2012 Ford Transit Connect T230 High Roof crew van LWB 1.8 TDCi from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Does the job

Faults:

Maintained mostly by company, to my knowledge there has been no major problems beyond the usual consumables. Boss did mentioned he had some issues when first bought at the dealer and the van was in for some warranty work.

General Comments:

Transit Connect is basically a smaller Transit van - I believe this replaced the Escort van.

Have used this for a while now for work and put serious mileage on it. Very comfortable and the car like to drive. Rear has plenty of space for tools despite being the crew van with extra seats.

Biggest disappointment is the 1.8 TDCi engine - it is neither fast nor economical. Official figures say 46 mpg but this is poor in itself, and it really struggles for this figure (40 mpg is more likely in reality) not good for modern diesel; I had a Combo van from Vauxhall before this, and it was an older version, but easily managed 50 mpg.

Overall though the van does the job asked of it if a little under par by some other similar rival van standards. I'd get the later updated version 2 van (introduced in 2013) in all honesty if you are thinking of buying one for yourself, this version has been about since 2002 and is showing its age.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st July, 2022

2004 Ford Transit Connect T200 1.8 TDDI turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Superb van, highly recommended. 101% reliable

Faults:

Absolutely nothing, rock solid all the way, bar a front anti roll bar bush failed, giving rise to the classic front knocking over bumps.

Bought a new pair of bushes on eBay for 24 quid, took 45 minutes to change both sides, very easy job.

General Comments:

A pleasure to own, cheap to run and insure. It's basic, but totally reliable... in fact this van has been the single most rock solid reliable motor I have ever owned. 100,000 miles, MOT upon MOT, without so much as a sniff. Can't understand people's performance issues. Mine is the older 75 bhp TDDI engine, and it chugs along fully laden at 85 all day, every day.

No comfort issues with the seats, and I added a cheap bass tube subwoofer speaker thingy to beef up the bass on the stereo, and it works a treat.

Overall, very very pleased, and never let me down in any way, shape or form, not once, never ever ever!!! I love the damn thing, I even wash it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 23rd February, 2011

24th Feb 2014, 07:58

Any consumption figures?

Thanks.

17th Feb 2017, 19:41

I have the same van, but it's a 2006. Now done 214,000 and still going strong. Original clutch changed at 210,000 and battery!!! I do courier work so it's continually on the road and rarely lets me down.

I hope it keeps going for another 200,000 miles... love it.

In reply to 24th Feb 2014, 07:58

18th May 2021, 13:47

Anything around 50 miles per gallon (or a little more on a good day/unloaded) is about right for this van/engine.

In reply to 18th May 2021, 13:47

18th May 2021, 18:24

Actually according to the combined fuel data on Parkers and Autotrader, this van struggles for 42 mpg, pretty poor for diesel. Rival vans offered better economy, such as the Vauxhall Combo, and others offered the sweet spot of 50 mpg, as good as it got for the early 2000's.

In reply to 18th May 2021, 18:24

21st Jul 2022, 21:29

This van is definitely heavy on the fuel for a modern(ish) diesel. Mine's never got above 44 mpg. Should be 50 mpg on average as others can do, Vauxhall Combo for example. Really its only weak point though, otherwise the Transit Connect is as good as any similar van.

2004 Ford Transit Connect 220 1.9 TDCi turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Carries a vanload, yet drives like a Fiesta - bonus! :)

Faults:

Reversing lights intermittent, fogs OK as substitute.

Battery light followed by almost complete instrument/light fail (except battery and bizarrely seatbelt lights) due to loose wiring on the alternator.

Turbo rattles around peak torque (earlier seal failed due to valet on lot leaving the engine on idle for too long).

General Comments:

ABS works a treat in the puddles.

Drivetrain is very responsive, friction pulls well round tight corners if you're feeling a bit Colin McRae, no discernable throttle lag (bearing in mind I've come from a '93 SWB RWD).

Don't expect much more than 35 MPG combined if you're a fan of the upper 10% of the motorway speed limit.

Comfy enough for 3 hours, although I think my elbow is beginning to suffer rheumatically from resting on the ample sill in rush hour. Recommend a cushion there.

"Lights are still on and door is open" noise quite annoying, but has probably saved the battery.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th December, 2009

24th Dec 2009, 16:56

I have no idea why people are complaining about the top speed of these things being 70mph, it most definitely isn't. Fleet vans just tend to be limited for health & safety reasons.

I've just been towed due to 2nd electrical fail (my fault, just stuck a new battery in) and the towtruck guy said he'd picked a few Connects up, every one diagnosed with a similar electrical fault. They should probably sack whoever designed the wiring loom on these things.

In reply to 24th Dec 2009, 16:56

18th May 2021, 13:59

Correct, a lot of vans are speed limited these days by the company that bought them. Sometimes as low as 55 mph. The van's actual top speed is probably around 100 mph. Anyways, the Connect is not the best van, but an improvement on earlier Escort vans.

Also I note in a few reviews there are complaints about fuel consumption, 35 mpg from a diesel is poor, but remember to calculate it correctly yourself (fill up, reset mileage counter, do about 250 miles, fill up again, then divide the miles driven by the liters used, multiplied by 4.5 to get a true combined mpg figure) never trust a trip computer if fitted. These vans should do between 40 and 50 mpg. Any less means something is wrong, or you are fully loaded and/or driving fast.