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In comparison to what?
I've been comparing them to the Pilot. Pilots have a dubious transmission history, sagging seats, cutting door handles, easily damaged plastic interiors, poorer mpg, side airbags that only cover 2 rows......
Now compare the two, and whats the better buy?
It would suit our needs to a tee. My wife refuses a mini-van, but we need the space.
Found-On-Road-Dead history keeping this as an also-ran in the vehicle hunt. Not buying until spring, so perhaps by then we'll have a better picture of initial quality/reliability. Although I'm more concerned with how the car performs five years from now, not just how it performs under warranty. I just don't see many old(late 90's) Explorers on the road. Plenty of newer ones, though.
no option) Freestyle and have noticed some
problems showing up. Basically, I've seen complaints of leaking trans, body panels that don't fit, a/c valve problems and now an unknown issue with the brakes.
Where have you heard about these problems mentioned?
All you need to do is copy the website from the address bar in your browser (text), and paste it into the post.
http://www.edmunds.com/
Once the post is in, it'll appear as a link.
BTW, our Figgie Freebie
Sam
Now the question becomes: Is it better to buy the SEL w/Traction and no other options or buy a SE w/the Conv. Pkg and Traction? Any suggestions?
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out the animal type search engine though....
Steve, Host
Problems? All I could find was a 1 inch scratch on the front bumper. That's it. The mechanicals are fine. Time to order the cargo net and the shop manual.
Oh yes, the salesman asked for pictures of the Redfire. He is starting a wall of his Freebie sales.
60/40 split bench 2nd row seat, and safety pkg with side air bags, and the split 3rd row seat.
Just my 2 cents. Ours took 8 weeks order to delivery to NH.
Only after I looked at the brochure did I see the conv. pkg. gives the auto lamps. Since I am getting this on the x-plan, the prices are very close. I can't find a Silver Frost SEL/FWD in south eastern Virginia or southern CT (our Christmas destination). I prefer to not have to order one. I may just spend two weeks looking at dealers before I try to order one. I really want the SEL (I think).
I don't know how up to date the info stays, but it may save you some gas while looking.
Amiret, there's still quite some time before it's raised. Wait till the Duratec35 is implemented.
Any word on say a 2005 and a half, with Ford doing things like improving the color palette for Ltds? Whats about traction control which is a freebie today?
Any other minor tweaks that seem worthwhile or do they have so few vehicles on the road that theres insufficient experience with the fleet to know what to do?
I sense from internet listings that dealer stock is static in Boston area-suggesting few sales and few vehicles being shipped from Chicago.
It'll be awhile before any major changes take place, although things can also be tweaked at the same minute. Example, one option might be grouped with something else, or left solely on it's own. All it requires is a change in the order code, and many dealers/sales people might not even know about it till they place the order and it bounces back that a particular option, no longer exsists and grouped with someone else.
Amiret,
The Duratec35 will first be phased into the Lincoln Aviator, after that, it'll trickle down to a few more vehicles...these being the next one's coinciding with the vehicles refreshning. And from this Lincoln Aviator, a few other vehicles will spawn from a Ford derivative, to a Mazda one (MX-Cross Sport Concept). The engine itself will eventually replace some other engine families, as well offering them as alternatives to the Duratec30.
1 - seat belt coil broke on the first day home
2 - Engine stalled twice while driving, service unable to give satisfactory answer. "Flight recorder" hooked up to car for 2 weeks with no help. Each time it stalled I was on a curve, but at highway speed. Engine completely stalled, but then restarted once I pulled over and turned the key again.
3 - Headlights flicker on and off dimmly at night with the switch off. Happened 3 times this week. Unable to reproduce the problem at the service department. When it happens they flicker all night long. I guess I should wait for the battery to go dead?
What color was the fluid on the garage floor?
Good luck
1) Ford dealership (Kings Ford in Cincinnati) was unable to determine the source of oil leak (they said that oil was too clear to see where it was coming from). They put a dye in it (?!), told me to drive for a couple of days and come back... I'll be back there next Thursday.
2) I also showed them misaligned doors -- front doors seem higher than the rear ones. They agreed that the doors were not properly mounted (with pride?) so I have to go to a body shop and get a free estimate (dealership does not do body repairs). They warned me though that the body shop might take my car for days and I will have to pay for a rental myself because Ford does not authorize loaners...
This is the first time I have to deal with Ford Motor Co., but I tell you -- I do not have this warm and fuzzy feeling... I'll give them a chance though. But whoever wants to buy a new Freestyle, just beware that it might sound good on paper, but if the quality of manufacturing and assembly is not high, you might be disappointed. My personal opinion, if they charge 30+K for a product (made with pride, as the window sticker says), than maybe someone should pay attention to the condition this product leaves the plant.
The power of the engine can be debated but one thing that I realized and have read over and over is that it is noisy on quick acceleration during high RPMs.
Does anybody know if the 3.5L will be quieter than this engine at all RPMs? If so what will make it so.
Is Ford doing anything to the 3.0L in the near future to keep it quiet during these peak times?
Doubtful. But, the engine should put out more torque and power at any given rpm. Thus, for the same acceleration, you'll be at lower rpm, and therefore lower noise.
I'm looking for schematics or anything else that details what the "AUX" wiring is (if anything) behind my Freestyle Limited radio (Audiophile) -- I'd love to hardwire my iPod to it. Does the Auxillary input really exist?
I'm guessing you have the previous generation Quest that was co-produced as the Mercury Villager ? If so, that's a 3.3L OHV V6 Nissan unit with 170HP and 200TQ. The was just phased out by Nissan. Overall it was a good decently reliable unit, except for some minor headgasket issues on some years.
I'm familiar with the engine and what you feel is the typical low RPM push that are common to OHV designed engines. Although (as most OHV designs) it quickly runs out of breathe at higher RPM's, specially when your at highway speeds and require a downshift. Now, a transmission can be programmed to downshift quicker to attain power and in the later years of the previous generation Quest, this was rectified a few times.
I believe most of the instrumented tests done for that vehicle gave it a 0-60 of 10-11 Seconds which in paper looks slow, but in actual perception it felt quick because the vehicle involves you a bit more.
And that's a common issue most people are having, specially with the CVT. They don't feel a SNAP (downshift) when accelerating, or a shuddering/shake, body motion that involves the person, and they might perceive it as being slow.
As an extreme opposite example, I drive a friends Lexus LS430 which is tomb quiet, and at first it feels as if the vehicle is lifeless, slow, un-entertaining because the vehicle is too isolated from the exterior. I must crack open a window so I FEEL/HEAR something going on with the vehicle, even if I'm blasting by other vehicles, but because of it's refined nature, some (as well as myself) perceive it as being slow because of how quiet it is.
Opposite extreme to this senario... A friends Civic which he swears is fast because he added a fart-can sounding muffler. SO that noise, and the nature of the engine that must scream +7000RPM to seek power, might confuse someone into thinking it's some powerhouse, which it's not.
As for the 500/Freestyle, the CVT maximizes the engines output, so at various RPM levels you will be using torque that the Quests' transmission would have had to dig into another shift, to attain... And when the typical transmission does, you time and increase fuel consumption playing with your pedal to seek a downshift.
The 3.5L will be quieter, but it's not because of the engine architecture that causes most of the engine's noise, it's the compression (lower, increasing the noise but allows an engine to work on regular gas...higher requires premium but makes it quieter-catch22) and the material of the manifold being used. Also, the insulation of the hood can play a big part of it.
I myself am anti-noise (and as described on the LS forum) I pretty much redid the interior insulation to quiet my vehicle (NOT that it was loud to begin with, but it's a personal obsession). So far, the Lima 3.9L DOHC V8 on the LS/Tbird (same as the Jag's) are by far the quietest engines (by design) Ford builds. The Intech DOHV V8's where next up, followed by the Duratec family.
But again, it's not the architecture of the engine itself, it's the added components that affect it. Compare the Duratec30 in the Freestyle, and the same version modified for Lincoln LS V6 use, and you will notice how quiet it can really be. But again, the LS V6 requires premium, has higher compression, and a price premium as well.
Conclusion: it's all about give and take and balancing it all out. I spent over $1200 to quiet down a late 90's Mustang I had for 2 years (part of my noise obsession) and YES I"m fully aware it was a sports car, it was MENT to be loud... It's all a fine balance.
As for the 500/Freestyle, go with the SEL/LIM because they have a bit more insulation (Deluxe Sound package). I've had more than my fair share of dealing with those....With the A/C on, and radio at a decent volume, and you can't hear what's going on.
Headcase,
Didn't Visteon give you some information pertaining to that, or someone at the dealership?
I'm thinking if maybe some aftermarket store might have some techno-savvy person that must know how to retrofit it so it does what you need. Or maybe a newsgroup online that deals with iPods?
An alternate option is to use a device that sends the iPod's (headphone) output to the radio through FM. It's also cheaper, and sold at places like the ones above.
Sam
Thats an attractive increase in HP which if the CVT can handle would make a nice option box to check and quiet many so called knowledgeable media critics. Kinda like holding the fort until the 3.5 comes on line
I just bought a Griffin I-trip for that purpose. Now if my Ipod would get here . . . .
Out of all the FM modulators for the Ipod, this one sounded the best.
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/itrip-review.html
It lets you choose *any* FM station to transmit on. A big deal when in a large city.
Bummer. The other option, of course, is to simply replace the head unit.
Thanks for your help - my first time on this chat board.
Briefly: The 3.5L is taking awhile because of having to retrofit the engine plant to allow the manufacturing of it. They can't get it out to market soon enough.
Power issue: ON paper it might look low compared to the competition but the comparisons against the Pacifica show it's actually quicker than the Pac.
Just take a test drive yourself and see if it can keep up with your needs. Bring friends of family members with you to weigh down the car to give you a better idea if need be.
Compare the 0-60 times. If you can find other times (like 30 - 50 or 50-70), those would be even better.
I think you'll find that the 0-60 time of the Freesytle is in line with all of these vehicles.
I'm still not convinced but will keep watching this forum. I also may consider the Highlander. I am done with Chrysler products (Pacifica- fooey! I get a stiff neck just thinking about climbing into one). (Ant14 how do you know so much about Fords?)