Buying a used Ford Transit (2007-12)

Australia seems to have harboured a soft spot for the Ford Transit ever since they were a familiar sight on post-box clearance duty for Australia Post. These days, not too many among AusPost's current fleet are still Transits and annual sales tumbled from a healthy 10 per cent at the introduction of the VM series in 2007 to below 7 per cent by 2012.

The revamped Transit shape didn't change significantly, however, there was a new nose with a more pronounced, cross-barred grille and bigger headlights plus reorganised tail-lamp clusters.

The age of the petrol-engined Transit was coming to an end and the vast majority of Australian-market Transits used 2.2 or 2.4-itre turbo-diesels. The surviving 2.3-litre petrol/LPG engine lasted only until 2008. Five-speed manual transmission (six-speed in the 2.4) was mandatory as were power mirrors and air-conditioning.

While not matching the variety available to overseas buyers, the choice of engine, body configurations and length of wheelbase offered to Australian buyers did border on the excessive.

The cheapest and smallest of the VM Transit range was the Low. It came in short and mid-wheelbase forms, with the short-wheelbase 2.2-litre model legally able to carry 1100kg. At $32,990 it was $4000 less than the 2.4-litre, rear-wheel drive version that could accommodate 1411kg.

Next in line came Mid vans in varying configurations and above them the Jumbo models. When equipped with dual rear wheels, these massive vehicles could carry in excess of two tonnes. They were commonly converted into mobile workshops or warehouses and one was sighted advertising itself as a mobile hairdressing salon.

Longest of the load-carriers was the Cab Chassis in extended frame or dual-cab form. These could accommodate larger payloads than the vans and sold well in the 2. 5-3.5 tonne segment.

The range topped out with a 12-passenger bus, which offered good value at less than $50,000. However, it lacked an auto transmission option and the multi-seat Fords were outsold by several van-based passenger vehicles and Toyota's more expensive Coaster.

Transits sold in Australia from late 2008 maintained the pricing structure of previous models while adding Stability Control and Traction control across the range. These attributes joined a substantial list of safety features including dual airbags, all-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution.

Major fleet contracts and volume sales may have been hard to find, however, the Transit did exploit every available opportunity in the world of recreational vehicles (RVs).

Transits are well represented in the booming RV vehicle genre. Mid vans are easily converted into two-berth travellers with couch/beds down each side, washing and storage facilities, a refrigerator and, in some, even a toilet.

Cab-chassis versions provide a base for luxuriously-fitted five-berth motor homes with a 'Luton Peak' extension above the cab.

The first thing you notice when climbing up and into a Transit Jumbo is that they are massive vehicles. Even if you are an experienced vanner, the tallest of the Transit range stands at 2.62m (against the Mid version's 2.4 metres) and you need to take careful notice of those low clearance warning signs when entering car parks.

Driving around town, especially when crawling along in 10km/h peak hour traffic, the manual-only box is a bit of a pain. You might also notice shuddering from the clutch once everything starts to get hot -- and that's not a good sign.

The seats are fine for drivers of average height and the very tall should have absolutely no problem with head room. The dash is sensibly designed with most controls and dials easy to see and find. Not so good is the pedal placement, with a gap between the brake and accelerator making heel-toe downshifts almost impossible.

Visibility forward and to the side of the cabin is outstanding, however, being aware of what's behind the driver demands meticulous mirror positioning. An after-market reversing camera -- which a lot of used vans have already -- is a worthwhile investment and could certainly save a life.

The price difference between 2.2 and 2.4-litre versions is now negligible and if you can get the vehicle you want with a 2.4-litre engine you might as well pay a bit extra for the more powerful motor.

Tests that include performance figures are hard to find, however, 0-100km/h should take somewhere around 14 seconds. Gear ratios are well-spaced and torque from the 2.4 means you really don't need to drop below third gear most of the time.

Overtaking means dropping back at least two, perhaps three, gears then running the tacho out to the red line. The shift action feels quite sporty once you get used to the odd lever location.

Combined urban/highway fuel consumption for the 2.4-litre diesel is listed at 8.7L/100km but real-world figures are dependent on how hard the vehicle is driven and how heavily laden it is. The 2.2-litre Econetic engine released in 2010 was claimed to average 7.2L/100km.

Safety is an area where buyers need to do some homework and make an informed judgement. Local ANCAP crash tests only delivered a 3-star rating and videos show test vehicles sustaining significant structural damage. Airbags are fitted; however, there is minimal protection against lower leg injury.

The back doors are massive and care needs to be taken on windy days that a door doesn't blow closed while someone is unloading. Backache will only be a problem in low-roof models because the Jumbo cargo-bay roof towers well above head height for most people.

>> Early versions of the VM Transit suffered a litany of quality issues; some requiring recall programmes to rectify. Problems included the steering wheel breaking away from the column and a power steering leak, which could result in underbonnet fires. Check the service history or directly with Ford if you aren't convinced.

>> The manual transmissions used in these vans get a pretty good rap from service people but clutch life can vary alarmingly depending on who has been driving them and under what conditions. Shuddering when starting off -- especially on a hill -- and accompanied by a pungent smell is not good news. Nor is difficulty selecting gears, especially reverse, at a standstill and clutch slip where the revs rise when the accelerator is floored but vehicle speed doesn't change

>> Black smoke from the exhaust in diesels, difficulty starting when hot and stuttering performance are symptoms of fuel system issues. A professional pre-purchase inspection will list any faults that are evident, and then it is up to the buyer to negotiate a price that will cover rectification costs. Don't trust a vendor to 'get it fixed'. Instead knock some money off the purchase price, use a trusted mechanic and ensure the job is done properly

>> Operate the sliding door quickly a few times in succession to ensure it doesn't catch at the extremes of its travel and the latch stays shut. In some cases a door with worn hardware may jump out of its runner

>> Check wheel rims for signs of 'kerbing' and the inner edges of tyres back and front for unusual wear. Whether due to impacts with gutters or aggressive suspension settings intended to reduce understeer, tyres can be trashed within 20,000 kilometres

>> Rust didn't seem to be an issue in the small sample of Transits inspected, however horror stories from overseas ring warning bells. Ensure that any vehicle you decide to buy is professionally inspected including on-hoist scrutiny of the floors, rear axle locating points and sills.

USED VEHICLE GRADING
Design & Function: 12/20
Safety: 10/20
Practicality: 14/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 7/20
SCORE: 55/100

Also Consider: Hyundai iLoad, Mercedes-Benz Vito, Renault Trafic