Try looking at the instantaneous when your thrashing it, mine dropped to 8!!
Obviously the 6 speed 04 onwards are better on fuel, but not as quick in take off.
Lovely cars, I'd definately get another, mine was a late 03 5 speed in black with red leather$
The 3.0 v6 is miles apart from the 2.5 shite, very rev happy and power all the way through the rev range without the crank pulley or water pump problems aswell.
Looks like a cracking example you've got aswell
Well my transit drops to mid 15 mpg when flat out! People always moan about the mpg on these but I've always got over 30mpg on decent runs, normally 33-34 in warmer weather and recently its not gone below 28 mpg in mixed driving. I think the gearing is perfect, 3rd gear is quite close to 2nd and acceleration is brisk , mid 14's is not shabby for a car of this size! Plus i love the long legged 6th gear, basically an overdrive.
Its now 3 years since I got it and I still look for excuses to drive it! Prices are rock bottom, so much so that I might buy a 220 estate this year!
As a family car with good dynamics, good performance and refinement I think I would struggle to find a car to match it for the money.