ICK is right. The only fix for that to to start over.

Very Honda indeed.

 

I like the freestyle as well. If they are still around inabout 6 years or so, I may buy one. I wound up in a honda pilot (the wife did) because of the AWD. Couldnt get a 4x4 or AWD explorer, escape or there mercury equivalent on the lot in SE louisiana.

 

Drove on on a rental yesterday.

Ford missed the boat on this one.

Sluggish engine.
Noisy on the interstate.
Poor dash view (I'm 6'-0")
Pointless on-console shift for the automatic tranny.
Terrible rear view obstructed by small rear window and huge side and rear corner roof columns.
Cheap plastic interior and dash!

Great steering, good feel! Very responsive both in town and on highway!!

I see this as a short-lived product for Ford.

Competition is going to eat them up on sales.

 

In Canada these are becoming more and more popular. At first people were very hesitant of them but now that a few more are on the road people seem to be catching on. Reminds me of when the Ford Escape first came out around here, couldn't push them off the lot, now we can't keep a new or used one on the lot.

The best part about this car is how everything is so easy use, a 5 year old or a 95 year old could fold all of the seats flat. Give it another year and these will be everywhere.

As for the Five Hundred, take a Limited for a short drive you will realize just how nice this car is, like Jeff said add in the AWD and it becomes extremely functional as well.

 

We recently purchased one about 2 months ago and love it. The CVT does take getting used to but once you do you will love it. Drives smooth and handles great. Pleanty of storage and we have 5 kids!!

 

A few people have mentioned that, so I'm curious. What is it exactly about the CVT that takes getting used to?

 

Local dealer has had one on the showroom floor since they came out, even with all the incentives he can't sell it. It's an '05 and the VIN ends in A06098, tells you how long its been there.

Must not fit the demographics of this area, just don't see any around.

 

You never feel it shift- ever. What's really wierd is when you're accelerating and the tach is dropping while the speedo is climbing. Took me about a half day to get used to it- now i love it. Upside to never shifting- never "hunts" for the right gear either- always seems to know where it needs to be.

 

Thanks polarbear. That's gotta be strange with the tach & speedo. How long has the CVT been around? Just wondering about the reliability factor of it.

 

Also, when you floor it, it feels like you have burnt the clutch.

The CVT has been around since the 30's if I recall correctly. Reliability won't be an issue either.