review from the cab opens much better than the car: a huge windshield and two-piece outer mirrors together with a high landing allow you to fully control everything that happens around.

And to manage the minivan it seemed to me no more difficult than the SUV. True, a significant role in this was played by 400-kilogram cargo, courtesy of Ford representatives into the luggage compartment to increase the rear axle loading. The steering is relatively responsive, the steering force can be called informative, and the transit wheel rotate is not more difficult to rotate than in focus.

Engine in any of the renewed TRANSIT line Diesel DuratorQ TDCI, 2.2 liters volume. But depending on the execution (the length of the base and type of drive), its power varies from 100 to 155 hp. But the most powerful motor is available only in rear-wheel drive versions, and for the front-wheel drive motor range limited to a 140-stronger. The gearbox for all versions is one 6-speed, mechanical, whose lever is stuck in a special pedestal on the center console. Transfer switches clearly, moreover, for a diesel engine, the engine is more than elastic, which makes it even in the city to use increased transfers without bothering them frequent shift.

As it often happens on presentations of cars outside of Russia, the most interesting in the new items presented to our country will not reach. In the case of the updated Ford Transit, we are talking about an ecologically and economically beneficial ECONETIC package. With it, the diesel engine receives a system of stitching and starting the engine on traffic lights, and at the same time the speed limiter at a mark of 110 km / h. However, to remove the leg with the gas pedals and the engine is welded and free.

Automobiles will appear in November 2011, the exact prices are not yet known, but Ford representatives promised that it would cost new minibuses as much as the dorestayling generation, that is, from 885,500 rubles. True, the Russian assembly may also : It is about to start the production of cars in Elabuga.

Ford Transit can be considered as a car for every day. It is not difficult to manage it; Fuel costs will be less than that of two-liter gasoline machines. And Ford's dimensions are not so great at all as they seem to be. About the capacity of the luggage compartment and not to speak at all. But there is no comfort of the car in it, and it is unlikely to be in the nearest generations. Therefore, if life makes you choose a truck everyday car, the transit is suitable as it is impossible. In other cases, it is better to still car


Posted by: Alexander Korchenko
Photo: Alexander Korobchenko


 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [September 2011]