So you're getting 20-25% better with the Freestyle over the Explorer (from 19 to 23-24mpg). I'm wondering what other 7 passenger vehicle where you'd get better mpg?
If you're saying that the 27 MPG/500 mile ad is a misrepresentation of the Freestyle, then why do you think that your Freestyle is a lemon simply because it doesn't deliver what the ad suggests. It's one or the other.. it can't be both.
It was a true test. I topped off the gas tank at a station in my town heading out to the San Jose airport and checked the milage, picked my mother-in-law up at the airport and my wife drove back to the same gas station, where I refilled the tank, wrote down the gas used and the milage. Now that I've thought about it some more, my recollection is that we averaged 32.165 mpg for the 150 mile round trip. 2006 FWD. There's a post by me in this thread a ways back giving the exact numbers. We were careful to set the cruise control at 65 mph, and succeeded in using it for almost the entire trip.
For comparison, my 4-cylinder Toyota Camry XLE has averaged 30.8 mpg over its 85,000 mile life.
"So you're getting 20-25% better with the Freestyle over the Explorer"
Let me see if I understand your twisted logic. I trade in a half loaf of bread for what is advertised as a full loaf, discover that the new loaf is only three quarters full, but should be happy because I now have more bread that I started out with. Yeah, right, that makes a lot of sense :confuse: . If you don’t already work for Ford, you should apply for a job. You could help with their advertising. Maybe you could add a note to that 500 miles per tank lie that says: You might not actually get this kind of gas mileage, but we are almost certain that it will be better than your trade-in .
Actually a better analogy is to imagine someone bought a car with an advertised 20-27mpg, they get 23mpg and whine about it...just let everyone know what your mpg is in your next vehicle.
“Actually a better analogy is to imagine someone bought a car with an advertised 20-27mpg, they get 23mpg and whine about it”
Gosh, Bob, that’s not an analogy, that’s exactly what has happened, except as I said in my post #193, I only get about 22 mpg. That’s exactly what I’m whining about :mad: . You sure nailed that one, Bob :shades: . Oh, and by the way, the big Ford lie is that this car will go 500 miles on a tank of gas.
I guess the subtleties of sarcasm are sometimes missed . If you look at the MPG forums for any car, there are always some people complaining about the poor MPG and other people bragging about how great the MPG is for the exact same car. So that puts the Freestyle right up there with Honda, Toyota and Nissan for MPG consistency.
And the Freestyle will go 500 miles on a tank of gas, but there might only be ½ gal left in the tank. So it’s not a lie, but they just didn’t tell the whole truth in that the tank will be nearly empty by the time you’re done with your 500 miles. I’ve driven about 475 miles with mine and still had about 1 ½ gallons remaining.
Oh, and by the way, the big Ford lie is that this car will go 500 miles on a tank of gas.
That's not really a lie. It *will* go 500 miles on a tank of gas, *if* you get the EPA estimated mpg.
And, it *is* possible (or should be) to get the EPA estimated mpg . . but only if you drive in a specific manner. Most people don't drive in such a manner, though.
The only hills were Altamont pass at the east side of the Livermore Valley leading to the San Joaquin Valley, and the whatever-name-it-is pass on the west side of the Livermore Valley leading to San Francisco Bay. Traffic was light going to the airport and moderate coming back. I suspect the 32.165 mpg on this occasion was close to the best possible for the Freebie for a 65 mph freeway drive.
Pretty soon people will start complaining because they can't fit 17 cubic feet (I'm not of the official specs?) of luggage behind the 3rd row!
Hmmm this suitcase is 18"x24"x42", plus this suitcase is .......plus this purse is about 1 cubic feet, and it all adds to 16.8 cubic feet but I can't get it to fit behind the 3rd row...see, another lie about the Freestyle
You guys have convinced me that my car really does get 500 mile to a tank of gas but somehow it tricks me into believing it only gets 22 mpg. If I had known what this sneaky little car was doing, I would never have complained or accused Ford of telling a lie.
I had hoped to get meaningful information on this forum about why my 2006 FW Freestyle might not get better gas mileage. A few people have given me that kind of feedback, and I really appreciate it. For the most part, however, I have seen a ton of rhetoric from faithful Ford employees and car lot lizards. All indications are that Ford is on its way out of business. They flooded the market with gas hogs that people can’t afford anymore. The Freestyle was intended as one of the Bold Move vehicles to get them on a turn-around path, but it turned out to be little more than Bold Talk. The next Bold Move will probably be to Mexico. Habla espanoel, señor Bob and señor Passat?
"The Freestyle was intended as one of the Bold Move vehicles to get them on a turn-around path, but it turned out to be little more than Bold Talk. The next Bold Move will probably be to Mexico."
No, the "Way Forward" was started way more recently than the Freestyle.
In case you haven't found the information in this forum:
1. If you drive the FS hard around town, you will end up with 17-18 MPG (or less). If you are careful with the throttle, you can get around 19-20. 2. The FS is sensitive to going above 65 MPH and going up and down hills. Either one will drop the MPG. 3. If your gas has Ethanol, it will lower your MPG by a couple of MPG. 4. If you have an AWD, you will most likely get 1-2 MPG less. 5. The amount of weight you carry in the vehicle affects MPG. Often times people load up their vehicles with extraneous junk. 6. Trying to time the lights (when possible) so as to not accelerate into a stop will help out a lot. So will trying different routes that don't use so many hills or have so much traffic / stoplights. I always try and time my speed so that I don't have to slow excessively and wait for a stoplight.
Mine is a 2006 SEL FWD. Personally, I get around 18-19 in town, around 22 mixed, and 26 MPG at 80 MPH. I haven't had the heart to keep the speed below 65 for a tankful.
But you have to realize that you are hurling around two tons of metal (before passenger and cargo weight). It's going to use some gas. But not as much as a conventional SUV, which is the best comparison vehicle.
My 2006 SE FWD has averaged about 23 mpg overall so far, which has been disappointing. I had hoped for 25. OTOH, its competition is far worse in milage - @ 15 mpg for minivans, Honda Pilot, etc. My neighbor says her 2005 Toyota Highlander has averaged about 19-20 mpg, and it lacks the Freestyle's cargo capacity.
So find any other vehicle with three rows of passenger seats and the Freestyle's cargo capacity, then tell us what that one's real world milage is.
Mine is a 2006 SEL FWD. Personally, I get around 18-19 in town, around 22 mixed, and 26 MPG at 80 MPH. I haven't had the heart to keep the speed below 65 for a tankful.
That's exactly the MPG I get with mine for those driving conditions.
5. The amount of weight you carry in the vehicle affects MPG. Often times people load up their vehicles with extraneous junk.
hmmmm...I can think of some extraneous junk, weighing about 200lbs that could be tossed out of the vehicle...but not if it's moving too fast. :P
A previous post said this: "The next Bold Move will probably be to Mexico. Habla espanoel, señor Bob and señor Passat?" so I made the sarcastic reply of "Actually, I'm thinking about buying a Nissan Versa, which is built in Mexico, so it will feel right at home sitting beside the Freestyle!"
That article is very interesting. I know it isn't coming from Ford so any info must be taken with a grain of salt, but they seem to indicate that not only will the Freestyle have a Mercury version, but that it will have the 3.5L V6 AND the CVT. Perhaps Ford has seen Nissan expand their CVT offerings and has decided to continue their investment in it.
The new GM-Ford joint venture 6-speed automatic is currently the only tranny that can handle the extra torque the bigger 3.5L V6 has. (The current Freestyle with the 3.0L is within the CVT's torque limits.) It would be interesting to see if a slightly tougher steel CVT belt would allow it to be used with the bigger V6.
I got an '06 FWD awhile ago and have 18K miles on it. I am kinda dissappointed with MPG. I do a fair amount of city driving and get about 19 mpg. In a mix of city/highway, I get around 21. I took one all highway trip and got 24, but, that is the best. The 500 miles per tank is a bunch of crap..I get about 350 - 375 per tank. I think engine is lacking somewhat and I was just told I need new Back Brakes which from what I read is common. Love the interior (Got the Nav and will never go back) and the space, but, lease is up in 10 months and I might move into a Fusion or possilbe an Escape Hybrid. Should get better MPG in those.
What sort of highway speeds to you do? I get about 25-26mpg consistently when I drive about 70mph on the highway. It's rated 20city/26hwy, so if you're getting 19mpg city that's not bad, and if you're getting 24mpg highway that's not bad either depending on your speeds, use of cruise, hills, etc, especially for a 7 person vehicle.
what did you drive before the freestyle? i gave up my explorer v8 to my daughter and she gets about 12mpg until i grumble a bit. then the mileage goes up to about 14 or so. since she drive short distances, a tank of gas still lasts a while. to me, your mileage sound pretty good, considering the circumstances.
Makes you wonder how Nissan can put a CVT in the Maxima with an engine that makes almost 300hp, while Ford's CVT can barely handle 200? No wonder the [non-permissible content removed] are kicking the big 3's butts.
After driving the new 6 speed in the MKX and the Edge,
My conclusion is that Ford realized that they can make a 6 speed which is the same as a CVT for smoothness yet does not have the cost disadvantages of a CVT or cause the customer misperceptions of the CVT. (It sounds like its slipping..etc.)
The CVT costs more to build. It costs more to own because it has to be serviced every 60,000. So if it gives you no advantage in fuel economy or in driving experience, why bother?
What you should really be mocking for Ford for is for bring a CVT to market in the first place after spending all that development money on it and only use it for 3 model years.
That Trans plant is already scheduled to be closed.
"I got an '06 FWD awhile ago and have 18K miles on it."
I also have an ‘06 FWD Freestyle. It has just over 6,000 miles and I average about 22 MPG city/highway combined. The average for people who report their mileage on fueleconomy.gov is 21 MPG. Ford’s hype about 27 MPG and 500 mile to a tank of gas is nothing more than a fairy tale. I look forward to trading my Nostyle in on something that is not a Ford.
It's strange how people who get in the low 20's MPG complain about a car's MPG that's EPA rated 20/26 city/highway. Like I said, on long highway trips when I'm driving in the low 70mphs, I'll get 25-26mpg, so I know that if I lowered my speed to about 65mph I'd easily get 27.
Yes the "500 miles on a tank ad is misleading" but I've put over 450 miles on a tank on more than one occasion on highway trips and still had almost 2 gallons to spare.
But generally I'll average about 22-23mpg in a mix of suburb/highway driving.
“It's strange how people who get in the low 20's MPG complain .”
It’s not so strange. Let’s say a man buys a car with a window sticker saying it will achieve between 17 and 23 mpg in the city and between 22 and 32 mpg on the highway. It seems reasonable for the man to believe that he should be able to get 23 to 25 mpg. The man is disappointed when he only gets 21 or 22 mpg, and he complains about it. That doesn’t sound very strange to me.
From your post 198, "I tried a 60-65 MPH trip and the best I could do was 27 MPG."
Based on you're getting 27mpg at 60-65mph, if you kept your highway speed at about 70mph, you'd proably get 25-26mpg, which is what I get. I think the reason for your less than great mpg might be your driving style.
I think that they're going with the same 6spd transmission as a cost saving measure, and because the 6spd is more adaptable to engines of different hp. I agree that the CVT is more smooth, provides better mpg and is the transmission of the future, but right now Ford seems more concerned with cost saving measures over innovative transmissions.
If driving in the low 70's mph in a 65mph zone is "very slowly" then you are correct that the Freestyle gets good mpg at those speeds. But don't complain about a car not meeting the EPA estimates if you're driving 80mph because the EPA estimates are based on driving 60mph or less on the highway.
"If driving in the low 70's mph in a 65mph zone is "very slowly"..."
As I said before, I believe 60–65 mph is very slow. I usually drive between the speed limit (65 mph) and 75 mph. That seems like a good speed for the Nostyle. Not so slow as to get run over by other drivers, and not so fast that it feels like it is falling apart. If I did drive in the 80’s, 21–22 mpg would be ok, but at that speed, I’ll bet the mileage would drop to 15–16 mpg.
"As I said before, I believe 60–65 mph is very slow. I usually drive between the speed limit (65 mph) and 75 mph. That seems like a good speed for the Nostyle. Not so slow as to get run over by other drivers, and not so fast that it feels like it is falling apart. If I did drive in the 80’s, 21–22 mpg would be ok, but at that speed, I’ll bet the mileage would drop to 15–16 mpg."
On my recent trip to NM, I got 24.8 @ 80 MPH. Coming back there was a 40 knot headwind and the MPG dropped to about 22.5. On the last leg of the trip (non Interstate - about 100 miles) I got 27 MPG at around 65 MPH. This was fully loaded, probably around 5000 lbs gross vehicle weight.
This compares favorably to my 2003 Honda CR-V, which got about 26 MPG at this speed on the same roads. But it weighed less and had a 2.4L I4 engine. And there is no comparison on handling and comfort - the Freestyle wins hands down.
My in town MPG is generally 19-20, mixed is 21-22. For such a large car and a 3.0L engine, I am satisfied.
FWIW, we had a snowstorm and an entire week of snow covered roads. My 2006 Freestyle FWD handled beautifully the entire time. The CVT is very good in snow.
My 2006 FWD's milage has varied from 17mpg for local driving to 32mpg on a 200 mile freeway trip. It's averaged about 23mpg overall in @ 12,000 miles over the past year. This is comparable to the 2001 Taurus station it replaced (the latter went to our daughter in college).
You can call it the Nostyle as much as you want, but that won't change the fact that you can get really good mpg with this vehicle as many folks have posted. And I don't think you'll find anyone saying that it's not a very solid car, well maybe one poster called nohelton.
"FWIW, we had a snowstorm and an entire week of snow covered roads."
That is good news. I have had two other cars with FWD and they handled well in show, so it’s good to hear that the Freestyle does too. What type of tires do you have?
I am glad that you are happy with the mileage your Freestyle delivers.
"That is good news. I have had two other cars with FWD and they handled well in show, so it’s good to hear that the Freestyle does too. What type of tires do you have?"
The stock 17" that come on the SEL.
Speaking of snow/ice, Limited owners should note that the Owners Manual specifically says that snow cables (AKA chains) CANNOT be used on the 18" tires. I have no idea what Ford expects them to do when the roads turn icy.
I keep a set of cables underneath the drivers seat myself, though I've never had to use them.
I have an '07 AWD Limited and I get 19 around town with kids and car seats and short trips. Highway mileage can get up to just under 26 with one person in the car. I think anyone with less mileage on a FWD must have something wrong or their driving style doesn't maximize the MPG.
I have 8500 miles on the car and the mileage has been steady since about 4000 miles.
The car is exactly what it's supposed to be, a modern station wagon. Anyone who is expecting a sports car in handling, acceleration, etc. doesn't remember riding in the jumper seat of the family estate wagon...
Replying to #240: Actually, the 6-spd tranny in the Ford500 gets better MPG than the CVT in the same vehicle (both FWD versions for apples-to-apples comparison). That was the Aisin tranny, and one might assume the new GM/Ford tranny, in Edges now, would be low in frictional internal losses as well.
helton said: "....is driven very slowly, like a golf cart, it gets pretty good mileage...."
Helton, you couldn't be more wrong. First of all, my '05 FWD Freestyle gets 27 MPG with a full load of people and luggage, doing 75 on flat ground, tested averaged over 4 tankfuls on a trip. I couldn't believe it at first, so I checked the speedometer calibration and found it was only off 1%, not much at all. Other tankfuls in mixed driving around town have delivered between 25 and 28 MPG. And it handles great. In fact, its easy to get the speed way up before you realize it, as it is solid as a rock and poised. I credit the stiff, highly crash-worthy, chassis and good suspension tuning.
Comments
For comparison, my 4-cylinder Toyota Camry XLE has averaged 30.8 mpg over its 85,000 mile life.
Let me see if I understand your twisted logic. I trade in a half loaf of bread for what is advertised as a full loaf, discover that the new loaf is only three quarters full, but should be happy because I now have more bread that I started out with. Yeah, right, that makes a lot of sense :confuse: . If you don’t already work for Ford, you should apply for a job. You could help with their advertising. Maybe you could add a note to that 500 miles per tank lie that says: You might not actually get this kind of gas mileage, but we are almost certain that it will be better than your trade-in
Of course it can be both.
Gosh, Bob, that’s not an analogy, that’s exactly what has happened, except as I said in my post #193, I only get about 22 mpg. That’s exactly what I’m whining about :mad: . You sure nailed that one, Bob :shades: . Oh, and by the way, the big Ford lie is that this car will go 500 miles on a tank of gas.
And the Freestyle will go 500 miles on a tank of gas, but there might only be ½ gal left in the tank. So it’s not a lie, but they just didn’t tell the whole truth in that the tank will be nearly empty by the time you’re done with your 500 miles. I’ve driven about 475 miles with mine and still had about 1 ½ gallons remaining.
That's not really a lie. It *will* go 500 miles on a tank of gas, *if* you get the EPA estimated mpg.
And, it *is* possible (or should be) to get the EPA estimated mpg . . but only if you drive in a specific manner. Most people don't drive in such a manner, though.
Yeah, what ever. I guess the point is that most people don't get 27 mpg.
In my car, I could only go 500 miles on a tank of gas if I walked the last 82 miles!
Most of us do, except maybe a smart guy like you :P .
Hmmm this suitcase is 18"x24"x42", plus this suitcase is .......plus this purse is about 1 cubic feet, and it all adds to 16.8 cubic feet but I can't get it to fit behind the 3rd row...see, another lie about the Freestyle
I think it is 22 Cu ft.
You guys have convinced me that my car really does get 500 mile to a tank of gas but somehow it tricks me into believing it only gets 22 mpg. If I had known what this sneaky little car was doing, I would never have complained or accused Ford of telling a lie.
I had hoped to get meaningful information on this forum about why my 2006 FW Freestyle might not get better gas mileage. A few people have given me that kind of feedback, and I really appreciate it. For the most part, however, I have seen a ton of rhetoric from faithful Ford employees and car lot lizards. All indications are that Ford is on its way out of business. They flooded the market with gas hogs that people can’t afford anymore. The Freestyle was intended as one of the Bold Move vehicles to get them on a turn-around path, but it turned out to be little more than Bold Talk. The next Bold Move will probably be to Mexico. Habla espanoel, señor Bob and señor Passat?
No, the "Way Forward" was started way more recently than the Freestyle.
In case you haven't found the information in this forum:
1. If you drive the FS hard around town, you will end up with 17-18 MPG (or less). If you are careful with the throttle, you can get around 19-20.
2. The FS is sensitive to going above 65 MPH and going up and down hills. Either one will drop the MPG.
3. If your gas has Ethanol, it will lower your MPG by a couple of MPG.
4. If you have an AWD, you will most likely get 1-2 MPG less.
5. The amount of weight you carry in the vehicle affects MPG. Often times people load up their vehicles with extraneous junk.
6. Trying to time the lights (when possible) so as to not accelerate into a stop will help out a lot. So will trying different routes that don't use so many hills or have so much traffic / stoplights. I always try and time my speed so that I don't have to slow excessively and wait for a stoplight.
Mine is a 2006 SEL FWD. Personally, I get around 18-19 in town, around 22 mixed, and 26 MPG at 80 MPH. I haven't had the heart to keep the speed below 65 for a tankful.
But you have to realize that you are hurling around two tons of metal (before passenger and cargo weight). It's going to use some gas. But not as much as a conventional SUV, which is the best comparison vehicle.
So find any other vehicle with three rows of passenger seats and the Freestyle's cargo capacity, then tell us what that one's real world milage is.
That's exactly the MPG I get with mine for those driving conditions.
5. The amount of weight you carry in the vehicle affects MPG. Often times people load up their vehicles with extraneous junk.
hmmmm...I can think of some extraneous junk, weighing about 200lbs that could be tossed out of the vehicle...but not if it's moving too fast. :P
huh?
Maybe this will cheer him up. Here's some spy info that any Freestyle owner would be interested in.
http://news.windingroad.com/auto-news/ford-still-says-this-car-doesnt-exist-2009- - - - -mercury-monticello-spied/
Chad
since she drive short distances, a tank of gas still lasts a while. to me, your mileage sound pretty good, considering the circumstances.
My conclusion is that Ford realized that they can make a 6 speed which is the same as a CVT for smoothness yet does not have the cost disadvantages of a CVT or cause the customer misperceptions of the CVT. (It sounds like its slipping..etc.)
The CVT costs more to build. It costs more to own because it has to be serviced every 60,000. So if it gives you no advantage in fuel economy or in driving experience, why bother?
What you should really be mocking for Ford for is for bring a CVT to market in the first place after spending all that development money on it and only use it for 3 model years.
That Trans plant is already scheduled to be closed.
Mark.
I also have an ‘06 FWD Freestyle. It has just over 6,000 miles and I average about 22 MPG city/highway combined. The average for people who report their mileage on fueleconomy.gov is 21 MPG. Ford’s hype about 27 MPG and 500 mile to a tank of gas is nothing more than a fairy tale. I look forward to trading my Nostyle in on something that is not a Ford.
Yes the "500 miles on a tank ad is misleading" but I've put over 450 miles on a tank on more than one occasion on highway trips and still had almost 2 gallons to spare.
But generally I'll average about 22-23mpg in a mix of suburb/highway driving.
It’s not so strange. Let’s say a man buys a car with a window sticker saying it will achieve between 17 and 23 mpg in the city and between 22 and 32 mpg on the highway. It seems reasonable for the man to believe that he should be able to get 23 to 25 mpg. The man is disappointed when he only gets 21 or 22 mpg, and he complains about it. That doesn’t sound very strange to me.
Based on you're getting 27mpg at 60-65mph, if you kept your highway speed at about 70mph, you'd proably get 25-26mpg, which is what I get. I think the reason for your less than great mpg might be your driving style.
I hope you're right about that. Though I find it hard to believe. The CVT is the smoothest automatic transmission I've EVER had.
It is true that when the Nostyle is driven very slowly, like a golf cart, it gets pretty good mileage.
As I said before, I believe 60–65 mph is very slow. I usually drive between the speed limit (65 mph) and 75 mph. That seems like a good speed for the Nostyle. Not so slow as to get run over by other drivers, and not so fast that it feels like it is falling apart. If I did drive in the 80’s, 21–22 mpg would be ok, but at that speed, I’ll bet the mileage would drop to 15–16 mpg.
On my recent trip to NM, I got 24.8 @ 80 MPH. Coming back there was a 40 knot headwind and the MPG dropped to about 22.5. On the last leg of the trip (non Interstate - about 100 miles) I got 27 MPG at around 65 MPH. This was fully loaded, probably around 5000 lbs gross vehicle weight.
This compares favorably to my 2003 Honda CR-V, which got about 26 MPG at this speed on the same roads. But it weighed less and had a 2.4L I4 engine. And there is no comparison on handling and comfort - the Freestyle wins hands down.
My in town MPG is generally 19-20, mixed is 21-22. For such a large car and a 3.0L engine, I am satisfied.
FWIW, we had a snowstorm and an entire week of snow covered roads. My 2006 Freestyle FWD handled beautifully the entire time. The CVT is very good in snow.
That is good news. I have had two other cars with FWD and they handled well in show, so it’s good to hear that the Freestyle does too. What type of tires do you have?
I am glad that you are happy with the mileage your Freestyle delivers.
The stock 17" that come on the SEL.
Speaking of snow/ice, Limited owners should note that the Owners Manual specifically says that snow cables (AKA chains) CANNOT be used on the 18" tires. I have no idea what Ford expects them to do when the roads turn icy.
I keep a set of cables underneath the drivers seat myself, though I've never had to use them.
I have 8500 miles on the car and the mileage has been steady since about 4000 miles.
The car is exactly what it's supposed to be, a modern station wagon. Anyone who is expecting a sports car in handling, acceleration, etc. doesn't remember riding in the jumper seat of the family estate wagon...
Helton, you couldn't be more wrong. First of all, my '05 FWD Freestyle gets 27 MPG with a full load of people and luggage, doing 75 on flat ground, tested averaged over 4 tankfuls on a trip. I couldn't believe it at first, so I checked the speedometer calibration and found it was only off 1%, not much at all. Other tankfuls in mixed driving around town have delivered between 25 and 28 MPG. And it handles great. In fact, its easy to get the speed way up before you realize it, as it is solid as a rock and poised. I credit the stiff, highly crash-worthy, chassis and good suspension tuning.