Comments on: First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex http://www.geardiary.com/2008/06/12/first-drive-2009-ford-flex/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Front Line of the Car Wars, | Little Miss Attilahttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/06/12/first-drive-2009-ford-flex/#comment-45379 The Front Line of the Car Wars, | Little Miss Attila Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:23:35 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=9003#comment-45379 [...] P.J. O’Rourke delivers an extensive—and positive—review of the Ford Flex without mentioning that 1) this is the only American automobile manufacturer left standing, and 2) [...] [...] P.J. O’Rourke delivers an extensive—and positive—review of the Ford Flex without mentioning that 1) this is the only American automobile manufacturer left standing, and 2) [...]

]]> By: mchinskyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/06/12/first-drive-2009-ford-flex/#comment-37487 mchinsky Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:42:07 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=9003#comment-37487 I don't know. This was obviously designed and greenlighted back in the days of $2 something gas. Now, I could see this and similar vehicles begging for an owner. The wealthy will always buy their escalades/Navigators, but the Joe 6 Pack buyers are going to really think twice. They gotta either license Bluetek diesel or come up with a re-usable hybrid platform fast or toyota is going to enjoy great sales and these will sit around I don’t know. This was obviously designed and greenlighted back in the days of $2 something gas.

Now, I could see this and similar vehicles begging for an owner. The wealthy will always buy their escalades/Navigators, but the Joe 6 Pack buyers are going to really think twice.

They gotta either license Bluetek diesel or come up with a re-usable hybrid platform fast or toyota is going to enjoy great sales and these will sit around

]]> By: Christopher Gavulahttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/06/12/first-drive-2009-ford-flex/#comment-37307 Christopher Gavula Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:25:30 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=9003#comment-37307 In general, the Ford Flex, despite the name, really wasn't desiged as an E85 vehicle and E85 isn't part of the general relase of the product (although you can order an E85 version). Other than GM, E85 isn't really exciting a whole lot of people and as a fuel it isn't conveniently available much outside the midwest (and a few other places). General industry attitude seems to be that hydrogren cells or bio-diesel have more promise than E85. Even the "promise" of hybrid is starting to turn out to be less productive than people originally hoped. I like the Flex, but I'm concerned, in this economy, that the lower mileage is going to be a hard sell and that this vehicle really ought to be priced about $5K less than what it is being listed at. Of course that would put it into the range currently being asked for the Edge, which I also think is over-priced, but is selling well despite that. So I guess time will tell if people hook onto this vehicle! People I know at Ford (in engineering) seem really geeked about the Flex. When I replace my small SUV next year I'll definitely be looking at this and the Edge. In general, the Ford Flex, despite the name, really wasn’t desiged as an E85 vehicle and E85 isn’t part of the general relase of the product (although you can order an E85 version). Other than GM, E85 isn’t really exciting a whole lot of people and as a fuel it isn’t conveniently available much outside the midwest (and a few other places). General industry attitude seems to be that hydrogren cells or bio-diesel have more promise than E85. Even the “promise” of hybrid is starting to turn out to be less productive than people originally hoped.

I like the Flex, but I’m concerned, in this economy, that the lower mileage is going to be a hard sell and that this vehicle really ought to be priced about $5K less than what it is being listed at. Of course that would put it into the range currently being asked for the Edge, which I also think is over-priced, but is selling well despite that. So I guess time will tell if people hook onto this vehicle! People I know at Ford (in engineering) seem really geeked about the Flex. When I replace my small SUV next year I’ll definitely be looking at this and the Edge.

]]> By: Joel McLaughlinhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/06/12/first-drive-2009-ford-flex/#comment-37296 Joel McLaughlin Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:18:02 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=9003#comment-37296 Almost looks like a big mini cooper. I am really interested in Flex Fuel in my next car as the E85 is plentiful here in Ohio and it's also 30-40 cents cheaper per gallon. Almost looks like a big mini cooper.

I am really interested in Flex Fuel in my next car as the E85 is plentiful here in Ohio and it’s also 30-40 cents cheaper per gallon.

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