Ford's missing entrant in its lineup

shelbyscarab · Post by **shelbyscarab** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:34 pm

Okay, maybe some of you can elaborate on this and explain why Ford no longer even tries to compete in the minivan market.

Ford IMHO, is a very strong company that produces much better than average vehicles. Luxury, sports car/muscle, large sedan, mid size sedan, compact, and sub compact, SUV, small SUV......... For the life of me, I cannot grasp how Ford actually doesn't have a minivan anymore as part of their lineup.

They discontinued the Freestar in 2007, 2006 was the last year made. And I see hundreds of them all the time!And this is 2012!

The reason I bring this up is that our family dynamic has changed froma few years ago and I'd actually consider a minivan, but without a Ford option........ ehhhh. And no, don't bring up the kia, honda, toy, etc. options. The other option is moving to a larger SUV. We have a small SUV now, but either need to move to a large SUV or a minivan. I suppose I'd consider a GM or Dodge, but I haven't cared for the interiors of GMs for a long time, and I've just heard too many horror stories about Dodge. (okay, GM doesn't make minivans either I see, how embarrassing that the USA can't build a minivan, other than Chysler) Seriously. The country that invented the minivan.

Anyone heard any rumors of Ford getting back into the minivan arena??? (this sounds like a no way in hell answer after reading some info online).

Kentennis · Post by **Kentennis** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:31 am

They were going to have the new C-Max here but cancelled plans for the 7 passenger model.

We hada 1989 Ford Aerostar, bought new in Oct. 1988 for $13,250.00 delivered. Tax and all. Loved it. Maybe because it was a rear wheel drive van. Wife drives a 2004 Ford escape and I have a 2008 Ford Expedition. Wish Ford would go back to the 4.6 Liter V-8 in the Expedition. It did everything I asked of it and got great fuel mileage, for it's size.

tfs2121 · Post by **tfs2121** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:25 am

I drive what for has called their new "family hauler" it's called the ford flex seven passenger cuv. I guess customers don't want to drive minivans anymore so ford and gm killed them off. Go for a test drive in a flex and fall in love. Then ask to test drive the 3.5l twin turbo Eco boost flex. My flex is a 2009 so I don't have the ego boost but i still love this Car.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:41 am

The sales figures is where you will find the reason,
Chrysler & Dodge have like fifty percent of the
market, among the domestics. In New Jersey, I venture to say better than 50% of the domestic MiniVans.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:42 am

Sorry, double post

.

shelbyscarab · Post by **shelbyscarab** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:52 pm

tfs2121 wrote:I drive what for has called their new "family hauler" it's called the ford flex seven passenger cuv. I guess customers don't want to drive minivans anymore so ford and gm killed them off. Go for a test drive in a flex and fall in love. Then ask to test drive the 3.5l twin turbo Eco boost flex. My flex is a 2009 so I don't have the ego boost but i still love this Car.

These have been growing on me. My realtor just bought a brand new one loaded. pretty damn nice. I think we will strongly consider this one. I also like the redesigned Explorers. Need to compare the interior space with that of a Flex.

shelbyscarab · Post by **shelbyscarab** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:57 pm

Sandy wrote:The sales figures is where you will find the reason,
Chrysler & Dodge have like fifty percent of the
market, among the domestics. In New Jersey, I venture to say better than 50% of the domestic MiniVans.

I guess I just don't get how Ford can have such success in designing and building trucks, SUVs, sedans, compacts, and sports cars, and can't figure out how to design and sell a minivan.

I always thought their progression from the Aerostar, to the Windstar, to the Freestar were all huge improvements over the prior design. Not to mention I see these all over the road. Still. Couldn't have been that bad.

75coug · Post by **75coug** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:10 pm

The Flex Limited is a fine vehicle. Roomy, very comfy, good mileage for such a big vehicle. The refrigerator option is cool, though the one that I bought did not have one.

tfs2121 · Post by **tfs2121** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:38 pm

shelbyscarab wrote:
tfs2121 wrote:I drive what for has called their new "family hauler" it's called the ford flex seven passenger cuv. I guess customers don't want to drive minivans anymore so ford and gm killed them off. Go for a test drive in a flex and fall in love. Then ask to test drive the 3.5l twin turbo Eco boost flex. My flex is a 2009 so I don't have the ego boost but i still love this Car.
These have been growing on me. My realtor just bought a brand new one loaded. pretty damn nice. I think we will strongly consider this one. I also like the redesigned Explorers. Need to compare the interior space with that of a Flex.

It took me some time to grow on the flex too. The new 13 model looks sweet. My 09 is a limited loaded with every available option except rear DVD. The only thing I wish it had was the Eco boost engine but it was not available on the 09. The flex and explorer have the same 3rd row. The difference is in the flexes 2nd row. Much more room and if you get 2nd row buckets like mine they move foward or back to make room in the 3rd row. The buckets along with the fridge do lower your passenger limit to 6. I don't have kids but I have heard from other flexers that because you have so much room in the 2nd row you don't get kicked in the back by kids in car seats. But seriously just go drive one you will love it.

avmtdan · Post by **avmtdan** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:11 pm

Im not sure that the freestar was actually a ford product. The ford Windstar in the mid to late 90s was actually a rebadged Nissan quest with a few ford interior options, but mechanically was Nissan. I think just a general poor performance or styling in most of Fords minivan offers probably contributed quite a bit to them not offering one. Not to mention since Ford has stopped and started production on that particular family of vehicles so frequently, I personally wouldn't consider one for fear of it becoming another pumpkin of a vehicle that you can't get parts or service for.

mustang marty · Post by **mustang marty** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:25 am

avmtdan wrote:Im not sure that the freestar was actually a ford product. The ford Windstar in the mid to late 90s was actually a rebadged Nissan quest with a few ford interior options, but mechanically was Nissan.

Actually, that was the Mercury Villager http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Villager. My brother had one for a short time until the Honda Odyssey came out. The Windstar and the Freestar were the same Taurus based min-van, the name change was due to Fords obsession to begin thier car names with an F.

The main differences was the Freestar had an optional 4.2l engine and a fold flat third row seat. Otherwise it was just a face-lifted Windstar.

Ford considers the Transit and Flex as its 'Minivans'

avmtdan · Post by **avmtdan** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 5:07 am

Ah, thanks for the correction. Still, how many other domestic manufacturer rebrand a vehicle from an import?

tfs2121 · Post by **tfs2121** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:47 pm

avmtdan wrote:Ah, thanks for the correction. Still, how many other domestic manufacturer rebrand a vehicle from an import?

You would be surprised.
Pontiac vibe is a Toyota
Saturn vue is a Honda or Saab
Chrysler used Mitsubishi engines in a lot of caravans and seabrings
I could name more but need some time to think about them

But surprisingly the only ford I can think of is the villager that had the Nissan motor.

ChuckG · Post by **ChuckG** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:57 pm

The Vibe was built in the GM/Toyota NUMMI plant in California.

The original Taurus SHO had a Yamaha engine, the Mark VI diesels were BMW, I believe, and the 2.8 V6 in Fox bodies was German-built.

Also, the foreign-built "native" models--300, Caravan, Challenger, Camaro, Edge=Canada. Fusion=Mexico.

Oddly, Accords, Camrys=US . BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Mazda have US-built models.

Feel free to add to this list showing what a wiggle word "Domestic" has become.

tfs2121 · Post by **tfs2121** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:50 pm

My flex was built in oakville ontario along side the edge.

The vibe has a Toyota engine and trans in it. It's just a re badged Toyota matrix

Also the old geo prizm is just a re badged corolla. This is nothing new auto makers have been trading between each other for a long time.