New transit with Quigley 4x4 vs E350 V10 with UJOR?

[DonnaDevol]

I'm in position to purchase one of two vehicles.
Newer, more expensive, less robust (am I giving myself away?) Transit 350 with Quigley 4x4 vs. 2010 E350 V10 UJOR, 35", Aluminess bumpers all around.
Both have advantages and I'd like to get opinion of SMB community. Vehicle is intended for extended camping adventures including BLM lands but not Moab-level trails.
Vehicles haven't been upfitted with a lot of bling...yet...so mostly looking for opinions on the raw vehicle.
I need to pick one.
1. 2018 HR transit with Quigley 4x4. Primary options are ambulance package, eco-boost engine, and cruise control. 0 miles; $56k
2. 2010 V10 E350 EB with $30k of UJOR upfits including 4x4, lockers, Aluminess front, rear, and nerf. Not abused. 90k miles; $40k. Most miles were by carpet installer, pre-UJOR, not an adventurer
Thoughts?

 

[kreese]

I did #1 except went with QuadVan 4x4 instead of Quigley. My outdoor adventure plans are similar to yours. My 2018 Ford Transit HR EL is now in production at SMB. Could’ve chosen any platform I wanted. This one is perfect for me.

 

[larrie-SMB]

Are you planning on outfitting the interior yourself or having a company like Sportsmobile do it? Either van will do what you want. The V10 has lots of miles left in it. I would take the 2010 and and put the dollar difference into making the interior comfortable for backcountry travel and living.

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Make sure to get Eric's input (86Scotty), since he's had many a van, including E350's and a Transit.




Herb

 

[DonnaDevol]

continued thread Transit HR Quigley vs E350 UJOR

Thanks, Friends!
Not sure I'm posting responses in the correct locations.
Larrie: I will probably hire capable mechanics/electricians/carpenters to do interior upfit. I used to have tools to do it myself but...you know, divorce happens. I'm also leaning towards the V10.

 

[DonnaDevol]

Responding to Kreese

Thanks, Kreese! I would love to see pics of your fitout after you get it back from SMB. I didn't see any photos of Quadvan transit conversions so wasn't sure they did them. Would be interested to know the specs on your Quad.
SMB conversions really hold their value so may finish my upfit with them.

 

[86Scotty]

They both have distinct advantages and disadvantages. If you are doing mild offroading I would definitely go for the Transit. Disclaimer: MILD offroading is all that 99% of us will ever do in a van. They're simply too big/tall/expensive/etc. for heavy off-roading. The two biggest reasons are fuel mileage (It will be a solid 5 mpg more with the Transit, maybe more) and ON-road ride. A Transit drives like a minivan. It is totally smooth and comfortable on the road, I mean sedan-like, not truck like. The V-10 with Ujoint will be a beast capable of getting you anywhere but is not going to ride as well as a Transit on the road, or be as smooth and quiet. The Ecoboost has the same power as the V10 practically, and is far more than you need unless you are towing heavy things.

I could go a lot deeper but I'll just say this. Many won't like it and that's fine. My reputation here is well known as an E-series van fan who bought a Transit hesitantly (as a work vehicle) and more or less fell in love. Here it is: Time marches on. The E-series has a lot of plusses that the Transit (or Sprinter or Promaster) may never live up to. It is essentially bulletproof. It is body on frame and all of it's issues have been worked out of it since it's been the same for 25 years. We're in year number 4 for the North American Transit and upgrades and improvements are being made left and right.
Sadly for us all the E-series is disappearing. Your investment in an E-series will not have the staying power that an investment in a Transit will have. Do you care? That is the question. The Transit is the new E-series. Ford isn't going back at this point. They are selling Transits like nothing else to folks like us and fleets, service industry, shuttles, etc. It's going to get harder to sell an E-series and after a few weeks driving a Transit you will definitely see the datedness of an E-series. The layout, controls, mirrors, headroom, climate control, suspension, transmission, efficiency, and virtually everything else are worlds better.

I've rambled on plenty. I look at E-series every day and will probably buy another for something or other but it will be for a specific purpose when I do. Just make sure of your purpose.

There is one more person who frequents this forum who is a fan of both and has made the leap to Transit. He is far more technically savvy than me and his input might help you out. Hopefully he will chime in. Where are you Michael Gabriel (MGmetalworks)?

Good luck!

:b5:

 

[86Scotty]

Other thoughts worth mentioning. The Quigley Transit adds 2" of lift and worlds of capability. From what I've heard it drives and handles no differently than a 2wd Transit.

GO DRIVE ALL 3!!! (2wd Transit because they're easy to find, 4wd Transit and Ujoint). 15 minutes in each will probably narrow down your thinking completely.

I have a Sportsmobile for sale. It's a 7.3 Quigley and a rather nice one. It's owner wants something quieter, newer and less likely to need maintenance/attention. She borrowed my Transit and used it for the last month while I've had hers for sale. She is now trying to buy my Transit. I'm probably not going to sell though.

 

[mgmetalworks]

There is one more person who frequents this forum who is a fan of both and has made the leap to Transit. He is far more technically savvy than me and his input might help you out. Hopefully he will chime in. Where are you Michael Gabriel (MGmetalworks)?

Good luck!

:b5:

For me...Transit, no question. The Quigley Transits drive almost identically to a stock Transit. The steering racks in a 2wd are different than the 4wd and the steering feels a little lighter/easier in a Quigley but other than that, they drive the same.

I have a couple lingering E-series projects in the queue but dozens of Transit, Sprinter, Promaster projects lining up and no end in sight. The E-series still has a following but the more modern vans are accelerating in popularity.

 

[arctictraveller]

I'm a die hard E series fan, but I want my van to be able to do some hard core wheeling if I choose. I do a lot of off road miles, and it goes pretty much anywhere it fits, but at the cost of a much harsher ride, somewhat vague steering, and less room than a Transit. Still, it's worth it to me.

 

[DonnaDevol]

Great forum! Great advice!
My current thinking:
1. I've bought a one-way ticket to check out the E350...I'll post pics/specs if I get it. It is totally worthy as a rock-crawler, lightly used, and has some very nice upfits as a camper/road traveler. I really like exploring forest service roads and BLM lands even though I'm not much into 4-wheeling for 4-wheeling's sake. Nice thing about older van is I don't worry about minor dings and scratches.
2. The transit with Quigley or Quadvan 4x4 is still a great option and the reviews are mostly really good. Would probably satisfy 95% of my needs and desires.

 

[shenrie]

...Your investment in an E-series will not have the staying power that an investment in a Transit will have.

I agree with most everything you said other than what I quoted. Only because I’ve seen the prices for what I bought in 2012 almost double for what I paid for my van. That could very well taper off and bottom out if the vanlife trend dies out, but there’s something about these 4wd econolines that people love. I don’t consider any of them any worse of an investment than any other modified vehicle. Hell some of the civics I’ve owned are so popular now I regret selling some of them for what I did. Wouldn’t have guessed such a mass produced car would ever be worth anything, but I have people trying to buy my old pos every time I drive it. It floors me I have a list of people lined up to buy an 1989 car when I’m done with it

That said the eco boost setup is nice. I haven’t driven the transit but have plenty of time in the f150s. Are the two comparable at all or is the transit completely different?

 

[RVflyfish]

Maybe MG's modesty kept him from mentioning it, so I'll do it for him...

Michael, what about your Expovans 4x4 Transit conversion as another option?

Donna if I were considering a Transit 4x4, I know MG's is the way I would go.

 

[mgmetalworks]

Maybe MG's modesty kept him from mentioning it, so I'll do it for him...

Michael, what about your Expovans 4x4 Transit conversion as another option?

Donna if I were considering a Transit 4x4, I know MG's is the way I would go.

Yes, we will have a working 4x4 conversion for the Transit soon-ish. Not ready to start taking orders yet though. Lots of cool parts have been showing up from the machine shop and I've been busy finalizing the details of the custom steering knuckle. Lots to do still but it is starting to come together. Can't wait to show it off!

 

[86Scotty]

I agree with most everything you said other than what I quoted. Only because I’ve seen the prices for what I bought in 2012 almost double for what I paid for my van. That could very well taper off and bottom out if the vanlife trend dies out, but there’s something about these 4wd econolines that people love. I don’t consider any of them any worse of an investment than any other modified vehicle. Hell some of the civics I’ve owned are so popular now I regret selling some of them for what I did. Wouldn’t have guessed such a mass produced car would ever be worth anything, but I have people trying to buy my old pos every time I drive it. It floors me I have a list of people lined up to buy an 1989 car when I’m done with it

That said the eco boost setup is nice. I haven’t driven the transit but have plenty of time in the f150s. Are the two comparable at all or is the transit completely different?

I can't disagree, I like E-series too, but I think the values have started to go down. That's just my opinion from what I've seen. Actually, though, I quickly racked up 100k in my Transit and the value of it has gone way down too. Also, of course, it depends on where you are. You NW and W folks have higher values on your vans anyway. Oh, and this, I think the popularity of the 4wd Sprinters is what will drive all other van values down. They aren't for me but it seems everyone is jumping on that bandwagon and lots of E-series are getting sold lately.

I have not driven an F150 with an Ecoboost ever, but I'd sure love to! :d3:

 

[Grampswrx]

I’d get a sprinter 4x4 but I’d be too scared to take it anywhere. There aren’t enough mb dealers or shops let alone sprinter ones if you ever had a problem. A ford on the other hand could be fixed anywhere in the America’s pretty much.

 

[Spr-SMB]

All the points mentioned are great. For what it’s worth I often think a high top transit would be great (this was decided after seeing 86scottys van in W Virginia) but then I drive my E series and think I’m crazy for even letting the thought of getting a high top cross my mind. With that said we have the pop top so when we make camp I can stand on the van. There are so many pros and cons for both but the adventures we’ve had off road are some of the best vacation memories I have and wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Also, I absolutely love the way the e series drives. It’s not my daily driver and I don’t expect it to act like such. Our van has seen almost every state in the US and it still amazes me how much I love driving it.
The high top transit (or similar) is also amazing and just so easy to move around in etc. totally different in so many respects.
To Eric’s point of a lot of e series getting sold from what I’ve seen most are getting sold right away which tells me there is still a market for them....
Also keep in mind as these van life millennials in sprinters, transits and promasters all grow up and have kids I’m sure there will be a lot of them for sale as well.
At the end of the day it’s an automobile and values will depreciate. We are all crazy and take the risk of that. The experiences gained far out way the potential financial loss. Knowing that it’s up to you what type of experiences you want to gain. Either way you can’t go wrong... I say buy both
Shaun
2010 RB SMB 4x4

 

[Flux]

Great, you guys are making me second guess my 2 year old purchase of my E series...........I admit there is a bit of envy when I see the next gen vans and how they are appointed.

 

[RVflyfish]

Nah Flux, with where you live, when the siren song of the desert or Baja calls you'll be glad you went with an Agile E350!

 

[Flux]

No regrets at all. And I can say the Agile is really great on the highway. But I do admire the modern vans for what they offer. But my van right now is everything I wanted it to be......except for the stuff I have yet to add in my build, bumpers and finished interior etc.


Most important part I think is getting a van that best suits your needs and then using the hell out of it!! There may come a day when I have a transit or sprinter along with my E series in the driveway. Never say never.