Ford Edge Too Heavy? How's the Handling?

But just being heavy isn't enough. That's why some small cars have better side impact safety ratings. When you're T-Boned by another vehicle, a really heavy car with a poor door design and lack of side airbags isn't any safer than a better designed small car with side airbags. Maybe (big maybe because I'm no auto engineer) since the smaller car moves when it's hit, some of the energy of the crash is used, while some big cars don't move as much, but metal in the doors is pushed into the passenger compartment. I don't really know exactly, but I do know that some smaller cars get better side impact scores.

#74 of 80 the handling is good for a 4,200-pounder by steve_ HOST

Jan 13, 2007 (10:03 am)

"The ride quality is comfortable, and the handling is good for a 4,200-pounder, but neither is anything to write home about. Around cloverleaf entrance ramps, our front-driver feels top-heavy and predisposed to understeer."

2007 Ford Edge: A Second Look

#75 of 80 Weight, by mschmal

Jan 13, 2007 (12:52 pm)

Funny, the Edge is 2 heavy yet the Honda Pilot which weighs more is not.

Mark.

Replies to this message:

coldcranker (Jan 21, 2007 8:20 pm)
- sranger (Jan 22, 2007 6:41 am)

#76 of 80 Re: Weight, [mschmal] by coldcranker

Jan 21, 2007 (8:20 pm)

Replying to: mschmal (Jan 13, 2007 12:52 pm)

The Edge is a new design, so there was some hope we could get it in at about 3800 lbs with new, strong, lighter materials. The Pilot has been out for a few years and is slightly bigger than the Edge, so it should weigh slightly more. As is, the Edge without panoramic roof, weighs about 4100 lbs, only a little too porky, as the bigger Freestyle weighs 4000 lbs. With more extensive use of aluminum and/or boron HSS they could have gotten the vehicle weight down to 3500 lbs if they wanted to, improving performance as well as fuel economy. The Japanese put an aluminum roof on the latest Outlander to keep it from being top-heavy, so why can't Ford be innovative on their brand-new design?

Replies to this message:

sranger (Jan 22, 2007 6:41 am)

#77 of 80 Re: Weight, [coldcranker] by sranger

Jan 22, 2007 (6:41 am)

Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 21, 2007 8:20 pm)

The Japanese put an aluminum roof on the latest Outlander to keep it from being top-heavy, so why can't Ford be innovative on their brand-new design?

It is not a good answer, but the fact is that Ford is running out of money and they could not afford to keep the weight down on the Edge and these lighter materials are more expensive to produce and require more engineering to get right...

Heck they could not even afford to get rid of the old 4 speed atuo in the 2008 Escape...

#78 of 80 4 speed in the 2008 Escape by mschmal

Jan 22, 2007 (9:27 am)

This isn't about cost as much as its about prior bad decisions coming home to roost.

Appearntly we are stuck with the 4 speed in the 08 Escape because Ford has no factory capacity for the new 6 speed.

Ford just announced a new plant inventment:
Van Dyke Transmission: $320 million to help assemble a fuel-efficient, six-speed, front-wheel drive transmission for the next generation Ford Escape.

We have to wait until 2010.

Mark

Replies to this message:

sranger (Jan 22, 2007 8:02 pm)

#79 of 80 Re: 4 speed in the 2008 Escape [mschmal] by sranger

Jan 22, 2007 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: mschmal (Jan 22, 2007 9:27 am)

We have to wait until 2010.

Ouch....

That is going to hurt sales....

#80 of 80 My only hope by mschmal

Jan 23, 2007 (11:59 am)

With all the white collar job eliminations at Ford, I hope the people (managers) who got the company into this mess are the ones being targeted.

Mark.

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