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Includes 8-way power driver seat, dual zone electronic automatic temperature control, outside temperature display, 4-way power passenger seat and passenger manual lumbar.
Does the drivers seat have the memory option for 2 settings like advertised on the Limited?
With 60/40 middle seat, is there an armrest in the middle which folds out? I think the buckets with center console would be more comfortable for middle seat but finding that in SEL seems tough.
First, there is not memory for SEL seat/mirror settings. Lumbar is manual for the driver seat too.
I don't know about an armrest in the second row bench seat. Someone else here might. :shades:
Sources in the company say the new design will be unveiled early next year, probably at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Ford also plans to unveil redesigned versions of the Montego and Freestyle at the Chicago Auto Show next February.
The automaker had planned to kill the Freestyle next year and use the same platform for a new Mercury crossover. However, that plan has been scrapped as part of Ford's rethinking of its North American product strategy.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/AUTO01/604070379/1148-
I saw were they are an option now on the 2007 model order sheet.
We always use MP3 CDs - shuffling 1 MP3 CD = 12 normal CDs.
xnappo
disc 4 - track 3
disc 2 - track 9
disc 3 - track 7
etc...
It stays on a disc and shuffles that disc and then when done moves to the next disc... Right?
xnappo
disc 4 - track 3
disc 2 - track 9
disc 3 - track 7
etc...
It stays on a disc and shuffles that disc and then when done moves to the next disc... Right?
Ah, well, that would be sweet, wouldn't it. As long as my CD changer takes to clunk and move from one CD to another, my hair would be grayer than it already is! :P These changers aren't exactly top o' the line...
That is EXACTLY what I would also want.
I bought the Freestyle because it seemed to have the best mpg/size/safety tradeoff for anything bigger than a VW Jetta TDI Wagon. And since I was selling a VW Golf TDI, I didn't want to spend the money for something only a little bigger than what I already had. I sure miss the 44 mpg, the manual transmission, and the joy of driving. I'm not sure if I miss the car telling me to go faster. Anything less than 90 mph in the Golf just felt SLOW. In the Freestyle - Ho Hum, the car seems to say "what's the rush?"
Regarding the question "Can a transmission be fixed and be problem free afterwards?"
I wouldn't worry. Transmissions aren't the rocket science which popular opinion seems to think - even our CVTs. There is no reason a mechanic can't open the tranmission, replace the broken part with a new one (the exact same thing which would go into a new transmission) and put it back together again.
I rebuilt a manual tramission on a Mustang in high school and never had any problems with it afterwards. And I put it through A LOT of abuse
With the Freestyle's low weight for its size, a turbo diesel, especially with a manual transmission, should offer mid 30s on the highway. That would be fantastic. I really don't understand the US automakers reluctance to give us the high quality, highly efficient, diesel options that Europe has. All one has to do is look at the success Jeep had with the diesel Liberty to know that if they make them Americans will buy them. We aren't all power hungry screw the gas mileage V8 fanatics they make us out to be.
Chad
My only complaint is 1 I have seen often in the forum - NO DAMN CROSSBARS! I have since bought the Thule Rapid Mount/Bars (high dollar but worth it!) and am content!
Ask me what car to look at/Buy... Freestyle will be the 1st from my lips!
I seriously doubt it. Did the light come on indicating that traction control was being applied?
Only ONCE have I ever seen Traction Control come on in my Ford vehicles . . . and it was in my 2002 Taurus.
The service manager tells me that they know that Ford will start offering an entire line of diesels pretty soon.
I had a Volvo 740. They used a VW TDI 6 in line. This is a 2 ton car and I used to get 6 -6.5 L /100 Km, that’s almost 40 MPG. That's a little better then a Honda civic. And there was plenty of power! I want to also point out that there is an article on edmunds.com that praises Diesel but says that the only drawback is the fact that gear changes occur more often due to the low RPM ranges of diesels. Well, the transmissions for diesel engines are "longer" and take advantage of the torque, resulting in similar speed/changes.
1. The diesel Liberty was just discontinued, having sold only 2000 in two years.
2. The reason we don't have diesels is that California and the other CARB states will not allow new diesel sales for vehicles below 6000 lbs. So manufacturors have been reluctant to bring out diesels that can't be sold in the most populous states.
3. In 2007 the EPA has mandated clean diesel, though so far only MB has come out with a car that meets the requirements. These vehicles will include special filters for particulates, which will mean slightly more maintenance.
Having said all the above, count me in if they come out with a diesel FS!
alljeep, "Jeep Liberty Diesel" #6235, 7 Jun 2006 9:00 am
The rumor is that Jeep will bring a diesel back to the States in 2008, but the current one won't meet the new regs you mentioned next year, so they just dropped it for a year. The '08 diesel is rumored to be a Mercedes engine. We'll see.
Steve, Host
Is there perhaps a greater profit for the dealers if they sell an Explorer? Is there any other reason why Ford dealers seem intent on moving Explorers while the Freestyle is an afterthought?
Thanks,
Chintan Talati
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
No offense intended, but I don't consider Forum quotes to be authoratative unless they include a link to actual official sites. However, I think you are correct. The news article I read (and posted a link in the Hybrid Vs Diesel forum) listed 2000, but that may have been a typo for "20,000". But the article said that DMC was still disappointed with sales.
I suspect some spokesperson somewhere at Ford is saying that Freestyle sales are meeting expectations and the ad budget is plenty big enough.
One could guess that Explorers make more money for Ford since the tooling has long been paid for, but you could also wonder why Ford doesn't market the Freestyle more aggressively in order to pay off the tooling costs for it.
Steve, Host
"One could guess that Explorers make more money for Ford since the tooling has long been paid for, but you could also wonder why Ford doesn't market the Freestyle more aggressively in order to pay off the tooling costs for it."
In defense of Ford, dealers in my area don't seem to want the Freestyle around. The Ford dealership nearest me has 58 '06 Explorer's on the lot. They have exactly 2 Freestyle's. (This is typical in my area.) The dealers are a big part of the problem. When they order their product mix from Ford, they're still living in the 90's.
If I'm not mistaken the Freestar is due to be retired soon. The coming Edge and the revamped '08 Freestyle will easily fill it's void, and maybe the confusion over names will finally end.
Just how I dislike how one company took a name from long ago RWD based classic with a V8, and slapped it on a FWD V6 vehicle, urrrrr...
The Freestyle, along with the Edge, and Fairlane will all sort of have it's same purpose, just in different platforms and utilitizations. The emphanize is space, utility, capacity, and all future Fords will have this mantra. Pretty much, people-movers...different heights, seat arrangements, lengths, but same focus.
Future Fords will have just as much flexibility in their interiors as the European versions, which also focus greatly on this concept...
My wife and I purchased a custom ordered, and FULLY loaded Freestyle LTD AWD which we received in May 2005.
The car has been to the dealership so many times that I really cannot count the total...
The most worry-some problems have been with a "clunk" noise in the front end that occurs whenever you press the gas from a stop. Then it developed a grinding when you turn. The dealership has not been able to isolate or fix the problem. The Freestyle has been in the shop for somewhere around 45 days or more, cumulative. We drive our service loaner more than our car...
There is a silver lining... My wife's brother has worked for the Ford dealership, where we purchased this, for the past 6 years & they are helping with the lemon law process.
We LOVE our Freestyle non-the-less and feel this is a fluke. We are hoping to get another. I've heard there is a redesign in the works. Anyone know when this will be? When are the 2007 models coming out?
Thanks!
I had asked my local Ford dealer to look into a loose piece of trim on my Freestyle and the technician told me he had never worked on a Freestyle before and didn't know how the trim piece was affixed. Didn't give me much confidence. I'm just glad I haven't had any other need to take it in for service other than oil changes. I'd be worried if something major was wrong they wouldn't have a clue what to do.
Chad
The Freestyle's interior cargo space was amazing - only a van or minivan could have held more. A Highlander would have required at least one, and probably two, more roundtrips.
I'm a happy camper. Hauling college kids around is the reason why I chose the Freestyle. It's more fun to drive than a minivan, gets better milage and is a lot safer.
And my Freestyle's driver's seat and front passenger seat are far more comfortable than those in my 2002 Camry.
Would that be the right rear door? My dealer just ordered the part. It turns out that the trim comes pre-painted, which is easier to install, but means the dealer won't stock the part, but rather special orders it.
My dealer is very large and I imagine they have more experience than most. But I've only had the oil changed there, so to date they haven't had to demonstrate any real ability. But they knew about the trim and how it was attached...
maybe that's why i still love my '02 explorer.
also, as far as i'm concerned, it pays to establish a good relationship with ford and your dealer.
In our case, that would make the '07 Freestyle the most reliable. If rumors are to be believed the '08 model is going to have a new engine and new transmission. Because this is the first year of this configuration there are bound to be teething problems. If ultimate reliability is your goal your best bet is to wait until the '08 configuration has been out for several years, right before they change it again.
- Chad
Whoops! By then your kids are grown and moved away and you don't need it any longer.
Dude.. I think you're seriously mistaken on just about all counts here. If you would care to substantiate any of this, feel free.