chuck zepfel

Thank you sir for posting that info. I was beginning to think that maybe a new model wasn't coming out anymore and Ford forgot to tell the public. ChuckZ Harvest, AL

I too agree it would be great if Ford got back into producing the presidential limo, but naturally it wouldn't be any where's close to a production vehicle - nor should it be with all of the security features required. Would the chassis be the Expedition or F-350/450? From the proposal - "The contract proposal says bids are “restricted to Major domestic U.S Automobile Manufacturers, who have their primary headquarters located in the United States of America.” So, would this limit the companies in the running to be just Ford, GM and Chrysler? With Chrysler being owned by a foreign company, but with their Chrysler HQ in the USA, one has to wonder if they qualify? From the Detroit News: "In 2011, the limo came under scrutiny when the Secret Service said some federal vehicles are exempt from Obama’s directive that all federal vehicles purchased starting 2015 be advanced-technology models. As a candidate for president in 2008, Obama unveiled an energy strategy that called for boosting electric vehicles in the federal fleet. “Within one year of becoming president, the entire White House fleet will be converted to plug-ins as security permits; and half of all cars purchased by the federal government will be plug-in hybrids or all electric by 2012,” his campaign fact sheet said. In fact, none of the vehicles in the White House fleet were converted." Could anyone imagine the presidential limo being a plug-in? I know it would never happen as the suggested curb weight (while it's classified) has been estimated to be in excess of 10,000 pounds. How big of electric motor do ya think it would take? Plus, with the additional size of the battery required to power it, the limo would have to be the size of a tour bus. ChuckZ Harvest, AL

I've seen a couple of dates for individual models in the forum, but here is a list of all of the models (including other makes) for those that may be on the fence with their ordering. You'll see there are some Ford models that flow from 2014 into the 2015's the very next day. http://www.arifleet.com/publications/build-out_start-up_dates/?/news/build-out_start-up_dates/ Obviously, this may be very fluid, plus there are some holes (TBD), so it's best to check with your local dealer. ChuckZ Harvest, AL

I hadn't heard of them before I read about them on another thread, so when I went to the website, I was surprised that they'll no longer be available after June of this year. http://www.dmb.uk.com/cat/22/ford-badges-gel-overlays#page1 They're pretty interesting and different, but I guess it may have come down to Ford protecting their trademark...which they have every right to do. I don't believe that Ford has anything comparable, so it'll be a loss for those that desire having something different on their vehicle. I know to a purest, a "blue oval" is everything, but sometimes one wants to be a little different. So, if you're interested in purchasing these badges, ya better hurry before they're no longer available. ChuckZ Harvest, AL

Not real new news, but... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_EUROPE_FORD?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-02-22-09-18-23

There is a Ford dealership in Huntsville...Woody Anderson. It has about twice the service area as Pearman Lincoln does. Maybe the car owner doesn't realize that he could take it to Woody Anderson, but then again, if he started with Pearman, he may want to continue for consistency. Another thought: Huntsville has a noise ordinance against loud vehicle radios. He may have a difficult time if it starts blaring right next to a police car. He'd be better off if he carried a copy of the service work (or lack of) in his car.

From the Huntsville AL Times: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/01/huntsville_couple_sues_ford_li.html#incart_river_news Ya gotta wonder if this is a unique situation? If I was Ford, I would have offered them a new replacement vehicle and took the old one in for review.

I need some help with this one. My 2009 Explorer has the SYNC, so I'm not all that familiar with MFT...yet. I rely a little on Consumers Reports as gauge for alot of what I buy, but I don't rely solely on it. What I have a problem with their reporting and position of a MFT flawed system, can anyone please address how MFT integrates into the overall operations of the vehicle? From what I gather, it's more or less for the entertainment portion of the vehicle...correct? If so, what the heck does it have to do with the drive-train, interior and/or exterior of the vehicle? I could see if MFT was tied into the drive-train and it caused interoperability problems, but come on....MFT seems to be just the radio and other electronic do-dads. To me, a properly working MFT is a plus but not a show stopper. Obviously Ford needs to correct any malfunctions with MFT...as soon as possible and it appears they're trying to do just that. ChuckZ Harvest, AL

And yet another recall for older model Escapes. Not a banner year for Ford, but at least they're doing what is necessary. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORD_ESCAPE_RECALL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-26-13-02-10 While this may be another stumble for Ford, can anyone answer me why Toyota has many more recalls, but still is the top selling nameplate? ChuckZ Harvest, AL

I hadn't thought much about the garage door opener as I thought most if not all Ford's had them from the factory. However, I see where it's standard in the Taurus Limited and SHO so "bobbyd" got his.

Just in case y'all haven't seen the video of the retractable roof, here is a link from the release:

Ford should buy this for their museum. While it's not overly spectacular, it's kinda heart-warming. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/02/florida-woman-3-reaches-end-road-after-576000-miles-in-same-car/

Watching this video, ya almost know what's gonna happen...but exactly when - is the mystery. The long traffic signal keeps ya in suspense a bit. http://jalopnik.com/5862633/identical-corvettes-crash-in-thanksgiving-stoplight-drag-race-fail?popular=true&autoplay While they're Ford competition, it sure is a waste to crash them...but boys will be boys. I guess they didn't have too much to be thankful for after that happened. ChuckZ Harvest, AL

I've been an Explorer/Mountaineer guy for several years now, but the redesign isn't doing anything for me. In my eyes, it has too much of a "Ford Edge" look...and I don't like the "Edge" looks. A quick glance at the rear in the spy photos makes it look like they may have done away with the opening hatch window...but it may just be the picture that's playing games with these old eyes. The pictures that they're displaying on "Facebook" sure make the hatch opening look smaller, but that could be just the camera. I sure wish I had the automated rear hatch opener on my 2009 Explorer...getting too old to open it manually. HA! I may check with my Ford shop to see if they can install one from another current Ford product...easily. In the long run, I guess I'll have to lay aside my final opinion until the production model is unveiled. ChuckZ

I took part in the survey for my 2009 Explorer Eddie Bauer. However, maybe it's a senior moment for me, but didn't see the Explorer listed. Maybe it's because the Explorer/Mountaineer isn't selling as great as the other models and thus didn't have that many navigation systems installed or just didn't get that many replies. I gave it great grades...as far as I remember - another senior moment. HA! ChuckZ

Yesterday Bill was trying to break his 212MPH qualifying record he set at Talladega some time back but this time in a Mustang FR500C modified to run on E-85 fuel prepared by Brent Hajek. With rain at the track most of Wednesday, they felt that they had a good enough window late in the day to attempt it. I believe I read that he had it up to 174 MPH in an early lap before blowing out a tire hitting the outside wall and doing quite a bit of damage...he was uninjured. It supposedly was a fast enough speed to set a record with a vehicle using E-85 on a NASCAR course. Here is a link to see it in the garage and one of the laps, but understandably, not the crash. Even on E-85, it sure sounds mean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgjrO7Mn2tU ChuckZ

If you want to see your window sticker while in production, use the following link. It's for my Explorer, but once there you can remove my VIN from the URL, put in yours and you should be able to get it. http://services.forddirect.fordvehicles.co...meu84879ua39307 ChuckZ

Rojorin, You, or anyone else wanting a copy of their yet to be produced Ford (not sure if it'll print already built vehicles or not), by going to the following link. Another board member (Zeindog) provided a link for a guy and once I clicked on it, all I did was go to the URL that he provided and deleted that VIN and replaced it with mine and it worked like magic. So click on the link for my vehicle below and replace my VIN with yours. http://services.forddirect.fordvehicles.co...meu84879ua39307 ChuckZ

Deanh, You're oh so wrong about 'quote' "realize that you have been focused on ONE, and only ONE vehicle that you have researched INTENSLEY (SIC) above and beyond the norm through EVERY nook, cranny and crevice", 'unquote' if you had read what I said...besides the Flex, I also researched intensely the 2009 Mountaineer, Explorer and Taurus-X's order guide to come up with the fact that these three models will have the new feature. I know that the order guides may be limited information, but since there's no brochures out yet or info on the Ford website for these 2009 models, that's all I had to deal with. However, since there's not a whole lot of changes from the 2008 Mountaineer, Explorer and Taurus-X, I based my research on the current Ford info. I only researched these models because those are the only ones I'm interested in. For Deanh and kyle, NO I don't have an engineering background. I spent 34+ years with the Army in Logistics. So just because Huntsville is considered full of engineers, kyle, don't go making foolish assumptions and statements. And kyle, English mustn't be your first language because I need you to point out to me specifically where I said that Bobby was a "training manager"! And you said 'quote' "The bottom line is you like this feature-are you a buyer? Who gives a shit if the GM or Sales Person know every detail about the vehicle-if you are a buyer-great-if not lay off." 'unquote' If I was in the showroom to look over the Flex, why wouldn't I be a potential buyer? And yes I did expect the GM, the Ford rep in attendance and sales personnel to know at least as much as I do...it's their damn job. If I did the research, they should do likewise to make a sale. The times I've had service being done in the main shop and wandered into the sales area, the sales reps are either standing around BSing or just reading newspapers in their cubicle. They could be doing research on the Ford website like I did...that is if their computers have internet access...if not, be proactive and do it at home. If not, get the heck out of the business and go back to flipping burgers. BTW, the Woody Anderson "expert" Bobby called over was George Kostakis, the fellow I bought a new 1994 Explorer from...so he's been around quite a while. mettech 'quote' "A student should never know more than his teacher. If he does, he should enroll in another school. " 'unquote' That is right on...you're one of the few that get it! When I do finally decide on which model to buy, I will go to another dealer. BTW, one of the reasons I was centered on this one brand new to Ford feature is because several weeks ago a woman in the Huntsville area ran off the road and crashed into a tree...was killed but wasn't found until later the next day. If her vehicle had this feature, the horn & four-way flashers would have activated...thus maybe they would have found her earlier. Don't know if she was still alive right after the crash, but this feature could possibly save many a persons life. We all hope and pray that we'll never need a feature like this, but it would make me feel a whole lot better knowing it was on the vehicle I owned. Also, why did all three of the folks at Woody Anderson know about "911 assist" but not the "SOS-Post Crash Alert System"? Could it be that Ford thinks the 911 will be the better feature, thus got the word out about it and not the SOS feature? One big fault of the "911 assist" feature was found on the Ford website "When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which is designed to happen every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her cell phone – the system will be ready to assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an air bag-deploying accident occur." It will not be of much use if your cell phone is not hooked up to the Sync. I have a non-Bluetooth cell phone and hardly ever use it, thus "911 assist" wouldn't help me. One more thing, none of the three Flex's at the dealership had the "Vista roof" for folks to see it in person. I had a question about the opening of the front one. The brochure says "Over the front seats, a sliding moon roof breathes in the fresh air". My past four vehicles had a moon roof and it flipped up in the rear as well as sliding back into the roof. I was wondering if this "Vista roof" not only slid back, but also flipped up in the back, but after getting three strikes with the SOS feature, I didn't even venture that question for a fear of further head scratching and dumb looks since this too is a new feature for Ford. They also weren't providing test drives as all three were grouped together in the showroom. Am I being nit-picky with all of this? You betcha. If I'm investing $35,000 to $45,000 in a new vehicle, I want to know as much about it as possible before buying.

Got a call from Woody Anderson Ford (North Alabama's biggest Ford dealer) here in Huntsville Alabama saying they were having a showing of the new Flex today. Let me say up front that I do alot of research before buying anything. I already had a new Flex brochure and a copy of the order guide thanx to ice-capades from this forum. I had seen in the order guides for the 2009 Explorer, Mountaineer and Taurus-X that they will have something called a "SOS - post crash alert system", which I discussed in another thread. Basically, after the airbags are deployed, it'll unlock the doors, activate the 4-way flashers and horn. To me, this is a real good thing and something that has been needed for quite some time. I didn't see anything in the Flex brochure or order guide saying it had this feature. It's not a show stopper, but something I thought should be included in the Flex. So I went up to the general manager of the dealership asking if the Flex has it and was over looked in the brochure and order guide. Now I know that he's more or less the head honcho and probably doesn't keep up with all of the ins and outs of all of the models, but I gave it a shot. He said, "oh you mean the "911 assist" (that's where after you have a crash, the "Sync" will call an emergency operator - kinda like On-star). I said no and explained it to him again. He said he didn't know (strike one) and said he'd ask one of his experts. Called over a salesman and when I mentioned the "SOS-post crash alert system", he said "oh you mean the "911 assist", to which I said no...strike two. So the general manager said that he just happen to have a Ford rep there. So he comes into the conversation and the same thing happens. He says, "Do you mean the "911 assist"? Nope...strike three. The Ford rep even went onto the internet to see what's on the Ford website about the Flex and if it's mentioned there. Been there - done that, but I didn't have the nerve to mention that I already looked there. The only good thing about this whole screwed up affair that made sense is that the rep said it might have been a late addition to Ford and was omitted just to get the Flex into the showrooms and might be included in job 2. Look, I know that there are alot of different models in Ford and might be hard to keep up with all of the features, but I think the sales personnel need to be a little more up to speed. I hate it when me as a customer like me knows more about the vehicle that someone wanting to sell it to me. Yeah, I know that the "SOS-post crash alert system" is new to Ford, but with the sales personnel not doing advanced research of what's coming down the pike, it kinda shows me they're more interested in just selling a vehicle to the public and move on to the next fish. Bottom line, I walked out with my head spinning. So much for the Flex introduction. I will say that it's a nice looking vehicle. Sad to say that out of the three they had, none were the "Limited" as that's the one I would be interested in. I know that many Ford showrooms are probably better than this experience, but I walked away with that sinking feeling. I'm not trying to put blame on Ford because they don't do the hiring at the dealerships.

'ds91776' As you suspected, no interior shots of the SE and/or SEL. Plus, they only two shots of the SEL exterior and no SE exteriors in the regular part of the brouchure...this is known as the photo says what model is displayed. They do, however, use the SEL for the display of the various colors. Guess they wanted to show the painted tailgate versus the Limited's satin-aluminum applique.

Just got back from having my Mountaineer's speed control fixed because of the recall. Yeah, I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to make sure they had the parts in first. Anyway, picked up a Flex brochure in Athens Alabama and it has some interesting stuff in there. Some of the highlights (excuse me if they have been discussed already); Noise: The fact of the matter: Flex is one quiet crossover, thanks to engineers who carefully applied sound-deadening insulation, specified a 6-mm-thick windshield and selected road noise-quieting tires. (I don't know what size thickness is used now, but that might be a wee bit thicker.) Plug in a laptop or other small electronic with the available 110-volt inverter - standard on the Limited. It's located right behind the front console. (This may be currently available in some vehicles, but naturally my 1999 doesn't have it and I have a converter I plug into the cigarette lighter.) It also answers my question about the towing package: Class III includes hitch receiver with 4500-lb. rating, 4-/7-pin connector with wiring harness, engine oil cooler and tire mobility kit (in addition to standard spare - what ever that means). Available on SE, SEL and Limited (Fall 2008 on FWD models). Wheels, 20" chrome clad (spoke type) - available as a genuine Ford accessory late 4th quarter 2008. Also, 22" chrome clad (kind of like elongated bubbles) - available as a genuine Ford accessory late 4th quarter 2008. Both are kinda nice looking, compared to the standard ones. Then there's a section called "It struts your style with custom accessories". Some of them are: rear spoiler, rear tailgate appliqué in faux carbon fiber, body kit (covers the extreme lower and rear portions), groove inserts (door side) in faux carbon fiber (but not wood grain), dual INVISION DVD headrests (behind driver and passenger seats), front lighted sill plates (where "Flex is stamped into the sill plate, the word "Flex" lights up), with the introduction of the (non-locking) capless fuel-filler system - a locking cap is optional, and last but not least - Katzkin leather seat covers in 24 colors and combinations. Oh, there's more - Skyway Smart Alert (which is similar to On-star), HD radio, Garmin Nuvi portable navigation system and Thule racks. ChuckZ I also posted this on the Flex forum website too.

From the pictures, the Taurus-X looks like a great replacement for my Mountaineer...especially since the company suits didn't find it necessary to build a Mercury version. The only drawback from some of the comments, is the apparent smallish drivers foot well. I have a 2" buildup for the left shoe and that might be a concern for me. Guess I'll have to wait 'til they come to the showroom for a test fit. As for the taillights, I don't necessarily like them either. Guess it wouldn't be too much trouble to swap them out for the 2007 Freestyle ones.

Tofer and anybody else that wants XM with their navigation setup, try this page at Pioneer: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/arti...2689461,00.html Once they get the inside door handle fixed, I intend to go with the XM setup.