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Comments
Unfortunately diesel in my area is about $2.20 a gallon, about .45 cents a gallon more than regular gasoline around here. If this price difference remains in the future it will kill any
plans for manufactuing diesel as an energy alternative.
But if this car was put into production, what would it cost? Jeep is asking $30 grand for their Limited Liberty and that has diesel engine only. This is on a normal $20,000 base vehicle.
So add a hybrid system (4k) to a base $25,000 Freestyle and the diesel engine package (10k) and that should equate to about a $39,000 diesel hybrid version of the Freestyle. I think it would be a hard sell with low grade diesel fuel costing so much right now. Of course it does make sense if you compare it to a Toureg TDI.
This may have been one that slipped passed quality control, but at least the dealer did a great job of taking care of me. And I will say that after driving an expedition for a week I'm really glad I got a Freestyle!
Good luck to the rest of you with the seal problems, that is a bummer and I hope it gets fixed soon.
Got there and . . . . . grrrrrrrrrrr . . .. the darned thing wasn't in stock yet. "Should be here this evening or afteroon". Riiiiiiiight. Deja Vu all over again, as Yogi Berra would say.
What a joke.
So . . . I can personally say that there isn't a single Limited within 90 miles of Houston at the moment.
As far as misaligned front doors, I'm still waiting on the body shop to get back with me. By the way, I saw another AWD LTD Freestyle on a parking lot, and it too had front doors set higher. Anyone else?
* oil/filter replacement - every 3K
* tire rotation - every 6K
* CVT transaxle fluid replacement - every 60K
* PCV replacement - every 100K
* spark plugs replacement - every 100K
* air filter - as needed
* tires - as needed
* breaks - as needed
Am I misinterpreting or missing anything? Also I could not find any information on the following items (i.e. whether they are in Freestyle and if they need to be serviced):
* cabin air filter
* timing belt (chain?)
Any feedback would be appreciated...
What color did you order?
About the cabin air filter - does the Freestyle has one? Because from the Five Hundred board I see it doesn't include one (it's one of the major complaints against the 500), and since the Freestyle is a 500 wagon, I assume that a cabin air filter is missing here as well.
This may also be of help: http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/MaintenanceServlet?tid=edmunds- .a.landing.feature..4.*
most vehicles have a fuel filter, which need replacing at intervals. how about coolant replacement? i just bought a couple of pairs of wiper blades at the dealer. they came in a ford package, but the wipers had 'trico' embossed on them.
Amiret - What else did you look at when you gave up on the Freestyle?
Wondering because I too loved the Freestyle when I first saw the photos but after seeing it, it decided to pass for a variety of reasons. Primarily looking at Honda Pilot, Odyssey, and Nissan Pathfinder.
Go here for downloadable owners manuals. Warning BIG files!
I am thinking about leasing since the Freestyle is still a bit new, and the Pilot is overdue for an update (side airbags, better mpg).
I'd be pretty miffed if I have to pay extra for the option. Actually sat and filled out the order with the dealer on 12/28/04 but I believe the order wasn't placed until after the new year.
Guess I'll have to confirm with the dealer today.
Let us know - Good luck and report your build date and all that fun stuff when you get it.
Ours is due to be built on Jan 10.
Is production for the AWDs back on track?
Thanks -
Traction Control as an option. I suspect they are
making it a standard for the 2005 MY.
Anyone know if they plan to renew military appreciation?
Any luck w/yours yet?
If you are diligent about following a maintenance program, it seems like this would be a good deal as it does cover just about everything. You can cost out these separately, and it's quite a savings except that you have to come up with the cash now.
Not a peep out of the dealer on the one that's supposed to have been in Tulsa "any day now" well over a week ago.
Supposedly it was "released to convoy" at least 10 days ago. These things ship out of Chicago. It can't be but a day or two's drive from Chicago to Tulsa.
The best I can figure is that the darned thing is sitting on the convoy lot, waiting for enough other vehicles to make it on that car carrier.
What color (and interior) are you getting? Are you getting the standard bucket seats with console in the second row? And the 50/50 split for the third row?
We went with the console in the 2nd row. Mainly to be able to give the kiddos a divider. They are 6 and 12 - I liked the cup holder, etc. It does hamper the fold flat just a bit but when you need to haul things and all the seats are down you can flip open the console so the lid goes back and it is almost flat. Yes, to the 50/50 in the 3rd. You can rearrange things better I think.
We didn't order the DVD for two reasons. Couldn't really see out the back and I really don't want that easy of access to TV in the car - we can use the portables if needed.
My dad retired from Ford in ATL - should I see if he wants to adopt a few more children? I was an only child - always wanted brothers & sisters - tee hee.
What other vehicles did consider before deciding on the Freestyle?
We stopped in our local Ford dealership the other day w/the kiddos to visit the new Ford GT they have on the showroom floor.
My 12 year old was drooling and a very nice salesman spent a lot of time with him showing him the car. This guy knew we weren't shopping for a vehicle and still spent 20 minutes with a 12 year car fan. Anyway, we also enjoyed looking in the new Mustang GT and a really dressed up F150 Monster Truck.
After we walked the lot and visited with all of the SEL Freebies we got in the car to leave. (We drive the lot about once a week searching for the LTDs to start rolling in) Noticed in the showroom a Porsche Carerra.
Funny that none of us even noticed that puppy!
By the way, the GT was one of six allocated to the GA dealers and was already sold to someone in France. It sold for $200,000 something - don't recall.
Yes they are up and running again. No issues cited.
The other car I was really considering was the Dodge Magnum R/T. That 340hp Hemi V-8 really speaks to me. Hehe.
But truthfully, the Freestyle is a lot more practical (even without any kids, like me), and all that extra power would most assuredly go wasted 99% of the time anyway.
I'm going with the exact configuration you have, except there's no way I'll do black leather down here. So, it'll have to be Pebble.
The only thing that sorta bothers me right now is that "slope" in the back when you lay the seats "flat". Seems a bit silly to have that much slope, to me.
I know the black will be hot here too but I just liked it better. I'll pay for that I'm sure. I would have gone for the graphite but again, an SEL thing. They definitely got the better colors.
I just know next year they are going to have the colors we are all asking for now. Oh well..
We also looked at the Volvo XC70 and 90- price just got so high when we added in all the packages.
So now I have family in Texas and OK! Cool!
Hey - are you a member of the quarter horse assoc?
On this vehicle, it works out to be about $300 above invoice. I think I paid $100 over invoice on my Ford Taurus by going directly to the fleet dealer at the time. I think that was through my credit union. Makes me wonder if I can save a couple hundred by doing that again?
Didn't look at the Volvo's . . . but the Freestyle is basically an XC-90 that's been stretched in all directions, as far as I can tell. The AWD comes from there, too.
Would you have gotten the AWD had the FWD been available in the LTD? I'm a bit wishy-washy on it, being in Houston. But I think I would have, anyway.
Maybe ANT can comment on how it helps the driving experience even on dry roads . . . the brochure mentions this a bit.
I think it will effect gas maybe a little but hey I'm coming from about 12 mpg in a Disco so anything is an improvement. Not to mention going from premium to regular. Can't wait.
Restrictions Must be member of the American Quarter Horse Association for at least 30 days prior to purchase of vehicle. May not be combined with college grad or military offers.
----
Can't find where they are still offering military but does show college grad info.
Ford has teamed with AQHA to provide a $500 member incentive toward the purchase of any Ford vehicle (excluding special editions). The $500 incentive is in addition to all other publicly available Ford Motor Company retail offers in effect at the time of purchase or lease. This incentive may not be used in combination with other private offers. Note: A, X, Z, D plans are excluded. See dealer for complete details and eligibility rules. Other restrictions may apply. You must be an AQHA member for at least thirty days to qualify.
I think the city milage drops by 1 mpg.
It's pretty amazing to me that (without the AWD) the Freestyle can get the same gas mileage as the 2002 Taurus with the same engine, even though it weighs some 600 pounds more.
Try page 7 of this PDF file
Haven't looked very hard for more info yet . . . but it looks pretty slick.
Barnstormer,
The benefits of AWD in dry pavement you mean?
"Buy into the misconception that AWD only benefits you on slippery roads and you'll miss a whole lot of dry-pavement fun. For example, during rapid acceleration and fast cornering, AWD seamlessly distributes power between front and rear wheels to give you increased control and performance. You won't be aware that it's working, you'll just enjoy the rush behind the wheel."
I guess my question relates to just how often the system is engaging during cornering and acceleration . . . and what is considered "fast" in this situation.
The Haldex system is known as one of the best because of the speed at which it reacts. IN this years '05 Volvo Xc90, it gained (2nd generation) technology to act even quicker... In THAT case, it's needed since the new V8 might make the driver a bit more throttle happy. By fast, we are talking about 1/8th of a second, whereas most other systems requires the drive-wheel to slip one full turn, before it kicking in, and doing anything.
I'm quite happy with the engineering behind the system, and the benefits (better fuel economy, weights less) than most equivilent systems. This system will debut in a few other Ford/L/M vehicles....
The vehicle didn't seem to have a lot of "lean" in the turns, which impressed me. I think my Taurus actually has MORE.
I'm assuming the system can only detect slippage along the axis of rotation, and nothing else. Thus , if your car starts to literally slide sideways (or just the rear end), it won't know about that, will it? Then again, for that to occur, there's probably some slippage along the axis of rotation, too.
Let me ask this. If you were only going to be driving it on "dry pavement", would you consider the AWD a plus? A negative? A push?
I think the one I drove had the DVD system in it, and I don't remember it being an issue in the up position.
One potential advantage of having the system is that it would give me a way to hook up my Ipod (through the RCA inputs of the DVD). But would this work with the screen in the up and locked position?
Also, the dealer told me that usually the LTD's have an option to hook up an external satellite radio. Do you know if this can be done even if you have the DVD player option installed?
Right now, there doesn't appear to be any way of hooking up an external set of RCA inputs to this radio. I think Ford changed up the system in 2004. It appears to be the same radio as the F-150 pickup, and the forums there seem to indicate no way (yet, at least) to hook it up. Bummer.
System is based on various factors, one being axis of rotation as you stated. Although I haven't been able to duplicate a full side slip (as they do in the movies), not even pulling the emergency brake hard/quickly. The vehicle seems to go numb and compose itself quickly when doing such stunts.
IN my experience, having THIS AWD system available, it's enough for me to consider it for myself. Only because of my severe driving habits. Even in dry pavement, I'll give you one example I encountered months ago.
At a red light...Single lane both ways, residential road. On the right, a lane specifically for turning right onto the cross street. Mistaken driver in a Accord V6 THOUGHT he would cut everyone off, so when the light turned green, he would shoot in front of me. When the light turned green, he stomped too hard, traction control kicked and killed his fun. I was already at the other side of the intersection.... I TOO stomped hard, but AWD never allows me to "pause" and shot me across the intersection.
This is one situation I've personally encountered. Also had some issues where I had to jump over a sidewalk for parking (Xmas), and a median as well. AWD made sure I had the momentum to get across, and allow me to have traction at all times, even if one or 2 wheels where off the ground.
So while we on normal dry pavement we think we are limited to just the street, never know what you can encounter during such adventures.
While there are other AWD systems out on the road...depending upon the consumer's driving behavior, there's a good 80% chance I'll tell them not to bother since stability control system will help them in what minimal encounters they will face. But this is one of those system I wouldn't pass up if offered.
Tenacious Grip
Simplicity in Design
Cost Effective for the consumer
Reliable, Long-Term as well
Minimal (if any) maintenence
Doesn't decrease fuel economy
Low Weight
No need to set dials/-Automatic
Sounds almost too good to be true. But I do like the light weight of the system, that's for sure.