IMHO it’s more minivan than SUV/CUV…that and it’s pretty ugly minivan to boot. It’s not as bad as the Chevy Uplander…but it’s an awkward look/segment.

Ford’s target was 75k once it got moving. The high-end of its plan was the 100k you’ve quoted. Total sales are down, but retail sales are up from month to month. Marketshare was also up MOM. Its annualized rate in September was 28k. The mid/full-size CUV industry was down over 40% at the retail level. That adjustment would put its annualized rate at about 45k in the first month of its marketing push. I would bet good money that its adjusted annualized rate and marketshare will continue to climb through the end of the year.

The primary reason (besides the market being in the crapper) that the Flex is not moving as quickly is actually due heavily to SUV residuals. The Flex target market was Tahoe/Expedition/Sequoia/Explorer/Trailblazer/4Runner converts. But those owners have taken a bath in plunging residuals and can’t trade in. So, the conquest customers (that make up 50% of Flex’s buyers) skew disproportionately from the import luxury segment and are buying a disproportionate mix of Limited models. 40+% of Flex sales are Limited. 15-25% is the typical distribution of a high-end model. That tells me that the target audience isn’t even playing with it yet because of the market, residuals and lack of drastic discounts. And they might not play with it until March or April next year. But, they aren’t playing with much else either.

Many people who want vehicles in this segment are in Tahoes, Seqoiuas and Expeditions. They cant trade in or sell their old SUV, they cant get a lease. The difference in MPG is worth taking the hit on the old ride and new payment.

Problem isn’t as much with the Flex as it is with the larger Crossover/Minivan/SUV segment (whatever you want to call it), including the four sisters from GM. The folks who truly NEED these are going to buy them. Those who don’t need are going to consider more options. Probably the right vehicle for Ford, just not the right timing.

it’s a polorizing design

“Ford Flex sales much lower than expected”

Umm… duh? Did they honestly think they were going to pull off those kind of numbers [i]now[/i]? With that?

I looked at one, and while its a decent vehicle, the price is very hard to swallow. For less money one can get a minivan (which obiviously is more vehicle that a Flex).

This is an extermely tough market to be seliing $35 - 40 K vehicles. I’m sure most of the dealer stock of the Flex are heavily optioned and at the upper level. Sure it’s not a minivan like the odyssey or toyota but their transactions prices are much below these levels. What price vanity? In these times, NO SALE.

sad. i really liked this car. it’s styling is unique. hopefully it won’t get the ax and an ecoboost version will still come out.

Pacifica was the first Flex. Too many loaded models shipped and a base MSRP that people choked on.

Flex is a fatty with truck MPG, Ford should have stopped this program and put the Flex on a diet.

Robert, you are rationalizing. It’s a flop so far, plain and simple. I, for one, kinda like it and I’m a single guy. I see it as a modern interpretation of the ‘woody” and can see this thing with a roof rack and a surfboard looking pretty cool. Of course, it has to have the white roof. And the vista roof. And a new grille, one that doesn’t look like my Bic Quattro. And some nice wheels.

Anyone see the market lately…

the reason why this thing isn’t doing so well is that people don’t want to pay $40,000 for a peice of junk. there’s nothing special about this car. yes, the market is bad right now, but i don’t see this thing(for lack of a better term) doing well i a prosperous market.

Duh! Like we didn’t all see that coming.

a) We did not see it coming: otherwise we would move into cash and bonds - out of stocks. Most of us did not have a clue that it will be of THAT magnitude.
b) There is not much will be sold at 40K in the next few years. With weak economy (correction recession), this vehicle market segment can’t afford payments and leases are not available. Those who can afford to shell 40k for a vehicle probably would not “invest” into Ford product which is financially is not in better shape then Lehman Brothers.

Fords terrible quality along with GM’s class leading Lambdas are the culprits. Biggest thing is Americans would much rather drive a GM product than a Ford.

I hate to burst bubble of GM devotees, but GM is not doing THAT much better with its Lambdas or anything else for that matter.

maybe these high payed analysts will step in and give us a final conclusion, “the biggest reason for the lack of sales is because of the current economic state, its making people hesitate on purchasing…….” you know there studying it right now…..

True about the price point. If I were going to spend 40k on a vehicle, it definitely would not be a Ford. And folks, that’s 40k CASH, because absolutely no one is qualifying for loans right now, not even people with a >800 FICO. And, if you are a reasonably intelligent person with that kind of cash laying around, you likely are keeping the cash and waiting to see what happens with the market & economy. Or, if you really needed a car like this, and were paying cash, a used Expedition makes more sense overall. You don’t take the depreciation hit, and the money you save is wayyy more than what extra you’d spend on gas.

oh, and… ITS UGLY.

@golf4me, I would revise your statement to read, “If I were going to spend 12K…” Purchasing an American vehicle today is simply too risky.

The few people in America with $40,000 cash in the bank and a yen for a new car aren’t going to be caught dead in a Ford. The few people who might be Flex drivers aren’t going to qualify for a giant car loan right now. Ergo, zero sales. I have yet to see one on the road; I just saw my first Flex on a dealer lot, as I shot past on the Interstate last week. The thing looked gigantic, much longer and flabbier than I expected.

Talk about the wrong car from the wrong maker at the wrong time.

If they couldn’t kill the project outright, they should have delayed its launch until the recession is over and people feel like buying (and are able to buy) something more than canned food, Scotch and guns.

@golf4me:

So declaring a car a flop after only 3 full months on the market and after only one full month of national advertising/availablity is somehow more rational? I’m not trying to argue that the Flex will magically start selling 100k units a year (not in this market - and probably not even if this were 2006 - Ford’s original target, was, in fact, 75k), but I am trying to put into perspective the sales we are seeing and how the talk of a 25k/year flop is a little bit *irrational*, frankly.

FWIW, with a credit score north of 800, relatively little debt and an income, I can still get pretty much any auto loan I want, and certainly enough to cover a $35k Flex.

The car is overpriced!

I wonder why! Lets see a failing economy, gas prices sky rocketing, market greatly shifting to sedans and compact cars, hate it or love it box styling, like everybody else has said OVERPRICED, and who buys Ford anyways unless it’s trucks or the Mustang?

I think the biggest gripe EVERYONE has with this vehicle is the price. Starting at $28 grand isn’t anything to joke about. I would dare say they shouldn’t compare it to the Ford Taurus. The Taurus was a huge break through in the industry, it offered American blood with all the efficiencies and ergonomics of Japanese sedans at the time. Most other vehicles were in the middle of an awkward transition, or were being canceled as they were carry overs from the 70’s. This isn’t what I would describe as revolutionary; nice, yes, high quality yes, but definitely not a breakthrough. It’s just a minivan in an SUV’s clothing, and people see through that for better or worse.

It could do with loosing a few hundred pounds AND then dropping a more efficient engine in, as well as boosting the fuel economy of the current one, the price being dropped by about $4k atleast, and some serious advertising. Seriously, the only result I have seen from this “amazing” ad campaign are internet banners. All of Fords media advertising should be fired, imo. They failed miserably with the Ford Taurus, they’ve failed miserably with Lincolns products and they’ve failed with this vehicle too.

Oh and dvsutton is obvious that you’re Need more oil for GM in disguise. Good try though, maybe next time.

Ford better get this EcoBoost in these cars, or else they won’t MAKE IT to the 2010 Ford Fiesta!

Outside of an original look, it is rather unremarkable.

C&D rated the Highlander, CX-9, and Pilot higher, but pur it above the Traverse and Hyundai Veracruz (Rockbottom)

Ford has only lost 300-400k F-150 sales in the last few years, and the Camaro is coming to finish off the Mustang. The Mustang will be the next Exploder.

Won’t be much left to pillage and plunder.

I worked for the slackers, so I won’t shed any tears.

DrFill

Robert…

Market down 25%. Van selling 75% less than anticipated. Flop. I agree the market as a whole is dragging it down, but it’s not the only reason. Plus, they’ve been advertising the crap out of it…I think more than any other car right now. That’s a whole lotta notgood.

BTW…Chrysler sold more Challengers last month.

I was exaggerating about the loans, but the average over-leveraged family is going to have a rough go of it.

@ a 28 Grand base model this car can kiss my ass the edge looks better and is cheaper and that isn’t saying much. WTF were they thinking this car needs to drop 8 grand it is a minivan price it like a minivan

well its nice but the price could drop by and few thousand. the only ones i have seen have seen have been loaded to the max…

Get the price to 25K and up the MPG to 30 (combined, not highway).

Ford has taken an exciting design and made it BORING (as only Ford can do) by using a FWD Volvo platform with an anemic engine.

Base price is far too high, Ford needs to humble themselves and start off slow… they can start charging a premium price once they are back to being a powerhouse in the automotive industry

Too slow, too pricey, weird looks, lousy MPG, and tough competition from Lamdas. Even in a good economy this thing would have only sold to the few remaining die-hard Ford buyers.

1.) People that want one can’t get the loan they need
2.) People that want one but don’t want to take the risk and being SMART forego the purchase
3.) The overall cost of the FLEX. I was VERY interested in this CUV but was instally turned off by its price point. I have been dying for a wagon that is decently priced. A minivan would do but even that is a big much for me. I just want a car with some better overal capacity options.

to expensive, simple has that….