Michael Reynolds Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 http://www.automobilemag.com/features/awar..._ford_flex.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Way to go, Flex! :happy feet: That summary gave me the warm fuzzies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Definitely warranted...I think the Flex is the most comfortable Ford I've sat in for along time. If Ford could just fix a few simple oversights, I dare say it'd be the perfect family trip vehicle... Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 What oversights are those? Not criticizing. Just curious as to what you would change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 What oversights are those? Not criticizing. Just curious as to what you would change. I can name a couple...DAMN headrests and a telescoping wheel....aside from that ( headrests mainly ) I would own one in a heart beat, Silver, white roof maxed out SEL......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I can name a couple...DAMN headrests and a telescoping wheel....aside from that ( headrests mainly ) I would own one in a heart beat, Silver, white roof maxed out SEL......... What's wrong with the headrests? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 What's wrong with the headrests? have you sat in one...they are canted WAY forward...absolutely horrible, but ...and heres the beef....federally mandated,,,,,and they cannot be adjusted fore and aft, in certain instances they force ones head forward.....REALLY annoying.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 That is good news. I've seen more then a few here and in different trims. They do stand out and in a good way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 have you sat in one...they are canted WAY forward...absolutely horrible, but ...and heres the beef....federally mandated,,,,,and they cannot be adjusted fore and aft, in certain instances they force ones head forward.....REALLY annoying.... Ahhh...those headrests. Haven't sat in one, but I know what you are talking about. They should really start offering active head restraints so they can get around that. Wouldn't really be much of an issue for me though, as I rarely ever attempt to use head restraints as head "rests". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Wouldn't really be much of an issue for me though, as I rarely ever attempt to use head restraints as head "rests". You can't really help it with the new ones. They come out to meet your head. I like it, but I can understand why some don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 You can't really help it with the new ones. They come out to meet your head. I like it, but I can understand why some don't. Eh, I've been in other cars with the "pointy" restraints and haven't even really noticed them. Like I said though, active restraints would be a better solution for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 You can't really help it with the new ones. They come out to meet your head. I like it, but I can understand why some don't. makes me crane my neck forward which becomes UNCOMFORTABLE after a while.....all in the interests of preventing whiplash ARRRRRG! certain factions need to remain OUT of vehicular decision making.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 makes me crane my neck forward which becomes UNCOMFORTABLE after a while.....all in the interests of preventing whiplash ARRRRRG! certain factions need to remain OUT of vehicular decision making.... Hmm, how tall are you? But yeah, Ford should have come up with some sort of active headrests by now.....vehicles as expensive as the Flex and MKS should without a doubt have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Hmm, how tall are you? But yeah, Ford should have come up with some sort of active headrests by now.....vehicles as expensive as the Flex and MKS should without a doubt have them. 5-10...and the damn headrest bangs me in the back of the head...i literally have to raise the front edge of the seat and lower the back edge just to get comfy...if they were adjustable fore and aft it would be fine...aside from that the seats are without doubt the best I have sat in in a domestic product....and quite easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 What oversights are those? Not criticizing. Just curious as to what you would change. My top 3 are: 1.) At minimum, a removable rear seat. All seats, with the exception of the driver and front passenger seat of course, being removable would be an even bigger plus. Reason: When going on a trip with 3-4 peope, i.e. the average family, the more cargo room the better. Yanking that rear seat and doubling the amount of room back there would be awesome. 2.) Telescoping steering column...an unreal oversight on a vehicle costing this much. 3.) More fuel efficient engine. Why Ford went with a 3.5L V-6 Ecoboost rather than a I-4 Ecoboost is beyond the scope of reason...maybe they like asking for bailout money, who knows. Even better would be a nice 2.2L diesel that the rest of the world gets to enjoy, but, Ford US has no b@lls, so I know that's asking too much. I created a Wish List thread over at FordFlex.net, had some good posts there. Some things I thought were just price adders that I could really do without, some where really good. Here's the thread: Flex Wish List I think the best config I can think of for the average family of 4 is the captains chairs in the second row, with the refrigerator option. Then, yank the rear seat (which is not possible in the current Flex) and store all the trips packages back there. If you can just stand at the back of a current Flex, open the tailgate, look at the rear seat folded down....and then imagine it not being there at all...there is just tons of room back there for trip gear. I think you get even get a dog crate back there, and 4 peoples bags/other sh1t if you could yank the rear seat. Anyways...those are my top 3. Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 3.) More fuel efficient engine. Why Ford went with a 3.5L V-6 Ecoboost rather than a I-4 Ecoboost is beyond the scope of reason...maybe they like asking for bailout money, who knows. Even better would be a nice 2.2L diesel that the rest of the world gets to enjoy, but, Ford US has no b@lls, so I know that's asking too much. The first two I can see, especially the 2nd one. This one raises my eyebrow though. Just how much better do you think the fuel economy should be? It's already tops in its class. And the diesel thing has been discussed until we've turned blue in the face. Ford's diesels (and pretty much everyone else's for that matter) don't meet U.S. emissions, so they simply aren't going to be sold here until a- emissions laws change to realistic levels that loosen restrictions on diesels or b- better catalysts are developed. It's not a matter of balls. It's a matter of technological and legislative limitation. Just how many mpg were you thinking a 2.2 liter diesel Flex would manage anyway? With the current price of diesel, the difference hardly seems worth it at present. And finally, Ford hasn't ruled out an I4 EcoBoost for the Flex. It's simply a matter of the 3.5 EcoBoost being ready first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) The first two I can see, especially the 2nd one. This one raises my eyebrow though. Just how much better do you think the fuel economy should be? It's already tops in its class. And the diesel thing has been discussed until we've turned blue in the face. Ford's diesels (and pretty much everyone else's for that matter) don't meet U.S. emissions, so they simply aren't going to be sold here until a- emissions laws change to realistic levels that loosen restrictions on diesels or b- better catalysts are developed. It's not a matter of balls. It's a matter of technological and legislative limitation. Just how many mpg were you thinking a 2.2 liter diesel Flex would manage anyway? With the current price of diesel, the difference hardly seems worth it at present. And finally, Ford hasn't ruled out an I4 EcoBoost for the Flex. It's simply a matter of the 3.5 EcoBoost being ready first. rear seat folds completely flat.....so do the secon row.....3.5 is perfectly fine, and eco is coming, we are all impatient but realize the developement was 2-3 years at the least and at that time we all found bigger displacements and V8's acceptable....in some ways the Flex was groundbreaking for a 7 passenger....the 3.5 eco will put to bed those whiners saying it needs more power, and I foresee a 2.5 eco down the road for the whiners of MPG's....case closed...now FIX THE DAMN HEADRESTS, or at least platten their shape so as not to feel like a samurai blade in the middle of the back of ones noggin... Edited December 17, 2008 by Deanh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 My top 3 are: 1.) At minimum, a removable rear seat. All seats, with the exception of the driver and front passenger seat of course, being removable would be an even bigger plus. Reason: When going on a trip with 3-4 peope, i.e. the average family, the more cargo room the better. Yanking that rear seat and doubling the amount of room back there would be awesome. 2.) Telescoping steering column...an unreal oversight on a vehicle costing this much. 3.) More fuel efficient engine. Why Ford went with a 3.5L V-6 Ecoboost rather than a I-4 Ecoboost is beyond the scope of reason...maybe they like asking for bailout money, who knows. Even better would be a nice 2.2L diesel that the rest of the world gets to enjoy, but, Ford US has no b@lls, so I know that's asking too much. I created a Wish List thread over at FordFlex.net, had some good posts there. Some things I thought were just price adders that I could really do without, some where really good. Here's the thread: Flex Wish List I think the best config I can think of for the average family of 4 is the captains chairs in the second row, with the refrigerator option. Then, yank the rear seat (which is not possible in the current Flex) and store all the trips packages back there. If you can just stand at the back of a current Flex, open the tailgate, look at the rear seat folded down....and then imagine it not being there at all...there is just tons of room back there for trip gear. I think you get even get a dog crate back there, and 4 peoples bags/other sh1t if you could yank the rear seat. Anyways...those are my top 3. Chuck You do realize that the 3rd row folds flat into the floor don't you? I'm not sure how that is an oversight when the best selling minivans offer the same function as well If Ford is going to put a smaller powertrain into the Flex, Ford has to put the vehicle on a diet as well. And like Nick mentioned the whole diesel thing has been beaten to death. It has less to do with gumps gumption and more to do with practical and financial reasons. VW has postponed most of its diesel programs, BMW has em but they are $$$$ and Honda has delayed (or cancelled thier program as well). So what does that tell you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 rear seat folds completely flat.....so do the secon row.....3.5 is perfectly fine, and eco is coming, we are all impatient but realize the developement was 2-3 years at the least and at that time we all found bigger displacements and V8's acceptable....in some ways the Flex was groundbreaking for a 7 passenger.... I take it only the 3rd row tumbles into the floor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The first two I can see, especially the 2nd one. This one raises my eyebrow though. Just how much better do you think the fuel economy should be? It's already tops in its class. And the diesel thing has been discussed until we've turned blue in the face. Ford's diesels (and pretty much everyone else's for that matter) don't meet U.S. emissions, so they simply aren't going to be sold here until a- emissions laws change to realistic levels that loosen restrictions on diesels or b- better catalysts are developed. It's not a matter of balls. It's a matter of technological and legislative limitation. Just how many mpg were you thinking a 2.2 liter diesel Flex would manage anyway? With the current price of diesel, the difference hardly seems worth it at present. And finally, Ford hasn't ruled out an I4 EcoBoost for the Flex. It's simply a matter of the 3.5 EcoBoost being ready first. Ideally, there'd be a 4 cyl Ecoboost option, a 4 cyl diesel option, and then a plug-in hybrid option, with either a gas or diesel engine along with it. This way you get good around town fuel economy around town and the benefits of faster initial acceleration with gas, or, if you're wanting a trip vehicle or you drive w/o the stop and go, the diesel option would be the best. The plug-in hybrid would be great for those that don't take the long trips, but, still drive around town a lot. The thing is, each option does the best at something. Gas is good for that initial acceleration, batteries are great in the city/right around town, and diesel is great for those drives. I realize that the Big 3 just won't bring diesel options here (for whatever reasons, we don't need to debate them in this thread), so, I'd rather have had Ford release the Flex with a 4 cyl Ecoboost than the 6 cyl Ecoboost they decided to go with first. It's not really a Flex issue, more a Ford Management bad decision that's caused that. Still though, it was a Wish List, so that's why I put it on there. Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I take it only the 3rd row tumbles into the floor? yup...ala Taurus X...no need to remove the seat at all...and as proven in the Expedition the folding third row is preferable than removal.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) The thing is, each option does the best at something. Gas is good for that initial acceleration, batteries are great in the city/right around town, and diesel is great for those drives. I realize that the Big 3 just won't bring diesel options here (for whatever reasons, we don't need to debate them in this thread), so, I'd rather have had Ford release the Flex with a 4 cyl Ecoboost than the 6 cyl Ecoboost they decided to go with first. Aside from VW, BMW and M-B who else is pushing a diesel? Even those are limited to one or two cars, and a few expensive SUVs. I wouldn't be so quick to single this out as an option that only the Big 3 have decided not to sell. Edited December 17, 2008 by Michael Reynolds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 anymore mention of diesel and i will close this thread. Love Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) Sorry about that...too slow on my reply, then saw the note, so I just edited it so the Flex thread could go on. Chuck Edited December 17, 2008 by chucky2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 On active head restraints: I tend to tilt the seat backwards, and don't rest my upper back on the seat, so it's not a problem for me. On fuel economy: Not much you can do with a 4400lb vehicle. Highway mileage is respectable. City mileage could be better with weight savings or a more efficient (e.g. boosted) powertrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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