Based on the vendor, at this time’s Good Value or No Cube Transit Join “Appears and smells showroom new.” Let’s resolve if its value passes the stink take a look at as properly.
Nobody likes a tease. That’s abundantly true. It is simply completely unfair to tempt us with one thing solely to depart us crestfallen with the invention that we won’t have it. That was a lot the case with our final outing, which featured a 2005 Subaru Baja with a turbo engine and a guide shifter. That automotive had been outfitted as an overlander and was proven within the advert with a literal cherry on high within the type of a roof rack tent. That pop-top was not supplied within the sale, which made the Baja’s $12,750 wholly unpalatable for the overwhelming majority of you as soon as the automotive’s different flaws had been thought-about. The outcome was an 80 p.c No Cube loss.
I am curious: what number of of you by no means thought-about “dwelling in a van, down by the river” till Chris Farley introduced a newfound attraction to such a prospect along with his Matt Foley character on SNL? Right now, we will take a look at a 2012 Ford Transit Join XLT Premium Wagon, which is clear sufficient and sufficiently new-looking that it would really dwell as much as the luxury calls for of river-view dwelling.
How Ford averted the Rooster Tax on the Transit Join
Ford’s fashionable minivan has an fascinating historical past right here in America. Launched right here in 2010 after eight years as a Europe-only mannequin, the vans left their Gölcük, Turkey manufacturing facility as passenger vans with home windows and a again seat. As soon as hitting the docks in Baltimore, Maryland, these components had been stripped out and handed off to the recyclers, changed by metallic partitions and no again seat. This was all an try to bypass the 25 p.c import tariff (the notorious “Rooster Tax”) that had lengthy been levied on mild business autos.
Ford spent years in court docket making an attempt to defend this observe, ultimately having its hand compelled when declining gross sales for all types of small vans right here within the States ended Transit Join imports completely. One other fascinating little bit of Transit Join historical past is that the present one, rebadged because the Toureno Join and nonetheless offered exterior the U.S., is not even a Ford in any respect, however is a re-badged model of VW’s entrant within the class, the Caddy van.
That is all water beneath the bridge, or by the river, because it had been, since this Transit Join was first offered. It additionally did not endure the ignominy of getting its innards ripped out and its home windows boarded over as this mannequin—the XLT Premium Wagon—was offered right here as a passenger car and therefore averted the 25 p.c tariff from the get-go. Ford’s intent with this mannequin was to focus on taxi providers and ride-shares. The mannequin has 5 seats and seatbelts together with home windows throughout, however trades the standard minivan third row for a cavernous load space. These rear seats may be eliminated to make the cargo area even greater.
Not a single flaw
Ford solely offered the XLT in high-roof, lengthy wheelbase kind, so there’s loads of room to unfold out and even put on a hat in right here. You may wish to doff that chapeau in honor of this 30,000-mile XLT’s situation, which the advert touts as having “Not a single flaw.” That is additionally a bit extra posh than the van variations, having been outfitted with bigger alloy wheels, cruise management, and customary AirCon.
On the surface, the silver paint seems to be in glorious situation and is properly complimented by the usual black plastic trim on the wheel arches and rub strips. Sliding doorways on each side present glorious entry to the rear seats—or to take away them. These seats, together with the entrance buckets, are upholstered in a funky-patterned fabric cloth. That, and all the inside plastics, present completely zero indicators of wear and tear.
There was just one drivetrain out there in these, a 2.0-liter, 236 horsepower Duratec 4 and four-speed computerized driving the entrance wheels. It is nothing thrilling, however does provide mixed mileage within the mid-20s. Per the advert, the van’s mechanicals are as much as snuff as properly, as each engine and gearbox have lately obtained a full fluid and filter service. Different incentives embody a clear title and present registration.
Would you purchase it?
The vendor calls this an “uncommon 2012 Transit Join,” which appears correct seeing as only a few non-commercial variations had been offered right here and fewer than which have been stored in museum-quality situation as this one seemingly has. May that make its $16,500 asking value a workable deal
What do you say? Is that this uncommon however kinda bizarre Transit Join value that sort of money? Or is that approach an excessive amount of, even simply to honor Chris Farley’s reminiscence?
You resolve!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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