2013 Ford Flex Limited 2.5 V6 from North America
Summary:
Wonderful grocery getter/family hauler
Faults:
I had the good sense to buy an 100k mile extended warranty on this car, and it was money well spent. In the first couple of years of ownership I had to use said warranty a couple of times. The throttle body was the first thing that had to be replaced. Then something went wrong with the steering system that the dealer couldn't figure out, so they replaced the entire steering column. And one of the back door sensors went bad. With just those things, the $3k or so I spent on the warranty more than paid for itself.
Having said that, other than normal maintenance like oil changes and tires, my Flex has been very reliable and a pleasure to own. I have taken very good care of my car though.
One small gripe is the Microsoft Sync system can be a bit fussy, but I knew that going into it. Gas mileage is about 14-17 in city driving and 18-21 on highway; a bit thirsty, but it's a big car.
General Comments:
Being a nerd that loves station wagons, the Flex was an obvious choice for me. It helps that my wife drove it as a rental at a conference and loved it immediately. Once we had a second kid, it was clear we needed more space as we like to travel often. The Flex has delivered and continues to do so. After 100k miles I may consider trading it in for something with 4x4 or AWD capability, but then again I may not.
We chose the Flex for its distinct styling, comfort, and space. My only regret is not buying the AWD Ecoboost model. The Flex has been exactly what I wanted: a comfortable, reliable, stylish vehicle to safely transport my family. This car has been my favorite car I've owned so far.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st November, 2018
27th Aug 2023, 03:46
At 109k miles and still trucking along with my Flex. Did have to replace the transmission as the torque converter went bad and took the transmission with it. Luckily, it happened somewhere in the 80k/90k mile range so it was still under the 100k mile warranty. Now little things are starting to go, like a plastic valve in the wiper fluid hose system (replaced it with an 1/8” vacuum connector for $2), the backup camera (a $40 part I plan on swapping out myself), and just little annoying things like that. All stuff I can fix myself. So far. Hope to get another 25k to 50k miles out of it with car prices being as absurdly high as they are currently.