2011 Ford Edge

[Don Vito Corleone]

Acura called. They want their headlights back.

I guess imitation is best form of flattery.

Well, since they omitted the hideous Acura "signature" giant chrome can opener grill, I'd say the imitation is incomplete and well-chosen. The Edge looks, oh, 1,000 times better than any current Acura IMO (and I am a guy who's owned 2 Hondas and an Acura, and not one Ford).

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I guess I'm a traditional kind of guy, I really don't like crossovers and don't see the point of them.

I like large sedans, I like mid-size SUVs and I like minivans. They all have their own unique capabilities that make them worth having.

Crossovers have no unique qualities that make them worth having. Unlike a sedan, crossovers have poor handling, unlike an SUV they can't tow anything substantial and unlike a minivan they can't haul significant loads of cargo or people. That makes them not worth having IMO. AWD? I can get that in a car. 4x4? Nope, crossovers don't have true 4x4 capabilities like an SUV. Gas mileage? They have none of the benefits of a true SUV yet still get reasonably poor gas mileage like an SUV.

IMO crossovers are simply status vehicles with no real purpose other than to impress people at the shopping center.

I dunno. I am not a parent, but if I were I'd probably have a crossover, since it's better-handling and more economical than a true SUV (while still keeping the high driving position and easy ingress/egress for taller folks like me), while not being nearly as embarrassing to drive as a minivan (at least for men). I have had a BMW X3 (which I consider a crossover, even if BMW says it's an "SAV") as a service loaner on occasion and actually really liked them.

 

[Perknose]

...while not being nearly as embarrassing to drive as a minivan (at least for men).

I know it's beating a dead horse, but I just don't get this. Why? Because someone else decided this for you? A real man wouldn't give a damn.

You know who drove a minivan? Russ.

And he was only THE Alpha male on this entire board, hands down, with no one else even close.

Just sayin'.



Edit: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=636988&highlight=minivan

<< Minivan drivers are moronic, aren't they? Oh, and fat, too. >>



Really? I drive a minivan (Aerostar cargo). I happen to be 6'5", 205lbs and the only people that might think I'm a moron are liberals who can't handle the truth.



<< True enough. I've only been driving for 5 years, but I've never been in an accident. >>



You think a whole five years without an accident is some kind of achievement?

The real idiot drivers are males under 25 who think that they are immortal. That stupidity transcends vehicle type

Russ, NCNE

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Call me insecure, call me vain, call me a wimp - I don't care. Just don't call me a minivan owner. I'm sorry but to me there's nothing that says emasculated suburban dad louder than a minivan. I fully concede that crossover/SAVs tend to be minivans in wolves' clothing, but I'd still FAR rather be driving a Pilot/Highlander/Flex/Edge, etc. than a Caravan or Aerostar. And to be clear, even if I had a crossover I'd still have to have a dedicated sports car or at least a real driver's car (say, a 3 series) to drive from day to day or I'd go batty.

 

[ElFenix]

look at me i'm in a land barge!

 

[Perknose]

Call me insecure, call me vain, call me a wimp - I don't care. Just don't call me a minivan owner. I'm sorry but to me there's nothing that says emasculated suburban dad louder than a minivan.

De gustibus non est disputandum, so it is silly to try and argue personal taste 'n all, but I can't help but point out how your second sentence above contradicts the first:

You say you don't care what others think, then you point out exactly why you do.

 

[rh71]

I have a 4WD SUV, an AWD crossover, and have driven my dad's minivan very often when we need to seat 7/8 (family outings). If I had to drive that minivan everyday I'd shoot myself. I actually test drove an Odyssey with the intention of buying it too... that fell through because of pricing and I'm grateful. The thing drove like a huge boat. Not so with my SUV (truck frame) or crossover. True, crossovers are just tall cars, but it is also true they have more cargo room than a regular passenger car. I've needed every inch on many occasions too with our 2 kids and their gear. The difference between an SUV and a crossover to me for my uses? None - they're both SUVs to me (crossover if getting technical, I don't care). Either does great in the < 1ft snow and either carries just as much. I haven't gotten rid of the SUV (15 years old) because it just passed emissions/inspection again and it's a great car to haul junk (don't care about scratching up the interior or the roof), otherwise the crossover does everything just the same for me, and of course a lot safer. A minivan would be good, as long as I don't have to drive it.

I'm a believer in all-in-ones... I love my smartphone too.

 

[kornphlake]

Nothing is more masculine than folding down the seats in my wife's mini-van and loading up a full sheet of plywood while the guy in the next space is trying to figure out how to tie a 2x4 onto the roof rack that he can barely reach. I like showing up at the electronics store during a rain storm and easily loading a new television while a guy on one side tries to cover his open truck bed with a tarp and the guy on the other side realizes that his SUV doesn't have enough space between the wheel wells or vertical space to carry the same size box that easily slipped into my mini-van.

I do hate driving minivans, and SUVs and trucks for that matter, but that has a lot more to do with physics than with the shape of the body panels. I guess I had a more frugal childhood than most, I drive what I can afford and I drive what I need for my lifestyle.

 

[HannibalX]

Nothing is more masculine than folding down the seats in my wife's mini-van and loading up a full sheet of plywood while the guy in the next space is trying to figure out how to tie a 2x4 onto the roof rack that he can barely reach. I like showing up at the electronics store during a rain storm and easily loading a new television while a guy on one side tries to cover his open truck bed with a tarp and the guy on the other side realizes that his SUV doesn't have enough space between the wheel wells or vertical space to carry the same size box that easily slipped into my mini-van.

I do hate driving minivans, and SUVs and trucks for that matter, but that has a lot more to do with physics than with the shape of the body panels. I guess I had a more frugal childhood than most, I drive what I can afford and I drive what I need for my lifestyle.

It goes both ways. They love watching you struggle in the snow, they laugh at you trying to pull anything, they laugh at you bottoming out in slightly bumpy terrain, they love blowing by you on on ramps.

I have owned them all and they all have their uses. To pick a side and vehemently bash the other is just silly.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

It goes both ways. They love watching you struggle in the snow, they laugh at you trying to pull anything, they laugh at you bottoming out in slightly bumpy terrain, they love blowing by you on on ramps.

I have owned them all and they all have their uses. To pick a side and vehemently bash the other is just silly.

What happens if you have a dodge turbo van with a lifted suspension and snow tires?

 

[GoatMonkey]

It goes both ways. They love watching you struggle in the snow, they laugh at you trying to pull anything, they laugh at you bottoming out in slightly bumpy terrain, they love blowing by you on on ramps.

I have owned them all and they all have their uses. To pick a side and vehemently bash the other is just silly.

I never have SUVs or minivans blowing by me on ramps.

That said, for practicality a minivan is more useful to most people with families. There are a lot more people with families than people with boats.

If I was in that situation, I would take a long look at wagons over either. But in the end I think it would have to be a minivan. My brother has a Mazda MPV and 2 kids. It's really not big enough for them with all the crap kids require, baby seats, toys, strollers, diaper bags, etc.. A larger minivan is what kids really need.

I'm not sure exactly who the Edge is made for. I kinda like it for being best in the class of small SUVs. Maybe people with certain mobile jobs would find it useful if they don't have to carry too much stuff or too many people.

 

[StageLeft]

Call me insecure, call me vain, call me a wimp - I don't care. Just don't call me a minivan owner. I'm sorry but to me there's nothing that says emasculated suburban dad louder than a minivan. I fully concede that crossover/SAVs tend to be minivans in wolves' clothing, but I'd still FAR rather be driving a Pilot/Highlander/Flex/Edge, etc. than a Caravan or Aerostar. And to be clear, even if I had a crossover I'd still have to have a dedicated sports car or at least a real driver's car (say, a 3 series) to drive from day to day or I'd go batty.

So what? I actually think nothing says self-esteem-weak dad louder than a Flex/Edge, etc. functionally inferior to a minivan but bought primarily so they can say "Phew, I didn't get a minivan!" That's what those vehicles scream to me. My balls are big enough that they don't shrink even when I roll dirty in my MPV. Also, when I'm loading bags of concrete and lumber into the minivan my chest hair grows visibly

That said, for practicality a minivan is more useful to most people with families. There are a lot more people with families than people with boats.

This is what I feel and if more people dropped their "omg minivan" and looked at it objectively they would agree; there are many people driving suvs/crossovers that would simply get better purpose out of a van.

 

[rh71]

^ speaking of MPVs, that's exactly what I've been driving from my dad... that thing has zero pickup on on-ramps and floats around exactly like it looks like it would. It seats 7, that's the only real good thing about it. If you want to haul bags of concrete or plywood once in a while, while driving a better vehicle 90&#37; of the other times, a crossover is more fitting... and those can seat 7 too.

 

[StageLeft]

^ speaking of MPVs, that's exactly what I've been driving from my dad... that thing has zero pickup on on-ramps and floats around exactly like it looks like it would. It seats 7, that's the only real good thing about it. If you want to haul bags of concrete or plywood once in a while, while driving a better vehicle 90&#37; of the other times, a crossover is more fitting... and those can seat 7 too.

They still don't have sliding doors, which are awesome especially if you have to do up kids' belts. Only the larger crossovers will take a sheet of plywood (most won't) and they're more expensive than a van. I rather doubt these things drive better than a minivan if that's what they're basically pretending to be without being one.

The MPV has plenty of power on ramps, 200 horsepower in its size vehicle is sufficient.

BTW here is a comparison of vehicle types:

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/125389/article.html

Minivan wins in categories 1,2,3, loses on 4 (very few people tow so it's meaningless), lose on 5, lose on 6 (same as category 4), win on 7, tie 8.

So out of 8 categories, two of which are meaningless for most people, leaving us with 6 the minivan wins four of them and ties on a fifth.

If you have to off road or tow you get a truck chassis (SUV), otherwise the crossover is inferior to the minivan in all but one category. If you cannot stand that your neighbors may think you're a pussy, then get the Crossover.

 

[ElFenix]

If you have to off road or tow you get a truck chassis (SUV), otherwise the crossover is inferior to the minivan in all but one category. If you cannot stand that your neighbors may think you're a pussy, then get the Crossover.

driving a cute ute screams pussy.

driving a crew cab long bed dually F350 'king ranch' when you're a thin balding 5'8 accountant who never leaves the city screams douche pussy. <--- that a-hole parks near the end of the down ramp in the parking garage and the fact that his truck sticks out 6 feet past the tahoe in the next space and the garage supports makes it more difficult to exit the garage.

 

[kornphlake]

It goes both ways. They love watching you struggle in the snow, they laugh at you trying to pull anything, they laugh at you bottoming out in slightly bumpy terrain, they love blowing by you on on ramps.

I have owned them all and they all have their uses. To pick a side and vehemently bash the other is just silly.

I'm not picking sides or bashing, just giving a counterpoint. A Chevy Astro is as capable in snow or off-road as any of the mid size SUVs, it can tow just as welll too. The Astro/Safari is discontinued so it's a weak argument, those vans were more like a small full size van than a mini-van, while they had adequate power I wouldn't compare one to a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey in terms of acceleration or handling. If I can find 2003 or 2004 passenger model Astro or Safari with low mileage it will be my wife's next vehicle. It's the best of both worlds.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, those later Astros could tow 5400 pounds. Not quite what my Grand Cherokee can do, but impressive anyway.

 

[rh71]

If you cannot stand that your neighbors may think you're a pussy, then get the Crossover.

Well, in my mind, this is how it works... I don't give 2 shits what other people around me are driving... therefore, I do not care what they think of what I'm driving. Minivans just suck to drive in my personal experience... and that's kind of important. That is the plain simple reason I hate them. Just like I am a dash stroker because you spend the majority of your time in the cockpit. That is also "kind of important".

BTW, hp <> torque/on-ramp pick-up.

 

[ViviTheMage]

big..check
shitload of chrome...check
american..check
pass

 

[PricklyPete]

I'm not picking sides or bashing, just giving a counterpoint. A Chevy Astro is as capable in snow or off-road as any of the mid size SUVs, it can tow just as welll too. The Astro/Safari is discontinued so it's a weak argument, those vans were more like a small full size van than a mini-van, while they had adequate power I wouldn't compare one to a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey in terms of acceleration or handling. If I can find 2003 or 2004 passenger model Astro or Safari with low mileage it will be my wife's next vehicle. It's the best of both worlds.

Dude..the Astro was pure crap. My old company had one for a company vehicle and I don't think I've ever driven something less inspiring. Sure it could hold a bunch of stuff...but it drove like crap...was severly uncomfortable in the front seats to due to the wheel well taking up half of the passenger foot space. The company only had it for the IT department...but every once in a while it was the only car left in the pool and others got stuck driving it. I dreaded when I had to drive more than 5 miles with that vehicle. It is the best of no worlds.

 

[DesiPower]

The current edge looks nice but is too expensive. I wish Ford would make a minivan again. These silly crossover vehicles are just rubbish. They look good but fail in every single area to really exceed, they don't have performance (compared to car), don't have carrying capacity (compared to minivan), can't cover rough terrain (compared to true SUV).

I agree, Flex is closest to a minivan but pricey... in fact everything seems to be pricey when you compare to Odyssey or Sienna

 

[MBrown]

big..check
shitload of chrome...check
american..check
pass

Really? Just because its American?

 

[michaelmast]

Look comfortable, i like the chrome bars in front, i love blue color and those rings... OMG are huges!!

 

[RU482]

If that thing gets better than 30MPG, sign me up

 

[inspiron]

Never was a fan of ford edge...