'New' Connect, a few questions...

[Postman Pat]

It's a pity we don't get the 2.5L that the yanks have in the new Connect: 169PS ought to make things interesting

[lightning]

Is that a petrol or diesel 2.5 litre?

[g-man]

petrol........and thirsty

[Altransit]

petrol........and thirsty

Yes, my eldest son has that engine in his ST It does less than half the MPG than his younger brother's Zetec 1.6 TDCi Focus.

And as for the Road Tax ....................

[g-man]

it'll be a 4 pot as opposed to your lads 5 pot al

[Altransit]

it'll be a 4 pot as opposed to your lads 5 pot al

Ah well, I thought it was the same engine .................... every day is a school day

[Postman Pat]

Right, been on-site at the navy base for a few days, first time the new Connect's been used as a site cabin and skip wagon I fitted my own ply-lining last weekend in anticipation of rusty old pipe fittings being lobbed in the back but mostly all it saw was rain, Costa coffee cups and smelly boots. Oh, and there's a 6mm roll pin in there somewhere that defied all attempts to locate it...

Issues arising...

I'm getting sick of banging my head on things. The old van had so much more headroom both in the back and in the cab. Granted I knew this but when you're trying to get changed out of wet PPE or just groping in the cab for something on the top shelf it's a bit annoying.

The LED interior light in the back is great! Shame that when you open the doors all the sidelights come on as well, and then all including the interior light go off after a couple of minutes. On the old van the interior light alone came on and stayed on as long as the back doors were open so you didn't have to keep nipping round and opening the driver's door to get some light I know I could put the interior lights on manually but it's not convenient when you're nipping in and out or trying to assemble things on the floor in the tossing rain. Besides, I'd probably forget to turn them off at the end of the day. I bet the LED light is controlled by some bloody computer so adding a switch to it wouldn't be that simple...

That damn 1600 engine is gutless. One of my favourite runs in the whole of England is the mad dash down the A43 past Silverstone, the roundabouts are a riot. Well they were in the old van: this thing has less torque than a rice-pudding-skin remover. Don't get me wrong, it's great motorway cruiser; smooth, quiet, fuel-efficient... but a point-and-squirt weapon it ain't. The 110PS in the 230LX had its faults but 2nd-gear grunt was one of its highlights. To balance it out, I found myself yelling at the driver of some bimbling Mercedes Fat-Class in the outside lane of a northern A-road late last night... would he hell get out of the way. It was only when he eventually gave in and pulled over that I realised I'd been sat on his a**e at 110... a feat that would have deafened you in the 230LX

2600 miles and counting...

[Lefty64]

I'm really enjoying your ongoing posts ....... keep them coming

I think Luke (Admin) will come up with the separate forum heading for the new model soon, so you'll have first chance to shine there .

I know what you mean about the lack of headroom, having lived for a few days out of mine. It's just possible to wriggle in & out of overalls & kick off muddy wellies sitting on a beer crate without braining yourself when it's peeing down. You'll just have to adopt the crab position in the new model.

[mrtn]

That damn 1600 engine is gutless

2.2L diesel would be schiznit.