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Free Press columnist Mark Phelan gave the Flex three out of four stars in his product review, calling it a "a very good vehicle and a brave experiment." (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/BUSINESS01/810050383/1014/BUSINESS01)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Ford_Flex1.jpgSarah Webster – Detroit Free Press – Oct. 5, 2008

AWD Ford Flex – 18 mpg combined on the 08 EPA.

Interior is great. The exterior, hideous mileage and now price is what many saw over the previous two years. Why didn’t Ford? -- Ed.

When Ford Motor Co. showed off the production version of the Ford Flex last year at the New York auto show, hopes couldn't be higher for the boxy, three-row crossover.

The Flex represented a daring new design ethos and business strategy for the struggling automaker, which was making plans to bounce back from a record $12.6-billion loss in 2006.

There were even whispers among some of the company's executives that the Flex could become a new icon for Ford, which is known best for its F-Series pickups and Mustang sports car…

Customers bought 2,204 Flex crossovers in July, with cash-back rebates of about $700, according to data from the Power Information Network. But last month, as the auto market cratered to its lowest level in 15 years, Flex sales fell to fewer than 2,000, with incentives now topping $2,100… http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/BUSINESS01/810050383/1014/BUSINESS01

Blech. My wife thought it looked nice -- then I pointed out she'd get worse mileage than the rather consistent 22+mpg she's been getting out of the Escape 4x4 recently. She was surprised...

From the linked article -
Troy Pait, 35, of Maiden, N.C., is one of them. He traded in his Toyota Prius for the Flex because he was so excited about the styling. He said the vehicle is much more practical for his wife and three kids.
"We bought it basically the first day it came out," he said. "We all went to the beach in it already, and it was more than enough space. ... It's wonderful."

Too bad we missed out on a low mileage used Prius. People here would love to get hold of one for what the Ford dealer offered in trade. We should make a bet as to how long the new Flex owners take to start realizing that it's costing a small fortune to fill up their new lead sled and start looking for another Prius to 'get around in'.

I didn't read the article but here are my thoughts.

When I see an advertisment for $30,000 and 24 MPG with seating for 6 or 7(?) I laugh and know why I wouldn't want one.

The design and function make it a solid contender in my book, but the price is almost double (some models over double) what I purchased and with worse FE.

I don't like the styling of the Flex. I have a feeling it could be a "love it or hate it" styling. Maybe they (both the Flex and Traverse) could improve fuel economy numbers with six speed transmission (if they don't already have it), cylinder deactivation (if they don't already have it), and even a mild hybrid that shuts off the engine at complete stops. Perhaps with all the above it'll gain a few mpg city but it'll also gain in price. Take the current Taurus, based on Volvo S80, and make a wagon version, something Volvo excels at. They could do the same with the Fusion, based on the Mazda6 which at one time did offer a wagon version. Need more storage for the weekend getaway? Opt for the optional car roof rack and aerodynmaic storage container. Though it'll reduce your mpg due to drag and extra weight you can always remove it when you don't need the extra storage and go back to your normal mpg.

Pfft....

I have a 5 or 6 year old chevy venture that gets 30 mpg highway without hypermiling. It has a v6 and seats 7. I just don't get how ford can release an innefficient piece of junk like the flex 5 years later and hype it up the way they did. What the hell were they thinking/smoking ?

Another butt-ugly gas hog. Gee, I wonder why it's not selling. Darned capricious car-buying public!

Harry

I like the styling. Not the fuel economy. And a late-model GM full-size sedan can haul around 4 people, their luggage, AND get 30+ mpg highway without trying. Plus everybody's left with enough foot room and comfy seats.

"There were even whispers among some of the company's executives that the Flex could become a new icon for Ford, which is known best for its F-Series pickups and Mustang sports car…"

And the Edsel...

Now there's a shocker. Design and build a new car that gets 24 mpg even though it was supposed to be a fuel economy miser. Market the car as a fuel economy car with boxy looks reminiscent of the Scion xB but charge over $17,000 more than the xB, stir in hysteria on the markets, fear over the lack of so-called market liquidity. Stir, pour, heat and let simmer. Result: a model looser.

Nice not tryin' Ford. Now go back to the drawing board and design a car people aren't embarrassed to drive that gets good mileage.

"There were even whispers among some of the company's executives that the Flex could become a new icon for Ford, which is known best for its F-Series pickups and Mustang sports car…"
And the Edsel...
Nice not tryin' Ford. Now go back to the drawing board and design a car people aren't embarrassed to drive that gets good mileage.

The Edsel was a victim of economic recession just as the Flex is shaping up to be today. The Flex was approved at a time when gas prices were just starting to head upward and people still bought (and mostly leased) huge SUVs. The Edsel was approved at a time when the mid-price car market was exploding and Mercury, Dodge, Pontiac, Olds and Buick were setting records. In each case, the car is a victim of a sudden shift in market demands. By the time it hits the showrooms, it looks ridiculous.

Ford was trying to hit the right spot in the market, but the "market" is what they all anticipated back in mid 2005. Just as the tooling was in place and the parts were shipped (early this year), the demand for the car evaporated.

Even today, it takes at least three years to get a car to market in our over-regulated automotive market. That's why the Focus/Fiesta/Cruze high-FE cars are all still over two years away. If the economic meltdown causes gas prices to seriously tumble, these small cars will also fail as people will rush out to get their new FSP monsters at incredible discounts. Then the small cars will also be considered wrong for the time. Not by us, of course, but by the general public, who may decide to take a chance on that new three-row three-ton beast, gambling that the gas prices will stay low.

If the economic meltdown causes gas prices to seriously tumble, these small cars will also fail as people will rush out to get their new FSP monsters at incredible discounts. Then the small cars will also be considered wrong for the time. Not by us, of course, but by the general public, who may decide to take a chance on that new three-row three-ton beast, gambling that the gas prices will stay low.

If we had an intelligent government :flag:;) the gasoline tax would rise to keep gasoline expensive, and support car makers' efforts to give us fuel efficient cars.

Of course, that would be the intelligent thing to do, so of course it won't happen, and we'll be back to FSP 's clogging our roads. :mad:

Harry

The car is nothing at all like an xB. Talk about an apples to oranges comparison.

Now there's a shocker. Design and build a new car that gets 24 mpg even though it was supposed to be a fuel economy miser. Market the car as a fuel economy car with boxy looks reminiscent of the Scion xB but charge over $17,000 more than the xB, stir in hysteria on the markets, fear over the lack of so-called market liquidity. Stir, pour, heat and let simmer. Result: a model looser.

Nice not tryin' Ford. Now go back to the drawing board and design a car people aren't embarrassed to drive that gets good mileage.

Pictures from the 2007 Texas State Fair

Want to see more? Join me this Saturday!


http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/DSC02685.JPG

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/DSC02686.JPG

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/DSC02687.JPG

The car is nothing at all like an xB. Talk about an apples to oranges comparison.

It's not? That was my first thought when I saw it. That and the Honda Element. The Ugly-quotient of all three of them approaches infinity, IMHO! :eek:
Now, I'm sure the xB is more sophisticated, as is the Element, but--sorry--all three hurt my eyes!