NIH will be responsible for Transit vans not going to America...

...Because NIH is an affliction that is also widespread amongst product planners at American car companies who, rather than go for the latest offerings from elsewhere, feel compelled to make their own (America's own) to appease their overwhelming (and misguided) sense of patriotism. I cite a few examples...

-Honda Accord Euro too good for America. So they make an inferior Honda Accord (California)

-Ford Focus (Europe) too good for America. They go for a Americanised Focus based on an outdated platform.

-Holden Caprice and Ford Falcon (Australia) too good for American cops. They drive a slower and dynamically retarded version of a car with late 1970's chassis technology.

NIH also has similar symptoms that compel the sufferer to invent things that are really not needed...

-An open door is too obvious for Americans. They need lights and an annoying gonging sound to remind them.

-Seat belt reminder lights first appeared in Europe, but Americans go one further by selling a car that automatically straps the driver in! (Ford Festiva)

I can go on and on. Some of you will get what I mean, while the average will stare and blink mindlessly at their monitor then curse me as if I just said Bin Laden for President.

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The industry needs a replacement for the Astro van and the TC is well suited for the role. It will be interesting to see if the cable companies, satellite TV installers and the Telcos like AT&T buy them. Their acceptance of the TC will go a long way in the US market.

While all the tech features are cool, I don't see too many companies buying them. I can't recall ever seeing a commercial service vehicle on a job site with an in-dash DVD navigation system. That strikes me as one tech toy that will break easily, cost a lot to maintain/service and be way to expensive to buy in the first place. Same with the fancy RFID tool locator and the snitch box. Management loves snitch boxes but Labor always finds a way to defeat them. And that Crew Chief web 2.0 cyber whateverthingy will not only be expensive, but who is going to use it? Creating documents and printing them via a BT-enabled printer? Jesus, I could hardly get a service tech to fill out a simple call sheet with a free ink pen.

Remove the toys that are 90% bullshit anyway and you might have a nice little van for the metro-area service tech who doesn't need to carry conduit, extension ladders, enough service parts to do the job in one visit, etc.

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I keep seeing a box van (it's a one-piece cargo van with a unique body, like a Grumman Stepvan in miniature) around. It actually looks like an ice-cream truck, except shorter (not as tall in the front; it's like a long postal truck, sorta) and a bit rounded. It has the same frontal styling, too:

So, friends: What Is This Van?

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For those asking about seating, there are two versions. The van is as tested, and a wagon with a rear seat to sit 5. You can also option the van with or without the side windows.

As far as comparing this to anyone's "my car" statment, again this is a commercial vehicle. Compare apple to apples, it was never built to compete with a Focus/Civic/Camry/Accord/etc.

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My car is almost sixteen feet long and does it in 32 feet, two inches. Suck on it.

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Segment-busting? Really? Last time I checked, plenty of subcompact/B-segment cars have been sold here for years, including the original Fiesta.

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Let be be the one dozen millionth person to point out that this really ought to offer a modern diesel.

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