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Comments
We have our transmission reprogrammed and I can not say that I have noticed the rpms being lower at 70, but overall it does seem to drive better.
The first ad for Freestyle was in the winter of 2004-2005 with "suddenly Suzan" telling us that this is not an SUV, nor a car. I looked at it and I said to myself "Right, that's probably a clone of Escape".
In the summer of 2005 I needed a new car and researched almost the entire Edmunds.com. Freestyle seemed too good to be true.
My dealer (a huge one) had a bunch of them parked right in front. I walked in and I said I want on of those. I saw that the salesman did not know much about them.
It's a great vehicle! So why isn't Ford not advertising it? They even talk about dropping it or not (that's because it's not selling). They do not advertise much the 500 anymore.
Two reasons: As all the reviewers say it's underpowered (after my 1st test drive I was ready to give up on it, as it seemed slow to me - my wife thought it was great) Ford thinks that's the reason it's not selling. So why push money on ads when the product needs fixing? It takes really good sales people to convince you that what you feel in the seats of your paints is not true. And Ford sales people and dealers.... - For the record my FS has more than 4k on it and I feel it has all the power it needs.
The looks! I love it! But it is very very docile. Remember that Mr. Ford said that the market is rewarding bold design? Yes, Tribeca is ugly and so many of the new products from Chrysler. When Nissan introduced Murano it seemed like a caricature to me, but now I am warming up to it.
FS looks like two or three years late. I have a brand new car but when you see it on the street you couldn't tell that. And Ford knows that, too.
Ford Edge looks like today at least. It should look like tomorrow.
Maybe Ford just waits for the new engine and a restyling to start pushing FS. Pushing it now with little success will also hurt the chances of a revamped FS to become a success.
How about that?
and FORD! RECYCLE YOUR DEALERS!
I sold my Honda Accord to get the FS and before it was sold I took it to "bad" Honda dealer for a checkup and to reassure the buyer. I was amazed how the service advisor told me everything about my car in a breath. He knew the recalls and what he will do for me for free and how long the special warranty was etc. because of that I sold my car 1000 dollars more then I intended.
Every time I go to one of the Ford dealers I have to show them how to read the odometer! And when i pick my car i have to make sure they did not lose something (they lost one of my keys).
So Ford may restructure well but they do not have a channel to push out a good product through.
Vicenac
Is there anyway to tell which version you have without hooking the Freestyle up to their computer? Even if I have to buy my own OBD II scanner it may be worth it to save in fuel milage costs over the life of the vehicle.
05 Freestyle AWD (16.7 mpg)
vgumbatz, "Ford Freestyle" #4952, 15 Nov 2005 9:31 pm
The recall info is also in the Edmunds Maintenance Guide - the number given there is 05V515000.
Steve, Host
What conspiracy theory? :confuse:
I tried it today the usual way I know how since this old dog cannot learn new tricks. Got all 8 Freestyle discussions straight away. No problemo! Must be blind luck !
The only small problem I have now is I don't bother to sign off and when I want to add a new post I have to sign in which the forum computer takes a while to remember my username and password but after a couple of tries it then works. :confuse:
Never had this problem before.
Hmmm...very interesting stuff mentioned above.Couple of weeks ago I took my wife's Freestyle AWD Ltd (built in April 2005)to the dealer to get the tank straps replaced. While there I asked the service advisor to check for updates on the powertrain control module.
They located and repaired a vaccuum leak at the VMV supply hose and also re-programmed and tested the EEC.
So just for the hell of it I reset the mpg indicator and drove about 50 miles of freeway back home.To my great surprise I was getting about 30 mpg on the Imp.Gal.which is far better than the previous overall reading which was left untouched since we bought the vehicle.And the FS odo at present is about 3500 miles as my wife drives 85%city 15%hwy and hardly even broken in yet.
Hey this is amazing as it matches EPA ratings and may possibly even get better. :shades:
The company reiterated that it is going to be be continuing the production of the Freestyle CUV chasis and body type under the name of the Ford brand.
Imperial gallons. What is the EPA rating in Imperial?
One of the first things I'm going to do is get it to a Ford dealer to make sure it has the latest software and any recalls/updates taken care of. Are there any other things I should have looked into or taken care of while there?
Funny enough we will be picking it up this evening in the midst of a snowstorm. I'm looking forward to trying out the AWD.
- Chad
Thanks in advance.....Bigred
That is an excellent observation. The AWD does indeed sap some performance and energy as you drive. It also adds about 175 lbs of weight, reduces gas mileage, and is just one more thing to break. Thats why I didn't go for it. I got the FWD version with traction control.
1. Fuel Tank Straps recall necessary sooner or later.
2. My Freestyle has the now-famous squeaky lower control arm body mounts (squeaks when going over large bumps). I'm curious if the dealers are finding ways to lubricate them or something. Some silicone grease would be great; maybe some silicone light oil aerosal can spray would do it. (Make it silicone so the rubber in there won't react.)
(Personally, in Canada I'd be using Castrol Syntec 0w-30 or Mobil 1 0w-30 in the cold climate.)
In the USA, Ford gets EPA fleet average mile-per-gallon credit by specifying 5w-20 (the "20" part reduces gas consumption by around 1/5 mile-per-gallon). I've heard Ford really wants people in Europe driving cars using the same engine to use 5w-30, not 5w-20, for better engine protection during occasional high loads.
You're right that I believe Ford used the 20 weight mainly for CAFE reasons. But then the API SM & GF-4 standard is a very robust oil meeting Ford's stringent standards.
I also drive a 2001 Explorer Sport Trac which Ford does not
recommend using 5w-20 (something to do with oil pumpability).
I have been using different synthetic 5w-30 which works very well.However on my next oil change I will start to use year round a PAO (polyalphaolefin) synthetic 0w-30 Esso XD-3 Extra which is a HD engine oil formulated for moderate and severe service applications, available only in Canada from ESSO bulk oil depots.For more info on this oil check out "Bob is the oil guy" forum where all the hardcore users hang out.
For me I rate our Freestyle AWD Ltd as a thoroughbred and my Explorer Sport Trac as a good workhorse.
Stevedebi: One Imperial gallon = 1.2 U.S. gallons.
The Canadian Fuel consumption guide for 2006 Freestyle
FWD = 24 mpg City/ 35 mpg HWY on Imp.gallon
AWD = 23 mpg City/ 31 mpg HWY " "
The edge has to be positioned below the FS as the FS is both larger and has more people schlepping capacity 5 vs 7.(think escape vs explorer). The point few mention is the edge will be 400-500 lbs heavier than the FS due to the inefficiencies of the platform it sits, ironic considering the edge is dimensionally smaller on most if not all fronts. So if you think this 3.5 vs 3.0 is going to be this revelation its not, the edge will NEED the extra capacity just to keep up with the FS yet alone perform any better. There is nothing lifeless or wrong about the 3.0l in this application, low 8 sec times to 60 are better than the competitors, allows the mpg to be a strong suit given you are not hammering the motor at all times. The FS is the big brother to the new puppy nipping at its heels, the edge is a different animal for a different market than the FS was intended for.
Yes, there have been problem's with the FS since it's introduction, none largely serious, but I think you will find them to be no more than average for the introduction of a new vehicle, If you look a little closer I suspect it might even be better than most. No one gets off for free when introducing a new product. There are those people that unfortunately have been affected more acutely than others and that's unfortunate because they will usually yell loudest, that is not always an indication of the true competence of a product. Proffering unsupported opinions on this without fact's is easy for whatever reason and fun to do in the forums apparantly.
I complained that the steering was knocking when turning on full lock. I did not have any squeaks when going over bumps that I noticed, however the dealer told me that they lubricated the ball joints and some mounts (I think - I did not pay too much attention at the time) and now every thing is quiet.
Best thing to do it take it to your dealer and ask them.
Good luck.
"Also, the number of problems and defects reported for the Freestyle here and elsewhere is not encouraging."
The posts made on this and other boards are hardly from a representative sampling of Freestyle owners. Human nature being what it is, those who love to complain are far more likely to type out their complaints than those who have nothing to complain about. By-in-large, for a first year product, the 2005 Freestyle has been remarkably trouble free. Mine has been flawless.
I think the Freestyle fits nicely above the Edge in the Ford CUV hierarchy. It is not meant to be a heavy towing vehicle, and has good capacity for people and cargo with good mileage for its class. It is a logical candidate to be the next hybrid in Ford's stable. Since that means the price needs to rise for the hybrid version, it can't bump into the Edge. I would not be surprised if there were one or two more CUVs in the line-up in time. :shades:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?post_date=2006-02-08&id=19453
What happened? I assume with the Way Forward plan, plans were certainly in flux, but this decision doesn't make sense to me. Have you heard anything about why this decision was made? Once the Fairlane comes on board, Ford is going to have the Escape, Edge, Explorer, and Fairlane in the small to midsize SUV/CUV/People-mover/ category, while Mercury only has the Mariner and Mountaineer.
dim dash lights? Are you sure you don't have yours turned down my friend?
And last time I checked my passenger seat does have full power. (Not that it's really necessary.)
The edge is coming in at 400-500lbs HEAVIER, hence it will NEED the 3.5 just to keep up with a Freestyle due to the weight that Ford could not cut out, hence I'm not sure how "peppy" the new edge is going to be in comparison. It will need the additional 50hp just to keep up with the FS with that kind of weight penalty. What it might have is a perceived better move off the line due to the traditional 6spd transmission which will get everyone going on and on about "how much FASTER it is" etc., etc.,blah, blah, blah. More is always better to most it seems especially at the expense of efficiency. The FS has a great balance of power vs economy which is a strong suit as opposed to a liability with people haulers one would think. It goes competently when it needs to and asked, Not sure if racing around with more power is a good thing with a people loaded FS. We got along just fine with 5 adults & 2kids/carseats and got 26.5mpg to boot, not sure if 3.5l/6spd will have the same to say. The FS as it sits gets along just fine for what type of vehicle it is hands down and is faster than it's direct competitors all of who have more hp.
"I don't think the third row seat is really a selling point for the FS since I'll bet the vast majority never have anyone back there on a regular basis"
It's the whole reason to consider the FS, my father and I both above avg weight and 6'2 plus sat in the third row in relative comfort prior to purchase to see how it felt, while I would not want to have to ride back there to cross the country I do not feel bad at all asking someone to sit there for a reasonable period of time to accommodate not having to take 2 cars to go someplace. My wife, baby and I are mostly using this car for the wknds, wIth grandparents, nephews, aunts, uncles it has proven invaluable to be able to carry everyone safely and comfortably and STILL have space for strollers and diaper bags behind the occupied third row. It was a MUST for our purchase to have the 3 rows and seating for 7 and I don't think we are in the minority with that. It is one of the KEY strengths of this car/CUV.
The FS is that good at what it is...my big gripe is actually the interior finishes & materials, improve those and you really have done something useful to improve a great package.
Wrong! I would never have bought a FS if it didn't seat at least 6. The 3rd seat is used 75% of the time.
Without the 3rd seat my choices would have been the Pilot or the Freelander.
But for the Freestyle I'm staying with Ford's recommended 5w-20. I'm copying part of Ford's FAQ brochure which provides pretty good info on extensive testing of their Motorcraft 5w-20 especially in desert like conditions and under heavy loads. They also said their 5w-20 tested out better than their 5w-30.Keep in mind too that they were talking about the API SL and GF-3 standard, and now it is upgraded to API SM and GF-4 for even better protection.
...................
Q. Here in the desert southwest, air temperature reach 120 in the shade, what oil weight do you suggest?
A: Customers should use the viscosity grade that was recommended for his vehicle in TSB 02-1-9. In some cases that means 5W-30 for 2001 vehicles, but for most, that means 5W-20. Many people believe 5W-20 will be too thin to protect vehicles in high ambience such as experienced in Arizona at 120 degrees. Keep in mind that both 5W-30 and 5W-20 were both fully tested, including Arizona proving grounds and experienced these very high ambient temperatures. The 5W-20 past all requirements and in some instances proved to be a better oil than the 5W-30. So customer should not be hesitant in using 5W-20 for those vehicles where it is recommended.
Q. In the Houston Area, are we supposed to use 5W-20 oil in 100+ temps?
A: Yes. As we said before, 5W-20 was tested in 100-degree temperatures in Arizona and proved to provide good durability and in some aspects was better than 5W-30.
Q. What about oil consumption, we have seen more of this lately?
A: We have not heard of any major differences in oil consumption lately. Newer oils such as those at GF-3 (API SL) level of performance have lower volatility and we would expect no oil related oil consumption increases.
Q. Is there really a difference in quality between 5W-20 and 5W-30?
A: Yes. 5W-30 is a Hydrocracked product and 5W-20 is a Hydrocracked/synthetic blend product.
Q. What durability tests have been done on this new grade of oil in excess of the warranty period?
A: Motorcraft 5W-20 was tested in the Arizona and Nevada desert heat, in Expeditions and Navigators loaded down to the max trailer towing capacity for up to 250,000 miles with extended drain intervals (15,000 miles). It was also tested in a fleet of taxis for stop-and-go testing and in the extreme colds of MinnesotA. In all cases, Motorcraft 5W-20 performed exceptionally with no oil-related failures.
Q. Can we expect oil pressure variations with this new oil compound that can potentially allow the pressure drop enough to trigger a concern or warning light?
A: No. Not in the engines listed in TSB 02-1-9.
Q. Engine oil is a carrier for heat with the higher rpm's on some of the smaller engines can we expect shorter engine life?
A: No. The oil is specifically designed to withstand engine heat.
Q. Is this grade of oil up to the quality of synthetics or would you recommend the later?
A. Motorcraft 5W-20 is a premium synthetic blend giving performance very similar to full synthetics, but at a much more competitive price.
Q. Were engine designs modified to run this new grade of oil?
A. Some bearing designs were optimized to take advantage of the new oil. New engines will be designed to take advantage of 5W-20.
Q. As the temperature changes the oil either gets thicker or thinner, at what temperature does oil change from 5w to 10w
A. The viscosity of engine oils is measured at two temperatures. The first number is measured at low temperature, which is why "w" is put after it to indicate "winter." The lower the number, the less viscous the oil, so a "0w" oil is thinner than a "10w" oil. The second number is the viscosity measured at high temperature comparable to typical engine operating temperature. Again, a higher number means a thicker oil. "30" weight oil is thicker than a "20" weight oil.
B. As the temperature increases oil does get thinner. For the "5w" or "10w" indications, these are done at only a specific temperature to compare one oil thickness vs. another oil thickness. The oil does not really change from a 5w to a 10w.
Q. Will SAE 5W-20 provide longer oil change intervals?
A. No. Continue to change your oil as recommended in the Owner's Guide.
B. At the present time Ford recommends no change to the existing drain interval for SAE 5W-20. However, Ford is investigating allowing longer drain intervals since the performance level of Motorcraft® SAE 5W-20, which is a GF-3 oil, is significantly better than past GF-2 oils
- Chad
Note that this was comparing Ford's 5W-20 synthetic blend to a "dino" 5W-30.
It makes one wonder how a 5W-20 to 5W-30 or even 0W-30 true synthetic would compare.
Disclaimer: My first oil change on both my Freesytle and Five Hundred were at 2500 miles with a 5W-20 synthetic blend. After that, starting at 5000 miles, I've gone to Mobil-1 5W-20 full synthetic which I intend to change at 5000 mile intervals.
I suppose I could switch to 5W-30 or 0W-30 full synthetic at 10k miles if I become convinced of the benefits of that.
...over in the edge forum that I was surfing one night.
You know what is odd, is that the Freestyle was previously listes at 3958 lbs (FWD) and 4180 (AWD). Now I see a lot of 3649 lb numbers thrown around. I need to go to a truck weight station one of these days and get the real number!
But, its also odd the Edge is so heavy.
5W-20: 48.3 / 8.8
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_5W-20.asp
5W-30: 64.8 / 11.3
http://mobil1.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil1_5W-30.asp
0W-30: 56.0 / 10.3
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil1_0W-30.asp
5W-30 EP: 57.3 / 10.3
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_Extended_Performan- ce.asp
Remember the 3.5L is a new engine, so I wouldn't buy it for a couple of years. If we could only get a Nissan V6 in our Freestyles! They make the best V6s. It could be done, because note how Honda V6s are in Saturn Vue Redline SUVs. GM cut a deal with Honda, so Ford could buy a few award-winning, awesome, tried-and-true Nissan V6s.