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Crossover SUV Comparison

7122 messages,  Last post on Nov 09, 2009 at 1:24 PM

You are in the SUVs Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? GMC Acadia, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Taurus X, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Honda Accord Crosstour, Dodge Journey, Car Buying, Car Comparisons, SUV


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#6338 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [saabturboid] by wlbrown9
Apr 01, 2008 (11:24 am)
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Replying to: saabturboid (Apr 01, 2008 7:31 am)

Freestyle, Explorer, Expedition... I think I know what Ford has been thinking since the first Explorer hit the road in about the '91 model year. Our buyer wants the Explorer look, on the Explorer, Expedition and the Freestyle as well. There was some difference in the early 90s Explorer you could call the 1st generation, the second generation and lastly the current generation....BUT they all look like an Explorer...you can tell by the looks, and they have been afraid to change it. Even the Freestyle looks like a current generation Explorer, just lowered a little and maybe a little softer look. Explorer (as well as Expedition and Freestyle) fans would probably want it to stay that way, or at least Ford thought that. So, they kept making the SUV look popularized by Explorer.
 
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.
#6339 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [wlbrown9] by ateixeira
Apr 01, 2008 (12:10 pm)
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Replying to: wlbrown9 (Apr 01, 2008 11:24 am)

Good point about the family resemblance. What helped at first, hurt later on as people wanted something fresh looking.
#6340 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [ateixeira] by baggs32
Apr 01, 2008 (5:34 pm)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 01, 2008 9:03 am)

I wonder how big the crossover segment will get. What's the volume now?
 
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.
#6341 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [baggs32] by ateixeira
Apr 02, 2008 (7:13 am)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Apr 01, 2008 5:34 pm)

3 million is one *big* pie.
 
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
#6342 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [ateixeira] by baggs32
Apr 02, 2008 (10:14 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 02, 2008 7:13 am)

That is good news about the DSG! The only other mainstream mfrs I've seen even planning or using them are VW and Ford. I think VW uses one now right? And Ford supposedly going to use the one Volvo is using which was developed with Getrag.
 
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.
#6343 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [baggs32] by ateixeira
Apr 02, 2008 (11:14 am)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Apr 02, 2008 10:14 am)

Same here, but most family cars only come with automatics anyway, so we don't have any other choice.
 
I'd take a DSG over an regular automatic.
#6344 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [ateixeira] by volkov
Apr 02, 2008 (12:30 pm)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 02, 2008 7:13 am)

Probably the same as the one in the Evo - doubt Mitsu has the resources to pay for the development of more than one such unit. It was farmed out too, but don't recall reading who the 3rd party supplier was.
#6345 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [wlbrown9] by saabturboid
Apr 02, 2008 (3:44 pm)
Reply

Replying to: wlbrown9 (Apr 01, 2008 11:24 am)

wlbrown9 wrote:
 
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.

 
The Freestyle looks a little like an Explorer but the Taurus X certainly doesn't. The base wheels on the Freestyle/Taurus X are 17" and the Limited come with 18"s.
 
And regarding our next family vehicle, I suspect we'll keep driving the Freestyle for a couple more years (We currently have an '05 with 52k miles on it), and then maybe pick up a last year Taurus X if Ford does phase them out. After that, who knows? I'd really like a Diesel crossover that gets 40mpg on the highway.
 
- Chad
#6346 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [saabturboid] by wlbrown9
Apr 03, 2008 (9:06 am)
Reply

Replying to: saabturboid (Apr 02, 2008 3:44 pm)

"The Freestyle looks a little like an Explorer but the Taurus X certainly doesn't. The base wheels on the Freestyle/Taurus X are 17" and the Limited come with 18"s. "
 
The Freestyle/Taurus X are listed as coming with 17" & 18" for 2007/2008. The ones I see around Memphis look like they have smaller ones...might just be the impression the design gives.
 
Well, to quote the Edmunds review on the Taurus X:
 
"The 2008 Ford Taurus X is essentially a relabeled version of last year's Freestyle, but with the new name comes a new look and several improvements. "
 
I would agree the Flex does not look like an Explorer, but the Freestyle/Taurus X does, at least to me. ( I think the Flex looks like someone took my Trooper and stretched it out a little and chopped it down a little shorter. I really need to see one to get the real feel for if I like it or not, pictures only do so much.)
#6347 of 7122
Re: flex 1st ride [wlbrown9] by freealfas
Apr 03, 2008 (11:49 am)
Reply

Replying to: wlbrown9 (Apr 03, 2008 9:06 am)

"I think the Flex looks like someone took my Trooper and stretched it out a little and chopped it down a little shorter"
 
I vote for xxxxl mini cooper for my $.02

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