Guys... I think I'm starting to like a different blue oval

"Stupidru" (Schm1an) 04/24/2014 at 13:18 • Filed to: None

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I've owned 3 different Subarus in my life and have loved each and every one of them, but their recent offerings have been... meh... until about 2 months ago, I've considered everything American to be an udder pile of junk. Then I test drove an ATS, then my buddy from the Netherlands told me to go test drive the new Focus ST. Then it began. I'm starting to actually like almost everything Ford has to offer from the SHO to the FoST to the Flex (best road trip car EVER?!)

What say you? Learn me some things on Ford reliability and little things that the casual observer wouldn't know

CalzoneGolem > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:22

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I was raised a Chevy guy. Now I drive a Ford.

Coty > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:24

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I was told to despise Fords, but there's a reason I sell them now.

nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:24

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The Stars of Pleiades don't shine so bright for hardcore enthusiasts right now. But the good 'ol Blue Oval is tempting on all fronts. I hear ya, man.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:24

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Where do I begin?!

First of, welcome to the glory of the blue oval (the real one!).

Here is my 68 Mercury which is still kickin after 46 years!

Ok, after that you have to look towards the stuff that's real, modern and actually cool that is currently in production haha.

Ford has some awesome low-cost performance options. Fiesta/Focus ST's and the new Mustang coming out. Think of the Mustang for a moment, new 4 cyl turbo with upgraded handling/braking = suck it BRZ. Or just up to a V8! The Fiesta and Focus ST's are great hot hatches (lord what I'd do for an ST Fusion!)

The Flex with the 3.5L EcoBoost + AWD is one of the best sleepers on the market for performance, and fits everything. Like you said, road trip anyone? It even has a cooler in it!

Let's talk about the completely forgotten MKZ for a second. V6, AWD, with optional sport tires run down cars that cost over 30k higher than it? Hell yeah!

I also like the MKT but no one else does lol.

New F150 and updated Expedition coming out!

There's a lot of good at the Oval these days, sure we'll always ask for more (please give me the ranger!) but it's got really good product offerings that do well in a lot of segments!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:25

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I've heard great things from Ford's recent offerings. I've personally driven a 2010 SHO for the past year and have been very happy with it. Also that 3.5 twin turbo in there is highly tune-able for much more power than stock, reliably. The engine is also available in the Flex and F-150 (just to name a couple).

The ST was the other car I considered. It's also tune-able, although I hear in stock trim it already tends to torque steer, so you may want to think twice, haha.

Before this I owned an '06 Fivehundred, both cars have served me very well and I've not needed to put a whole lot of money into them, besides gas, brakes and oil.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/24/2014 at 13:28

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I bet an AWD V6 MKZ will make for an awesome used car for a very attractive price.

Do-Rif-To > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:30

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Ford is the only affordable brand right now that makes me want to ditch Subaru. Their enthusiast themed vehicles have been on point lately and the new Mustang and F-150 both look superb. I started my jalop life off with a beat-ass Focus ZX-3 and part of me knows a Focus ST would bring back all those feels. Blue ovals forever.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 04/24/2014 at 13:31

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I'll be keeping my eyes open, but in 4 years or so when I can car shop I think the ATS will woo me.

My list for used cars in a while goes as follows (yeah it's weird I know):

GMC Canyon

ATS

CTS

MKZ

Cherokee

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/24/2014 at 13:34

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Haha, kind of torn between a utility vehicle vs. a sedan huh?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 04/24/2014 at 13:38

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Haha yeah. And gas mileage is the key. I DD a milan V6 (you probably kno that by now) but if the GMC Canyon gets high enough in the MPGs it's at the top of the list. I grew up driving s10 blazer's with 4x4 and moved into the land of high 20's on the highway and it's nice here.

I'd also like to be able to run stuff over and handle snow better. AWD in a car will take care of the snow if the Canyon MPG isn't high enough and I think the Cherokee in the Trailhawk + V6 = not quite what I want it to be in MPG. But if I found one at the right price and could make it into that "Moab Edition" Id be IN.

wiffleballtony > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:38

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I've been driving Ford all my life. However for the first time, its actually because I want to be driving a Ford. Reliability has always been fine but now there is excitement.

Stupidru > nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount 04/24/2014 at 13:43

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If/When Subaru brings back the Legacy GT, I might have to reconsider them but I refuse to get sucked into the WRX bro-mobile especially since they ditched the hatchback/wagon

Stupidru > CalzoneGolem 04/24/2014 at 13:44

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I was raised a Chevy guy, but ever since the bailout, I refuse to step foot in anything that has a Gov't Motors sticker on it

Stupidru > wiffleballtony 04/24/2014 at 13:46

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I've always imagined Fords to be udderly unreliable, but the parts being cheap to replace. Glad to hear that's not the case

crowmolly > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:50

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Hard for me to reconsider another Ford, actually. Their cars are reported to be much better than 5 years ago but my Edge leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Stupidru > crowmolly 04/24/2014 at 13:50

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care to go into detail?

offroadkarter > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:51

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yeah a lot of uninformed, blind allegiance to the import types of car people think that

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/24/2014 at 13:53

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I would actually buy a new Mustang- never been a huge fan except for the Terminator, but this year looks like a new chapter for enthusiasts.

And I'm completely with you on the MKZ— ultimate sleeper!

I'd drive an F150 if I worked closer to home, but averaging 55 miles per day, one of those would drain my wallet faster than a weekend in Vegas

Stupidru > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 04/24/2014 at 13:54

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True that! I just can't get over the PRND buttons on the dash

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/24/2014 at 13:56

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The ATS I test drove had me giggling like a school girl. It was stupid fun. I mean touch the gas and hold on! Not to mention there's a press-button-receive-bacon button, and the car didn't have any perceivable amount of squat, dive, or lean

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:56

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That's the whole reason I don't own an F150 right now.

The thing no one is talking about with the Mustang is that you can get a Brembo Brake package and all the GT suspension upgrades on the 4 cylinder turbo one coming out.

I personally thought this site was going to LOSE ITS MIND when that got released and no one even noticed.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:58

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I'm not sure if that's where they need to go, but I am all for getting rid of the PRNDL lever, because in my SHO it takes up a TON of valuable space for no good reason at all.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:58

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My dad's still a Chevy guy, but I've always preferred working on Fords. We've had a '91 (I think) F-150 and still have a '90 E350 - both pretty solid. Then again, my mom's 80s Suburban and the Chevy Beauville van we had were pretty okay as well. Jury's still out a bit on my younger brother's Astro, due to gremlins. I've known a late 80s F-150 that sits too much, so never runs right (ethanol + old EFI, bad combo), and a 7.3l NA diesel F250 that's had priming problems, but none of this was at a legendary level or worse than the GMs. Some parts very cheap, some parts more pricey.

I have heard stories that 70s- early 80s there are models to avoid, but from a truck perspective, that doesn't seem to be the case. Bad versions of the early Fox Mustang and the like.

Stupidru > offroadkarter 04/24/2014 at 13:58

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My very first car was a Chevy Lumina that always needed $50 here or $100 there. Then a friend was always working on his Probe. A different friend went through 3 transmissions on his Trailblazer SS, which sealed the deal on American cars for me... until now

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:58

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Man, I'm a big, big fan of pretty much everything with a Caddy badge on it right now (with the exception of the blob of an XTS and SRX).

As I just said to Yowen, the CTS and ATS are on my list for when i get a new(used) car in 4 years or so.

nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 13:59

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"udderly", hehe

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/24/2014 at 14:01

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WHAAAAAAT?!??!?! I just heard about the line locks, but if I can get mileage AND all the go-fast (or slow) bits I might have to consider a turbo-4 Mustang

crowmolly > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:02

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Sure. I think I posted it up in another thread. Bought an off-employee lease 25k mile Edge Limited back in 2011. Since then it's gone through two (now it's on it's third) PTO units in addition to a complete rear trailing arm and bearing replacement (it now has 65k miles). Every time, and I mean EVERY time it goes to the dealer for service it gets another transmission software update. Now it is either searching for gears at light throttle/heavy load or having PTO issues again and I will be bringing it in soon. The warranty is up in December so if it's the PTO again I may have to take action against Ford.

Aside from this it's been a fantastic car. Fits my needs perfectly. But the PTO and trans issues are a death's head. It doesn't matter how nice the interior is, or the cool liftgate and nice highway stability. The car could have no other flaws and I'd still cry foul. Ford techs can't fix the problem long-term.

Stupidru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/24/2014 at 14:02

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Well I'd be looking at something from the 2010+ generation, so hopefully most of those issues are gone by the wayside now

Stupidru > nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount 04/24/2014 at 14:03

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I'm a Wisconsinite- it's natural to sneak in a cow joke here and there! lol

Stupidru > crowmolly 04/24/2014 at 14:04

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Sounds like you just got a lemon. Sorry to hear that, friend :(

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly 04/24/2014 at 14:07

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This seems to crop up in any Ford discussion - it seems like at least once in a generation at least one Ford model has a fatal flaw making it a total shitcan. You'll hear all these stories of solid Fords and then WHAM, out of nowhere, a horror story that leaves you aghast. I've heard them about some version of malaise Mustang, some versions of the 90s Taurus, 90s Explorers and their transmissions, a couple stray years of 2000s Explorers with cracking rear body and suspension issues...

Garrett Davis > crowmolly 04/24/2014 at 14:09

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Damn, sounds like you got a lemon. My aunt's Edge has been rock solid. It has only ever gone in for consumables.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:10

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Well I don't think i can get in to details, but if you find anything related to the 67E package, I think you'll be very excited:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/219708272/…

Giles007 > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:12

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There are problems with the Focus ST stalling when the clutch is engaged. It's an intermittent electrical issue caused by 7 wire splices (in the engine harness) that were not soldered. I have had my car into the dealership a few times with this issue and they will not repair it unless it displays a trouble code (as per the TSB).

Many other ST owners have this same issue and have received mixed results by taking it into a Ford service department. In fact, many owners have had to perform the repair themselves.

This has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I really love the car. I was looking forward to the Focus RS but I think my next car will be a Subie.

Garrett Davis > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:15

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Let me tell you all about how incredibly reliable my 2014 Focus ST with 1,000 miles on it has been! I literally haven't had to touch a thing! Proof!

But seriously, the only other Ford I've owned was a 1994 Ranger, and that beast was still going strong after I sold it with 275k miles. The only service I had to do was a serpentine belt and the original clutch finally gave out at 260k. Other than that, my mom had an old Taurus station wagon when I was growing up that was pretty reliable except for it overheating on camping trips sometimes, and my cousin has a hand-me-down 2001 Explorer with close to 200k miles that has been incredibly reliable, even after him thrashing the shit out of it.

Ford recently has really stepped up their game. I was pretty 'meh' on everything but their trucks for a while, but they have done some awesome stuff in the past 5-6 years.

Stupidru > Giles007 04/24/2014 at 14:16

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I agree that the car should be fixed, regardless of whether a trouble code is present, but I don't think that's enough reason to ditch a brand completely

crowmolly > Garrett Davis 04/24/2014 at 14:17

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What year? Mine has really been great except for the PTO/trans stuff. And that all gets either completely redone or "updated" each time so I think it's more of a shit design issue. PTO stuff isn't really that uncommon with the Edge. I think it uses the Fusion's PTO or something like that.

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/24/2014 at 14:19

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The 90's V6 head gaskets come to mind. I seem to remember Ford having big issues with those.

Garrett Davis > crowmolly 04/24/2014 at 14:22

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It's what ever year they first got the facelift. 2011?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly 04/24/2014 at 14:23

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Yep. There was a muted-version blob Taurus we were maintaining that was a flake on that point. OTOH, my uncle drove an ugly-version blob Taurus for years on years with scarcely a peep, though at one point one of the multi-piece heater hose conglomerations of weirdness had an internal failure. Cut it off, replaced with a good-ole plastic hose tee, and right as rain (though it was a pain to get at).

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:27

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I really wish I could share more. I thought it was all released already but the info isn't readily available so I can't say it.

TRUST that it's worth waiting to find out what comes in a package on the ecoboost

Stupidru > Garrett Davis 04/24/2014 at 14:28

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My old boss used to DD a ranger with over 300k on it, although it was falling apart, it still ran just fine.

The FoST is on my short list to replace my current car in a few years

TheOfficeBenFranklin > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:39

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That's a rough sample group...

nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 14:40

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Over the last month or so I've been astonished by the number of us Wiscos on Jalopnik/Oppositelock

Mr. YoungSequoia > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 15:21

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ive got a 2012 mustang a 2013 mustang a 2006 mustang a 2010 SHO and a 2011 edge in my family and i love all of them. Never had a problem. And they are pretty high mileage(except for the 2013, thats a track car). Also, the Flex IS the greatest roadtrip car ever. I can attest

Stupidru > nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount 04/24/2014 at 15:27

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I'm also surprised- even on the legacygt board that I used to frequent, I was one of the only Sconnies. What area are you from?

Stupidru > Mr. YoungSequoia 04/24/2014 at 15:31

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Checking out the Ford lineup has me like a kid in a candy store. It makes my universe (Subaru product knowledge) seem dull and uninteresting except for the WRX/STI since Ford offers a 180hp Fusion as their only manual-equipped sedan

nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 15:32

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Oshkosh. You?

Mr. YoungSequoia > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 15:42

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im really hoping they mate that manual to a 4 wheel drive system and an ST engine soon. Thatll be my next purchase after i get rid of the SHO

Stupidru > nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount 04/24/2014 at 15:58

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About 20 minutes north of Milwaukee

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 15:59

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I'm a past Wisconsinite, does that count?

nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 16:23

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Well shoot. If you ever participate in Madison Area Car Club events, we can meet up and if you'd like I'll let you rip my Miata.

Stupidru > NotUnlessRoundIsFunny 04/24/2014 at 16:28

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Hell yeah! Once a Cheesehead, always a Cheesehad!

Stupidru > nevergonnahaveapermanentaccount 04/24/2014 at 16:41

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Appreciate the offer! I've been eyeing up a few AutoX events out that way, but my summer is mostly spoken for with my weddings, a vacation, and allowing a few weekends to catch up on a few things around the house. I have a feeling I'll be able to sneak out for a few though

offroadkarter > Stupidru 04/24/2014 at 17:49

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no wonder why, those are all awful things.