As promised, the family stopped by to test-sit the Oregon trip candidates, back-to-back. They also brought some suitcases so dad could play a little Trunk Tetris. That's my youngest daughter Sarah watching the proceedings.
The Hyundai Genesis isn't going to be back in time -- it's in Colorado and out of the running. So I grabbed the keys to the 2009 Dodge Ram, the 2009 BMW 750i and the 2009 Ford Flex. The 2009 Audi A4 Avant's keys were hanging unclaimed on the board, so I grabbed them, too.
Here's what came out of it.
Audi A4 Avant
The bags: 4 suitcases fit. One is an international-size roller bag and the other three are carry-on sized, although the two black ones are decidedly smaller than the other. The roller shade cargo cover still fits, but there isn't a lot of room for the other bags and goodies: camera bag, laptop, sundries, food, pillows, etc. This would work for a 3 or 4 day trip, like the one we took in the Scion xB to Arizona in March 2008, but there isn't enough here for a 13-day trip.
Comments from Tracy, Shelby and Sarah about the inside:
Positives: Navigation system, double sunroof, full-function iPod connection
Negatives: General lack of breathing room and space for the kids' "road stuff" in this compact backseat; Rear seats are hard and don't recline even a notch or two, no place for a small cooler
Probability of Whining: High
Pontiac G8 GT (not pictured, bad photo)
The bags: 5 suitcases fit with ease (we tried a 4th carry-on sized bag because a cousin was thinking of joining us for one leg), and there is still plenty of room for the other stuff. It's the biggest trunk of any of the cars we tested. It would work.
What the girls said about the inside:
Positives: Large backseat with lots of legroom, back center console (the fold-down center seat back) give access to the trunk to get stuff -- Sarah thought this was "cool"
Negatives: No navi, iPod input is "aux" only, the girls thought the rear seats were hard, the beltline is even higher than the A4 -- and so the outward visibility is worse for the kids, weak rear cupholders
Probability of whining: Medium-High
2009 Dodge Ram 1500
The bags: Are you kidding? It all fits just fine. But the stuff is exposed, and that means I'd have to move it into the cab at any stop longer than a few minutes.
It's doable, but a pain in the butt for me.
What the girls said:
Positives: Navi, iPod, lots of room in the front and the rear, easy to see out.
Negatives: high seating position has produced carsickness in similar vehicles in the past, unsure of long-distance ride comfort
Possibility of Whining: Medium to medium-low
Note from Dad: The luggage thing is a pain, but I'd be willing to tolerate it in the name of science. But then another person in the office needed the truck to tow his racecar while I was gone. Even if he hadn't already spoken for it (which he apparently had), I'd have bowed out, as the Ram is the oly tow vehicle we have. Bottom line: The Ram isn't going to Oregon with us.
BMW 750i
The bags: All 5 fit, but I don't think I could stack two in the front (like I did in this photo) if they were actually full and bulging a little bit. It's tighter than the G8, and narrower, too. There is a bit of oddly-shaped space to the side of the rearmost bags that would hold the camera bag and laptop. We could make this work.
What the girls said about the inside:
Positive: Navi, sunroof, lots of front passenger seat adjustment, rear seats are roomy and not as upright as the other cars, good rear cupholders
Negatives: iPod via aux jack only, beltline is high and restricts outward visibility for the rear seat occupants to the front and side, food and kid supplies have to go on the floor.
Possibility of whining: Medium
Ford Flex
The bags: The minivan-like storage well behind the seats takes 4 carry-on bags with all 6 seats deployed. With one folded flat, the 5th international bag sits easily and can be belted-in, leaving a 5th seat open. Fold it down and we have more space than we need.
What the girls said:
Positive: All seats are supportive and cushy, rear seats recline, resr seats high enough so see out, car low enough to avoid tippy and vomit-inducing ride, rear sunroofs, rear DVD player, Sync with integrated iPod connection
Negatives: We took it last year
Probability of Whining: Negligible
Conclusion:
The BMW 750i and the Flex were the only two to make it past this step, although the Ram would have made the short list if the towing conflict hadn't existed.
I brought the BMW home that night to give everyone a little more seat time. But on my 90-minute commute home, the front seats started bugging me and I grew tired of the lurchy throttle (really unnecessary electronic throttle tuning here - let this impressive motor speak for itself) and jumpy brakes. I was willing to overlook the latter drivability issues on the basis that we'd be cruising at a steady speed most of the time, but the seats had me a little concerned.
Around the dinner table, the girls were pouty. They understood why we should take something other than the Flex, but the choices weren't doing anything for them.
After the kids went to be, my wife, Tracy, summed up the mood:
"We're all feeling blog pressure to choose a different vehicle for this trip, but I guarantee you that after 12 days on the road we'll feel a lot worse if we cram into the BMW and leave the rolling living room behind. Honestly, sliding into the Flex after sitting in the other vehicles was like walking into a concert hall after being in a series of closets. Historically, I don't do well on long road trips, but in the Flex I almost don't mind."
Next morning, my daughter Shelby woke up with this written on her hand. No one prompted her, she was just doodling while she was bored in her room.
Awww shucks. Decision made. I don't want to be a bad dad. This is, after all, our family vacation. And the Flex is far and away the best tool for that important job.
We'll just have to get creative with the trip blogs this time.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 29,124 miles (in the Ford Flex)
msdaisy says:
01:18 AM, 08/ 9/09
Are you sure that's not your hand? It looks like a man-hand :D
eclogite says:
06:04 AM, 08/ 9/09
The fact that the family wants to take it on the family vacation AGAIN over a BMW 750 speaks volumes about the Flex. Thanks for keeping us readers in the decision loop.
stephen987 says:
07:23 AM, 08/ 9/09
Excellent post. This kind of info--what's the thing like to live with on a regular basis--is the best thing about long-term testing. Keep it coming!
One more thing, while I'm at it: these criteria are the reason that multipurpose vehicles (vans and van-adjacent things) keep on selling. The Flex, like the Enclave from last year, just plain makes sense as a family vehicle. You know, the way station wagons used to.
(And no, the Audi doesn't count. It's too small for a family wagon, but it's great for packrats without kids.)
bradyholt says:
09:25 AM, 08/ 9/09
Is there a reason you can't try to arrange a press car for the trip that's not in the Edmunds long-term fleet? See if it's really the Flex that's so loved or just its type of vehicle versus a sedan or a truck.
CX-9? Sienna? Traverse? Pilot?
firstwagon says:
09:51 AM, 08/ 9/09
An excellent experiment and a perfect example of why minivans (and their more styled cousins, the Crossovers) are so popular with families.
You can manage with a sedan but nothing beats using a vehicle that was designed for families.
The right tool for the right job.
felonious says:
10:39 AM, 08/ 9/09
That sure is a powerful sales pitch for the Flex! Too bad I'm so in the hole with my current family car, and my wife hates the hearse looks. :/
altimadude00 says:
03:54 PM, 08/ 9/09
This isn't much of a surprise. The Flex was built as a family vehicle. The 750i is not so much a family vehicle but more of an executive coach.
actualsize says:
04:18 PM, 08/ 9/09
Yeah, the result wasn't all that surprising, in retrospect. The surprising part was the margin of victory, as the sedans represented a lot more compromises than this crew was prepared to make.
7driver says:
04:35 PM, 08/ 9/09
In the picture of the Flex's cargo bay, is that a prop rod on the left edge near the 3rd row belt? Or is that a strut?
hybris says:
05:28 PM, 08/ 9/09
A Canvass tarp over the bags would increased bag security just saying. I have to agree with everyone the Flex is the right tool for the job i.e a roomy comfortable long range cruiser.
aohurst says:
06:21 PM, 08/ 9/09
Is there no way at all to get the Flex Ecoboost for the trip? That would be a great blog.
bradyholt says:
07:45 PM, 08/ 9/09
To do another push for trying different cars, check out what Cars.com did for its family vacation:
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/journey/
They picked the Flex as the best of the four cars they tried, but at least they tried 'em!
kingkhalas says:
07:58 PM, 08/ 9/09
This post is more about SUV vs. car for long trips.
This could also be applied with Minivan/SUV vs. Car.
Minivan > SUV > Car for kids on long trip.
Cars and small station wagons just don't have that much room or versatility in comparison.
cruiserhead1 says:
08:42 PM, 08/ 9/09
This goes to show you that the family wagon is not dead in America. It was replaced by the minivan, then the SUV and now all these crossovers.
I think the Flex brings it back to the big 'ol American cruiser... yhe re-invention of the Grand Marquis wagon and Caprice Classic wagon.
The Flex is saddled with a horrible name.
Why not mix some of those great station wagon names in... GRAND This, and DELUXE that.... Ford Grandmaster Flex!
Incidentally, my wife thought it was a giant MiniCooper.
altimadude00 says:
08:55 PM, 08/ 9/09
7driver--The rod the mechanism for the Flex's power operated rear hatch.
uncanny_man says:
09:45 PM, 08/ 9/09
Great post! These kinds of purpose based pros and cons of different vehicles is the whole reason I read inside line.
stovt001 says:
11:14 PM, 08/ 9/09
Wow, let that roll around in your head for a little while. His family literally said "please don't make us go in the BMW. We'd much rather go in the Ford." I don't know whether that says more about Ford or BMW (I'd say Ford, if pressed) but it sure says something.
Regarding the BMW, I can't believe it only has an Aux-in jack. My primary problem with BMW (besides the stupid and ugly niche vehicles like the X6 and these new weird ugly GT things) is making so many basic things extremely high cost options. I'd consider buying a lightly optioned used one as a weekend fun car, but I couldn't imagine ever buying one new until they work on the value thing a bit more.
As I read the comments on the G8, all I could do was ask myself how GM could possibly be so stupid as to kill it off. The product is fine. The marketing and brand simply sucked. They need to give this thing a second chance and this time market it right.
And I told you the sedan could fit everything. You just have to be disciplined with what you bring. My sisters are awful about over-packing to an extreme extent. We're leaving for a week at Walt Disney World in a week and a half, and Disney grants you one luggage tag per person for their shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel. Combined with the airline charging per checked bag, I have a nice amount of leverage to pressure them to pack a reasonable amount of stuff. Constraint is the mother of efficiency.
stovt001 says:
11:17 PM, 08/ 9/09
"The Flex is saddled with a horrible name.
Why not mix some of those great station wagon names in... GRAND This, and DELUXE that.... Ford Grandmaster Flex!"
That sounds like a piece of home gym equipment pitched to me via infomercial.
ahightower says:
06:56 AM, 08/10/09
Times have changed. I don't remember being given this much choice in the matter when I was a kid. We were told to sit down, buckle up, keep your hands to yourself, don't make me pull this car over and spank you, we'll stop to eat and pee every five hours or 300 miles (whichever came LAST).
I think you should have taken the Audi. Get a cargo carrier for the roof, that's what those rails are for after all.
wobbly_ears says:
08:52 AM, 08/10/09
Flex is a good vehicle.
But didn't Ford FIRE last year the guy who designed it?
actualsize says:
09:30 AM, 08/10/09
@ahightower: Obviously, the choice here exists only because of my job. If I were restricted to my two real-life cars, we'd have taken our aging Honda Odyssey.
But if I were buying a replacement, I can tell you that I wouldn't buy the Audi A4 because of the regularity and length of these trips. And I couldn't afford to consider the 750i.
Besides, when we eventually get there, we'll have a 6-passenger vehicle and the grandparents can ride along.
As for the EcoBoost Flex idea, we tried to get one. But the timing was wrong -- all of the EcoBoost demo cars were in heavy use during and after the X-Games, and we couldn't get one. It is a pity, for sure. A HUGE missed opportunity.
rlg86 says:
09:52 AM, 08/10/09
From Mrs. Edmunds:
"We're all feeling blog pressure to choose a different vehicle for this trip, but I guarantee you that after 12 days on the road we'll feel a lot worse if we cram into the BMW and leave the rolling living room behind. Honestly, sliding into the Flex after sitting in the other vehicles was like walking into a concert hall after being in a series of closets. Historically, I don't do well on long road trips, but in the Flex I almost don't mind."
Maybe when Riswick & Macgrath grow up a little more they'll appreciate just how important this statement is to a man's piece of mind.
rlg86 says:
09:52 AM, 08/10/09
Sorry PEACE of mind....
curtisawa says:
10:03 AM, 08/10/09
I know it doesn't matter, but if you had chosen the Ram and you had run into inclimate weather, you would have had to put the luggage in the cab with you while you were in it or had it get wet. That is a BIG drawback to the truck. Or a canopy would fix all the cargo problems. I know it is summer, but rain is still a possibility.
Also, you made the right choice. When I was a kid, my family always took the Suburban. My brother and I each got our own row. It was great. The year we took the Camry, things got very cramped and tensions were high.
cruiserhead1 says:
11:02 AM, 08/10/09
I like the first photo with the boss overseeing Dan's loading of luggage into the 7 series
misterfusion says:
11:22 AM, 08/10/09
Practicality trumps blogging. :P
As for the Ram, maybe the company should spring for a rolling, semi-rigid tonneau cover (or "borrow" one from a mfr for test purposes). My neighbor has one for his Tundra, and it increases the utility of his truck by 100%. It would certainly have solved your problem here.
However, I agree that wooziness would probably have been an issue with some of your passengers.
[And a black star for msdaisy, one of the most consistently nasty commenters at IL.]
vvk says:
11:53 AM, 08/10/09
Wow, this is what I call dedication to one's job!
As always, thank you Dan for a well written and informative article.
And thank your family for us, too!
roadburner says:
11:55 AM, 08/10/09
If I had told my son that we were taking a Flex(instead of the B7) to Fort Worth I think he would have thought that I had suffered a stroke...
fuhteng says:
12:19 PM, 08/10/09
Great post. Thank you Edmunds' family. One of the best posts I have seen in a while.
And thank you Dan for at least giving the G8 at shot. I figured the not-so-kid-nice backseat would hamper it, but at least you gave it a shot.
cruiserhead1 says:
01:07 PM, 08/10/09
"If I had told my son that we were taking a Flex(instead of the B7) to Fort Worth I think he would have thought that I had suffered a stroke..."
He could get over his shock by reclining in the back of the Flex and lull himself to sleep to a nice video and refrigerated beverage.
roadburner says:
01:38 PM, 08/10/09
"He could get over his shock by reclining in the back of the Flex and lull himself to sleep to a nice video and refrigerated beverage."
Well, he's 14 and sports nut first and a car nut second; the only domestics that he likes are the Mustang/Shelby GT and the G8 GT. In all honesty he was a bit disappointed that the B7 we were sent lacked the deluxe rear seat heating/cooling/DVD system, but he got over it in a couple of miles.
08lr3 says:
05:46 AM, 08/14/09
is it just me.. but I caught two typos..
have fun on the trip in the flex round 2