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Comments
Why? Great question! This was at a non-dealer although I think the charge at the dealer was the same. Land Rover Discovery....For sale - Just got a great new car - interested? Hahhahah
I'll check the miles to E next time I fill up. I think the previous 500 is correct - I just read the manual again.
What would Jiffy Lube charge?
My current MPG on the Freestyles reads 15.9 - but we have not driven it 500 miles yet.
assembly problems must have worked out.
still like this car/suv.
maybe this summer.
I am definitely keeping the Disco until trade-in time. May sell privately but don't know if I want the hassle.
Thanks again.
I like the ride OK and buckets are comfortable. My daughter loves the optional DVD and wife likes the car in general. My questions include actual MPG...seems it will never attain the 27 mpg listed on the sticker. Also the power seems to be a concern to some on this post, is it that whimpy? Additionally, will the Variable Transmission stand the test of time?
I've tested the Highlander and Pilot but price is a concern. Driven the Rendezvous and Equinox and they suck, quite frankly.
Is this a good buy???? HELP!!!!
Jim In Wisconsin
1) The Freestyle clearly has enough power for most purposes, (and I know it has enough for me) but you have the car to drive--so drive it and figure out whether it has enough for YOU. Put your family and something heavy in back in it if you want to check it out with a load. Given that you live in Wisconsin, you probably haven't got any really big hills around, but try merging onto a freeway from a dead stop or something.
2) In my opinion, the Freestyle is an excellent value in this market segment, and $28K is a decent price if you are getting most of the options--it would be a terrific price if you were getting all of them. I expect to pay roughly that for the AWD SEL I ordered, but I didn't want some of the options, including the DVD and the moonroof, which add up.
Good luck!
thanks,
Steve, Host
I chose AWD for my redfire SEL, but FWD works in our part of the country - we are not off-roading with it. For AWD, I have been as low as 15 mpg in the city, but that has come up to about 18. I have reached 24.3 mpg on highway (spec is 24 Hwy). I am still under 500 miles.
The traction control and brake proportioning make driving in snow and slop reassuring. The five-star front and side impact ratings are a plus. The ride is more firm and responsive like a car, not jouncy. The body and frame are solid. The amount of useable/flexible space inside is great!
My 9 years of experience with a 2.5L Duratec V6 tells me that the Duratec engine design is reliable. The transmission reliability is unknown, but the steel belt is similar to that used in the Murano and others - better than the non-metallic belts in the now defunct GM design. A couple on this forum have reported initial tranny gasket leaks. The smooth, can't fool it operation, of the transmission has made me a big fan.
You didn't say what options are on your Freestyle, so it is hard to know if the $28K is the best price, but if you go to the fordvehicles.com and "Build your Vehicle" Freestyle or Edmunds.com "Price Quote", you can get ballpark figures to compare with.
The little amenities like lumbar adjustment, dashtop compartment, audio controls on the wheel, third row human space, attractive wheels, and cute exhaust tips, make it worth more than many vehicles to me. Can't say if it worth $28K to you.
Perhaps most importantly, you have a Freebie for the weekend. Drive it, drive it, drive it...
Based upon the contents of your post, I am of the opinion that you shouldn't purchase this particular Freestyle. Here's why. If you feel as though $28K is a lot of money to you, then it is a lot of money. Also, you are taking an increased risk purchasing an introductory year vehicle. Sure, the Freestyle is a gorgeous crossover vehicle and competitively priced in its class. However, you should probably be patient and observe how these vehicles are going to hold up over the next two years or so. Then consider trying to find one with low mileage that someone can no longer afford and has maintained really, really well. If these vehicles earn themselves a good quality reputation, and you can find one for a lot less than $28K a couple of years down the road, you'll thank yourself for it. Considering how poor of an investment almost all cars are, it really doesn't make good business sense to battle a big car payment over the course of 3-5 years. Ask yourself this. 'Can I afford to pay cash for a new roof or a/c compressor for our house should the need arise? Do I have plenty of cash saved up for a medical crisis or long job layoff?' If you can't answer 'yes' to these three questions, then you really shouldn't purchase a $28K Freestyle that's build quality and downstream reliability is still basically unknown.
The dealership is using the best sales tactic known to the auto world. "Let them drive it over the weekend and it will make their current ride seem so dowdy that they will just HAVE to buy a new car from us after we've got the hook in them." Proceed with caution my friend. Just trying to offer you up what I consider to be sound advice. And remember, EVERYONE drives a used car. EVERYONE. The minute you drive a brand new car off of the lot it is then considered used and its value will drop quite a bit. I'm not trying to be negative here Jim, I am just trying to help save you a lot of cash and stress. In my opinion, it simply cannot be worth $28K.
Good luck either way you go.
Ron M.
IMHO Freestyle provides alot of car for the money.
Dump the $1k DVD buy a $180 portable DVD. Theres a $800 saving.
Local dealers here are taking $750-1000 off the price. Ford credit throwing in another $500.
You have the absolute right to walk away from the car.
You don't sound confident about this purchase and walking away to reconsider your situation is something that perhaps you need to do. Read all you can about dealer games etc elsewhere on Edmunds. They are a real education that every buyer should read and reread before going to a dealership.
If they can't afford it - how can they afford to maintain it really, really well? Be careful with used, get it inspected, etc. !!
Not disagreeing with the wait and see advice, if there are doubts then you will only 2nd guess yourself. My earlier response was simply aimed at the "whimpy power" question - but it has to be right for you.
My husband is already trying to weasel in and make it "his" car.....
Happens all of the time. People will buy a pricey vehicle, spend more money than they can truly afford to insure and maintain it 'really, really well', only to realize that they have bit off more than they can chew. This is actually quite common in the car business. When they ultimately realize that the total cost of ownership is overwhelming to them, they then decide that it is time to sell the vehicle or attempt to trade down.
Having a used car checked out by someone that is extremely knowledgeable about the specific type of used vehicle that the customer is considering to purchase is definitely good advice. No doubt about it.
Anytime there is a significant amount of doubt about the amount of money that you are about to spend on a car, most likely the buyer will end up with 'Buyer's Remorse' six months to one year down the road. Very common in America.
Ron M.
Perhaps a good question is what your vehicle budget is? A quick check on the MSRP prices for the cars you said you have tried (2WD without options): Highlander 2WD V6 - $26K, Pilot - $30K, Rendevous - $26K, Equinox - $23K, Freestyle SEL - $26.5K. They are all in the ballpark of the Freestyle. When you load them up, the price rise varies widely.
It sounds like you want something more than a car, which would be less on average than the SUV/crossovers. If you are asking if the Freestyle is worth the money, there are almost 2400 posts here to help you. If you are asking if you can afford it, we can't answer that, but the advice to avoid buying a car solely on emotion can't be argued with (OK, tha ruins the Porsche, Viper, Ferrari, Corvette marketing strategy - shhhhh!). It is, after all, the second largest purchase of your life. Do it carefully.
Now get out there and finish your weekend test drive...
Ron M.
Great F150 and Mustang commercial during Superbowl...saw the 500 but not the Freestyle? Did I miss one?
Cep1 - too funny!
Would have been better if he was alive and responded instead of being a frozen stiff
I had a 65 Convert when I was 16 and we use to put the top down no matter what. We would be freezing and have blankets on us (where no one could see) and the heater blaring. Lucky we are in GA - we never froze at the red light.
Still laughing!
Highlights: Ride is super-smooth. Interior feels refined. It handled a NJ snowstorm with ease. The cargo space behind the upright 3rd row is big enough to fit our double stroller (this was a concern before buying) and many bags of groceries. Car feels so sturdy and safe and 5-star crash test results prove it. Windshield offers great view of road, almost panaramic.
The power issue: There's been a lot stated about power. My honest opinion is that, compared to our 2001 Escape, the off-the-line pick up is noticably not as good, but it is much better than the Escape once you are up to speed and trying to pass. Many times I am like "Whoa, slow down there big fella." I know the off-the-line observation is due to the heavier weight of the Freestyle. Power is very adequate off-the-line, just not thrilling. Again, that's in all honesty and only a comparison between Escape vs. Freestyle. For me, power is not an issue.
Changes I would love: Privacy glass. How can Ford build a family vehicle and not put privacy glass on 2nd/3rd rows? My $24K Escape had it. Also, you really have to slam the doors to fully close them and the sound it makes is cheap to me. Perhaps this is being picky, but just my opinion/observation.
Summary: Extremely pleased with the purchase and would recommend it to all.
Funny fact: Someone 2 blocks away has the same Freestyle color config. as us (black with titanium cladding). At least we purchased it first. Also, I saw a black LTD yesterday and it looked good. I'm more partial to the sporty 2-tone, but perhaps this is b/c I couldn't afford the LTD and I'm trying to make myself feel better. I've also seen another black/titanium and a white/beige so far in my travels. I'm certainly looking out for them. I do get some stares and glances as people are in the "what car is that?" mode. A perk of having a new model.
Safe travels.
I guess that's definitely a matter of personal taste. It must makes the car look too "plasticy" to me, I guess.
What would really give this car a bit of a KICK off the line would be to simply make it a hybrid, like they're doing to the Lexus RX330 and Toyota Highlander. Of course, you could probably add 5k to the sticker, expect to pay MSRP+, and get in a 3-yr waiting line if that happened.
And I know what you mean about the hybrid. I was one of those that waited anxiously for the Escape, signed up for a test drive and then they were all gone. Remember the Mazda Miata and how people paid tons o' cash over MSRP? Well, I wanted an Escape hybrid but not that much! And a Japanese car is not in my future: my husband was in the IAM for many many years and he wears a hat that says "You can't eat your Japanese car." Of course, we know that lots of every American car is Japanese, German, Canadian, and many other things, I'm sure. Toyotas, Nissans, etc. are great cars, but hey--we try to buy American whenever possible. I feel like I'm going to start something here...
Cool! What do I win????
Has anyone done the system check function yet? I did mine after the oil change so I could reset the oil life. It's pretty cool--it cycles through all by itself--no need to keep hitting a button--and when it's finished, you get dumped right back into whatever message screen you started with. Mine is always in MPG--I've got a morbid fascination with it. One of my kids and his wife has a 2002 diesel Excursion and when they are pulling their fully loaded toy-hauler around near their home in Truckee, their MPG screen reads 7MPG. Their fill-ups are over $90. Oh my.
It said they expected 40% of Freestyle buyers to choose AWD, but it is actually 55%. I hope this doesn't mean I have to wait longer for mine...
Thanks!
I agree with you there. I took my Freestyle for the first time on the highway last weekend and noticed that. But before I know it I was at 75 and climbing and had tap on the brake a bit to slow down.
"Funny fact: Someone 2 blocks away has the same Freestyle color config. as us (black with titanium cladding)"
The other day I saw a Freestyle in the parking lot with my exact color (Dark Blue / Charcoal Beige) and thought it was mine. I was wondering why my remote didn't work. When I got up close I realized it was not mine because the interior was shale instead of pebble.
Welllllllll, not advised after just washing your Freebie. Unless you want a shower....
I dumped a boat load of water on myself and all the stuff in the front seat this weekend.
It was funny!
Oh no! I keep my laptop and files in the front area--that would be really be a problem!!
I've noticed that quite a bit of water will collect on the roof of the car because of how it's angled. I'm too short to clear all that water away after I wash it so I back down the driveway, put on the brakes firmly and most of that water slides off the back. I don't have a sunroof, but I'll bet those that do are grateful for the warning! It would have really funny if one of your boys had been sitting in the front seat :-0
Hmmmm-I'll have to store that one!
Thanks...
FWD or AWD? Sounds reasonable to me--less than any saw. I was able to talk the dealer down to 23K during first week of January on a basic FWD SE (ended up going with a loaded FWD SEL). You will probably hear from someone else what invoice is for that car. It seems like we have limited wiggle room since it's a new model with limited availability. Of course, I don't know how briskly the SEs are selling. The AWD Limiteds seem to be one one people are really going for.
Good luck and keep us posted.
According to Edmunds, most people are paying about $1,000 OVER Invoice on it.
Your price is about $2700 UNDER invoice.
That's a VERY good price. Jump on it.