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2007 Ford Edge
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I'm pretty pleased with the Edge except for one area - braking. More than 150ft to stop from 60mph is waay too much and would be a deal breaker to me. I also thought the quarter mile and 0-60 times would be faster with that new motor and the 6 speed but I guess the weight pulls it down.
Do any current Edge owners also find long stopping distances?
I was ready to place an order for the Edge, but the braking performance turned me off. I drive about 25K miles in heavy Freeway traffic and bad brakes will get you into accidents even if you are a rather cautious driver. Other people switch lanes and slam on the brakes in front of you all of the time...
From what I got out of the article about the new addition to their test fleet is that it had the same poor braking performance as the original AWD SLE Plus that they tested which is about 300lb heaver???
I drove one and thought it stopped fine, but then again no one slammed on the brakes in front of me like they do on I285 in Atlanta every mouring. I did notice that the front dives sharply during braking. This shift in weight combined with the ABS might be causing the problem ( along with cheap tires.. )
For what it's worth...here are my observations.
The Edge-
It is bigger and nicer looking in person than the photos reveal. The car drove nicely but had a rather pronounced high pitch sound when accelerating hard. I thought the leather seats were basic and short in the seat. The rear seats had good leg room but were very low.....so much that my knees were forced up into the air several inches. I am only 5 foot 9 inches so I think this is a significant issue. The other major problem was the windshield glare. It was the first thing I noticed when I got in the drivers seat. I could see a perfect reflection of the dashboard on the lower third of the windshield. I couldn't believe how bright and clear the reflection appeared. My concern was that the glare would cause eyestrain. Still, on my one mile test drivve I forgot all about it. I thought the instrument cluster was basic and oddly vertical. Usually the gauges are slanted a little so you don't look at them off axis. The car has the dunne pearl paint job and was very attractive. I might have bought it on the spot if not for the negatives....I still might.
Acadia road test-
It is bigger and longer than the edge with a third row seat. I thoght the interior looked nicer and more professional than the edge. The dashboard especially looked more adult-like. Acceleration was ok and the ride was smooth even going over train tracks.
On the negative side...2nd row bucket seats are small....so small that I think I would prefer the bench seat. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the second row has several large slots in the floor to allow the seat to move forward...I can see small objects falling into these slots or a woman with high heals getting stuck. But , I did see the floor mats they give you and they cover most of the slots.
Both cars had very small engine compartments....my explorers is twice the size. I can't imagine working on these engines....I hope they don't have to drop the engine just to change the spark plugs.
So which did I prefer? The acadia had the edge...no pun intended. But you are paying at least 3k more so I guess you get what you pay for.
Braking distance hasn't been an issue and feels good to me, a non-expert. It doesn't feel any different than my '05 Acura TL... I have only noticed the dashboard reflection issue at night and it's only when I drive under a streetlamp that I see it. I have to admit, though, that I've been looking for it, so I don't know if I would have seen it otherwise.
The 2nd row seat room is what sold us on the vehicle, when compared to the BMW X3, Mazda CX-7, Mercury Mariner, Honda Pilot and Cadillac SRX. Only the SRX had comparable 2nd row legroom. I'm 6'3" with size 14 feet, so we always car shop with 2nd row room near the top of the list of requirements. I can comfortable get in and out of the 2nd row of the Edge with the front seats where I'd sit in them. The X3 made me feel like a contortionist, while the CX-7, Mariner and Pilot all suffered from either inadequate 2nd row legroom, uncomfortable 2nd row seats, or both.
The 2nd row seats in the Edge do feel a little low, but I prefer a sedan ride to a mini-van ride, anyway. The 2nd row seats in the Edge do recline, so the one you sat it may have been more reclined than necessary.
My only gripe, thus far, has been the engine noise upon hard acceleration and a slow shift into 5th gear... It sometimes feels like the vehicle is going to shift for 0.1 miles until it actually does when I'm driving 35-40 miles an hour. We may just have to adjust our driving habits to account for this.
All in all, the Edge was the hands down winner given the price (Z-plan), features and comfort. If money weren't a consideration, we would have purchased/leased the 2007 Cadillac SRX for a couple of reasons: the obvious luxury factor, comparable 2nd row comfort/room, superior cargo capacity and power liftgate. A couple of complaints about the SRX, though: no bluetooth (you have to use a different, T-mobile, phone number to dial through the car -- what a pain!) and the salesperson pushing "the future of car navigation" being no unit in the car, but instead you use On-Star for directions. I'd rather have the unit in the car.
I am not going to buy a $34,000 vehicle and have to replace the brakes to make it safe... but that is just me...
Also, I said they seemed fine, but I did not have to test them in an emercency stop situation ( which happens often on I285 no matter how you drive.. ) I did not think that the dealer would let me do a real 60-0 test so I have to rely on the independent reviews. ALL OF THEM that actually measured the braking results have said the brakes were questionable. ( At least 3 solid sources to date )
Since the only time the stopping distance becomes an issue is AFTER you hit the car in front of you, I'll rely on three verified test results to make my purchase decision and not my seat of the pants testd drive experiance...
If you think a few feet of braking distance is a deal breaker, that's certainly your prerogative. But it's also possible the extra weight that might be contributing to the long stopping distances is giving you much better side impact protection. It's all a tradeoff.
Thanks
Tom
If you think a few feet of braking distance is a deal breaker, that's certainly your prerogative. But it's also possible the extra weight that might be contributing to the long stopping distances is giving you much better side impact protection. It's all a tradeoff.
I doubt the solution is that easy. If it was, I suspect that Ford would have replaced the pads instead of getting such bad reviews. ( Of Course they did let people die over a few bucks in parts on the Pinto, so who knows.... ) I think the problem is weight transfer. The nose dives sharply when braking. I noticed that during my test drive. This shifts weight to the front and causes the rear to lose significant traction. The ABS then modulates the brakes to avoid locking up the rear tires. I also venture a guess ( I said guess ) that Ford is using cheap tires with a hard compound for long life.
I also noticed that the new 2008 Escape also had ridiculiously long braking results ( 161 ft on a 3500lb vehicle???? )
Based on personal experiance with upgrading brakes on performance cars. You really have to spend closer to $2,000 - $3,000 in new Brake Rotors, Calipers, Shocks, Pads, Steel Brake lines, tires, etc to reduce the 60-0 by 15-20ft.
Also, it has be proven in actual crash test time and time again that weight does not necessarly make a vehicle any safer. Weight does however, negatively impact just about every performance number that can be measured on a vehicle...
I for one WILL NOT buy an Edge until Ford fixes this apparent design flaw in teh brakes.... That is what is so good about haveing other choices...
The Edge is all new. The engine, Trans, and vehicle are all new and share virtually nothing with previous generation Fords. I suspect that the trans will be good simply becaue both GM and Ford when in together to design this thing... They wanted a solid 6 speed and these to guys rarely collaborate....
if you consider tire attributes; comfort,quiet,rolling resistance,dry handling,wet handling,tread longevity and cost, compromises are made.
my '02 explorer v8 weighs more and has less horsepower, but is not underpowered.
this is all just my opinion.
And it is that easy to reduce stopping distances in some cases just by changing pads. I'll have to look up the data but Stoptech (or Brembo - I forget) actually took an owner's 2000 Lincoln LS and fitted it for a big brake kit (to sell commercially). As part of the testing they first tried just changing to the Porterfield R4S pads that the owner already had purchased and to get a baseline. Then they put on the big brake kit and stopping distance was virtually the same. Of course the big brake kit had other advantages (more resistant to fade during repeated hard braking, pedal feel, etc.) but as far as stopping distance it was like throwing a boat anchor out the window.
Of course YMMV and this may not work on all vehicles.
And I didn't say it was safer because of the extra weight - I said they might have added more side impact protection which would have added weight - big difference.
I basically agree, brake pads can really help is some cases. Also Steel brake line can help with fade. I just find it hard to believe that Ford would have allowed the problem to hit the auto rags if the pads were the only problem.... I mean a 60-0 test is not hard to do...
If a simple pad swap does solve the problem, someone at Ford should be fired immediately... It has most likely cost Ford my future business. ( I have driven Fords for the last 12 years ) I am going to wait on the 2008 Hylander. Toyota at least seems to have good brakes on their new vehicles as do just about every other auto manufacturer....
The Edge has a different powertrain different, different brakes, AdvanceTrac, different Front suspension.
I don't know why every here feels the need to over simplify and to restate things they have read as personal opinion when it is not based on personal experience.
Mark.
I just think it's a little silly to focus so heavily on one small issue. It's not like they feel bad or don't work well in normal driving - everyone has said they do. I'd be more worried about side impact protection and rollovers personally. But it's your money.
Something is obviously amiss and it should be a concern to potential buyers. However, I think we are also being too quick to judge. All but one review I've read so far (the most recent Edmunds long term intro being the exception) tested a pre-production copy of the Edge. I think we all need to take a deep breath and see how one, and by one I mean an honest to God production model bought from a dealer lot, that's been somewhat broken in performs. After all, this thing is REALLY new and we have no clue what to expect from it.
I do not think it is silly or a small issue. Long braking distances ( up to 160ft ) is a significant safety issue. No matter how good the active safety systems in a vehicle are, I suspect that avoiding the accident in the first place ( i.e. good brakes ) is always going to be a safer alternative.
You must not drive in the type of heavy high speed traffic I dive drive in daily. I probably have to do a full panic stop at least once a month here in Atlanta GA. It is due to drivers waiting until the last second to move over tword their exit. They will cut you off and and then slam on their brakes to avoid hitting the person in front of you. No matter how defensive you drive, you simply cannot avoid these idiots.
I can assure you that an extra 15-20ft of stopping distance dramatically increases your odds of being in an accident. Since I drive on average 25,000+ Miles a year, bad brakes are a significant safety issue to me. It is quite common for a small fender bender to become deadly in Atlanta highway Traffic. People are often killed due to some idiot plowing into the cars involved in the original accident.
You can think I am silly all you want, but in this day and time there is NO excuse for bad brakes on a new vehicle...
By the way, MotorWeek tested both the Edge and MKX recently. They too measured the longt 150ft braking distances on two production vehicles. That makes 4 solid test results to validate my concern...
That's right! I forgot that I was looking at a 4WD V8 EB model. Ours is an '06 XLT V6 4WD which probably weighs a good 200-400 lbs less than their tested model so that's where I got my weight number. Regardless of the model/weight, the braking is outstanding on the Explorer to say the least.
I guess my point is this simple: Since there are several good alternatives ( Rav4, Santa Fe, CR-X, Hylander, etc..)that have good brakes and in some cases lower cost, more performance, and better comfort, etc...
Why buy the one with bad brakes...?
By the way, proper (defensive) driving should leave you more than adequate room between you and the vehicle in front of you that you shouldn't have to worry about a panic stop.
If you drive I285/I75/I85 I garuntee that you will need to do a panic 60mph-0 stop every month or so. If not you are incredibaly lucky....
About three weeks ago, A car passed me on the right as one was passing on the left at the same time. They both decided to merge into the lane in front of me. As you can guess they hit each other. The leading car slid sidways in my lane and the othe car skidded to the right. I slammed on the brakes as soon as they hit and I was luck to stop before I hit them. I could not go to either side as I was blocked in by two other cars that were going to pass me on each side. The guy passing on the right hit the guy who skided out of my lane.
I am not sure exactly what defensive driving tactic would have worked for me it that situation other than hitting the brakes...
I stand by an earlier statment, I will NOT buy an Edge until Ford fixes the braking problem...
While in stop and go traffic, the idiot in front of me panic stopped, I had to panic stop, and the super idiot in the Daewoo Laganza, 2 cars behind me, pushed the 7 series BMW that was on my tail right into me (he nabbed the corner on my driver's side and prolly would have missed me if he wasn't hit.) I had about 5 feet left to go between me and the car in front of me.
The point is, as discovered by IIHS, cars with ABS while 5% less likely to rear end someone, are 5% more likely to be rear ended.
Also you could have the best brakes in the world, and use proper following distance, and STILL get in an accident.
Mark.
there is not much time to think.
He still thinks that the word "and" is spelled "+"
Mark.
This is not true.
Whenever any wheel begins to lock up, the system will cycle the application of that brake. It has nothing to do with path of travel. VSC does.
Disabling ABS is foolish.
The sole, SOLE, purpose of ABS is allow the driver to maintain directional control during severe braking. With the front wheels locked due to hard braking, stearing inputs will have no effect.
Anti-lock braking allows some measured rotation of the front wheels thereby allocating a portion of the front tires' traction toward directional control. Sometimes, or maybe even more times than not, ABS activation actually elongates your stopping distance.
If there is no "threat" to directional control then ABS activation is more often needless than otherwise.
Compromises, life is full of them.
It's important to know that ABS affects all four wheels.
I have been reading your comments for the past few weeks about the Edge because I have been considering buying one myself. I have also been reading all the reviews on it and have even talked to Ford about the issues they had with the car that delayed the release date. Well, after hearing the good and the bad I decided to check it out for my self. So, when one finally came in to town about 2 Thursdays ago my wife and I went and test drove it. The vehicle was great! We drove it on the interstate at about 80mph and the engine was very quiet (I believe it was running at about 1500 to 2000 rpm’s) and there was very little road noise. We then tested the brakes and I was quite impressed, especially due to all the articles about the long distance stopping. It didn’t seem to take 146 feet to stop. I didn’t actually measure but I also have a 95 Ford Explorer and if you want to talk about bad stopping ..
Additionally during hard, severe, braking the inertial effect results in the majority,~80%, of the braking effort being exerted on the front wheels/tires.
I figure why take the risk when there are so many excellent alternatives...
However, I do hope you enjoy the Edge and never have any issues with it..