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Originally Posted by Stew
I think this will sell well and probably end up killing the flex which basically operates in the same niche.
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I too think the Flex may well die, although Ford continues to quietly insinuate that the Flex is accomplishing what they want it to bringing in conquest sales from the coasters with whom the import automakers have been continually strong (East and West coast buyers living in the cities along those shorelines)
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Originally Posted by Stew
Syr74 I 100% disagree with the Escape being the last of it's breed, I see the Forrester, Patriot, and Suzuki VItara operating in the same market and the last 2 even offer low range gears for their 4x4 systems and even the base Patriot 4x4s have a 4wd lock feature that works really well. I also see the Toyota Rav4 in the same bracket as the Escape with more traditional SUV type styling, not to mention the escapes corporate twins the Mariner and Tribute (is the Tribute even still built?).
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I may have done a poor job of making my point here, sorry 'bout that. My point wasn't that the Escape is a true suv, in fact I look at it as a cute ute even though Ford disagrees. My point was that I don't think there are really any true compact cuv's/suv's left outside of the Escape. Everything has grown large and more expensive with the only potentially legit compact contender I can think of being the Compass.
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Originally Posted by DGthe3
Even if the old explorer wasn't that great off road, it's still going to be superior to this Taurus based crossover when leaving the pavement. Plus, minimum tow rating has dropped by 3000 lbs, and max towing by 2000. Sure, arguments can be made that most people don't need all that utility, but that ignores my point: the new Explorer is not an SUV, its a crossover.
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Ah, I appreciate your stance on what is and what is not actually an suv, in fact I am a suv purist at heart myself having had a soft spot for the older Bronco and Grand Wagoneer since I was a kid. That said, you will see me refer to both traditional suv's and crossovers both as suv's because, from what I have seen, that is what the 'general consensus' seems to have swung to. It reminds me of the dilution of the terms roadster, pony-car, and muscle-car and deep down I don't like it, but I think in this case as in those the genie has already left the bottle.