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Ford Freestyle - Taurus X

7455 messages,  Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 7:26 AM

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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#7388 of 7455
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 7455
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 7455
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 7455
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 7455
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 7455
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 7455
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.
#7395 of 7455
Re: Much of a place anymore? [bdyment] by larryqw
Aug 12, 2008 (7:23 am)
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Replying to: bdyment (Aug 12, 2008 6:08 am)

We need a family size vehicle for 5. Our minivan only averages 16 MPG in daily combined city/hwy use. A SUV is likely even worse for average mileage with a lot of city driving for kids.
 
In contrast, my Taurus X is getting over 20 MPG in daily use. Commuting to work with 70% highway, I average 23-25 MPG for the whole week with the Taurus X, depending on how much city driving I do on errands. That mileage is just fine for such a useful vehicle, and way better than the alternatives for the same capability - a minivan or SUV.
 
Still, it will be nice when Ford EcoBoost comes out, and mileage increases 20-25%, in my case up to 25-30 MPG overall average in daily use for the large vehice. Some people will then be upset if they'd bought a cramped and less useful compact car to get better mileage, providing for a insignificant extra savings at that point.
#7396 of 7455
Re: Much of a place anymore? [coldcranker] by baggs32
Aug 12, 2008 (8:13 am)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 11, 2008 7:05 pm)

Looks like the Flex's controversial love/hate style is more hate than love for most folks.
 
You're forgetting that the Flex has been a slow release to dealers and is only now starting to trickle into some in smaller markets. Also, the ad campaign does not start until late this month or sometime in September. Sales were low for July but they weren't easy to find unless you wanted one of the first copies built which around here were 99% Limited models with just about every option.
 
I'm not saying the Flex will be a runaway success. But you do have to take the lack of inventory into consideration when judging first month sales. I'd wait until the ads hit the airwaves before measuring full month sales because dealer inventories are sure to be up to par by that time.
#7397 of 7455
Flex advertising in the U.S.A. [volkov] by coldcranker
Aug 13, 2008 (9:27 am)
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Replying to: volkov (Aug 11, 2008 10:23 pm)

Replying to volkov and baggs32 above, I've noticed some really flashy ads for the Flex on TV in the U.S.A. for about a month now. (Yes, we're the country that has Michael Phelps, not bragging or anything.) The web videos for the Ford Flex are similar in some ways to the TV segments. They are at ...Click here and then click on "Watch Videos" on the website...
I have an '05 Freestyle, and I laugh when I think of the low-key, barely there, mellow, boring ads Ford did for the Freestyle/TaurusX, while the Edge and Flex get star treatment.

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