mike 202 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Will Autosleepers go back to Ford ? mike on Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:55 pm In the July 2012 issue of MMM, there is a piece entitled "FORD TARGETS MOTORHOME BUYERS" comments by Jon Fisher Ford's commercial vehicles spokesman suggests that the Blue Oval will become a viable alternative to the dominance by the PSA group. He states that a 1000 strong network of dealers has been established to look after motorhomes. I wonder which UK Major manufacturers Ford have had discussions with ? There must be someone out there who has an unidentifiable but well informed source with some upfront info. The odd rumor, to wet the appetite, would not go amiss. When I questioned Auto Sleeper, a while ago, at a show with regards to them dropping Ford, the reply was that Ford could not regularly supply the chassis that they required. However with Fords suggestion of competitive pricing/good deliveries/support for both the manufacturer and owner I wonder will A/S and other manufacturers now offer the Ford base for coachbuilts/panel vans. I for one would be interested as I will not purchase a PSA base following a bad experience (Juddergate etc - Now resolved totally ?) - all be it with another UK manufacturer. Probably a nil response from A/S on the grounds of commercial sensitivity---Here's hoping for a change of heart from our UK manufacturers. Transit Enthusiast. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 As someone who has two Transits ;-)..............I have to say my experience of Fords customer service is nothing to boast about *-).............Fortunately my vans are now looked after by an independent Transit specialist, and I don't have to cross the threshold of a Ford main dealer anymore B-)....... The new Transit maybe able to reverse without juddering........but it still has its foibles......electrics being one of them *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Whilst waiting at City Europe last week a couple were parked next to us with a Ford based Fendt Mobil motorhome which looked quite impressive.This last Friday with nothing better to do we had a ride over to Brownhills Newark just to see if they had anything simular for us to have a good look at .There were a few Ford based M/Hs and for me being a tad over 6 foot found getting in and out of the drivers seat into the hab area a bit of a problem . The seat being high because of the swivel although being set at its lowest still caused my legs to foul the bottom of the steering wheel as the steering wheel has no height / rake adjustment and sits almost in your lap , my Peugeot has an adjustable steering wheel which adds for driver comfort, so for me a Ford based M/H is a no no unless they produce one with adjustable steering wheel a shame really as I quite like the Ford base vehicle.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Have only been driving our Fiat for a year, before that a Ford based coach built for 4...I prefer the Fiat, have even got used to the 6 speed box which has loosened up nicely now as its now done 7000 miles. suspension firmer, whole thing far more car like a drive.....Might be unfair to compare a panel vans handling with a high top CB, but next van will probably be Fiat again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Hired a van on a Ford before we brought not a patch on the Fiat which drives great really comfortable compared to the ford where you can not get a comfortable driving position unless you are very short also compared to the Fiat the cab is small & claustrophobic. The Fiat cab is what decided us to buy a low profile rather than an A class. Must get back to my weekend in New York, just watched Moto GP on American TV, 5 ad breaks in a 45 min race >:-) Going for breakfast now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 mike 202 - 2012-06-03 10:29 AM I for one would be interested as I will not purchase a PSA base following a bad experience (Juddergate etc - Now resolved totally ?) - all be it with another UK manufacturer. Mike There is no doubt that Fiat did not cover themselves with glory re juddergate, but other manufacturers have had just as many problems, early mk6 FWD trannies had a terrible failure rate for gearboxs, I know of more total gearbox failures on the outgoing Renault Master than the present Fiat, and I've suffered with a well known problem with VW gearbox. My advise would be, don't buy another van just because it doesn't have a PSA badge on the front, it's not 100% garenteed to be any better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 lennyhb - 2012-06-03 2:27 PM Hired a van on a Ford before we brought not a patch on the Fiat which drives great really comfortable compared to the ford where you can not get a comfortable driving position unless you are very short also compared to the Fiat the cab is small & claustrophobic. The Fiat cab is what decided us to buy a low profile rather than an A class. Personaly I find my Fiat cab not as good as good as mk7 Ford or outgoing Renault. Must get back to my weekend in New York, just watched Moto GP on American TV, 5 ad breaks in a 45 min race >:-) Going for breakfast now. Just watched Moto GP on BBC HD, no ad breaks and great picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 My guess would be that Ford will initially concentrate focus on Motorhome producers who already use their Transit platform. Hymer (Van & Carado range), Hobby, Fendt, Globecar, CI Carioca), Trigano (Rollerteam Auto-Roller & Tribute range), Roy Woods, etc.. Next inline those who have previously built on the Transit - Dethleffs & Auto Sleeper, amongst others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 The revelations in the MMM article (page 25) are hardly earth-shaking, as most of the 'news' (motorhome-specific chassis, European Ford motorhome dealership network, etc.) has been on Ford's own website for some time in the relevant sections relating to current Transits with Euro 5 motors. http://www.ford.co.uk/Commercialvehicles/TransitMotorhomesChassis Unless New Transit is conceptually and technically radically different from current models (unlikely) it's unrealistic to expect motorhome versions to offer a "viable alternative" to Citroen/Fiat/Peugeot (Sevel) base-vehicles. Transits are now marketed with a one-size-fits-all 2.2litre motor, whereas Sevel vehicles have motors ranging from 2 litres to 3 litres. Current Fiat Ducatos have an automatic-transmisssion option, but current Transits do not (and long-standing rumours of a Transit auto are just that - rumours). Transit has no alternative Al-Ko rear chassis - so no double-floor or tandem rear-axle Transit-based motorhomes now or in the foreseeable future. Transit does (and presumably New Transit will) come in RWD as well as FWD format, but, as Sevel vehicles are FWD and have become dominant in the motorhome market, it's fair to assume that motorcaravanners do not see FWD as a big negative. Auto-Sleepers' Transit-based motorhomes always used RWD chassis, but this configuration did not result in droves of people rushing to buy them. There are some benefits to having a RWD motorhome, but the disadvantages of RWD (weight penalty, higher floor, difficult 'packaging') normally outweigh the positives. RWD Transits (with twinned-wheel rear axle) have enjoyed limited penetration in the Continental motorhome market, where they offer a cheaper alternative to Mercedes. But even those Continental motorhome manufacturers who have in the past 10 years built on a RWD Transit base (and continue to build on a Ford chassis) now choose the Transit FWD version up to a fairly restricted vehicle size, opting for Sevel, Mercedes or Iveco chassis for larger models. Anyway, history indicates that New Transit 'motorhome-specific' chassis will be FWD format only. The only UK motorhome manufacturer currently building Transit-based new coachbuilt vehicles is Tribute (Auto-Trail). Auto-Sleepers has Mercedes as an up-market alternative base to their Peugeot models and I don't envisage A-S adding Ford to their range just for fun. Plenty of Continental manufacturers build on Ford chassis and there's no particular reason to think they will cease doing so when New Transit arrives. Conversely, unless New Transit is so mind-blowingly wonderful and/or Ford's promotional deals for the motorhome-specific chassis are too financially attractive to refuse, I don't see manufacturers who have not used (or have ceased to use) the Ford chassis jumping on the New Transit bandwagon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Well said, Derek, and to continue the theme, I think we all appreciate there's not a great deal to choose between the various platforms, as the base manufacturers are all similarly able to cart around a house on wheels. However, given the propensity for all the big boys to have various problem issues with the chassis side of things, you'd have thought by now they'd recognise it's how they deal with the faults when things go wrong which could be a deciding factor from the motorhomer's perspective. If Ford wants to get more in on the motorhome act, then surely they have to avoid the horrid publicity which dogged Fiat for some years, before the dust settled and more consumers were able to appreciate the advantages of the Ducato. Looking back at Fiat's litany of design faults, mainly surrounding reversing issues and leaking windscreen scuttles, Ford could gain advantage by either avoiding such amateurish failings, or at least putting them right at the first opportunity, without the need for an Andy Stothert campaign to force them into action. Given just how good the chassis is, that's the only hesitation I'd have buying Fiat again. The corporate attitude seems to be see how much bad publicity it gets, before caving in and finally doing the right thing. Shaun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Shaun - 2012-06-04 7:54 PM Ford could gain advantage by either avoiding such amateurish failings, or at least putting them right at the first opportunity, without the need for an Andy Stothert campaign to force them into action. Shaun For a company that decided it was cheaper to pay out compensation for deaths caused by bad design rather than redesign, a few winging motorhome owners are hardly a problem and they never held up their hands on the FWD gearbox problem, they did redesign but this was because of the big problems fleet users had, for any motorhome users who where proboly out of warentee when problems reared its ugly head it was buy a new gearbox. and lets not forget the security problems that they kept quiet about, but by then t'internet had become universal so all the poor sods who had vans nicked soon found out why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 The most reliable transit I have was built over 20 years ago.......... the biggest heap of sh*te Transit I've own was made 12+ years ago......I doubt they are any better today *-).............just more expensive and more complicated with a built in shorter shelf life ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 pelmetman - 2012-06-05 12:08 AM The most reliable transit I have was built over 20 years ago.......... the biggest heap of sh*te Transit I've own was made 12+ years ago......I doubt they are any better today *-).............just more expensive and more complicated with a built in shorter shelf life ;-) What was wrong with the one you bought 12+ years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek pringle Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 HI all, I think Ford being Ford and the size it is they will target whoever has the biggest share of the market. cheers derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek pringle Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 HI all, I think Ford being Ford and the size it is they will target whoever has the biggest share of the market. cheers derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 machinehead - 2012-06-07 1:01 AM What was wrong with the one you bought 12+ years ago? I paid for the semi automatic gear change system *-).............what a nightmare......had to replace the clutch and propshaft at less than 30,000 miles.......I ended up having to Pay for their crap system it to be ripped out, and reverted to a manual................. as for Fords customer service they just didn't want to know, until I threatened to have all the problems I'd had with it sign written on the back of the van >:-) Plus the local Ford main dealer who so overcharged for repairs on an insurance claim that the insurance company refused their quote so had to reduce the bill *-).........Then once they did the repair they manged to cause even more damage by scrapping the van down the side of the workshop barrier 8-) .......Then parked the van so that I couldn't see the side they'd damaged when I went to collect it >:-(.......needless to say I saw it the next day!! so took it back and the bast*rds tried to deny doing it.......unfortunately they forgot to clean the evidence of the barrier........ So maybe that's why I don't have a good word to say about Mr Ford or their main dealer *-)........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 pelmetman - 2012-06-07 8:52 AM machinehead - 2012-06-07 1:01 AM What was wrong with the one you bought 12+ years ago? I paid for the semi automatic gear change system *-).............what a nightmare......had to replace the clutch and propshaft at less than 30,000 miles.......I ended up having to Pay for their crap system it to be ripped out, and reverted to a manual................. as for Fords customer service they just didn't want to know, until I threatened to have all the problems I'd had with it sign written on the back of the van >:-) Plus the local Ford main dealer who so overcharged for repairs on an insurance claim that the insurance company refused their quote so had to reduce the bill *-).........Then once they did the repair they manged to cause even more damage by scrapping the van down the side of the workshop barrier 8-) .......Then parked the van so that I couldn't see the side they'd damaged when I went to collect it >:-(.......needless to say I saw it the next day!! so took it back and the bast*rds tried to deny doing it.......unfortunately they forgot to clean the evidence of the barrier........ So maybe that's why I don't have a good word to say about Mr Ford or their main dealer *-)........ Oh dear. Thanks for the reply. Now I can easily understand your opinion of Ford. Having said that, I'm just back from France in my new Transit based van and I couldn't be happier with the van so far. I just hope it continues this way. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 A few light hearted variants on what the letters F O R D mean: Fixed Or Repaired Daily Found On Rubbish Dump Found Outside Rapidly Dissolving :D I am not anti Ford, I've just sold to my brother my 1999 ford focus diesel estate that I've had for a year. Its been a perfectly reliable motor and economical to boot. Wife has a 2000 Focus hatchback with intergalactic mileage on it and all its needed other than routine servicing in four years is an alternator and a battery. Just looking at replacing wife's car with a 55 reg Focus Ghia. We like the Focus, its a good car but Ford's do have a reputation for rusting. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 If you get a good'un then hang onto it ;-).............I've got one of each 8-).........I now only keep the works van out of spite >:-( .....we're locked in a battle of will's....will it work today or will it not *-)..........Although there's not much of the original van left as I've replaced most of it :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Not anti transit but cant fault the Fiat at present. Had 08 transit for work, bit clunky and not comfortable. Now got a Renault work van, better drive and more comfort but not as comfortable as the Fiat. Transit re-entering the motorhome scene could be a good thing. It ts not good to have one manufacturer with too much of the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeti Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 When I had my X250 the problems were compounded by Fiats customer service which was duplicitous. When it was 'roadtested' after 'the fix' I was not allowed a copy of the report nor sight of it,which may me suspect the proberty of 'Customer Service'. It wasn't just the judder that caused problems I literally had a fault occour every time I took it out,on one occasion I even made Steve Wright's Sally Traffic report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.