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Ford Flex real world mpg

22 messages,  Last post on Sep 24, 2011 at 6:56 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Flex, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 3

#3 of 22 Re: Ford Flex real world mpg [neustkg] by dano72

Jun 09, 2009 (10:05 am)

Replying to: neustkg (Jun 08, 2009 2:16 pm)
Hello neustkg,
 
I have had my AWD Flex for about 4 weeks now. The Flex is my daily commuter and I have taken 2 highway trips so far. I live in the suburbs northeast of Detroit which means I travel on the I-94 freeway which includes some occasional rush hour traffic jams the closer you get to the city. I have been averaging about 20-21 MPG during the week. I am certainly not leading the traffic but I wouldn't say I am sitting the slow lane either.
 
On my 2 weekend highway trips (150 miles one way) I have actually averaged 26MPG!!! No that is not a typo, I wrote 26 MPG!!! I think this is awesome considering the sticker says 22 MPG highway. The trick is to stay at 70MPH. I have found that bumping it up to just 72 MPH has an adverse impact on my MPG.
 
The Flex replaced my 2006 Impala LTZ. Which was getting about 23 MPG work days but would manage 29 - 30 MPG on highway trips if I kept it around 70MPH.
 
I highly recommend this car. You will be amazed at how quiet this thing is on the road. I don't work for Ford, I don't own Ford stock and I have mainly purchased GM cars since I started driving. The point is I don't have any reason to manipulate your purchase decision. I just think that Ford has an amazing product here and I want to spread the good news.
 
Best of luck, Dano

#4 of 22 Re: Ford Flex real world mpg [neustkg] by neustkg

Jun 09, 2009 (11:38 am)

Replying to: neustkg (Jun 08, 2009 2:16 pm)
How are prices (FWD for me probably) compared to Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and any other minivan that would be competing against this vehicle? I'm talking about real world prices (incentives at this time, etc.)? I've heard the Odyssey and Sienna have vehicles that start at a similar price to the Flex, but try finding one at a dealer and then try negotiating w/them (Honda and Toyota dealers are notorious for not wanting to deal).
 
I figure if I looked at a one year old model w/a few miles, I might get a good deal on used as Ford resale value is not as good as Honda or Toyota (that's fine as I keep my vehicles until they fall apart and have to be towed away).

#5 of 22 Re: Ford Flex real world mpg [neustkg] by dano72

Jun 09, 2009 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: neustkg (Jun 09, 2009 11:38 am)
neustkg,
 
Coincidentally I had researched and came very close to purchasing the Honda Odyssey. I learned that Honda was discounting their minivan in some locations and that was pulling me toward the Odyssey. At the time I was considering the EXL w/DVD which had a sticker of $34,700. I learned that Honda was giving nearly $5K of a discount (not personally confirmed) which would have dropped the price to the $29K range before tax. That would be out the door close to $31,500 in MI. I paid close to $36K OTD for the AWD Flex (I took Ford's $4500 cash incentive and I qualified for the supplier pricing).
 
If you opt for FWD (AWD is an $1850 option) then the price differential is only $2600, $31.5K Honda vs $34.1K Ford.
 
So the question for you to answer is do you want a minivan or a crossover? Test drive and decide.
 
I would also like to comment on seating. My Flex is listed as a 7 passenger version, 2 in first row, 3 in the second row and 2 in the rear. I place my 2 children in car seats in the second row. My wife can comfortably sit between them if she needs to. The rear seat can fit 2 with plenty of room.
 
Enjoy the ride....Dano

#6 of 22 Ford Flex? by farout

Jul 09, 2009 (5:36 pm)

I would not even take a test drive in a Flex they are so ugly! The flex makes the Element and the Cube look good. Why the stupid box with no style whatsoever? The sales are a feed back on how people think it looks. Maybe the ride is real great once you get past the looks?
 
How much power does this box have?
 
farout

#7 of 22 Highway MPG Ecoboost by acdii

Mar 22, 2010 (8:04 am)

Took my new Flex SEL EB out yesterday to see how she rides on the highway. I put 1700 miles on it in normal daily driving and was getting roughly 19 MPG. On the highway I drove about 100 miles south down I39 from Rockford, the readout hit 25 MPG 63 MPH.
 
I ran different speeds with the CC set, starting at 67 MPH I saw 23.8, 70 MPH I saw 23.2, 63 MPH I saw the greatest gains.
 
On the return trip I discovered that I had a decent tail wind while heading South, my mileage dropped almost instantly heading North. The best I could get 65 MPH was 22.3, it was a pretty stiff headwind though, at least 20 MPH. There is an area that takes about 20 minutes to get through at 65 where they have wind turbine farms, and they were all going at a fairly good clip, and any area of water had ripples on the surface, including puddles in the ditch, so I would say getting what I got with a stiff steady wind pushing me back is pretty good. If I take the wind out of the equation, I don't see why this can't get 24 MPG on the highway. My mixed city highway tank hand calc came out to 20 MPG for 200 miles. This was taken halfway through my trip with 100 miles of City and 80 miles of highway.
 
Once I got out of the headwind, the MPG went up slightly.

#8 of 22 New Flex MPG by ttweb

Mar 25, 2010 (7:07 am)

I just bought my Flex AWD EcoBoost on Monday this week. My first full tank fill (after using up the full tank the dealer provided) took me from under 500 miles on the odometer to over 750. I did 95+% Freeway driving at about 74-75 mph on flat to rolling landscape in Wisconsin. Trip computer showed 20.9. Calculated by hand I got 20.2mpg.

#9 of 22 Re: New Flex MPG [ttweb] by acdii

Mar 25, 2010 (9:30 am)

Replying to: ttweb (Mar 25, 2010 7:07 am)
Try it at 63-65 next time and see it go up 3 more MPG.

#10 of 22 '10 Flex w/ Ecoboost by big_guy

Jul 29, 2010 (10:02 am)

I have had my Flex since the end of December. It is more of a weekend car than anything and is used mostly for highway driving. I'm averaging just under 19 mpg in mixed driving. Best economy so far is just unde 23 mpg and the worst was just under 17 mpg. This vehicle has much more interior room than our Acura MDX, has a lot more power, has a more comfortable ride, and gets better mpg. Pretty happy with it.

#11 of 22 Re: Ford Flex? [farout] by big_guy

Jul 29, 2010 (10:07 am)

Replying to: farout (Jul 09, 2009 5:36 pm)
"Maybe the ride is real great once you get past the looks?"
 
Actually, it does have a really nice, smooth ride. However, I also like the looks. But of course, I own a gen1 xB as well so the efficient use of a boxy shape appeals to me.
 
"How much power does this box have?"
 
Base 3.5L engine has 262 hp and 248 ft-lbs
 
Ecoboost 3.5L turbocharged engine has 355 hp and 350 ft-lbs

#12 of 22 Re: '10 Flex w/ Ecoboost [big_guy] by acdii

Jul 29, 2010 (4:53 pm)

Replying to: big_guy (Jul 29, 2010 10:02 am)
My Box Boost is so much fun that I dont care what MPG it gets! I changed the display to the one with bars for economy, but it has such a great kick in the pants go pedal that I dont even bother anymore. Im sure I can get decent MPG if I can keep my foot out of it, but damn, its just too much fun playing with the go juice.

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