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Comments
As a side note,the Freestyle is so well made,smooth quiet power,great economy and fully featured and most of all it's AMERICAN MADE!
lizzzard
Ford seems to know what I like. I've had foreign cars before but had to sacrafice the creature comforts that domestic makers continue to exceed in. They're always coming up better ideas it seems.
I think Ford has nailed down quality issues and so I'm sold.
I read negative press today saying domestics are losing market share, blah, blah.
Ok, whatever. I'm lovin' my Freestyle.
So, out of 2 weeks of Freestyle ownership, it has been in my driveway for only a week of that time. I was told that, at best, I may have my car back on Wednesday, May 11. Isn't that nice.
When I was called by a Ford district representative, it was the usual "we're confident we can fix it", "we gave you a loaner", blah blah blah. When I asked for a replacement vehicle, I was told that "You don't get to return a house you bought becuase the furnace has something wrong with it." I laughed and said, yeah, but you can live in a house that has a broken furnace, while a car with a broken transmission can't be driven.
Anyhow, they're doing me the gracious favor of reimbursing me for my first month's payment - when I asked why can't it just be eliminated, I got a long winded explanation of why I have to pay it, then a check will be cut somewhere.
I am very upset with this vehicle, and can only laugh about previous posts that brag about the quality of this vehicle - good for them, but pity anyone who has problems. :lemon:
I want a fully loaded car excluding the DVD player. One dealer in the area has the exact spec but with the DVD player and will meet my target price of $31, 750 on the road (that is about $30,000 before TTL) so they will eat the cost of the DVD system. This is good price, but we are not keen on that specific car - we feel it has some problems.
Other dealers are hitting our target and one has given me $31,650 OTR ($29,750 + TTL). Now I have a bunch of dealers all trying to work out how they can win my business (Its useful that there are about 10 dealers within 15 miles of us
I feel I have a good price ($1657 below invoice), and to conclude the transaction I will see if I can get the remote starter accessory and some mats thrown in for free.
As to buying the car I will probably finance it using Ford Credit, but I am now considering leasing if the terms are right. It will be my wife's car and so should not clock up more that 6K miles per year, also it will give me an excuse to get the newer revamp Freestyle in three years if we still like it then (or the Mercury Meta One which I think is very sharp - if the production version looks anything like the concept). If we do regular financing then we'll probably keep the car 5-6 years so as not to worry a Ford's typically dismal 3 year depreciation numbers.
So, any ideas on what Ford Freestyle lease terms should look like? Residuals on a 36 month 12k miles/yr, expected money factor etc?
Probably stick with a typical purchase payment however still interested in lease rates. I like to keep my options open.
Thanks.
Car_Man over in Lease Questions - Ask Here will have an idea if no one in here has penciled a similar deal out lately.
Steve, Host
Also, what does it cost and is it worthwhile?
Thanks in advance.
I tried to find a cover for the three holes, but it seems ford doesn't carry this. Anyone seem similar cover in the audo stores? :mad:
I'll look around for something that might work and let you know if I find it at a place with a U.S. outlet.
If I could do it over again I would consider either getting an SE and tossing the radio or seeing if the Audiophille on the Ltd is better. This radio is unacceptable and I may have to toss it and go aftermarket. I'm going to add satellite; if I end up using that the majority of the time then I'll live with the SEL radio.
Anyone else agree or disagree?
hope this helps
lizzzard
I am far from an audiophile, so don't give my opinion too much weight, but I have an SEL and I like the radio because:
1) I live well outside the city and there aren't any radio stations really close to me,
and a lot of the ones I listen to are 25-50 miles away. In my SEL I can get stations that I want to listen to but haven't always been able to pick up, both AM and FM. When I use the seek function it finds more stations than I am used to getting. This is mostly during the day--I haven't driven the car all that much at night up to now, so I haven't tried to get any really distant AM stations, which I like to do if I am out late.
2) Haven't noticed static, fading, etc.
3) The controls are reasonably intuitive, and the steering wheel controls are nice.
In general I think the speakers could use a bit more bass, but that isn't unusual.
Also, this isn't the radio, but the CD player has worked well with the CD's I have in the changer (but they are in there for my daughter, so we play the same ones over and over). Haven't tried any MP3s.
Finally I think the fact that the radio doesn't turn off when you shutoff the engine until you open the door is really nice. I don't know how common that feature is now, but this is the first car I have had that does it, and I love it.
Some mentioned that road noise can mask the bass. You can turn on the compression (for CDs) and the automatic volume adjust to compensate for the road noise. My reception has been clean and good with local stations and the low power FreshAire radio. The integrated steering wheel audio controls are great, especially MUTE, when you think an emergency vehicle is coming. :shades:
Love the FreeStyle. It is an awesome vehicle. Have seen two in the small town I live. One exactly like mine.
It would be nice to have the option of how you wanted to program your fob.
Steve, Host
I am replacing wife's '98 Sable LS with the Duratec. It has 130K hard in-town miles and only has had tires, 1 battery, shocks, brakes, 1 set of spark plugs and oil changes. Ford even replaced the PVC for free at 100 K (it is mentioned in the owners manual.) It has only had the cheap 85 octane gas available in Colorado. Someone in my office is not quite to 100 K yet on a Camry and has had multiple expensive mechanical and electrical problems including two timing belts.
I have kept all my Fords for well over 100 K and never replaced a timing chain. Who says Japanese cars have more quality? The automotive press must only drive the new vehicles.
Sounds like you have had some good luck with your cars. It only shows that if you take care of your vehicle, they will take care of you!
We have had good luck with our fords. We have five of them right now. Three work trucks on the road daily and the freestyle and a mustang. Love them all. Well, maybe not the work trucks as much as the fun vehicles! But they do make the money to provide the fun!
You will love your Freestyle, I am sure. We really really like ours.
Take care
I'm restoring a '69 Mach I now (not a 428cj). Maybe I can get another 36 years out of that one too.
Financially, there are a lot of advantages to keeping these vehicles for a long time. At least the initial depreciation is not an issue. They do last if taken care of.
I got my freestyle limited at the end of April, and the alarm just makes me really upset, here is the problems:
1> When I exit the vehicle and arm the alarm, sometimes it will sound twice to indicates the door is not closed. I have to close the door for several times to make it only sounds once, and it doesn't matter if I close the door gently or slam it (I haven't figure out which door yet), it just happens randomly.
2> The alarm went off randomly since I got the car, and there is nothing even close to it. I took it to the dealer yesterday, and they just can't find the problem, all they did is reprogrammed it and this morning, it just went off again. I plan to take it to another big ford service shop next week to check it up.
Anyone know any possible causes? The dealer said there is nothing wrong with the switches and the BCM.
:mad:
No advice to give you, just commiseration. Mine has done that twice and it is unnerving and the neighbors suddenly shun you. I have not figured it out and didn't bother with the dealer. How is it that these people deal with cars all day long and so often know so little? I get much better advice on this forum--although this alarm problem seems to have stumped people here, too. In all the maze of wires and crap in modern cars, who knows what little gremlins are in there buggering up the works??? Good luck--I feel your pain!
all the best,
lizzzard
http://www.thefordsource.com/store/car_accessories/images/freestyle/large/freestyle_scuffP- late_lg.jpg
Sorry, but you will never get a hitch with a 2" receiver for the Freestyle (maybe the 3.5 in 2007)
A 2" hitch is designed for more weight capacity than the Freestyle drivetrain can handle and putting one on would void the warranty. Manufacturers will not do it.
The best you'll get is a 1 1/4" hitch and a 1 1/4" x 2" adapter. (even then you'll get warnings but at leats it can be done)
Took my car to the dealer yesterday and had the 6cd stereo changed out. No more skipping or bad disc errors!! I will use it more over the next few days just to make sure it solved the problems.
Can you put seat covers over the front seats since they have the side impact airbags? I had a Escape and in the owners manual it stated not to put any type of seat cover over the front seats as the side impact airbags deploy from them. And on the Freestyle it has the little airbag tag on the sides of the seats???
The Husky liners really save wear and tear on the carpet and mats. Great for use in the winter when you have wet feet or snow on your shoes. It holds the water inside the liner.
You all take care and keep on Freestyling!!
I'm looking to upsize from my beloved Audi A4 wagon (girls need more rear seat legroom) and am cross-shopping the Freestyle with the Odyssey and Sienna. Unfortunately, none offers everything that I want. The big omissions from the Ford are the lack of stability control and HID headlights. I can live without the HIDs, but giving up a safety feature that I currently have is a little bothersome. Has anyone driven vehicles witht the stability control before their Freestyle? Have you noticed a difference in foul weather?
Thanks in advance
which says Ford is going to drop the CVT Transmission in the 500 next year because of poor sales and I was wondering if that means the Freestyle will get the 6 speed transmission. My main concern is how the CVT Transmission will hold up over time and the rep could tell me how long Ford has been testing the transmission. His answer was to buy the extended warranty.
CVT has been used on Fords in Europe for some time. Other companies using CVT's include Nissan, MINI, Audi and probably some I don't know about.
GM's own design was a big failure.
The Freestyle CVT box is built at a plant that certainly was (?is) a joint venture with ZF, whose engineering I respect and products can be found in many vehicles from Ford, jag, BMW, Land Rover, MB etc
Stability control. Our xc70 without it is solid as a rock and that uses the same haldex awd system as the freestyle. Unless you drive like a lunatic, should be very difficult to trigger stability control.
Your Ford dealer has a Source Book that goes into detail on the CVT. Go to the Freestyle section and read about it. It is very impressive. 400,000 of a less-beefy CVT from ther same manufacturer was installed in the Audi with no returns.
Draw-tite offers a 1 1/4 in hitch now for about $80 US. They and Hidden Hitch will offer a 2 in later this month.
regards,
Webbcam
Bruneau the 6speed auto you tested in the 500 was the Aisin tranny made by a Toyota subsidiary but I think they were talking about the forthcoming GM/Ford 6 speed tranny mentioned in items #3270,3271 which will be mated to the new 3.5L engine.
Although I'm still waiting for the chance to order a Limited FWD in MY'06 I wouldn't mind if Ford introduces this new 6speed one year sooner as I believe it is for HD application. As usual my timing is the pits and I can't wait for '07.
Glad to hear you have no issues with your ride. ENJOY!