Article Comments - 2009 Ford Flex First Look / First Drive / Full Test

66 messages, Last post on Feb 26, 2009 at 6:29 PM

You are in the Ford Flex Forum. Your Host is kcram

What is this discussion about? Ford Flex, Wagon

First Look: 2009 Ford Flex - The 2009 Ford Flex might be another crossover, but at least it's not boring. (more)

First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex - First Impressions: If you like the look of the Flex, there's nothing in the way that it functions that should prevent you from getting it. (more)

Full Test: 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD - Bottom Line: As everyday transportation, it's the best, most comfortable Ford you can buy. (more)

Outline

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#17 of 66 Re: Because it's different [fezo] by bobw3 May 15, 2008 (7:26 am)
Replying to: fezo (May 13, 2008 4:07 pm) I'm sure after they arrive at the dealer lots and then sit around for 6 months, the deals and incentives will begin. As far as price goes, I'd say they should be comparable to an Acadia, Outlook, Mazda CX-9, or any of the other large CUVs out there.
#18 of 66 Honda Pilot/Toyota Highlander MPGS by mschmal Jun 06, 2008 (1:25 pm)
Pilot: Fuel Tank Capacity: 21 gal.; EPA Mileage Estimates: 17 mpg / 23 mpg; Range in Miles: 357 mi. / 483 mi Highlander: Fuel Tank Capacity: 19.2 gal.; EPA Mileage Estimates: 17 mpg / 23 mpg; Range in Miles: 326.4 mi. / 441.6 mi. Flex according to my order guide has EPA Mileage Estimate of 17 mpg / 24 mpg. SO I guess this is another one of those magical moments when less (Pilot/Highlander at 23 mpg) is more. OH and the Flex has 155 cubic feet of interior volume.
#19 of 66 Shaking our heads.... by f16maxspeed Jun 11, 2008 (4:00 am)
Should start with, my brother is an executive at Ford, I own 2 Jeep models, My Parents own a Jeep, and a Chrysler Minivan. We have been intensely waiting on something competitive from Ford. The Edge was a complete let down, feels like your driving a oversized egg. The Flex has our attention, but so far, I find myself making excuses for it. I think we are trying to hard to like it. PLEASE- with Fuel expected to reach 5.00per/gallon by mid summer, how am I expected (by ford) to want a vehicle with an average range. And pay 30k+ for a base model. Love the interior lay out. as well as the over all look. Love the roof and driver equipment. But again. The cost is just to high. The mileage is just too average. Want to finish with the "attitude" i received from the dealer when I went to see one. Apparently these are so "hot" right now that I am just not lucky enough to see,drive,or even discuss one...... So I guess as i was walking out, I began to rethink buying a new car all together, 17% depreciation in the first year, over priced, and no reason to feel impressed with for or its sales team...... Yeaaaaaa, I guess its back to my good old trusty Jeep, or maybe a good look at the acadia... Wonder if Ford will ever get it............
#20 of 66 Land Rover Alternative?? by lndrvrlover Jun 15, 2008 (12:39 am)
I've been driving Land Rovers for close to 6 years, currently an LR3 and previously a Discover, and I have to say that I'm very excited about the possibility of replacing it with a hip American product. From my p o v the new Flex has all of the cargo room, a lower msrp, slightly better mileage, and looks completely cutting edge. My lease ends in 10 months and most of the alternatives seem quite dreary....I can't wait to test drive this. Bravo Ford!! Replies to this message: vcook (Jun 28, 2008 2:12 pm)
#21 of 66 Re: Because it's different [mrpepsi] by burlapp Jun 15, 2008 (9:05 pm)
Replying to: mrpepsi (Apr 28, 2008 2:35 pm) I drove it last week. Posted a few comments, pictures and videos on my site. If you have any questions about the Flex I'd be happy to help. Replies to this message: rcf8000 (Jun 16, 2008 5:53 am)
#22 of 66 Re: Because it's different [burlapp] by rcf8000 Jun 16, 2008 (5:53 am)
Replying to: burlapp (Jun 15, 2008 9:05 pm) How do I access your site?
#23 of 66 First drive available! by KarenS HOST Jun 16, 2008 (11:11 am)
First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex Replies to this message: bobw3 (Jun 16, 2008 1:14 pm)
#24 of 66 Re: First drive available! [KarenS] by bobw3 Jun 16, 2008 (1:14 pm)
Replying to: KarenS (Jun 16, 2008 11:11 am) sort of strange to me to see so little interest in a new vehicle like the Flex. Nobody is talking about it.
#25 of 66 A clean miss by crowcanada Jun 16, 2008 (1:27 pm)
For those that need the space, the Flex is a poor substitute for a minivan. However much "space" you think you've got in there, it gets drubbed where it counts by virtually every minivan out there. If, on the other hand, you need a 'ute (and there's very few people that do but my in-laws actually qualify), this won't cut it either. Bottom line, most "CUV's" are a bad idea, and this seems to be a particularly poor example of a bad breed. I'm sure there are a large selection of people who will go for the unique (ugly) look, (I like the coffin comment) or will buy into the gimmicks (fridge, ridiculous oversized tires, glass roof) but Ford is just putting a new exclamation point on their run of mistakes. Its mileage isn't great, which is a real liability in an era of ever rising fuel prices, the oversized tires just mean a massive bill to replace them someday, excessive price, and limited cargo capacity. Overall, the Flex just doesn't have anything obviously redeeming about it. The best I can suggest is to paint it black and it might make a good hearse. Don't know if the additional height over an old Caddy would be a benefit or a curse. If I'm the guy to whom Ford wanted to market this new thing (middle aged, three kids + dog + trailer), they couldn't have failed much more spectacularly. I showed a picture of it to my wife and she threatened me with a loss of select anatomical protuberances if I even considered buying it. Looking back at other Ford misses, the Freestar wasn't enough better than a Windstar to be a success, let alone better than the competition. I liked my '99 Windstar, my fourth Ford, but its shortcomings in cargo capacity, passenger comfort, raucous powertrain, continuous run of repairs, and poor mileage became more glaring every year. The Freestar solved few, if any, of these issues, and was actually a step backwards in many areas. The last good, sensible Ford vehicle was the Focus wagon - and Ford killed that off last year. Great mileage, good performance, unbeatable space and capacity in its market segment. Every person I know who has one loves it, including the guy with the 2000 year model and the umpteen recalls, none of which was for anything major, in his opinion. Mind you, their's are all older Foci with the old Escort 2.0L engine - unsophisticated but absolutely bulletproof. In fairness, I like the look of the Fusion, but is it enough better than the competition to beat them? (I will give the edge on looks to the Fusion over the new Accord and Camry; you can only buy those two with your eyes shut.) As a Canadian, I swallow my disdain and hope fervently on behalf of all those Ford employees beavering away at building the Flex in Oakville that this vehicle succeeds. As a formerly loyal but now disgruntled Ford customer, I hope it fails so spectacularly that Ford may get the message that they need to build something good and useful and not keep trying to hit some vague style mark that won't sustain a market. My new Sienna may be bland, but it beats my old Windstar in every category that counts. Sorry Ford, the Flex is so far away from what I wanted that I didn't even bother to wait to check it out up close. Sliding doors may be mundane, but they're the most sensible ingress/egress method invented. Sorry this sort of devolved to a general rant, but I was so disappointed with the Flex. I wanted to like it and stick with Ford, and I even tried to drum up some enthusiasm for it, but I can't buy a vehicle that far off from what I want, and for what I want a minivan comes closest. Ford basically lost me as a customer with this vehicle. Once gone, I may never be back.
#26 of 66 Range Rover design Rip-off by kitko33 Jun 18, 2008 (5:32 pm)
Remember those times when Ford owned Range Rover? I seriously can't believe that I have yet to read a review that would mention the fact that Flex borrows too many lines and design cues from Range Rover. The form changed, sure, Range Rover is tall and boxy, Flex is long and boxy (on mighy say that this is the box Mazda CX-9 came in). But still, this is a Range Rover in different form. Replies to this message: bobw3 (Jun 19, 2008 5:29 am)