Ford and VW LCV future devolpment

[Tornado T5]

Now that Ford and VW have announced their JV on future developments of the Ranger/Amarok and Transit Custom/Transporter I was wondering what we might gain or lose as potential Transporter buyers.

Sticking to vans my first wish is the total disappearance of the DSG and if the Crafter shows us by it's 8 speed torque converter auto then maybe that was going to happen anyway. I'd like a hybrid as well to get running costs down.

I thought I'd start a list of what quickly came to mind others can add.
I currently own a 2017 Transit Custom auto (34,000km) and 2017 Renault Trafic Crew and previously had a T4 298,000km and T5 300,000km.

Ford advantage:
Better turning circle
larger width b/w wheel arch
6 speed auto now/8 speed t/c auto on the way
hybrid on the way
rear factory camera in wing doors (VW= )
Cheaper option for safety tech
better dash/cabin storage

VW advantage:
more powerful/greater torque engines
AWD option
Build quality (of all van brands)
more solid feel on the road
higher tow rating

[Sunny43.5]

Yes I read the reports a couple of days ago here Ford Transit Custom 300S 2019 Review | Drive.com.au Seems at least they have avoided the DSG style auto and its inherent foibles . Power of the engine is not a big deal cruncher for me as our main van is for everyday and weekend drives , as long as it carries our camping gear and MX bikes in a trailer thats fine . Build quality is a bit of an open ended issue with lots of vans , I know there were some glaring issues with our latest T5 but nothing that I could not fix myself as the dealers were as useless as tits on a bull with any kind of remedy . So how is your Ford in comparison to the VW T5 on the road etc .

[Ozsko]

It will be interesting to see how this goes as the Ford/Mazda relationship was not a huge success for the BT50/Ranger. Mazda are now going to go with Isuzu instead.

[LogicprObe]

Mazda and Isuzu are a better fit, I reckon.
Ford is all bling whereas Mazda are work.

[Sunny43.5]

Mazda and Isuzu are a better fit, I reckon.
Ford is all bling whereas Mazda are work.

Yes I would agree you only have to look at the crap Ford added to the Ranger to boost sales , the yanks must have been insulted by Ford Australia sticking the name Raptor onto a 4 cylinder powered ute . Like GMH sales are boosted by who can come up with the best way to entice buyers to their brand , I always reckon the Australian male with a short penis was drawn to HSV to offset their own shortcomings . I wait with baited breath to see how this marriage works .

[Tornado T5]

So how is your Ford in comparison to the VW T5 on the road etc .

Ford is quieter (I4 vs I5) and smoother engine
No real difference in trans. shift quality when VW was working properly.
Much better turning circle in Ford.
Wider width b/w wheel arches in Ford which makes loading pallets easier
Better storage in cabin for bottles, etc in Ford
When fully loaded in rear less sag in Ford
Ford gets about 1.5L/100km lower or approx. extra 100Km per tank.
T5 tracked better in crosswinds but Ford has sharper steering.
T5 tows better by virtue of greater torque lower down (400nm vs 385) and 20kw more power, T5 was really impressive in rolling acceleration when near maximum GVM
No rattles in Ford (34,000km) but T5 had none also after 300,000km

[TonyMax]

VW advantage:
higher tow rating

I'm not sure how you came to this or how the rating is even calculated, but a 100kg tow ball weight on our Multivan limits you quite significantly with caravans.

[Tornado T5]

I'm not sure how you came to this or how the rating is even calculated, but a 100kg tow ball weight on our Multivan limits you quite significantly with caravans.

I had a 2007 T5 which had a higher towball weight rating.

[Sunny43.5]

Ford is quieter (I4 vs I5) and smoother engine
No real difference in trans. shift quality when VW was working properly.
Much better turning circle in Ford.
Wider width b/w wheel arches in Ford which makes loading pallets easier
Better storage in cabin for bottles, etc in Ford
When fully loaded in rear less sag in Ford
Ford gets about 1.5L/100km lower or approx. extra 100Km per tank.
T5 tracked better in crosswinds but Ford has sharper steering.
T5 tows better by virtue of greater torque lower down (400nm vs 385) and 20kw more power, T5 was really impressive in rolling acceleration when near maximum GVM
No rattles in Ford (34,000km) but T5 had none also after 300,000km

Thanks for that nice to get an honest opinion . Just a short thing these vans can hardly rattle when there is nothing inside them in the first place !! , I have always begrudged the price we pay for what is technically an empty box on 4 wheels with two seats and a rubber floor mat in the front . For similar money you can buy lots of SUV,s that are fully loaded with luxury touches , yes I know they wont carry as much goods etc but hey you get the picture .

[Kiels3927]

“If you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.”

― Theodore Roosevelt

[Tornado T5]

@ Kiels3927

[Tornado T5]

Oh believe me they can rattle having driven vans from 1983 and had them in the family business even earlier, some we've run from Nissan Urvan to Mazda E2000, to T4, T5, Transit Custom, Trafic Crew.

It's when they're empty you hear all the noises, sliding doors shaking in their frames, rear doors, that rattle in the dash somewhere, rear diff...

[Tornado T5]

Thanks for that nice to get an honest opinion . Just a short thing these vans can hardly rattle when there is nothing inside them in the first place !! , I have always begrudged the price we pay for what is technically an empty box on 4 wheels with two seats and a rubber floor mat in the front . For similar money you can buy lots of SUV,s that are fully loaded with luxury touches , yes I know they wont carry as much goods etc but hey you get the picture .

I fully agree, however it also extends to a van vs a passenger carrying version of the same van..price up a Caravelle, actually just take a bog stock no option version Caravelle and try to buy a Transporter Crew and add some things like glass in the rear cargo, body coloured exterior bumpers, rear aircon...you get my drift... and the Caravelle with fully trimmed interior, excess seating which you can sell off, etc..becomes good value or conversely the Transporter with options over-priced just as you suggested.

[Sunny43.5]

I fully agree, however it also extends to a van vs a passenger carrying version of the same van..price up a Caravelle, actually just take a bog stock no option version Caravelle and try to buy a Transporter Crew and add some things like glass in the rear cargo, body coloured exterior bumpers, rear aircon...you get my drift... and the Caravelle with fully trimmed interior, excess seating which you can sell off, etc..becomes good value or conversely the Transporter with options over-priced just as you suggested.

With the last four Transporters I have always sourced parts not from VW here or done the interiors myself . The last van I bought 4 side glass panelss and fitted them myself for around $700 for all four glasses , meanwhile VW wanted $700 EACH for the glass , same for genuine Cruise control VW $1200 from a VW company selling genuine VW cruise control in the UK for less than $200 . I never pay VW for anything I can find from an alterante supply source .

[Tornado T5]

With the last four Transporters I have always sourced parts not from VW here or done the interiors myself . The last van I bought 4 side glass panelss and fitted them myself for around $700 for all four glasses , meanwhile VW wanted $700 EACH for the glass , same for genuine Cruise control VW $1200 from a VW company selling genuine VW cruise control in the UK for less than $200 . I never pay VW for anything I can find from an alterante supply source .

Thing is Sunny you're in the skilled position to fit these, most are not, I'm not, or a company buying one just wants to send off the Purchase order and grab the keys when it's ready, then another thing is the issue of local warranty for genuine parts but not locally supplied or factory fitted options....and good luck if the company decides your non-genuine part somehow was part of the reason for a failure for something related in the vehicle.