Test Driving an E-350 diesel - Diesel Forum

camperman · 01-27-2003, 11:58 PM

My wife and I are considering a purchase of a 2003-2004 Ford E-350 diesel van. I would be interested in hearing from other buyers about your shopping experience with these vans. I'm located in south central Texas and dealers in this area don't seem to ever stock any full size vans other than the occasional light duty E-150's. Before I plunk down 35-40K on a new diesel van I would like to evaluate build quality & test drive one first. We are used to the fairly tight handling & car like ride of a minivan and moving up to this platform is going to require more than just a little research.

Any feedback is appreciated....

Regards;

David

msnunes · 01-28-2003, 10:13 AM

Well, it ain't no minivan, that's for sure... If you want to test drive one, an E-150 is probably pretty close, though the suspension will be much softer than an E-350. Otherwise, you'll just have to keep trying for find one... Of course, I ordered mine "drive untested."

JCooper · 01-28-2003, 01:23 PM

Camperman:

I live in Houston and had the same problem. Best I could do was to drive a cargo E-350, rather than the passenger version we finally ordered. Tommy Vaughn Ford here in Houston was the only place I could find that had any in stock. Went to a couple of other places that said they had them and they mysteriously had disappeared from the lot by the time we got there.

Dont know where exactly you are located, but might be worth the trip to Houston to get to drive one.

We are "moving up" from a mini van also. My wife drives the mini van and will drive the new 350 (pick it up tomorrow from Cochise !!) I thought she would have some reservations about the way it drove, but when we took a test drive she was sold.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

yaric008 · 01-28-2003, 02:59 PM

In my opinion i like driving the van more than most cars. But some people i know tell me that when they drive mine they really don't like it. But i would say if you drive an E-150 and fairly like it you should like the E-350, it's basically the same, just like msnunes says, it has tighter suspension, and if you get the diesel it will be a little less touchy on the accelerator and perform a little different. All in all I say the E-350 is a well built vehicle. My dad has a VW TDI Bug and I drove that up to illinois last summer, when i got back it was soooo nice driving the van again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. I can't really comment on the new vans tho, mine is a 92.

The engine isn't too difficult to work on, it can get tight up front sometimes but it's nothing you can't handle. Changing the oil is simple aswell.

Yardbrew · 01-28-2003, 05:07 PM

Camperman,

Come over to Meridian and drive mine.

I spilled a cup of fuel additive last week on the astro turf in the back, so it has a rather interesting aroma in the cargo area right now. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]

Otherwise everything is fairly normal.

It's stock as a rock.

Yardbrew

Johnny96 · 01-28-2003, 05:11 PM

Suggestion: try to get one with 20-30K on it. I drove one with ~1K on it, and seriously thought the parking brake was on. The PSD takes a while to loosen up.

Johnny96 · 01-28-2003, 05:11 PM

Suggestion: try to get one with 20-30K on it. I drove one with ~1K on it, and seriously thought the parking brake was on. The PSD takes a while to loosen up.

E350PSD · 01-28-2003, 05:26 PM

Hmmm, I could never tell if I left the parking brake on or not! In matter of fact I’ve been thinking about an alarm to let me know… On several occasions I’ve taken off with it ON only to wonder if I was dragging sonething [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Larry M · 01-28-2003, 05:38 PM

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />
Hmmm, I could never tell if I left the parking brake on or not! In matter of fact I’ve been thinking about an alarm to let me know… On several occasions I’ve taken off with it ON only to wonder if I was dragging sonething

[/ QUOTE ]
I've done the same duma** thing and want an alarm also.

Yardbrew,

I was thinking of you when camperman posted since you're wintering over I guess in the warmer climates. I just knew any Vanner within reach would make the same offer to help someone else out. Can you say great site and people ... Is it time yet for a Vanner Group Hug [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Larry

camperman · 01-28-2003, 06:08 PM

I would agree. This is one of the nicest and most informative forums I have ever joined.

Yardbrew

Thank you very much for the test drive offer. I'll keep your offer on the table if something doesn't show up in one of the local dealers.

I live in the Austin-Round Rock vicinity and will be checking with dealers in the Dallas and Houston areas.

Great Forum....

Regards;

David

yaric008 · 01-28-2003, 06:08 PM

Speaking of leaving E-brakes on and such, mine doesn't move in reverse while the E-brake is on, like even at half throttle it doesn't move, unfortunalty i had to find that out one day. In forward it rolls pretty easy tho. I had to adjust mine a while back, it was getting to the point where it wasn't working and i had to strain the parking gear alot. But seeing i park on a pretty slanted driveway i usually can't leave without releasing the brake.

But here's my story real quick, i was working on my front brakes once, and i had put chaulks under the rear tires.. so i worked on the truck and whatever and put it back together, i was in a big hurry, so i go to pull out and put it in reverse and it doesn't move.. so i'm like.. "ahhhh the E-brake", so i release it, still nothing, so i'm like.. "crap, what the hell is going on??" I was thinking when i put my brakes back on they were holding or something, i just couldn't figure it out, so i was trying to break it loose by giving it some power while in reverse, then remembered about the chaulks, man i felt like a goof ball.