Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market

Vinsetta · 10-05-2008, 05:33 PM

October 5, 2008

Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market

BY SARAH A. WEBSTER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

When Ford Motor Co. showed off the production version of the Ford Flex last year at the New York auto show, hopes couldn't be higher for the boxy, three-row crossover.

The Flex represented a daring new design ethos and business strategy for the struggling automaker, which was making plans to bounce back from a record $12.6-billion loss in 2006.

There were even whispers among some of the company's executives that the Flex could become a new icon for Ford, which is known best for its F-Series pickups and Mustang sports car.

By most accounts, the Ford Flex, which began arriving in showrooms in June, is a beautiful vehicle, even if some consider the design polarizing. Experts told the Free Press they loved it, as did customers who bought one.

But why aren't more customers biting?

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...SS01/810050383

Aprime · 10-05-2008, 05:34 PM

Seems to be doing overly well in Canada.

And I don't quite understand why, but we seem to love every cars you despise, so...

FenwickHockey65 · 10-05-2008, 05:44 PM

Really? People are gobbling them up here in Ohio...I've seen a ton of them in the wild.

Wolfman01 · 10-05-2008, 06:10 PM

I like the Flex. I simply don't need a vehicle that big.

johnstarnes · 10-05-2008, 06:13 PM

I have yet to see one on the road here in Tampa.

EldoFan · 10-05-2008, 06:21 PM

Haven't seen any in my area yet.....but am hopeful

Pedal 2 Metal · 10-05-2008, 06:22 PM

It's too big, and WAY to expensive. To get any of the stuff that makes the Flex worth buying you need the Limited. Which is $45k. I can think of about 20 cars for 45k i would rather have

Mr. Burns · 10-05-2008, 06:29 PM

Never seen one in the wild to date. Not my kind of vehicle, it appeals to me in no way but that's understandable.

LAChevy24 · 10-05-2008, 06:32 PM

i have seen a good amount in my area, but personally i think its ugly. i would think thats why its not selling to well.

eurohazard · 10-05-2008, 06:35 PM

I haven't seen one yet in person, but a few friends have asked me about it, because they had seen it. The people who have asked me about it like it, and seem shocked that it's a Ford.

GMfan1111 · 10-05-2008, 06:39 PM

I've seen a few in my neck of the woods but the lousy economy could be playing a factor in the less than expected sales

Skank Boy · 10-05-2008, 06:51 PM

I've seen more G8's than Flexeses in my surroundings.

roteague · 10-05-2008, 06:59 PM

I haven't seen any on the road here in Honolulu. I've only seen them at the Ford dealer. Frankly, I find the design, bland and boring.

Aprime · 10-05-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skank Boy

I've seen more G8's than Flexeses in my surroundings.

By contrast, I've only seen one G8 on the road.

RamJet502 · 10-05-2008, 09:32 PM

They should have produced the Bronco concept, idiots.

10-05-2008, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vinsetta 2.4 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Blanc, Michigan Drives: 2006 Cadillac STS Posts: 110	Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market October 5, 2008 Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market BY SARAH A. WEBSTER FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER When Ford Motor Co. showed off the production version of the Ford Flex last year at the New York auto show, hopes couldn't be higher for the boxy, three-row crossover. The Flex represented a daring new design ethos and business strategy for the struggling automaker, which was making plans to bounce back from a record $12.6-billion loss in 2006. There were even whispers among some of the company's executives that the Flex could become a new icon for Ford, which is known best for its F-Series pickups and Mustang sports car. By most accounts, the Ford Flex, which began arriving in showrooms in June, is a beautiful vehicle, even if some consider the design polarizing. Experts told the Free Press they loved it, as did customers who bought one. But why aren't more customers biting? http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...SS01/810050383 __________________ "Messing with a NASCAR fan is like messing with a Bakersfield chimp"

10-05-2008, 05:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aprime 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gatineau, QC Drives: 2007 Pontiac Wave Posts: 346	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market Seems to be doing overly well in Canada. And I don't quite understand why, but we seem to love every cars you despise, so...

10-05-2008, 05:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 5,421	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market Really? People are gobbling them up here in Ohio...I've seen a ton of them in the wild. __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6

10-05-2008, 06:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wolfman01 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Paradise, TX Drives: 1997 Ford F150 (161k) 1998 Jeep Cherokee SE (152k Posts: 1,263	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market I like the Flex. I simply don't need a vehicle that big. __________________ 1994 Safari Sarengeti 37' Diesel Pusher RV (92k) 1995 Daihatsu Hijet (89K Km's) 1997 Ford F150 (168k) 1998 Jeep Cherokee SE (RV Toad) (161k) 2008 Chevy Impala 2LT FFV with AFM (18k)

10-05-2008, 06:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnstarnes 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,971	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market I have yet to see one on the road here in Tampa. __________________ "In the time of your life, live --- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite variety and mystery of it all." William Saroyan 1908-1981

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10-05-2008, 06:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
EldoFan 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha Nebraska, USA Drives: '08 Malibu LT '94 Plymouth Voyager Posts: 4,866	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market Haven't seen any in my area yet.....but am hopeful __________________ When you turn your car on....does it return the favor? Past Rides: '90 Lincoln Mark VII '93 Ford Taurus GL

10-05-2008, 06:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pedal 2 Metal 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 290	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market It's too big, and WAY to expensive. To get any of the stuff that makes the Flex worth buying you need the Limited. Which is $45k. I can think of about 20 cars for 45k i would rather have __________________ Ron Paul has consistently been right about the economy time and time again. When will people wake up and start listening?

10-05-2008, 06:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr. Burns 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 6,150	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market Never seen one in the wild to date. Not my kind of vehicle, it appeals to me in no way but that's understandable.

10-05-2008, 06:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
LAChevy24 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: West Hills, CA Drives: Toyota Corolla Posts: 2,494	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market i have seen a good amount in my area, but personally i think its ugly. i would think thats why its not selling to well. __________________ 2005 Corolla LE 1994 Accord EX (now my brother's) http://www.myspace.com/jsilbo

10-05-2008, 06:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
eurohazard 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Travis AFB, CA Posts: 1,683	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market I haven't seen one yet in person, but a few friends have asked me about it, because they had seen it. The people who have asked me about it like it, and seem shocked that it's a Ford. __________________ - 1971 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, 110k miles - 2006 Nissan Armada 4x4, 27k miles - 1993 Toyota Camry I4 AT, 179k miles - 2007 Coachmen 19flb travel trailer - 2007 Regal 1900 boat: 225 hp FI V6 (GM 4.3)

10-05-2008, 06:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
GMfan1111 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in a undisclosed location somewhere in the metro detroit area Drives: 2001 Chevy Malibu LS Posts: 1,568	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market I've seen a few in my neck of the woods but the lousy economy could be playing a factor in the less than expected sales __________________ The 100 Mpg Prius is Vaporware “The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair” "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools". - Douglas Adams - Current ride: 2001 Chevy Malibu LS (happy 95,000 miles )

10-05-2008, 06:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
Skank Boy 2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 133	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market I've seen more G8's than Flexeses in my surroundings.

10-05-2008, 06:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
roteague 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kaneohe, HI Posts: 1,437	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market I haven't seen any on the road here in Honolulu. I've only seen them at the Ford dealer. Frankly, I find the design, bland and boring. __________________ I don't have a ride, but I do have a car. CNBC: "By all accounts, Rick Wagoner's done a hell of a job. Even his critics in the industry have told me Wagoner and his top lieutenants don't get enough credit for the job they're doing in Detroit."

10-05-2008, 09:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
RamJet502 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Drives: 2001 Chevy Silverado Posts: 3,076	Re: Boxy Ford Flex isn't selling as expected in brutal market They should have produced the Bronco concept, idiots. __________________

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