Checking Out the 2015 Ford Transit

If you need a good work van, look no further than the 2015 Ford Transit.

Recently, the folks who run the Canadian Truck King Challenge finished their first full-size euro-style commercial van test, and the Ford Transit, powered by the turbo-diesel 3.2-liter PowerStroke inline-five-cylinder engine, beat both the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ram ProMaster in a tightly held contest.

The test was conducted over two days with six experienced journalists driving more than 2,000 kilometers, including several maneuverability road tests, payload hauling and even making a few real-world deliveries.

Eight commercial vans underwent the same rigorous testing used for pickup trucks by the judges of the Canadian Truck King Challenge – in addition to adding a unique category called “Inner-City Drivability.” 

The growth and rapid change in this segment is what prompted the Challenge to undertake this intense look (for the first time) at vehicles that are vital to the North American service industry economy.

Over the two days, the six automotive journalist judges drove the eight vans back to back, empty, loaded with payload, and while negotiating parking lots, back alleys, and laneways to simulate deliveries and service calls.

At the end of almost 2,000 kilometers of road testing (and a combined 110 hours of seat time) the judges awarded the top score for 2015 to the Ford Transit.

The all-new Ford Transit is a major transformation of the full-size van you’ve been accustomed to driving. Configure a Transit cargo van or passenger wagon with the combination of box length and height for the cargo volume/payload or passenger capacity you need. The Ford Transit is designed for capability and flexibility – and engineered to Built Ford Tough standards for durability.

The Transit Van is designed to maximize cargo space for carrying large volumes and heavy payloads. The Transit Wagon, with seating from eight to 15, accommodates a broad range of personal and commercial-use applications. Whether you’re an independent owner-operator or the manager of a corporate fleet, it’s all about working productively and raising the bottom line.

The Transit offers a line of power-efficient engines designed for the cost-conscious business. The Transit engines come in standard 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 with advanced twin independent variable cam timing, the innovative 3.5L EcoBoost that delivers V6-type fuel economy with V8-type performance, and the proven 3.2L I-5 Power Stroke Turbo Diesel that combines power, efficiency, and Built Ford Tough Ford durability and dependability. The challenge of operating at high performance while helping keep costs low has gotten a lot easier.

Today, working productively isn’t about working hard - your van is engineered to do that. For your part, it’s about working smart, every hour of every day. That’s why every measure of the 2015 Ford Transit work space is carefully designed to maximize efficiency and versatility, making your Transit the ideal tool for any job.

Ready to check one out? Head to www.monacoford.com and check out Monaco Ford in Glasonbury’s new Ford vehicles – as well as our pre-owned Fords and certified pre-owned Fords.

Monaco Ford is family owned and operated since 1922, currently employing its 4th generation of ownership. The dealership currently has over 80 employees. It has received Ford’s prestigious President’s Award an outstanding 9 times in the past two decades by surpassing all requirements, proving itself as one of Connecticut’s elite dealers. Visit www.monacoford.com for more about the dealership and the inventory. Our cars and our company are reliable and trustworthy. What more could you ask for?

We Are Warriors in Pink

We at Monaco Ford are proud to be Warriors in Pink as this year marks Ford Motor Company’s 20th year in the fight against breast cancer.

As a car company, we are not breast cancer experts, but we know we can help.

From designing a full line of Warriors in Pink apparel to raise funds, to creating a broad reach in the media to generate awareness, to conducting a survey to help people keep breast health top of mind, Ford looks for ways to help people “go further” every day.

In these 20 years, Ford has donated 100 percent of the net proceeds, and over $125,000,000 has been dedicated to the cause.

Ford understands that sometimes, the hardest thing to do and the right thing to do are the same thing. Studies have shown that 63 percent of daughters are more likely to have conversations about their breast health if their mothers bring it up. Also, 59 percent of mothers admit they’re more likely to have the conversation if their daughter brings it up.

Since awareness leads to early detection and early detection leads to better outcomes, it’s time to start talking. We hope to help drive the conversation about breast cancer.

Ford understands that driving awareness that leads to proactive self-care and raising funds to support research and education are both very important. Warriors in Pink apparel was created to help do both.

The apparel that weaves the Symbols of the Warrior into each original design helps keep breast health in the forefront.

And, as always, 100 percent of the net proceeds support breast cancer charities. Ford has chosen four diverse charities – so you can decide where your donation goes. It’s your choice at checkout!

Each of the breast cancer organizations that Warriors in Pink helps – Young Survival Coalition, The Pink Fund, Susan G. Komen, and Dr. Susan Love – is unique in the way it helps support the cause. Whether it’s providing financial aid, free mammograms, resources, programs, research, or education, these organizations are there for those who need it.

For more information about and to support Warriors in Pink, visit www.warriorsinpink.ford.com.

A Thank You on This Veterans Day

We at Monaco Ford are grateful to all who have served our country. We appreciate the sacrifices these people and their families have made.

So on this Veterans Day, we would like to say thank you to all who served – and to all who are currently serving.

The Ford Motor Company echoes those sentiments and is equally as proud to support members of the military, and their families, who sacrifice, and have sacrificed so much for our country.

To emphasize Ford’s support and show our appreciation of those men and women, we are proud to offer military members and their families a $500 bonus cash offer good toward the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2013, 2014, or 2015 model year Ford vehicle.

Our family has a lot of military history. My grandfather and all his brothers served, including his brother Peter who was killed in Korea. He was in the United States Marine Corps., as was one of his brothers.

My grandfather and the two oldest brothers were in the Army. One of the brothers was Dwight Eisenhower’s driver in WWII, and the other was a Prisoner of War during WWII.

More recently, my brother, Mike, was in the United States Marine Corps.

Every year, we bring the crew from Monaco – along with the vehicles – to the Memorial Day Parade in Glastonbury. In the vehicles are the men and women who served our country. They may not be able to walk the entire route, but with the help of Monaco Ford, they can still be a part of the parade.

As a military family, we obviously have a soft spot for our former and current military members, and on Aug. 28, we were one of the stops of the High Five Tour 2014, a road trip across America that is raising funds for our warriors.

The tour was put on by Wounded Warriors Family Support, whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. The families of our casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically.

Your help rallied support in the community for our country’s military families and raised funds for the construction of “smart homes” for deserving wounded warriors. Absolutely 100 percent of all donations to the High Five Tour 2014 went directly to the construction of these homes.

Thank you for all you do and have done for us!

The Ford F-150 Versus the Chevy Colorado and Silverado

You need to haul a good-sized load, but you’re not sure which truck will be best – the 2015 Ford F-150, the Chevy Colorado, or maybe even the Chevy Silverado.

At a recent Texas Auto Writers Association's Truck Rodeo Pickuptrucks.com was able to do some comparison towing with these trucks. They hauled loads with a 2015 Ford F-150 equipped with the all-new 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost as well as an all-new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with the 3.6-liter V-6.

They were provided with four identically equipped 500-gallon water-tank trailers — outfitted with a conventional surge-brake hitch — to put behind each of the designated vehicles. They estimated the total weight of the water and double-axle reinforced supports to be just more than 5,200 pounds. The total weight of the trailer was nearly the same as the F-150 and probably several hundred pounds heavier than the Colorado.

The Ford F-150 that was used was a midlevel XLT FX4 package and Chevy provided the Silverado 2500 Heavy-Duty Duramax and Colorado crew-cab V-6.

They reported that for the Ford, the engine seemed powerful enough to pull a 5,000-pound load wherever needed, but maybe more importantly is how calm and settled the chassis feels when pulling and hauling the weight. From hill stops and takeoffs on a fairly good grade, the truck handled smoothly and settled any road irregularities pretty quickly.

In comparison, the Colorado, since it's a smaller and lighter vehicle with a naturally aspirated gas engine, struggled a little bit more.

While driving the F-150, they averaged just more than 11 miles per gallon, while the same route in the Colorado got us just less than 9 miles per gallon. The F-150 was equipped with 3.55:1 gears, while the Colorado only comes with 3.42:1 gears.

The F-150's new EcoBoost engine automatically turns off the auto stop-start feature and does a great job in Tow/Haul mode, slowing down the truck and trailer with an aggressive software program that makes quick downshifts when slowing or braking.

The Colorado, dealing with a higher percentage of its maximum towing capacity (about 61 percent for the F-150 and about 74 percent for the Colorado), seemed to accelerate slower.

Based on these drives, both pickups seem able to do plenty of hard pulling, but the Ford (with the smaller engine) seemed to handle the load with a touch more confidence. The Chevy V-6 was only down 20 horsepower when comparing the two engines, but when towing, the torque numbers always tell the tale. The Ford EcoBoost produces 375 pounds-feet while the GM V-6 gets 269, almost a 40 percent difference.

Now let’s look at the Ford F-150 versus the Chevy Silverado.

The 2015 Ford F-150 will have a 3.7-liter V6 engine of 302 horsepower as standard. There will be a 2.7-liter V6 320 horsepower, a 3.5-liter V6 with 365 horsepower, a 5.0-liter V8 engine with 360 horsepower, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 411 horsepower.

The Chevy Silverado will have a 4.3-liter engine producing 285 horsepower as standard. It will be available with a 5.3-liter V8 from 355 horsepower and a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower.

Both models will be driven to the rear wheels or all four wheels. The engines are combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Ford F-150 will have a stronger motor for 17 horsepower.

The Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado are set on 17-inch steel or alloy wheels and there are optionally offered 18-inch aluminum wheels.

Both models are designed to accommodate three passengers. TheFord F-150 will be made ​​in three, while the Chevy Silverado will be available in two, trim levels.

Ready to see what Monaco Ford has to offer? Head to www.monacoford.com to check out Monaco Ford in Glasonbury’s new Ford vehicles – as well as our pre-owned Fords and certified pre-owned Fords.

Meet Porkie, an 8-Year-Old Pit Bull Mix

Each month, we at Monaco Ford will be sponsoring a senior dog that is available for adoption at the Connecticut Humane Society.

This month is Porkie, an 8-year-old spayed, pit bull mix.

Even though she has this silly name, she is anything but porky. In fact, she is lean and in very good health.

Porkie would love to share her new home with kids over 8 years old.

She likes other dogs but would prefer a cat-free family.

Think she may be the one for you?

Why don’t you come down to the Newington shelter and find out?