Suggestions for a small business/bike shop

equ · 02-28-2021, 10:35 PM

So my good friends who run a small bike shop in Jersey City have opened a second branch in suburban NJ. These guys have roots in NYC. They did everything by bike, in almost any weather, or occasional public transport or rental. Now they need a vehicle... It will do about 11k commuting miles/year plus some, so say 15 to 20k/year.

They are not on any sort of glam budget. $'s are important.

My suggestion to them (if they can swing the lease or finance) was to go with a ford transit connect or perhaps, better, the dodge promaster city. They will occasionally need 4-5 seats, they will often need to carry bikes, parts and boxes. One of the guys is convinced the Ford connect is crap, so maybe the Ram is their only choice (Fiat Doblo internationally, though with that ubiquitous 2.4L for the US).

The advantage of the smaller, non 6-cyl size, will be on the city & commute side, easier parking, cheaper maintenance. Also considered were minivans with seats taken out or a used Scion xB manual... Not sure how much time they will have to maintain a shop car, so even though it'll be strange for them, new may be the way to go.

Thoughts? Competitors to the Promaster City? The mercedes metris is out of budget.

ZBB · 03-01-2021, 07:01 AM

I was going to say Transit Connect.

Can’t imagine the Promaster City being better, but perhaps my thinking on Fiat product quality is dated...

FC · 03-01-2021, 07:25 AM

I know very little about this segment, but my gut suggestion would have been a Mercedes if budget allows, otherwise a Transit Connect.

JST · 03-01-2021, 07:29 AM

Yeah, I’d agree on the Transit Connect.

Not sure why the guy thinks it’s crap. I also can’t believe that the Promaster is built any better.

There’s also the Nissan NV200, which is probably not better than the Transit or Dodge but there might be some advantage in all the cabs being based on that, in terms of shops and parts availability. Plus Nissan even shows one set up for a bike store. https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/c...act-cargo.html

Another option would be a pickup with a cap. Toyota offers a Tacoma in the mid-20s; Rangers and Colorados are priced similarly. Each looks to have a 6’ bed available.

FC · 03-01-2021, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Not sure why the guy thinks it’s crap. I also can’t believe that the Promaster is built any better.

Exactly. And let me just state the obvious and say that Transit Connects are all over (western, at least) Europe. It can't be such a POS.

kognito · 03-01-2021, 07:54 AM

Transit connect also has a lot of room for outside advertising.

Custom wrap for their shops!

wdc330i · 03-01-2021, 02:17 PM

Not sure why, but Honda Element comes to mind. Although they are long in the tooth at this point.

robg · 03-01-2021, 02:29 PM

I rented a Promaster once and it was one of the most uncomfortable vehicles i've ever driven. Whenver i see one, I wince and feel bad for whoever has to drive those wretched things

Nick M3 · 03-01-2021, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

Exactly. And let me just state the obvious and say that Transit Connects are all over (western, at least) Europe. It can't be such a POS.

Ford's reputation for (lack of) quality is getting pretty extreme.

But it doesn't look like it's sold with an ecoboost, which seems to be the big issue.

Nick M3 · 03-01-2021, 04:14 PM

I will say that I'm not clear what the difference between these things and a minivan are in reality. And if you expand to include minivans, well, then you get toyota and honda as options.

02-28-2021, 10:35 PM	#1
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,584	Suggestions for a small business/bike shop So my good friends who run a small bike shop in Jersey City have opened a second branch in suburban NJ. These guys have roots in NYC. They did everything by bike, in almost any weather, or occasional public transport or rental. Now they need a vehicle... It will do about 11k commuting miles/year plus some, so say 15 to 20k/year. They are not on any sort of glam budget. $'s are important. My suggestion to them (if they can swing the lease or finance) was to go with a ford transit connect or perhaps, better, the dodge promaster city. They will occasionally need 4-5 seats, they will often need to carry bikes, parts and boxes. One of the guys is convinced the Ford connect is crap, so maybe the Ram is their only choice (Fiat Doblo internationally, though with that ubiquitous 2.4L for the US). The advantage of the smaller, non 6-cyl size, will be on the city & commute side, easier parking, cheaper maintenance. Also considered were minivans with seats taken out or a used Scion xB manual... Not sure how much time they will have to maintain a shop car, so even though it'll be strange for them, new may be the way to go. Thoughts? Competitors to the Promaster City? The mercedes metris is out of budget.

03-01-2021, 07:01 AM	#2
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,821	I was going to say Transit Connect. Can’t imagine the Promaster City being better, but perhaps my thinking on Fiat product quality is dated... __________________ ZBB

03-01-2021, 07:54 AM	#6
kognito older fart than ZBB Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: On the road again Posts: 8,900	Transit connect also has a lot of room for outside advertising. Custom wrap for their shops! __________________ 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium

03-01-2021, 04:14 PM	#10
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,458	I will say that I'm not clear what the difference between these things and a minivan are in reality. And if you expand to include minivans, well, then you get toyota and honda as options. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

03-01-2021, 07:25 AM	#3
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,264	I know very little about this segment, but my gut suggestion would have been a Mercedes if budget allows, otherwise a Transit Connect.

03-01-2021, 07:29 AM	#4
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,611	Yeah, I’d agree on the Transit Connect. Not sure why the guy thinks it’s crap. I also can’t believe that the Promaster is built any better. There’s also the Nissan NV200, which is probably not better than the Transit or Dodge but there might be some advantage in all the cabs being based on that, in terms of shops and parts availability. Plus Nissan even shows one set up for a bike store. https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/c...act-cargo.html Another option would be a pickup with a cap. Toyota offers a Tacoma in the mid-20s; Rangers and Colorados are priced similarly. Each looks to have a 6’ bed available.

03-01-2021, 02:17 PM	#7
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,299	Not sure why, but Honda Element comes to mind. Although they are long in the tooth at this point.

03-01-2021, 02:29 PM	#8
robg Carmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,244	I rented a Promaster once and it was one of the most uncomfortable vehicles i've ever driven. Whenver i see one, I wince and feel bad for whoever has to drive those wretched things