Major FUBAR at Ford

[globey]

That would be nice, but we're talking about the FLEX, not the Edge. Two different vehicles. The Edge has been out about three years now. It's an SUV-style crossover.

We were merely comparing it to the styling of the Scion xB and the Element. It's a bigger vehicle than both and meant to get the attention of the people that were looking at Expeditions.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Yeah, funny how the Flex is a brick, but the xB and Element are cutting-edge designs.....



Depends on who you ask. I personally think the xB and Element are hideous.

To those who have seen a Flex - How big of a vehicle is it? In my mind I picture a rebirth of the Excursion.... Is it a full-size SUV or a crossover? Its impossible to tell from the commercials.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Yeah, funny how the Flex is a brick, but the xB and Element are cutting-edge designs.....

Just some gentle ribbing here, folks.

I've seen a Flex in the dealer's lot near my Mom's house, and saw a review on Motorweek on Monday. Looks nice, but a little pricey for me.


Opus, I have no problem with either the brick design or the name. It's the combination of the two that is a little strange. But hey, if they sell more of these cars with such a name then good for them.

I don't want to start on GM and Ford brand names.

 

[globey]

It's a full-size SUV. The Edge is the mid-size offering.

Its vehicle weight is a shade under 4,500, which is a lot less than the Expedition.

I really like the styling, but I admit it's polarizing.

 

[BrianWC]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Originally Posted By: opus1
Yeah, funny how the Flex is a brick, but the xB and Element are cutting-edge designs.....

Just some gentle ribbing here, folks.

I've seen a Flex in the dealer's lot near my Mom's house, and saw a review on Motorweek on Monday. Looks nice, but a little pricey for me.


And you've nailed it. Pricey and lower fuel economy:

Model: Ford Edge SE 2WD
Sticker Price: $25735
Weight: 4078#
City/Hwy MPG: 16/24

Model: Honda Element LX 2WD
Sticker Price: $19780
Weight: 3499#
City/Hwy MPG: 20/25

Model: Scion xB
Sticker Price: $16,600
Weight: 3086#
City/Hwy MPG: 22/28MPG

The Ford is a heavy, expensive choice compared to the other two. It outweighs the Scion by 1/2 a ton, and is almost 600# heavier than the Element.

If you start looking at cargo capacity, the Edge doesn't even has as much maximum cargo area as the Element at 70 cu ft for the Edge and 75 cu ft for the Element.

The Scion xB, at 1/2 ton less mass than the Edge has 69.9 cu ft of max cargo capacity.

Now if you want to tow 3500#, the Edge is your vehicle, as the other two are only rated to tow 1500#.

But I'm thinking for the nearly $10K less the xB costs compared to the Edge, I could rent something if the need to tow ever came up



Um, why are we even comparing a Flex to an Element or xB???

what are the third row passenger dimensions of the Scion xB and the Honda Element? Oh yeah, they don't have third row seating!

Considering you can haul 3 more people in the Flex than you can in the Element or the xB, plus have an extra 100 hp on tap, I'd say the trade off is not bad. A much more accurate comparison would be to the Toyota Highlander or the Honda Pilot. There the Flex doesn't look so bad. It tops the Pilot in fuel economy and HP although it hauls one less person. It's more even w/ the Highlander.

 

[javacontour]

I guess I'm fubar...

That's the only way I can explain it, LOL

Be right back with a more valid comparision...

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: globey
That would be nice, but we're talking about the FLEX, not the Edge. Two different vehicles. The Edge has been out about three years now. It's an SUV-style crossover.

We were merely comparing it to the styling of the Scion xB and the Element. It's a bigger vehicle than both and meant to get the attention of the people that were looking at Expeditions.

Yeah, I got the wrong vehicle. The Edge compares more favorably than the Flex does. It looks even bigger and more thirsty.

Perhaps that's the reason why they are not selling in big numbers.

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how the Edge is doing in it's market? I don't see many of them on the roads either.

 

[BrianWC]

I see more Edges than Elements and new xB's around here. Seems everyone has to have the Edge in the "Creme Brulee" color. Probably discounting them more than the imports.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: javacontour

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how the Edge is doing in it's market? I don't see many of them on the roads either.


I cant speak for everyone, but in KC they are selling pretty dang well. All the trendy upper middle class families have one. They are really nice vehicles.

 

[OVERKILL]

Ford is much more nimble than GM because of the size and model number difference. I've been very impressed with the Fusion so far and the Focus has been a solid little car from the reviews I've read. I think they really have a shoe-in with the Fiesta as well.

GM's turnaround will take the most time because of their size.

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Ford is much more nimble than GM because of the size and model number difference. I've been very impressed with the Fusion so far and the Focus has been a solid little car from the reviews I've read. I think they really have a shoe-in with the Fiesta as well.

GM's turnaround will take the most time because of their size.


I have an 06 Fusion with the I4 manual and I love it. I've had it for two years now and it's been a great car. I really like what I've seen from the new Fiesta too. I'm sure that will be a winner.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: globey
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Ford is much more nimble than GM because of the size and model number difference. I've been very impressed with the Fusion so far and the Focus has been a solid little car from the reviews I've read. I think they really have a shoe-in with the Fiesta as well.

GM's turnaround will take the most time because of their size.


I have an 06 Fusion with the I4 manual and I love it. I've had it for two years now and it's been a great car. I really like what I've seen from the new Fiesta too. I'm sure that will be a winner.



I'm anxiously awaiting the hatch version of the fiesta (aka mazda2). The pics of that car are fantastic. I hope the MPGs are as good as it looks.

 

[01rangerxl]

As usual, this is another Ford that does not get enough advertising. I saw one Flex billboard in Atlanta last month, and that is just about all the advertising I have seen for the car. I did not even see one on a dealer lot until today! Nobody even knows it is available. How can they expect to sell a car when people don't even have a clue it is available?

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
Originally Posted By: javacontour

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how the Edge is doing in it's market? I don't see many of them on the roads either.


I cant speak for everyone, but in KC they are selling pretty dang well. All the trendy upper middle class families have one. They are really nice vehicles.

I've only seen one around here. Now Focuses seem to be selling like hot cakes.. see more of those than corolla's or civic's.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Palut
I'd never even heard of the Flex until this thread, and I see Ford ads (even worse, Mercury ads) ALL THE TIME!!!. At first I though you were talking about about Flex-fuel vehicles.


I don't know about that. That pretty petite thing that they use to make the Mercury interiors look cavernous is very pleasant to look at. I really don't get much of a gander at the cars ...

 

[Jim Spahr]

I did see the new Flex on Motorweek. They liked it and I believe, compared it in looks to the Xb and the Element,also. But in size it is much bigger. It is based on the front drive Taurus platform streched a couple of inches. It comes in FWD or AWD. It only offers the 3.5L V6 now. Next year they will offer in addition a V6 with twin turbos. This will be the new version of the V6 with new technology that has the economy of a 4 cyl and the power of a V8. But it is a heavy SUV for a 3,5L V6.

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Palut
I'd never even heard of the Flex until this thread, and I see Ford ads (even worse, Mercury ads) ALL THE TIME!!!. At first I though you were talking about about Flex-fuel vehicles.


I don't know about that. That pretty petite thing that they use to make the Mercury interiors look cavernous is very pleasant to look at. I really don't get much of a gander at the cars ...


I agree...I thoroughly enjoy the Mercury ads.

 

[BrianWC]

Are they gonna offer the twin-turbo six on the Taurus as well??? That would be better than "sharks with frickin' laser beams on their heads."

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Yeah, I got the wrong vehicle. The Edge compares more favorably than the Flex does. It looks even bigger and more thirsty.


The Flex is about 300 lb heavier (4600 lb fully loaded), but gets a little better mileage. 16/22 AWD, 17/24 FWD for the Flex and 15/22 AWD, 16/24 FWD for the Edge.

It looks alright to me. Got a decent review at TTAC:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009-ford-flex-review/

 

[parimento1]

I really want to get excited by Ford products, I have really liked them in the past, even if they have not been the most reliable vehicles, they have always been more cutting edge than GM. They just have a bad habit of introducing the wrong car at the wrong time. The Flex is a MONSTER and gets SUV-like gas mileage. At a time like this that is the last thing you need. The Edge and Escape are sufficient for now, they should be focusing all their effort on a good small car to replace the ugly focus! The focus does happen to drive very well, however. The Fusion is a nice car, but the interior is an ergonomic nightmare and looks thrown together from the Ford parts bin, which would be fine if executed correctly, which it was not. The shifter blocks the climate controls, and the climate controls are too low in the dash to be reached easily; the same holds true with the new Taurus. They took the 500 and made it hideous on the outside. Their trucks, however, are second to none and are great vehicles. Too bad no one wants them now due to high gas prices.