During my roadtrip to Sacramento, I loved all the conveniences of our 2009 Ford Flex -- its Bluetooth so I could call my parents and let them know I was now passing Coalinga, its satellite radio so I wouldn't have to keep changing radio stations and the soft lights in the cupholders so I can safely set my cup of coffee down while driving. But the feature I appreciated the most had to be that the second row of passenger seats had their own seat heaters!
I had to pick my dad up from the hospital this weekend and it was really nice that we could get him all cozy for the ride back home. We had to put him in the passenger seat behind me because that's where the nurse wheeled him as it was closest to the wheelchair ramp. In any case, I was thrilled that he, too, could enjoy heated seats, since being a lover of them myself I know how awesome they are. And how often do backseat passengers get to enjoy such luxuries? I mean, besides DVDs.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 45,462 miles
vvk says:
11:28 AM, 01/19/10
Thank SAAB for inventing heated seats 40 years ago.
zcalvert says:
11:47 AM, 01/19/10
I wouldn't say it's rare at all for cars in this price range to have rear heated seats. I suspect what may make it seem surprising is that a Ford family-hauler is in this price category.
Not skimping on features that are expected by consumers in a given price range is one of the things Ford needs to do to continue its recovery... based on what we've read about the Flex thus far, it seems like Ford has learned that lesson pretty well.
bodyblue says:
11:58 AM, 01/19/10
Caroline, did you grow up in Sac? And I guess your parents still live here?
bobfranks says:
12:42 PM, 01/19/10
I wish the Flex would go away.
ptcdawg says:
01:27 PM, 01/19/10
Even Old School 99 GMC Denali's have this feature.....that said, until you've had heated seats, many folks dismiss them out of hand...they are fabulous., even in moderate climates.
brn says:
01:58 PM, 01/19/10
ptcdawg, in the back seat?
Rear seat heaters can also be found in the Taurus.
rick8365 says:
02:46 PM, 01/19/10
Rear seat heat - a growing trend.
Hope your dad is getting better, Caroline.
firstwagon says:
04:36 PM, 01/19/10
I'm glad the Flex is still here. I still haven't warmed up to it's looks but it's reliablity and attention to detail in design really say a lot about how far Ford has come.
As for heated seats, at -20 deg they would be heaven sent. Not sure the attraction in Caifornia though.
70ss454_man says:
09:53 PM, 01/19/10
A 2000 Cadillac Seville I was working on had had front and rear heated seats. Beautiful car, but it's a problem child.
I remember seeing a mid 90s car with heated rear seats, though I can't remember what kind for the life of me. I do remember that I was completely baffled that it had them and that they still worked!
brn says:
10:13 AM, 01/20/10
"As for heated seats, at -20 deg they would be heaven sent. Not sure the attraction in Caifornia though."
That's always fascinated me too. If it's +30F, my non-heated leather doesn't get a second thought. If it's wickedly cold, I hate my non-heated leather. I hate my leather when it's wickedly hot too.