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Comments
as I am living in Germany I am unfortunately not in a position to check out the Freestyle at a local dealer because it is not intended for the European market.
Nevertheless, I am considering to have one imported as I require a decently sized car for my family and my two dogs. Unfortunately, from only the pictures of the Freestyle I am not able to visualize the cargo space behind the third row of seats. Do you think that with the third row up there is enough space remaining to accomodate two dogs (one Golden retriever and one slightly bigger) or is it too narrow ?
The kind comments from any of you would be highly appreciated.
Tovalop, I'd say its far too small behind the third row for two big dogs like that. You'd be better off with a suburban but the fuel bills for that in Europe would be scary. You'd also have problems with getting a Freestyle legal over there due to lights and other regulations that are different, though if you are US military, those problems may go away.
Too small with the all the seats up but with the 50/50 you could fold seats down as needed.
This quote is from a September review of the Freestyle by thecarmagazine.com.
"Other automakers that use Haldex AWD are Volkswagen, and its many brands including Audi, Seat, Skoda and Bugatti, with its Veyron. Not bad company."
http://www.thecarmagazine.com/en/info/roadtest/view.spy?make=Ford- &artid=28233&pg=2
Momentum is just a matter of speed.
Chuck
http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/ford6e_20050106.htm
personally, i don't think anything has enough room behind the 3rd row for your dogs.
you can get dimensions from this or the ford website. the freestyle is probably pretty close to the xc90 dimension-wise. i'll bet you can find one of those
With the screen down vision to the rear through the rearview mirror is definitely obstructed (you can only see out of either side of the mirror but not directly behind). You can compensate a little by ensuring your outside mirrors are adjusted appropriately but you still do not have a direct view to the rear (need to check over your shoulder more consistently). With the screen up there is no obstruction at all.
What I like about the entertainment system is that it is totally integrated with the radio. The sound is awesome (at least in the Limited - have not heard the SEL version).
I have used the RCA cable connections to hook up my Pocket PC with GPS to listen to the navigation prompts. It works well and you do not have to put the screen down to make it work. I am sure that it would work perfectly with an I Pod (or other MP3 unit). You simply need the RCA plugs with a mini plug on the other end. My only beef is that there is a wire hanging down from the roof but it is really not a big deal. The other advantage of the RCA plugs is that you can use them to plug in a game system (haven't tried that yet).
Yes it would be nice if Ford installed plug-ins somewhere up front.
He DID say he is in Germany! :-)
tidester, host
I understand that you CAN hook up an integrated satellite radio with the LTD, but I don't know if that depends on having (or not having) the DVD system.
I like the look a lot. It won't win any races, but I thought that the pick up was okay.
Any of you traded an Expo for a Freestyle? Any buyer's remorse? Miss being the Big Dog? I am weighing the considerably lower price/better mileage for the Freestyle against the fact that I really have enjoyed having larger vehicle. Although, I doubt if I would miss the price of filling the gas tank.
I came of age during the first gas crisis, so I am really enamored of the V-8's that I missed out on as a young man.
Maybe the Explorer is a better alternative/compromise. Any input you might have would be most appreciated.
Thanks
PAUL
But as far as acceleration . . . . it just can't be beat. And it actually CAN win a few races.
Unless you need to tow or go off-road, I can't imagine why you'd want an Explorer over the Freestyle. (Then again, I've never owned an Explorer). What other advantage (other than feeling on top of the world, which ain't necessarily an advantage, IMO) does the Explorer offer? I just can't think of any.
Remember: the Freestyle is actualy 8" longer than Explorer and 2" wider, and has tons more room inside it. The Explorer is only bigger in terms of engine, weight, height, ground clearance, towing capacity.
Chuck
Ours will displace a 01 Land Rover Disco II -
Anyone else?
(Slow Friday!)
Seriously, I looked closely over a base Freestyle in the dealers show room over the holidays as I had my son's 92 Sable in to a Ford dealer for a replacement thermostat.
I thought it looked good overall, inside and out, even in base form. Though it is not as spacious as our '96 short wheel base Caravan which is quite a bit shorter in length. It is hard to beat the tall boxy minivan format for space efficiency combined with reasonable fuel efficiency.
Freestyle is a good option for those who wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan but still want to haul a lot of stuff on occasion.
Also, does anyone know of any rebates that are planned for the Freestyle?
Do you have to physically unlock?
Thanks -
I can't imagine why you'd want it to auto-unlock.
It appears that I'll be driving about 6 hours tomorrow to go buy a Freestyle. LTD in Merlot with Pebble Leather, with all options (including the DVD).
My brother will be meeting me there to buy my '96 Taurus Wagon. Unfortunately for me, the fuel pump and blinker switch on it just went bad, so I just spent almost as much repairing it as he's gonna pay me for it. I'd rather let him have it for a steal than a dealer any day.
This setup seems to me to be logical. I wouldn't want doors to unlock automatically anyway. Suppose you stop and park in a less than desirable neighborhood sometime. Do you want your doors unlocked so anyone can get at you immediately? Not me. I would rather have some control over when they unlock, not as soon as I put the car in park or pull the key out of the ignition.
RE - Auto unlock - guess it is something to get use to - mine now has 3 ways to unlock. The unlock switch, pull the handle twice to get out or when it is turned off.
Just seemed a hassle to only be able to use the switch. Seems like there are some other options though.
He called me back to say that he'd physically driven the vehicle around back to be prepped so that nobody else could buy it in the interm. And that the second row did indeen have a console and that the third row was 50/50.
I'll be taking a known CD with me, as well as my Ipod, just to check out the RCA inputs on the DVD player, too.
It's gonna be a LONG day tomorrow.
Any idea when Limited with FWD available?
Last question, does the 2nd row console fold /shift if you fold the 2nd row seats down?
One the one hand, I wish everybody would abandon the big SUVs (except if they need to tow or go offroad) so there'll be less of those behemoths out there for me to try to see around.
On the other hand, being a petroleum engineer, my bonuses will probably be bigger the more people that drive those gas-guzzling monsters.
The second row console is not linked to the 2nd row seats when you fold them flat, but if you grab the console lid from the rear, it "splits" forward, leaving a flat surface similar to the folded seat level.
If you select a second row floor console, then the 2nd row 60/40 bench seat is "disabled" (obviously), but the perforated leather-trimmed front row bucket seats are also "disabled".
Thus, to get front-row leather-trimmed front row bucket seats, it appears that you have to get a 60/40 bench seat (presumably also leather). When you select this option, both the 2nd row 60/40 split bench seat and the 3rd row 50/50 split bench seat are automatically selected for you.
Matter of fact - the car we test drove had the buckets w/the console because the salesman showed us how to flip it back for folding down the seats. It was leather. I also think it is a no cost option - you can have either or. (It was a SEL) We later looked at the LTD w/the bench seat and then ordered the buckets.
I'm pretty sure you can't get the heated seats w/the leather.
Someone else just ordered a LTD FWD - haven't seen any here yet. If anyone is searching for SEL and SE FWD - come to ATL - we still have nothing in AWD.
I can confirm you can get leather seat with 2nd row buckets. The Ford website doesn't allow it, however the ordering system at the dealer does.
We opted not to get the 2nd row console because we like the ability to have kids get to the back without messing with the seats. I figure if I want a console in the future I can always get one from a junkyard or Ford and slap some velcro on it or something to make a removeable console.
I do wish Ford offered a GPS system. I am currently considering a TomTom GO system - thinking perhaps I could somehow mount it in the center console "stuff holder" and easily route power to it...
xnappo
xnappo
Looks like they want to make that set up more er LTd than before.
I am a consultant, and work in the Bay Area quite a bit. I worked in SF proper for many years as well. I know all too well what you mean about maneuvering the Expo around The City.
I am now torn between the Freestyle, and a Volvo V70 R. The practical side of me says the Freestyle (about 15k less), but that R puts out 300 HP and screams!
I guess I could face worse dilemmas in life. Thanks again for the extremely helpful post, and enjoy!
PAUL
if you live in the city,i agree with freestyle_gal. plus you can rent something hot, when you feel the 'need for speed'. price out tires for the 'style and the 'r, to start with.
I meant the console between the two seats. You will have to use the power port below the radio to power your GPS in the bin above the radio.
This thing is just so Smoooooooooooooooooth. No "shifts" at all. It just gets to whatever rpm it needs, and you don't notice it, unless you watch the tach.
I'm still searching for that third power-point mentioned in the brochure. The first one is in the front, near the A/C. The second is on the driver's side, very near the back.
I would assume the third is somewhere accessible by the second row, but I can't find it. Neither could the salesman. LOL.
Oh, the radio has controls that help keep the volume constant (well, constant to your ears) by increasing the loudness as your speed increases (and vice versa). Very nice.
And there's a control to set the radio for "All Seats", "Driver Only", and "Rear Only". I assume that this is some sort of time delay on each speaker, and not a simple left/right and rear/front split.
Also, the iPod works great through the Aux inputs on the DVD player. Though you do have to crank up the iPod all the way to get enough signal.
Your Freebie looks great! The third powerport, by the way, is in the first row console. Just open up the armrest.
NUTSHELL: The Figgie Freebie is 5,300 miles. I'm very pleased with its performance.
* For best fuel savings, keep Freebies under 2K RPMs. That roughly equals 65-70 on flats. At 75, you are just over the highest fuel-saving speed (lose 0.1 MPG sloooooowly but steadily).
* Best MPG from NJ to NC (overnight stop) was 23.7. The NC to FL savings were lower, as we did 75 mostly.
* Best MPG FL to NC was 25.4. I may had reached 26 (or more?) if hadn't accelerated to 75+. Reached 25.0 NC to NJ, although the last stage was losing MPG even at lower speeds (65-70). I must note I overdid the oil (got 0% oil life remaining 300+ miles from home...).
* MPG meter calculates it since last time you did reset, even if it was a year ago. You may opt to reset it each time you do a long trip. (That allowed me to report the high MPGs above.)
* Loaded it with 7 people, plus theme park visit gear from Orlando to Tampa. No power problems, except I felt it a bit slow accel while going on a slight uphill while returning. I must note the load, the fact I pushed it 40 -> 75, and that I didn't put the pedal to the metal either. The "needs power" feeling only lasted 5-10 seconds. I drove 48 hours total (18 going, >6 in FL, 24 return).
* AWD is phenomenal. Going down, we had a major downpour (couldn't see 50' forward). No slip nor anything.
* Doing 70 in a tight Interstate turn is better left to the NASCARs amongst us. You can do it, but I felt borderline on controlling that turn. (You can blame my unskilled driving skill...).
I have two "weird issues" to report, in the tradition of the stuck sunroof (BTW, fixed) I told you before.
* I loose cruise control on construction zone bumps, most often while leaving bridges. A FL dealer worked on it, and reduced the issue significantly. I recall returning, and I lost-regained-lost CC within 5 seconds on a bumpy bridge.
* 6-CD player randomly "rewinds" (including "chipmunk sound" like when you do so on a tape player) bits of a song. Also cuts last 2-3 seconds of others.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Sam
It can happen when you have your headlight switch set to AUTO (light bulb with an "A" left of OFF position). Since the light sensor turns them ON/OFF if the amount of ambient light meets some threshold, you may have such fluctuation.
The best explanation I can give is in the following. As I drove in DC, it was getting dark, but not enough to activate the AUTO-ON.
* My lights turned on as the car passed by tree shades,
* It turned off as it was under direct sunlight.
* Repeat on next shade.
Hope that solves the mystery for you.
Sam
PS - NORTHLAKES: Thanks for the tidbit. I'll check my forward console.
Was the free mtn a dealer incentive or a Ford incentive?
Haven't heard of any of that here...
Let us know how it goes.