Ford E-350 15-seater, no frills, a good buy
Pros:
Visibility, handling, reliability, ease of maintenance
Cons:
Side door alignment requires some tweaking
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
My wife and I purchased a 1999 Ford E-350 15-seater for our growing family (with our sixth child on the way). Our van is not loaded with options -- while we have tint windows, cruise control and running boards, we opted for no carpet or power features to assist us in keeping the van clean with active children, and to minimize worries about equipment breakages down the years. We purchased using the Internet (Autobytel.com) to locate a dealer and set a price. We are pleased with our vehicle, after three months, and with the purchase process.
Our van has the 5.4 liter V-8 engine, and it delivers very good power and acceleration. The gas mileage comes in at 14-16 mpg on the highway, and a consistent 11-12 mpg around town. The visibility while driving is excellent, with the height of the driver from the ground, and the large sidemounted mirrors. Due to the vehicle length, lane changes require slightly more planning than a conventional minivan, however the large mirrors provide excellent situational awareness. Both the turning radius and turning response are very good, and were much better than anticipated. Parking requires patience, but is not a difficult task, including parallel parking.
The rear bench removes very easily with two people. One person who is capable of lifting 60 pounds can remove the bench, as well. With the rear bench removed, there are twelve seats and a tremendous amount of cargo room, although thought must be put into to securing cargo in the rear to prevent shifting.
Do-it-yourself oil changes and fluid refilling are a cinch with this van. The engine was designed with easy access to wide-mouthed filling spouts in mind. The great height of the bottom of the vehicle from the ground make it completely unnecessary to jack the vehicle for oil plug or filter removal.
We found the height of the vehicle made running boards necessary in order to facilitate the handling of children and groceries around the vehicle.
We have found our E-350 to be a superior value to any minivan out there. Fuel mileage and luxury features are the only advantage we have seen of a minivan over our conversion van.
