New Family Truckster

[onewhippedpuppy]

I posted previously about having a Sienna that we hated and the joy of trying to trade it in, ultimately selling it to an individual. We bought the replacement and love it. 2017 Ford Flex Limited AWD with the Ecoboost and nearly every option, about 5k on it. We looked at every similarly sized minivan and SUV type option, the Flex is the only one that combined good performance, comfort in all three rows for adults, lots of storage space, and good features. Why more families don’t drive these things is beyond me, they are so spacious and comfortable and so much nicer to drive than an SUV. This is planned to be the family car until the oldest is out of the house and we can get a Panamera.

[wdfifteen]

Congratulations! Nice looking car. I like the form factor of the Flex. Considered getting one as a company car at one time. The volume of the body is well used and practical. Keep us apprise of how it’s working out for you.

[Holger]

Nice! Congrats!

Looks a little bit like that "Cube" (Honda?)

[petrolhead611]

Dont sell it in the UK, always admire the design ethos when in the US.
In the UK a lot of snobbery against owning a Ford by those not in the know concerning low running costs and quality of the driving experience relative to more costly brands.
Only snag is that they RUST, still now in this day and age. One of the few brands apparently not galvanized.

[85eurocarrera]

I didn't like the seats. Too flat or something. This was a couple years ago, maybe they have changed. I'm use to Volvo seats. Otherwise, I like the cargo capacity over my wagon.

[Nickshu]

Love it! As I said in the prior thread you posted we had a 2009 Flex....very solid car and very quiet on the highway. Best roadtrip car ever with heated 2nd row captains chairs and the fridge/freezer built into the console along with the full glass roof. The Flex is the "car guys's" minivan!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by 85eurocarrera

I didn't like the seats. Too flat or something. This was a couple years ago, maybe they have changed. I'm use to Volvo seats. Otherwise, I like the cargo capacity over my wagon.

Seats are probably the most individual thing about cars, and everybody is different. We actually loved the seats and ergonomics in the Flex, it was one of our favorite things. They have decent support without a huge amount of lumbar and a good amount of adjustment.

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Love it! As I said in the prior thread you posted we had a 2009 Flex....very solid car and very quiet on the highway. Best roadtrip car ever with heated 2nd row captains chairs and the fridge/freezer built into the console along with the full glass roof. The Flex is the "car guys's" minivan!

Amen! They are great to drive, especially with the Ecoboost.

Our other two finalists were the Explorer Sport and the Durango R/T. The Explorer Sport has a nice tight suspension and the same Ecoboost driveline but really weird ergonomics inside and crappy seats. The Explorer and Flex actually share the same platform, so they are similar inside, with the Flex being a little more roomy in the 3rd row area. The Durango has the excellent Hemi V8 that makes nice noises and surprisingly good suspension, steering, and brakes. But it feels really cheap inside and the 3rd row and cargo area are pretty cramped. Plus both of them are SUVs, and you can only do so much to hide that much weight sitting that high off of the ground.

[UconnTim97]

I always liked those. Looks great in that color.

[billybek]

One of the guys at work had one and loved it.
Was written off after an accident and he couldn't find another at the price he was willing to pay.

[Baz]

Congrats, Matt! Always loved my Volvo wagons.....your Flex is just like one of those - but bigger!

Agree with Tim - looks great in that blue!

Thanks for sharing....enjoy.

[slow&rusty]

Always thought they were cool, I was with a Co-worker recently who saw a Flex and said "Nice Range Rover!!"

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Seats are probably the most individual thing about cars, and everybody is different. We actually loved the seats and ergonomics in the Flex, it was one of our favorite things. They have decent support without a huge amount of lumbar and a good amount of adjustment.

I bet they put better seats in the top end model you got.

I like the looks of them. My wife had a Chevy Stepside that color, very nice.

You still have that RX, did you ever do all the things to it you wanted to do?

[herr_oberst]

I do like the looks of the Flex, and was very impressed with the amount of room inside!

Nice e score, Matt!

[aigel]

Compact SUVs are all the rage right now. People don't want to drive minivans or station wagons - they are just not en vogue. I think this flex was supposed to aim somewhere in that space but ended up unloved. I thought it is a good car when it came out - until I saw the price tag. That buys a hell of a nice station wagon instead. But used, it probably is perfect!

G

[JeremyD]

[Bob Kontak]

Maybe LT would feel a little cramped in the way back but I am impressed with the room. Clearly the leg room squish in the back right would be corrected by the middle seat moving forward. How is headroom in the back? Smaller adults and kids only or can a 5' 10" man fit back there without his head hitting the roof?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I bet they put better seats in the top end model you got.

I like the looks of them. My wife had a Chevy Stepside that color, very nice.

You still have that RX, did you ever do all the things to it you wanted to do?

The RX-7 is still a work in progress. I spent most of the fall tearing off the intake and the rat's nest, and replacing every hose, sensor, solenoid, injector, clamp, and cleaning/testing every other component. Mechanically it's now top notch, it starts, runs, idles, and drives essentially perfect. I still have a few little things I want to do, but going through the suspension is the next big project. All of the rear pillow balls are shot, so I want to go through and replace everything. Still probably going with the custom Fat Cat valved Bilstein coilovers but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Originally Posted by aigel

Compact SUVs are all the rage right now. People don't want to drive minivans or station wagons - they are just not en vogue. I think this flex was supposed to aim somewhere in that space but ended up unloved. I thought it is a good car when it came out - until I saw the price tag. That buys a hell of a nice station wagon instead. But used, it probably is perfect!

G

Yup, you'll note that I did not buy new. My wife would absolutely drive a fun Mercedes or Audi sport wagon, but with three kids we actually use the 3rd row. This is the closest thing to a sports wagon with a usable 3rd row.

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Maybe LT would feel a little cramped in the way back but I am impressed with the room. Clearly the leg room squish in the back right would be corrected by the middle seat moving forward. How is headroom in the back? Smaller adults and kids only or can a 5' 10" man fit back there without his head hitting the roof?

Bob, I'm 6'1" and about 190, so not a small guy. My test is to set the front seat where I would drive, then set the second row where I would be comfortable, and then see how the 3rd row fits. In the Flex by that test I can still sit in the 3rd row without my knees being crammed into the second row seatback, and without my head brushing the headliner. I'm not saying I would want to spend 12 hours back there, but it's totally usable for an adult. I would equate the seating comfort to what you would find in a full sized SUV. It's certainly as comfortable as the Nissan Armada that my wife used to have, and with more space behind the 3rd row.

[onewhippedpuppy]

In case somebody wants a new family car that’s NOT the typical SUV.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=533143881

[dustim04]

Nice car! Congrats! What's the size of the wheels?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

In case somebody wants a new family car that’s NOT the typical SUV.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=533143881

Is the oldest out of the house already?