madlock

You COULD have fit another 4 kids if the Flex had roof rails instead of the Vista Roof. I'm afraid Ford really missed the mark with MKT. It's a beautifully-made vehicle on a solid platform, and equipped with EcoBoost, a real kick in the pants to drive. But the practical trade-offs versus Flex and taking the Lincoln design language WAY over the top was just too much. MKT's production version would have been far more appropriate in concept only as a harbinger of the many improvements Lincoln has made and a demonstrator of much that's "in the pipe" to come. At least some of the early Flex/MKT issues like seam fit and "clean" assembly seems to be improving.

You're spot on. Flex makes the absolute most of it's squarish dimensions. While MKT is indeed a fine vehicle in its own right, the compromises made solely for the sake of styling, and at SUCH a dramatic cost to functionality, I really think MKT is the poorer for it. The 3rd row really is all but useless for grown adults, and the outcome ends up being a 4/5 seater with some added space and "insurance seats" like roadsters of old used to have. Hopefully, MKT 2.0 will make better use of all it has to otherwise offer.

I agree. While MKT has some superior interior material options and a more refined fit, finish, and some NVH improvements, there's really nothing about it that makes it more (or even as) compelling as Flex, even aesthetically. I think MKT is a well-made, well-equipped vehicle that just doesn't equate to the sum of it's parts. About the only feature-specific aspect of MKT I prefer is Adaptive Cruise.

MANY thanks to you. Might you have access to the actual date of final assembly? With gratitude, Madlock.

There are many perfectly legitimate options for consumers to partake of fleet purchases by joining any of the many qualified organizations, and virtually any dealership would be more than pleased to identify many of the available options. Nobody would be "stealing", nor would a dealer jeopardize either its fleet sales or franchise eligibility. How? Because people remain interested. Obviously you are too, or you wouldn't be reading or posting to a thread about a "dead" car either. If it bothers you, feel free to unsubscribe from the thread.

Hmmm. I dunno... How about... "Mercedes"? :lol: Just kidding, of course.

Dealers should be more than willing to help private buyers acquire fleet vehicles, but the worst part is going to be the lack of future retail incentives and rebates.

I would greatly appreciate anyone who may be able to help me obtain a window sticker and related production information for VIN - 2FMEK63C09BA39011. Sincere thanks in advance.

Now *I'm* confused too. Was there anything beyond the systems we've been mentioning and the Eco Boost/6-Speed the articles have been mentioning that I missed? Thanks!

Thanks for all the info. It sure does seem odd about the apparent RQP/BLIS mismatch. Perhaps it won't be offered after all, or only as an option on certain trims? To be honest, it would actually make me feel a little better that I hadn't missed out on at least one of them. In the meantime, here's to hoping the '09 brain can handle the '10 parking assist and adaptive cruise!

Wow! You're pretty well wired-in fact wise about the 2010. Though the Ford Advantage plan was the fundamental qualifier that allowed me to justify to myself purchasing a vehicle at this time and there's not yet been any news as to whether it will continue into the availability of the 2010 models, I'm beginning to wish I had curbed my impulsiveness and waited to order a built-to-suit 2010. Not only does it seem likely we'll see Adaptive Cruise and BLIS, but now it seems there's to be parking assist to boot. While Adaptive Cruise and the BLIS are somehwat standalone in nature and could be used to component upfit a 2009 (albeit with new mirrors and bumper, perhaps...), but parking assist systems usually require an integrated instrumentation component (or integration with the navigation system display) that doesn't seem likely to be practical even if it's possible. I know I should just shut up and enjoy the 2009 I'm fortunate enough to own, but the 2010 seems like it's going to be much closer to being "feature complete" in terms of the state-of-the art in automotive features. I wonder how these options will appear or be included among the various trim levels and what effect they're likely to have upon pricing, or the price of the individual features themselves. C'est la vie.

Boy, do I hope you're right too. BLIS would be an even-bigger benefit given the Flex's squared-off dimensions; and as a "high margin" item that's not safety-based (rather than the frivolity-based refrigerator), it would seem like a poor decision for EVERYONE if it would be omitted. Extending your thought process that the SHO is based on the same architecture, one might hope that the 2010 Flex will be very similar to the 2009 to help avoid many retooling expenses. If this proves true, and BLIS is available in the 2010 Flex, it may also be as "upfittable" to the 2009 as Adaptive Cruise, both of which I'd truly love. The Eco Boost really sounds like a dandy little powerplant with its much-higher output better fuel economy. And while I'm sure I'd prefer it over the conventional 3.7 L V6, the additional cost really raises the Flex into the stratosphere for the Limited, or might cause people to make a lot of other compromises. A 2010 Eco Boost, similarly-equipped my 2009, would sticker near $50K, and any hope of getting out the door for less than $40K would be a pipe dream. However, if they choose to make it available on the SE, it becomes MUCH more affordable. How affordable the SE happens to be was something that I kind of lost track of after I got "taken in" by all of the LTD bells and whistles (congratulations Ford marketing). In truth, I could have bought a well-appointed SE and actually kept my trade to use as a "beater" work vehicle for a good deal less than I paid for my LTD AWD. Anyway, here's to hoping that both of our wishes come true.

The 2009 Flex didn't offer Adaptive Cruise; whether it will be available on the 2010 is yet to be seen. The fact that the 2010 Taurus will offer it is at least a positive sign that it won't be excluded from the Ford nameplate entirely, and that it is being offered in the MKT is a positive sign that the innards may be likely to "fit" within the Flex infrastructure. Of course, it's more than just the throttle controller and instrument switches; Adaptive Cruise also requires the sensors and perhaps additional indicators to reflect more than a binary "On/Off" status. I have to admit that I had no idea so much "customization" and the creating of "hybrid" (in the non-electrical sense) feature combinations occurred at dealer part desks and service bays. Of course, I wouldn't risk having it installed anywhere other than a Ford dealer. As you've pointed out, a feature like Adaptive Cruise is something you don't want to take a chance with that whoever installs it doesn't have access to the proper manufacturer calibration and diagnostic tools. Here's to crossed fingers.... Thanks again!

Having just taken delivery of a 2009 Flex Limited AWD, I realize that I've chosen to run the end-of-model-year/current incentive gauntlet whereby I may have jumped the gun into buying myself OUT of some of the features and benefits of the newer model year for the sake of having acted too soon. Yes, I know... welcome to the world of automobiles, PC, and digital camera buyers. Anyway, with the economy helping stifle the sales of vehicles in its segment, I suspect any changes or improvements to the 2010 will be very specific in nature, like the already-announced 3.5L Eco Boost engine. I certainly don't foresee a great deal of changes that would require a great deal of retooling investment. Anyway, one feature that's been announced as part of at least two 2010 FMC vehicles that I know of, to which I've become hopelessly addicted after driving other vehicles that offer it is Adaptive Cruise Control. Having just gone through the education process of learning how a 2009 Flex could be upfitted through individual parts to provide the towing package, and learning of others who added the Navigation System by ordering the individual components and having them installed at their local dealer, I'm now wondering if it may be possible to add the Adaptive Cruise system from the 2010 MKT (when it becomes available) or the 2010 Flex if it happens to include Adaptive Cruise as an option. I'd appreciate knowing what others who may have considered or done similar upfits in the past think about this idea and if it's likely to be possible. Adaptive Cruise can SUCH a tremendous benefit to those who use Cruise Control often in driving conditions that lend themselves to its use. It may also help protect my Flex's front passenger floor pan from my wife's continual stomping of the phantom brake pedal on long drives. Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some insight.

As much as I enjoy the tack Ford's designers have taken from '09 forward, and it's certainly a matter of subjective taste, I think Lincoln really missed the boat with the MKT's styling. For all the reasons I purchased and love a Flex, I wouldn't choose the MKT. To me, the MKT looks very much like what a Maybach hearse would be.