You'd get used to the push button start if it was your daily driver. It's nice leaving the keys in the pants or coat pocket. I took a step back yesterday and drove my sil's 05 Mazda 3. His remote doesn't work, so I have to unlock the doors with the key and then put it in the slot to start the car. Oh what a horror!Finally have experienced a couple of the new generation Sprinters. Over all, I like them. The electro-assist steering is very different feeling, much nicer at low speed parking maneuvers but feels pretty good and linear once moving. I'd say it is an improvement.
The brake feel is better. Touchier, with a bit more progressive "grab" when slowing down. The brake size didn't look any different but it might be.
Not a fan of the push button start (although I realize the "key" in the old ones is not really used in a mechanical sense, I still prefer it). I loathe the joystick gear shifter, especially considering the old style was nearly perfect in terms of both function and placement.
The loss of the diesel 4 cyl sucks, but at least the V6 diesel not only got some improvements (low pressue EGR, a'la VAG) but it also gets bolted to the 7sp transmission too.
The dash and instruments feels more technology laden, which some may like, I do not. Although it is reasonably clean and well laid out. They also added a DEF gauge, which is nice. The touch-pad steering wheel navigation takes some getting used to, and I think I would grow to hate it like poison. I do not think they call come with that, though.
They also axed the standard roof passenger van, so you have to get a high roof. Further making mine a unicorn.
I have not driven the 2.0L gas/9sp automatic version, just the V6 diesel. I suspect these will be priced much less and appeal to some buyers, especially fleets. They also have a lighter duty '1500' option they did not have before, although even these still have the 8550 GVWR to avoid some lower end emission regs. They also added a HD3500 and a 4500, some of which have nearly 3.5 tons of payload
In Europe, Transits with an automatic weren't available before the mid-cycle refresh when the 10-speed came, Transit Connects were manual only for the first two model years of the current body style and the automatic only comes with diesels, Fiat Doblò (Promaster City) is manuual only still, Ducato just got its first torque converter auto this year, all European spec Nissan vans are manual only, GM does not sell vans in Europe at all.
...just like a lot of competitors do it:
Growing up in the city, the last manual car my parents owned was a 59 or 60 Volvo that my brother cracked the head in in 71 or 72. Something about running a 12 year old car at 90+ for an extended period of time.
The interesting paradox is that by getting a young (or older) person to drive a manual car he/she will be more engaged with the driving process and therefore he/she and the passengers in the car will be safer.
Funny how these cars don't care about stuff like that. Two summers ago I drove my son's Golf to Wisconsin, following him in his old pickup truck. The truck fouled its plugs (story for another time) and we had to swap them out in Ohio. I had his cat in the Golf so we let it sit and idle with the A/C on for a couple hours while he fixed the truck. Car didn't care, cooling fans would run occasionally, othewise normal. Got 50 MPG on that tank, too.
