Now the FLEX!

It seems the new Ford Flex is being built in the old Windstar/Freestar (Canadian) plant. Another marketing error perhaps (?).

I may plan to get one to replace my '99 Winny in a couple of years ... I like all wheel drive ... but I haven't seen any posted MPG expectations for the Flex.

Too bad "Flex" doesn't also mean "flexible fuel". E85 fuel is about $1 cheaper, than gasoline, in my area right now.

I think the Winny has another good 200k miles left on her ... maybe I'd better sit tight and not let those huge roof windows sway me.

I heard it was going to be built on a Taurus chassis. So it is not the current

500/Taurus chassis? or are these the same as the old windstar/freestar chassis?

Ford should have built this car on a Focus/Mazda3/Volvo chassis which is a far better proven chassis.

The Flex is nice looking and the roof is interesting to say the least.

I am still looking for an Excursion or Expedition myself.

12Ounce (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=230724)
The problem with E85 is the gas mileage is worse and the power really drops off. Its a trade off

And How!

I filled up with a tank of E-85, in the middle of a cross continent drive, and ran out of gas with 315 miles on my trip odometer, instead of the usual 400 mile mark I usually use to determine when my tank is empty. (My fuel gauge on my 95 Windstar doesn't work) Now I'm bound and determined to fix this issue, because I never want this sort of thing to happen to me again . . .

Karl

The Flex was recently covered in the news. I wasn't impressed. Ford dubs it their replacement for the Windstar. It's a mini SUV as far as I could tell. It has four normal doors. It has far less headroom in it, less width, less length and less storage. Sure it has lots of nice gimicks and features and they make it look "sexy" and all that. It's their response to the Toyota Highlander and such. Sure you can all the AWD at a considerable expense to start and every tank thereafter due to the added weight and having to spin more metal and rubber. I think they quoted average mpg mid 20s and deduct 2 to 4 with AWD. I think with all the addons, the base price goes from around 30k to over 45k!!! Sheesh!!! No thanks. If I'm gonna dump that kind of money into a new or brand new vehicle, I'm definitely buying some sort of hybrid or other new power vehicle. I liked what I saw in I think a GM SUV hybrid.

People always made fun of my Windstar except when you needed to haul 7 people or something. I have a Acura MDX and there is nowhere near as much room in there as in the Windstar. Granted there is no comparison in rides. My Windstar made at least 8 trips to Southern Florida and no problems so I cant complain about the service it gave me. Kids never complained when sprauled out in back with there laptop to watch movies either.

I know that Ford is directing the Flex to the younger generation, similar to the Scion XBs and the Honda Element.

How will this work if the price tag is in the 30s to 40s? I can't (won't) even spend that much on a vehicle.

The Flex is a interesting, to say the least, "crossover".

I still have the original window stick-on label that was on my '99's side window. You know the label: the descriptive one that gives all the vehicle's basic and added features, the costs of each in dollars ... and the expected MPG. Mine shows 17 city and 23 highway.

Supposively, the new EPA tests for gas mileage are more demanding and lower numbers should be expected.

In view of this, the FLEX's ratings of 17 and 24 are surprisingly high.