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SUVs Crossover SUV Comparison
7147 messages, Last post on Dec 05, 2009 at 5:13 PM
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Replying to: saabturboid (Apr 01, 2008 7:31 am) In the Forester threads we're complaining that Subaru dropped the manual transmission option from the turbo models, but SoA answered back saying they only sold 10 per month nationwide. It was our fault for not buying enough of them. Whether the Flex will succeed where the Freestyle/Taurus X failed we'll have to wait and see. The latter were competent yet fairly anonymous. The Flex is not anonymous at all - people will love it or hate it. Ford is gambling that it will be noticed and get on more buyers' radars. I happen to like the Flex more. It looks like a super-sized Mini Cooper. A dose of personality may help it sell better, at least Ford hopes so.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 01, 2008 7:27 am) True. However minivan sales peaked in 2000 at 1.37 million sales that year and have been down ever since. CUV sales OTOH are up up up and that's what Ford and GM are aiming at now I'd guess. This probably sounds familiar because they both did the same thing when the SUV craze took hold of our Nation. At least this time they are concentrating somewhat more on their cars so they have something to fall back on if/when the CUV craze dies.
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Replying to: baggs32 (Apr 01, 2008 8:31 am) The catch is there is a lot more competitors fighting for pieces of that pie.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 01, 2008 7:37 am) I disagree. I think there are plenty of people out there like me, but it seems at best Ford had no idea how to market this vehicle, and at worst didn't market it. The only advertising I ever saw for the Freestyle surrounded around a divorced family who came together for a brief time and drive around in the Freestyle before they go their separate ways again. I hope who ever came up with that concept to sell a vehicle has now found a different career. Ford also was an early adopter of the CUV concept before most people knew what one was. Instead of capitalizing on this new category of vehicles with a good marketing campaign, it seems they thought people would figure it out for themselves. All of this while most Ford dealers had 30 Explorers on the lot but only 1 or 2 Freestyles. It never felt like Ford wanted the Freestyle to succeed, or perhaps they were scared to sacrifice more profitable Explorer sales. Who knows, but what ever the case I believe many more people would have loved the vehicle had they known about it and given it a try. Today it is too late since there is now substantial competition and the Freestyle/Taurus X is considered a lame duck vehicle.
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Replying to: saabturboid (Apr 01, 2008 9:44 am) I do think Ford needed to inject a bit more personality, though, especially if they expected the vehicle to sell itself without much marketing support. |
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Replying to: saabturboid (Apr 01, 2008 7:31 am) Now with a different look becoming popular on CUV/SUVs, the Explorer look is maybe not as popular as in the past. Edge and perhaps Flex are more in the modern look, either you like it or not. I don't think I would call the Freestyle a 'modern looking crossover'...but it's not bad for an Explorer looking wagon...great value for the utility. But it still looks like an Explorer...one disadvantage is that it looks as if it has 15" rims where a lot of the look now is for the larger rims. So, if you are getting phased out by Ford, where will you go for your next vehicle? Just curious. Good day.
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Replying to: wlbrown9 (Apr 01, 2008 11:24 am) |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 01, 2008 9:03 am) I'm not sure what the current volume is but the predictions are saying CUV sales should go over 3 million this year. Sales have been rising between 10 and 20 percent each year for the past few years probably mostly due to new models being introduced constantly. Just look at Ford's March 2008 sales. SUVs and trucks in general are down but their CUVs are up save for the TX. |
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Replying to: baggs32 (Apr 01, 2008 5:34 pm) Still, there's a lot more competition. Scoop from the Straightline Blog: the Outlander's 6 speed is getting the dual-clutch treatment, a la VW's DSG gearbox. Pretty cool, check it out: http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea5d4c/2
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 02, 2008 7:13 am) I'm a manual tranny guy myself but I'd take a DSG if one were offered. With some kind of manua control of course. 
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