Deanh 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. I wonder if the seat designers actually sat in their seats...or perhaps they were midgets?????? As for weight, once again I point the fingers at mandated over the top safety and 5 star bragging rights aimed to protect some that would be better off actually re-learning defensive driving...hell, we should have mandatory 5 years of seatbeltless Skodas....survival of the fittest I say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 17, 2008 Author 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. As in the seat reclined so far back that it appears as if you are sitting in the backseat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 As in the seat reclined so far back that it appears as if you are sitting in the backseat? Are you guys talking about how the headrest inclines forward? If so, I can't stand that either...my Ranger has that same type of seat, and it's not in any way comfortable. My dad's '00 Expedition doesn't have these type of headrests...I wonder was it some regulation required after that time? Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 As in the seat reclined so far back that it appears as if you are sitting in the backseat? No. To get technical, I'd say my lumbar vertebrae are on the seat back, but the thoracic aren't. Half my back up against the seat back, half of it not--meaning my head is usually a good long ways from the head rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 No. To get technical, I'd say my lumbar vertebrae are on the seat back, but the thoracic aren't. Half my back up against the seat back, half of it not--meaning my head is usually a good long ways from the head rest. you dont live in a church and swing from the ropes used to ring the Bells do you Rich? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) Are you guys talking about how the headrest inclines forward? If so, I can't stand that either...my Ranger has that same type of seat, and it's not in any way comfortable. My dad's '00 Expedition doesn't have these type of headrests...I wonder was it some regulation required after that time? Chuck same on the Edges now, and even th Mustangs...just canted WAY too far forward....kinda creepy, I keep sensing its right there...little dis-concerting.... Edited December 18, 2008 by Deanh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 smae on the Edges now, and even th Mustangs...just canted WAY too far forward....kinda creepy, I keep sensing its right there...little dis-concerting.... Well if it makes you feel any better it appears that the design is effective. Rear impact scores on a lot of Ford vehicles have improved due to the headrest changes. In fact (today even) IIHS tested and rated the Focus "good" in rear impacts. A test that integrates headrest design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Well if it makes you feel any better it appears that the design is effective. Rear impact scores on a lot of Ford vehicles have improved due to the headrest changes. In fact (today even) IIHS tested and rated the Focus "good" in rear impacts. A test that integrates headrest design. LOL! whats worse...feeling better or being uncomfortable and feeling "stalked" by a damn headrest?.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 LOL! whats worse...feeling better or being uncomfortable and feeling "stalked" by a damn headrest?.... Hmm, I'm all for stalking..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Hmm, I'm all for stalking..... LOL!......."I hear HEADRESTS.......' would be better if re-shaped with a flatter profile, right now its triangular with the "point" aimed sqarely in the middle of my cranium....just NOT a good design IMO... Edited December 18, 2008 by Deanh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 you dont live in a church and swing from the ropes used to ring the Bells do you Rich? No. If that were the case, at the angle I've got my seat back, I'd be getting full support. And I'd be looking at the road from under the steering wheel. Just kind of an odd habit I've got. I don't typically use seatbacks on office chairs either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critic Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 No. If that were the case, at the angle I've got my seat back, I'd be getting full support. And I'd be looking at the road from under the steering wheel. Just kind of an odd habit I've got. I don't typically use seatbacks on office chairs either. OMG, you mean you have never had the luxury of sitting back in a chair with your feet ON THE DESK!. Try it, you've no idea what your missing. Once you get the hang of that, try adding a BIG Cigar to your fingers and flaunt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) No. If that were the case, at the angle I've got my seat back, I'd be getting full support. And I'd be looking at the road from under the steering wheel. Just kind of an odd habit I've got. I don't typically use seatbacks on office chairs either. hey...when one raises tye headrest UP it resembles a baseball cap.....keeps the glare from the vista roof from ones eyes.... Edited December 18, 2008 by Deanh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I take it only the 3rd row tumbles into the floor? Every seat except the driver's seat folds flat. My main complaint is that they couldn't find an extra 2" on each side of the wheelhouses so you can put a 4X8 flat on the floor. I have the same problem with my Explorer. I would like an opening back window too, like the Explorer, for long loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Every seat except the driver's seat folds flat. My main complaint is that they couldn't find an extra 2" on each side of the wheelhouses so you can put a 4X8 flat on the floor. I have the same problem with my Explorer. I would like an opening back window too, like the Explorer, for long loads. Who is really going to haul plywood in a Flex? I mean really!? I've heard mention of this several times from several places. It just isn't going to happen. If you need to, you can haul it on the armrests from what i've read...just put some towels or something on them to protect them. Or, just pay $20 and rent the truck at Lowe's/Home Depot. The opening rear window is a huge oversight in my opionion. I hate opening the entire hatch just to put a couple small bags in the back. The separate window on our Escape was much more user friendly. Edited December 18, 2008 by fordmantpw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 OMG, you mean you have never had the luxury of sitting back in a chair with your feet ON THE DESK!. Try it, you've no idea what your missing. Ah, life's exquisite pleasures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 Hmm, the lack of an opening window on the tailgate is an oversight. In addition to adding that functionality it would be cool to have it open with a touch of the key fob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joihan777 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) SO far it looks like: 1. Telescoping steering wheel.... really unforgivable for this price. 2. Opening rear hatch glass... great and relatively cheap to implememnt idea. 3. Some sort of adjusting headrests. Here are some of my ideas: 4. A larger DVD screen. C'mon, 7" screen? That's it? How about about a 14" widescreen! That would be waaaaaaay better. 5. Latch point in 2nd row middle seat. 6. Really need a Chip Foose option!! Edited December 18, 2008 by joihan777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 Considering that screens are measured diagonally (well typically), where would you place it so that all rear seat passengers get a chance to see it without impairing the view of the mirror? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joihan777 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Considering that screens are measured diagonally (well typically), where would you place it so that all rear seat passengers get a chance to see it without impairing the view of the mirror? A 7" 4:3 screen is 4.2" high. Note the incredibly cheap, err.... wide bezel surrounding the screen. It looks like overall it'd be around 6" high. If you were JUST going to use the space already afforded in that enclosure, you could easily fit an 10" standard 4:3 screen. If you went to a widesreen, a 14" screen would only be 6.86" High, which is only 3/4 inch higher than is presently used. As a nice medium, a 12" widesreen would be 5.88" high, which would easily fit into the existing bezel! Plus the difference in cost of these screens would be worth the customer satisfaction. Even if the small increase were passed along dollar for dollar. Edit: I currently use a 14" screen in my Sienna. Edit Edit: One more thing, having a simple S-Video input wired from the screen to the dash would save lots of headache (think of it as a stereo aux. input but for video) because frankly, DVD's are no longer useful. All my media is on hard drives and that is clearly the next trend. Edited December 18, 2008 by joihan777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucky2 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 A 7" 4:3 screen is 4.2" high. Note the incredibly cheap, err.... wide bezel surrounding the screen. It looks like overall it'd be around 6" high. If you were JUST going to use the space already afforded in that enclosure, you could easily fit an 10" standard 4:3 screen. If you went to a widesreen, a 14" screen would only be 6.86" High, which is only 3/4 inch higher than is presently used. As a nice medium, a 12" widesreen would be 5.88" high, which would easily fit into the existing bezel! Plus the difference in cost of these screens would be worth the customer satisfaction. Even if the small increase were passed along dollar for dollar. Edit: I currently use a 14" screen in my Sienna. Edit Edit: One more thing, having a simple S-Video input wired from the screen to the dash would save lots of headache (think of it as a stereo aux. input but for video) because frankly, DVD's are no longer useful. All my media is on hard drives and that is clearly the next trend. Yeah, I agree. A 13.3" LED backlit might be a happy medium between those two. SSD storage would be nice too...although it's a little too expensive right now to do properly, and I'm sure RIAA would have a large problem with that. For parents with kids though, imagine how nice it'd be to load up all your DVD's into the Flex's SSD, and then have that library to choose from without having to F around with all the disks, them getting scratched, etc. If integrated with the radio, you could even rip your CD's to it as well. Being SSD, it'd have no moving parts, so, less long term problems. Future is bright for memory storage, that's for sure... Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joihan777 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Yeah, I agree. A 13.3" LED backlit might be a happy medium between those two. SSD storage would be nice too...although it's a little too expensive right now to do properly, and I'm sure RIAA would have a large problem with that. For parents with kids though, imagine how nice it'd be to load up all your DVD's into the Flex's SSD, and then have that library to choose from without having to F around with all the disks, them getting scratched, etc. If integrated with the radio, you could even rip your CD's to it as well. Being SSD, it'd have no moving parts, so, less long term problems. Future is bright for memory storage, that's for sure... Chuck A 13.3" widescreen (16:9 aspect) would have a 6.5" height, certainly do-able. What I meant for the S-video connector would be for connecting simple portable media players or media laptops that a family can always have handy (in the Flex, in the hotel room, in an airplane.... etc.) and only needs an external screen. That way the DVDs stay at home nice and safe. I think you're right about SSD integrated into the car itself, the RIAA thugs would piss their pants if they saw that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) same on the Edges now, and even th Mustangs...just canted WAY too far forward....kinda creepy, I keep sensing its right there...little dis-concerting.... Initially it took some getting used to. Now that I've gotten used to the canted headrests, it feels odd in a car without them. Actually it's comforting to rest my head on them......except on uneven surfaces where your head oscillates to and fro....in that case just lean forward a bit. It doesn't seem to both many Mustang owners http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showthread.p...light=headrests I'm not sure if they can be adjusted upwards (???) I've only sat in the Flex, the headrests seemed OK to me. Maybe add a tilt? http://mrt-direct.com/concept/appearance/2...r.php#interiors Edited December 18, 2008 by timmm55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Are you guys talking about how the headrest inclines forward? If so, I can't stand that either...my Ranger has that same type of seat, and it's not in any way comfortable. My dad's '00 Expedition doesn't have these type of headrests...I wonder was it some regulation required after that time? It's coming ! IIHS is already doing testing already (they call it "rear crash protection") Flex is rated "Good", the highest rating the IIHS gives out. Go ahead and turn your headrest around. If you get hit in the rear you are guaranteed a nasty whiplash injury or maybe you won't have to worry about any further injuries any more ! Darwin was correct. Edited December 18, 2008 by theoldwizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I would say the past few years, Fords headrests have improved dramatically. I like having the headrest right behind my head...remember those in 80s cars? Those things were a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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