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Ford Freestyle - Taurus X

7456 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 7:03 PM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, Ford Taurus X, SUV


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#7385 of 7456
Re: Ford is Giving Away the Taurus X [raezmom3] by larryqw
Aug 06, 2008 (7:27 pm)
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Replying to: raezmom3 (Aug 06, 2008 5:35 pm)

Actually, you can get a roof rack and carry a cargo box. The roof rack is limited to 125 lbs. I got a 16 cubic foot cargo box (Yakima SkyBox Pro 16) which at 45 lbs allows me to carry about 80 lbs of light but bulky goods like clothes and sleeping bags. The cargo box has almost zero effect on mileage, less than 0.5 MPG from what I can tell. This is because I mount the box fairly far back, in the slip stream.
 
I also carry two big mountain bikes on the roof, along with four on the back hitch, to go with the six riders in the car.
 
The only issue is getting cross bars to go on the back part of the rails that aren't raised. Ford's cross bars won't be out until the end of the year, if then. The solution I and others have used for the cross bars is discussed in detail here.
#7386 of 7456
Re: Ford is Giving Away the Taurus X [seloo] by cmuniz
Aug 07, 2008 (4:47 am)
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Replying to: seloo (Aug 06, 2008 1:20 pm)

I have had no troubles at all in 9 months and 13,000 miles. Just got back from a 3,800 mile trip from Texas to California. It did great. Average mpg was 25.2 and that included a lot of miles thru Utah canyons, Death Valley and the Sierra Nevadas. I discovered that the 6 spd transmission has a great "hill holder" feature that automatically downshifts when going downhill to hold the speed. It works even better if you press the "O/D" button on the shifter. It surprised me how well it worked. Very similar to how the CVT did on the Freestyle.
#7387 of 7456
Re: Ford is Giving Away the Taurus X [seloo] by makenasdad
Aug 07, 2008 (6:00 am)
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Replying to: seloo (Aug 06, 2008 1:20 pm)

No problems after 14,000 miles. I've been very happy with the X.
#7388 of 7456
TaurusX fuel economy vs. Freestyle by coldcranker
Aug 07, 2008 (1:05 pm)
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Replying to: cmuniz (Aug 07, 2008 4:47 am)

"... average mpg was 25.2 .." (TaurusX highway MPG)
 
Under those same conditions, the Freestyle probably gives 27 MPG in my own experience and what others report, in addition to EPA MPG comparisons. I'll take the 3.0L with the CVT, especially in hilly or mountain driving here in the Rockies. That CVT is unbeatable when varying ratios like butter up and down hills.
 
If Ford knew gas would be hovering near $4/gallon now, they would have reduced the bore in the new 3.5L V6 to make it around 3.0L, like the old V6, and made the TaurusX beat everything out there on fuel economy. Add direct injection and get another 1 MPG out of it (as Acadia/Outlook/Traverse are doing now) with more power. Then, the TaurusX could beat the old Freestyle on fuel economy.
 
Discussing our experiences with the Freestyle/TaurusX's V6s, remember Ford plans to put something like the Mazda CX7 4-cylinder turbo 2.3L (or so, maybe a 2.0L) into the future CUVs in the Freestyle/TaurusX/Explorer class. Currently, the CX7, a smaller CUV, running direct injection, a turbo, and VVT, gets horrible fuel economy. I don't know how Ford will change that with the Ecoboost theme of putting 4-cylinders in where smoothe V6s used to be, but stay tuned. We may be telling youngsters in a few years that the glory days of smoothe V6s were better than the followong period of thrashy 4-cylinders, so enjoy your V6 while it lasts.
#7389 of 7456
Re: Ford is Giving Away the Taurus X [seloo] by seloo
Aug 09, 2008 (7:17 am)
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Replying to: seloo (Aug 06, 2008 1:20 pm)

Great feedback!
 
It looks like this car is mostly trouble-free.
 
Thanks!!!
#7390 of 7456
Much of a place anymore? by steve_ HOST
Aug 11, 2008 (5:47 pm)
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Mercury Sable and Ford Taurus X may get axed
 
#7391 of 7456
Re: Much of a place anymore? [steve_] by coldcranker
Aug 11, 2008 (7:05 pm)
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Replying to: steve_ (Aug 11, 2008 5:47 pm)

I can see the TaurusX/Sable getting axed. The Edge and the Flex fill the size classes OK. However, sales figures so far in the first month for the new Flex are dismal. Looks like the Flex's controversial love/hate style is more hate than love for most folks. The Edge sells well, but Ford needs both to sell well!
#7392 of 7456
Re: Much of a place anymore? [coldcranker] by volkov
Aug 11, 2008 (10:23 pm)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 11, 2008 7:05 pm)

But much like the Freestyle and Taurus X, I've havent seen any advertising support for the Flex in Canada. I'll bet most consumers don't even know about it.
#7393 of 7456
Re: Much of a place anymore? [coldcranker] by bdyment
Aug 12, 2008 (6:08 am)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 11, 2008 7:05 pm)

I don't think it is the style but the fact it is the wrong vehicle for the times. It is too big, too heavy and does not give the gas mileage that people want these days,
#7394 of 7456
Well it's the right vehicle for us by brian_in_md
Aug 12, 2008 (6:57 am)
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We just picked up an 08' Taurus X SEL FWD, with leather, SYNC, SEL Interior Convenience and Power Packages, 50/50 3rd row, and Sirius for $26,400 inc freight - about $2k under invoice. For the feature content, practicality, safety, and yes - efficiency (given the vehicle size), I think it's a screaming bargain.
 
We had to replace our ~8 year old MPV, and like many families, we need the space of a full size vehicle with three rows. As much as I like more efficient people movers like the Mazda5 and the Kia Rondo, they are simply too small (good luck getting two or more hockey gear bags, cooler, and folding chairs behind the third row in either of those cars). Not to mention the third rows in those vehicles are clearly kid-sized only, which limits their usefulness IMO.
 
As for the fuel mileage of the Taurus (and Flex for that matter), relative to the competition, it's right in line or better. Show me another full size, 7 ADULT seat vehicle that is more fuel efficient (and I'm not talking about insignificant 1mpg differences either).
 
The fact is, there will always be a market for vehicles like this. There will always be people that need the space, and can afford the gas, even at $4/gal. Let's also not forget that people getting out of big body-on-frame truck-based SUVs like the Expedition or Suburban will see the mileage of the Taurus-X / Flex as a huge improvement.

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