IGX

We test drove these two vehicles today as we are likely going to unload the old Grand Cherokee for something new for my wife to cart the kids to and fro and to compliment the most awesome 2011 Dodge Ram Bighorn (with the HEMI, motherfuckers).

The 2011 Ford Flex LTD w. V6 & AWD: what a colossal POS this vehicle is. For $38k, it felt chintzy. And while it doesn't handle as clumsily as it looks, it's nowhere near as smooth a ride as my truck or......The 2012 Subaru Outback LTD w. V6 & AWD, which was shit hot in every way. Quick, handled nicely, surprisingly roomy and comfortable seating. It also seemed solidly built in every way. The only thing I didn't like is that autostart is an extra 600 bones. This vehicle's sticker was $4k less than the Flex.

I realize that I'm judging both vehicles on 10 minute test drives, and I also realize that these two vehicles aren't exactly in the same category, but if you're looking to spend $30-$40k on a family vehicle, you owe it to yourself to test drive the Outback. And with its new body style, lefty/hippy bumper stickers won't fit with the Outback's new image, leaving the crunchies to forage for old Foresters.

Outback wouldn't fit me for the family stuff. I've got 2 teen boys, 1 80# boxer, 1 8 year old girl and the wife.

Out of the 7 passenger options, it was one of the better ones for me. I don't deny the Outback is a nice vehicle, but it's not the same comparison. The same comparison would be that of a minivan or something like that Chrysler Pacifica.

I'm sure you will still find room for your "Coexist" sticker. :-"

Shafman wrote:Outback wouldn't fit me for the family stuff. I've got 2 teen boys, 1 80# boxer, 1 8 year old girl and the wife.

Out of the 7 passenger options, it was one of the better ones for me. I don't deny the Outback is a nice vehicle, but it's not the same comparison. The same comparison would be that of a minivan or something like that Chrysler Pacifica.

And, in 'defense' of the Flex, I know a couple of other people who love the thing as well, not to mention they are all over the Twin Cities, hence our interest in the vehicle. But with that said, I have to say I was utterly disappointed with the 'feel' of the vehicle in terms of (obvious) quality relative to cost, stacked against the Outback and the 2011 Dodge Ram Bighorn (with the HEMI, motherfuckers!), both of which have lower stickers. And I've owned two Fords so I'm not a hater of the brand at all. We were just mucho stunned.

tough old man wrote:I'm sure you will still find room for your "Coexist" sticker. :-"

LOL...Right next to the "What Would Wellstone Do?" sticker.

I have the Outback. This redesign was the 2010 MT SUV of the Year. Extremely good fuel economy for an AWD, though if you go v6 it's less so.

I was surprised, this was the first Subaru I'd have considered. I think they decided that hippies and racers don't make up much of a market segment.

Ever consider a Ford Edge? I know quite a few people who have them and really like them. The Flex looks like a hearse designed to carry XXXL coffins.

Turdacious wrote:Ever consider a Ford Edge? I know quite a few people who have them and really like them. The Flex looks like a hearse designed to carry XXXL coffins.

Yes...I've driven the Edge awhile back. Much nicer vehicle than the Flex but still not in the same league as the Outback.

Take a look at the Mitsubishi Outlander and/or Endeavor. Not only is my Outlander a very good car, it's got some cool features such as switch on the fly 2WD, AWD & 4WD. It's also got a mini tailgate which is really handy for loading and unloading.

How to resolve the conflict:



+



Now you're guaranteed to piss everybody off.

This is a nice one too:

High Velocity Lie-Nap! wrote:

Turdacious wrote:Ever consider a Ford Edge? I know quite a few people who have them and really like them. The Flex looks like a hearse designed to carry XXXL coffins.

Yes...I've driven the Edge awhile back. Much nicer vehicle than the Flex but still not in the same league as the Outback.

Outback will probably hold value better than either of the Fords you mentioned too.

Thanks for the laughs with the bumper stickers. It's funny, the dealership was very busy that day and the crowd was fairly crunchy. But trust me when I tell you the new generation Outback is not a fit for it's longtime crunchy ownership. The Outback has left the left.

Outback (and Forester) are big here in Montana. They have a totally different image than you think. Here anyway. People buy Subs 'cuz they're great in the snow, have amazing clearance (8.75 inches) and are quick on dry pavement. Fun to drive. Steering is very tight.

In the little town where I live, it seems like every other car is a Subaru. You'll agree to meet some people at the end of a nasty forest service road that is tuff to navigate in your truck and find half a dozen Subs at the trail head. Outdoorsy people drive Subarus here. Hunters, fishermen, rock climbers.

That said, when my Outback went under last Feb, I replaced it with a Ford Edge. It's as quick as the Sub, but the handling is a little sloppy. Clearance is not nearly as good. (If I'm going offroad, I take my truck.) On the other hand, whenever I got into my Outback, I had to squat and turn my neck to the side. The Edge is like a normal damn American car. You can get in and out without having to make a plan.

Also, I like the way the Edge looks. I got a black one and it is very, uh, aggressive. Leather seats. Roomy inside. Feels like an Audi. And more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. Voice controlled audio, Sirius, navigation and climate. All kinds of anti-slip snow technology. Equal in crash tests to the Outback, but with more airbags. Very comfortable for long road trips. Back seats are generous. All in all, more comfortable than the Outback.

Gas mileage: about the same. My Outback (it was a 2006 and little smaller than the current model) got 27 mpg pretty consistently. The Edge Limited, which I got, has 20 inch wheels and gets 22. The one I rented for a week road trip got 27.

It is not, however, the vehicle that will get you to that remote trailhead. That's still gonna be the Sub...

Pretty happy with my Jetta TDI Wagon. Had a Yukon before, but when the kids moved out the need for being able to haul that much stuff every time we moved kind of went away. Wish they had the Passat Wagon in TDI (soon I hear), but I'm liking the 35/44 mpg I average (and the MUCH lower fuel bill as a result, even with diesel prices). May not be as big as you want though.

Tim,

I'm bigger than you and I'm here to tell you the new Subaru is very easy to get in and out of and is surprisingly roomy. The 2008 Jeep Liberty LTD I unloaded (aka the worst vehicle we've every owned) was nowhere near as roomy and you'd find that hard to believe if the vehicles were parked side by side.

Did you dump Subaru when they dumped their crunchy image?

Rode in a 2010 Subaru Outback in the back seat and it fucking sucked. Front seat was fine though. Something I'd look at after kids, maybe, or at least when the boys are out.

The AWD Flex and the Subaru Outback are two different vehicles.

Last time I looked at a Mitsubishi Outlander, I was underwhelmed. I don't mind the Edge, and have had Explorers and a Escape that was good in the snow, too.

Drove a TDI Jetta while looking at cars. As the low budget (as in cost to buy, cost for fuel) option, that car kicked ass, but I've had shitty luck with Volkwagens, starting with a '85 Rabbit Diesel that got 55 mpg, and lasted 2 years before it's timing belt snapped and fucked the engine beyond recovery.

Would get a TDI if I did more highway driving. I've noticed big regional differences in the resale values for used ones though.

No man taller than 5'10 and weighing more than 250 should sit in the back seat of any vehicle that is not a 4 door with a V8 or better.

Turdacious wrote:How to resolve the conflict:



+



Now you're guaranteed to piss everybody off.

This is a nice one too:

I did not know that the annoying Coexist bumper sticker is put out by MoveOn.org. ?

Gee I just thought it was normal leberal womanlyness.

We need an IG version like "Dominate!" with a big cross for the T and the crescent on the ground.

DARTH wrote: I did not know that the annoying Coexist bumper sticker is put out by MoveOn.org. ?

Gee I just thought it was normal leberal womanlyness.

We need an IG version like "Dominate!" with a big cross for the T and the crescent on the ground.

You live in the land of the big federal paycheck nigga. Abandon all sense all ye that enter there.

High Velocity Lie-Nap! wrote:No man taller than 5'10 and weighing more than 250 should sit in the back seat of any vehicle that is not a 4 door with a V8 or better.

=D>

We ended-up with a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe LTD with V6, AWD, leather, moonroof, blah blah blah. It has everything the Outback has + more room + 8k cheaper.

Hyundai has come a long way.

Correction: 4k cheaper.

The best rental car I've ever gotten, by a long shot, was a Hyundai. It was surprisingly nice.

High Velocity Lie-Nap! wrote:We ended-up with a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe LTD with V6, AWD, leather, moonroof, blah blah blah. It has everything the Outback has + more room + 8k cheaper.

Hyundai has come a long way.

Correction: 4k cheaper.

Yeah, but it doesn't look as cool with a coexist bumper sticker.