2012 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

Exactly right for dealing with city traffic.

Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

Okay, so the Microsoft hands-free is laughably, pathetically clueless. Hope Ford got a freebie, since a Microsoft badge is glued to the dash. Cabin noise on California's crumbling roads has reached 109 dB, about as loud as standing behind a jet taking off. I buy earplugs by the case, but then I have for 40 years. But there are so many positives. The standard lock-unlock sequence protects me in crummy neighborhoods (unlocks the cargo doors while leaving the driver door locked, and vice versa). Interior lights go on for in-and-out, but if I leave the doors open in the garage for extended loading time, the lights go out after a few minutes. Very thoughtful. Not sure why the power points are always on, so I unplug the dash cam if the truck won’t be used for several days. 1,600-pound payload includes me and gas — my full-size pickup is only rated for 1,100 lbs. Many SUVs are overloaded if you simply take three friends with you and top up the gas. The Transit is not on tippy-toes when empty, not wallowy when loaded to the limit. Don’t know how they did it. Spec Continentals kept picking up nails: eight in 15,000 miles. Switched to Federal, a Taiwan copy. Great tires, and cheaper. On my third set at 85,000 miles. Don’t replace the wheels with alloys, as they may not be rated for the payload 22-24 mpg combined, 25 on occasion. Did some successful endurance racing back in the 70s, so I really appreciate the seats and view out front. This is the final English Ford design, I think, and shows off its performance heritage. Progressive-rate steering is correctly mild on center, but allows flicking to full lock, at which turns snap to 90º. Low center of gravity, low cargo floor. Antilock brakes stop on a dime, straight and true. Traction control light comes on when I overdo it on off camber onramps, so I know it’s watching and helping. All controls within easy reach. A clear jump-in/jump-out path through the door to the driver’s seat make it the perfect setup for extended shifts of multiple stops. Few failures: RF caliper (warranty), a tiny plastic tab in the interior light assembly broke ($78), 3rd brake light assembly failed ($120), coolant reservoir (warranty), one of the push-button keys failed (warranty), the visor is unraveling along one edge, a few inch-long cracks in the wheel covers. Car wash snapped off 4 rear wiper arms, so I’ve yanked them until the drought is over. Gutless? Not really. Just set your speed before the highway rises and let it rev right out to 6,000. The motor is smooth and reliable: One copier tech’s Focus with this motor finally needed a water pump at 235,000, and another tech replaced his Focus with a Transit Connect a year after I did. When hardware gurus like them, I take their advice. Would buy another, but the new Spanish-build version does not offer a high roof. The new motor is stronger, though. Get the most doodads, even leather if you can find one. Dealer lead time for custom builds has been as high as 6 months, so you may have to take whatever is on the lot, like I did.