Ford Flex

[mickeys_princess_mom]

Reviews? What do you think about this vehicle? I'm weeding out a lot, but am considering this one....

[DizneyRox]

You lost me at Ford...

Seriously, I've been going to the same mechanic since I built a '65 Stang... His dad repaired my parents car(s), a real old school domestic 'fanboy' if you will. My jaw hit the floor when he recently advised them to look at Honda/Toyota/Subaru recently. I bring him my Subaru for oil changes, etc. Nothing major and just ticked 100,000, just went in for new brakes (first time).

[sonamae80]

I've had my Flex for going on 4 years now and I LOVE it! I've had no mechanical issues whatsoever! (Unless I just jinxed myself! LOL!) I have a 2011 Mediterranean Blue Ford Flex! My DH was not sold and it took me over a year to convince him to test drive one, but once he did, he was sold! He's still not crazy about how it looks from the outside, but loves the inside. He's 6' and can comfortably sit in the third row!

I test drove the Honda Pilot, the GMC Acadia & the Flex when we were looking! It came down to the Flex and the Acadia, and ultimately the Flex was chosen for it's spaciousness and smooth ride! MPG was about the same on all three (16-17 city / 19/20 highway) - cost to fill up (if using regular unleaded here in NC) is about $62-65.

PM me if you have any other questions! Good Luck to you!

[1DisneyNut]

I am not sure what engines they put in those now but I have heard from mechanics and those in the used car business that the ford 4 cylinder "ecoboost" engines are junk and have had all kinds of problems.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

OK, now I'm both excited and disillusioned at the same time, lol. Sigh. Hope the mechanical troubles are not common. I'm just trying to get the most bang for my buck, room-wise, and we are narrowing it down fast. Love the size and looks of a Tahoe, but I don't think I can swing it. I don't hate the looks. Have had some beautiful cars, and love curves, but I am trying to be open-minded and use my head instead of my heart this time. For various reasons, I seem to think this may be a good choice for us. Actually went with DD and looked at some today, also Explorer. Just looked. Loved the room, seemed comfy. DD thinks they're ugly, DH seems to like. I kind of like that they are different. Nothing screams gorgeous about my Equinox, actually, lol. A LOT of SUV's look alike these days. I am NOT going to love those gas bills, but I look at it like this. We don't travel long distances a lot, but when we do run in it, I want everybody to be comfortable, and I want to be able to take family with us. It's a good height for me, no jumping up, or sliding down into. Have to see how DH fits into it, he's 6'8". We girls were just scouting today....

[mickeys_princess_mom]

Never bought a Ford before, always Chevy, but DS just bought a beautiful truck to give the babies the most room. One person can sit between the car seats in the middle. I'm considering that, but I just think I want the room to be inside the vehicle, not in the bed of a truck....DH is all for the truck, of course..

[dnickels]

No offense to any of the previous posters of course, but for a big purchase like a vehicle you want thousands/millions of data points (from Consumer Reports and JD Power reliability rankings) rather than a few anecdotal responses on a Disney forum.

If all major auto reviews give a particular year, make and model an 'A' that needs to be worth a lot more in your decision than 'dnickels' telling you what I've heard or what my cousin has heard or so on and so forth.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

No offense to any of the previous posters of course, but for a big purchase like a vehicle you want thousands/millions of data points (from Consumer Reports and JD Power reliability rankings) rather than a few anecdotal responses on a Disney forum.

If all major auto reviews give a particular year, make and model an 'A' that needs to be worth a lot more in your decision than 'dnickels' telling you what I've heard or what my cousin has heard or so on and so forth.

Thank you. I have been researching quite a bit. I just would like to also hear from these folks what their experiences were.

[Basket Mommy]

In 2012 we bought a 2010 Ford Flex from CarMax. It's never given us trouble. Best leg room for four kids who are growing like weeds. Love the Sync system. My dad, who has been a mechanic for 50 years, agreed with the Ford choice (our other consideration was the Chevy Traverse/GMC Acadia). Dad hates Chevy (GM in general) and would always choose Ford or Toyota over any other.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

In 2012 we bought a 2010 Ford Flex from CarMax. It's never given us trouble. Best leg room for four kids who are growing like weeds. Love the Sync system. My dad, who has been a mechanic for 50 years, agreed with the Ford choice (our other consideration was the Chevy Traverse/GMC Acadia). Dad hates Chevy (GM in general) and would always choose Ford or Toyota over any other.

Interesting! Tall DH, DD, grandchildren well on their way....Was looking at the Traverse at first since we've always bought Chevy. Seems like Flex has more room.

[Basket Mommy]

Was looking at the Traverse at first since we've always bought Chevy. Seems like Flex has more room.

We looked at the Traverse (it's what started our hunt for a new to us car) at the GM area at Test Track. They had one, and since we had driven down to Disney with our older son complaining of no leg room, we all piled in it. We did like it, and it had more seats than the Flex (I think 7 or 8 to the Flex's 6). We called our CarMax guy at home and told us to find us a Traverse and anything else he thought would compare. Once we sat in the Flex, that was it. It's my 13 YO son that needed the leg room (he's already a couple inches taller than my 5'6"), and he was the deciding vote for the Flex. We also liked that each kid had their own sunroof. I will say that the cargo area in the back of the Flex was not as spacious as the Traverse or even the Toyota Sienna we switched from, but we've made it work. I bought soft sided luggage so we can squish more in the back.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

We looked at the Traverse (it's what started our hunt for a new to us car) at the GM area at Test Track. They had one, and since we had driven down to Disney with our older son complaining of no leg room, we all piled in it. We did like it, and it had more seats than the Flex (I think 7 or 8 to the Flex's 6). We called our CarMax guy at home and told us to find us a Traverse and anything else he thought would compare. Once we sat in the Flex, that was it. It's my 13 YO son that needed the leg room (he's already a couple inches taller than my 5'6"), and he was the deciding vote for the Flex. We also liked that each kid had their own sunroof. I will say that the cargo area in the back of the Flex was not as spacious as the Traverse or even the Toyota Sienna we switched from, but we've made it work. I bought soft sided luggage so we can squish more in the back.

Thank you for this! I'm more concerned with people room, than cargo room. A stroller will fit in the back with all of us, and that is fine. Back seats fold down easily if it's just two of us hauling groceries or whatever. Still thinking hard!