I finally got the video all edited up.
Highlights -
It's an excellent choice if you need a highway wagon. Will be a great crew support vehicle or minivan alternative (the 3rd row is way roomier and more comfortable than almost every minivan) as your kids get older and or for adults. It's fun and fast in a straight line, but it's no true performance car.
Javelin said:Highlights -
- 2010-2012 is 355 HP.
- 2013+ is 365 HP but seems to be all in tuning.
- Engine has a timing chain driven water pump. They will all need a complete service about every 90K and it's $$$$.
- AWD is a Haldex style angle gear that is a bear to change the fluid in and goes kablooey when you don't.
- Stability Control is via e-throttle and not defeatable, even with a tuner.
- Tuners add a good amount of power and it's a rocket on the highway.
- The ride is great and the interior is super comfy.
- It tows 4400 lbs but could use better brakes.
- Get the middle row bench if you haul lots of stuff, the captains chairs don't go flat thanks to the fridge console.
- Early models have analog gauges and real buttons on the center stack. Facelifted ones have a digital display and touch capacitive buttons.
It's an excellent choice if you need a highway wagon. Will be a great crew support vehicle or minivan alternative (the 3rd row is way roomier and more comfortable than almost every minivan) as your kids get older and or for adults. It's fun and fast in a straight line, but it's no true performance car.
I didn't realize I wanted to know anything about the Flex until I saw your writeup. Thanks!
I just enjoy flexing on people in my flex while I flex my biceps for that extra dose of Flex.
In reply to DirtyBird222 :
Lol. The best part of Flex ownership was trying to get find 2 others parked close in the wild. You park by them and get a photo of all 3 for the "Triflexa".
In reply to Javelin :
I'd like to think you get some sort of Internet Award for that.
Javelin said:In reply to DirtyBird222 :
Lol. The best part of Flex ownership was trying to get find 2 others parked close in the wild. You park by them and get a photo of all 3 for the "Triflexa".
One of my troops back in the day was "SSgt Cruz" who drove a Chevy Cruze who liked to cruise in his Cruze.
Javelin said:In reply to DirtyBird222 :
Lol. The best part of Flex ownership was trying to get find 2 others parked close in the wild. You park by them and get a photo of all 3 for the "Triflexa".
Sounds just as legit as two trimarans anchoring together to be a "sexmaran"
the 3rd row is way roomier and more comfortable than almost every minivan
When I was in the market I remember the power-folding seats as pretty spacious and comfortable compared to 3-row SUVs, but its no comparison to my Sienna.
I always say these are the family mans SHO. Im not a ford or Ecoboost guy, but Id rock one of these anyday
I'll have to watch this later. I didn't realize the facelifted ones got more power. Can confirm water pump explosion at 90k miles. Earlier versions (non-turbo only?) also like to dump all the coolant into the oil pan, which can take out the engine as well. Our 2013 EB was fine ignoring the $3k bill. Later versions added a drain plug to the transfer case (PTU?). Our 2013 has this and it makes changing the fluid much easier. I've committed to changing the transmission, transfer case and rear differential oil every 40k miles.
Ours has been a great DD/vacation hauler. Got it because SWMBO absolutely wouldn't tolerate a minivan and I had delusions of being able to tow with it (don't bother, get a truck/SUV). Almost at 120k miles now. Easily fits our family of 5 and enough stuff for a week-long vacation. Fuel economy is meh. Best I'll get is 24 mi/gal at slower highway speeds and it'll go 400 miles between fill ups. Around town is closer to 18. Also, EB only makes the rated power when using 93 octane but it will accept 87 just fine. I haven't put 93 in ours since the split between it and 86 neared $1/gal.
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:the 3rd row is way roomier and more comfortable than almost every minivan
When I was in the market I remember the power-folding seats as pretty spacious and comfortable compared to 3-row SUVs, but its no comparison to my Sienna.
Most minivans have a "jump seat" style 3rd row bench. It's very flat and usually cramped. Full size adults not only fit in the 3rd row of the Flex, they are also comfortable.
That said, I have not been in every minivan and I know some of the latest generation are much improved in 3rd row comfort now that every crossover has a jump seat 3rd row.
Karacticus said:Javelin said:In reply to DirtyBird222 :
Lol. The best part of Flex ownership was trying to get find 2 others parked close in the wild. You park by them and get a photo of all 3 for the "Triflexa".
Sounds just as legit as two trimarans anchoring together to be a "sexmaran"
This sounds like one of those island things.
Keith Tanner said:Karacticus said:Javelin said:In reply to DirtyBird222 :
Lol. The best part of Flex ownership was trying to get find 2 others parked close in the wild. You park by them and get a photo of all 3 for the "Triflexa".
Sounds just as legit as two trimarans anchoring together to be a "sexmaran"
This sounds like one of those island things.
Well, we were in the British Virgin Islands at the time...
I have a 2018 in Blue with the Ecoboost and yeah I love it. I actually gave up my R8 spyder for it so I could have a daily that could also tow bikes and my small racecar. I adore mine and yeah with a tune and turbo upgrade and e85 they will smoke a lot of stuff you would not expect.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
I truly loved both of mine and would buy another.
SWMBO has a non-ecoboost 2012. Waterpump blew up at 60K. Other than that, it's been a really good car. She loves it & has no interest in getting anything else.
Had a chance to watch the full 20 minutes. My comments:
1. I'm glad we decided to stick with the face-lifted model. We were offered a lightly used 2012 for a good price before we put in the order for our 2013 but I wasn't a fan of the older styling. I'm glad to know Ford also fixed a bunch of stuff. I can say we haven't had any electrical issues but even though we have a Platinum trim with the Titanium package we didn't shell out for some of the fancier options: heated and cooled seats, power third row, etc.
2. I didn't know tailgate mode was a thing. Hopefully that's not unique to the power third row option. I'll have to play with this the next time I'm in the car.
3. At least in the 2013+ the second row console was an option. We have the captains chairs but no console. We opted for that knowing we'd have car seats in the seat row and still wanted access to the third row.
4. Can confirm the weakness of the 2013+ seat heaters. Settings 1 and 2 seem useless and setting 3 is mildly toasty at best. The pre-face-lift models sound like our Jetta, which can really put your you-know-whats to the fire.
Bonus: Buy a Flex, cut the roof off behind the rear doors, sell it as a Maverick.
Profit!
infernosg said:2. I didn't know tailgate mode was a thing. Hopefully that's not unique to the power third row option. I'll have to play with this the next time I'm in the car.
4. Can confirm the weakness of the 2013+ seat heaters. Settings 1 and 2 seem useless and setting 3 is mildly toasty at best. The pre-face-lift models sound like our Jetta, which can really put your you-know-whats to the fire.
I think tailgate mode is only for the power 3rd row seat cars. I cannot stand it because it is uncomfortable. I would use it all the time if it was better though its a great idea.
The heated seats in the update suck if you have the ventilated seats as well. I think they just use the heat from the heater and blow that air through the seat. You can hear a fan running when you turn them on which is seriously annoying. More so in my Flex because I added 120sqf of dynamat to the car to keep he wind noise down and for my stereo.
earlybroncoguy1 said:Bonus: Buy a Flex, cut the roof off behind the rear doors, sell it as a Maverick.
Profit!
Maverick looks to be a lot smaller than a Flex, no?
Flexes are HUGE.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:earlybroncoguy1 said:Bonus: Buy a Flex, cut the roof off behind the rear doors, sell it as a Maverick.
Profit!
Maverick looks to be a lot smaller than a Flex, no?
Flexes are HUGE.
Yeah the new Bronco is built on the line that used to build the Flex (they are not related at all, but they are sized very similarly). You could probably stuff a Maverick inside a Flex Turducken style.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Flex: Length 201.8 in Width 75.9 in Height 68.0 in Wheelbase 117.9 inch
Maverick: Length 199.7 in Width 72.6 in Height68.7 in Wheelbase121.1 inch
I understand that with downpipes, e85, intake, and tune they can get into the high 11's. That would be a hilarious family truckster.
In reply to 84FSP :
FWIW, the original DI only V6 can't really make massive power on E85- the DI mechanical fuel pump can't keep up. The later PF-DI motors can. (not to say it can't run on E85- it really, really runs well on E85.)
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