Ford Transit Connect Is Streets Ahead In The Residual Value Stakes

When the Transit Connect arrived in Britain in November 2002, Ford trumpeted its low cost of ownership and durability. Two years on, the CAP Red Book confirms that Transit's little brother has beaten all expectations and has by far the strongest residual value in the market.

CAP Monitor's 2002 prediction of £4,400 for an average 200 SWB 1.8 TDdi van after two years/40,000 miles, has proved to be conservative. Transit Connect has had a phenomenal impact and closed 2004 with an actual price of £5,225 for average condition, an increase of £825.

This is only half the story. Looking at CAP predictions and the actual results, every Transit Connect competitor has a worse-than-predicted result for 2004. This means that the thousands of customers who bought a SWB Transit Connect in 2002 were expecting a benefit of up to £650 over any competitors, but can now expect up to £1,650 more than if they had chosen a competitor vehicle. In 2003 Transit Connect sales rose significantly and 13,657 SWB models were sold.

David Hill, Senior Editor of the CAP Red Book, said: "Ford is to be congratulated for its achievements in the light commercial vehicles market in 2004. The Connect has certainly so far bucked the trend of falling values in this market. Although it is still early days, at this point the Transit Connect is certainly hitting all the marks with used buyers - especially with side doors."

Gary Whittam, Commercial Vehicles Director, Ford of Britain, added: "We constantly talk to our customers about how the Transit brand is synonymous with low cost of ownership. This is the proof. Transit durability pays."

Overall, in excess of 24,000 Transit Connects were sold in 2004, an increase of 22 per cent on 2003.