2009 Ford Flex: Best Soccer Dad Battle Wagon - Flex or Odyssey?

Flex.

Sorry I wouldn't be seen in a mini-van. My parents had one and I would always tell them I'd walk to the car, and not to pull up in front of the school.

The flex is way better looking, and although it loses some utility, not much is lost. Price range, they are about the same so I would rather spend my well earned paychecks on something that looks good as well as drives well.

Plus I like to be different... in a world of minivans, the flex is definitely an eye catcher.

As a soccer dad and an owner of a 2009 Ford Flex, this is a no brainer. The Flex works great on Saturday's racing between two different games, it works great hauling the girls and their friends and all of their stuff around after school. The Flex works great on trips to Disneyland, entertaining the kids in the back seat, super comfortable for us in the front, and does this while getting looks from everyone. My wife drives the car, and she has people at stop lights asking her what kind of car is it.

She loves the Flex, and yes we were a little hesitant about it being an American made car, but at 48,000 we've had no problems and still love it as much as we did the day we bought it.

And head room? Forget about it, the Flex has plenty of head room.

+1 firstwagon

Warning, the following is just venting really. The minivan (I have one '11 Sienna) is freaking frumpy, but so is the SUV/Crossover. You buy one for its utility and not much else. In fact, when I drive by our local school or the soccer field on the way home, there are at least 2 SUVs/Crossovers to every 1 minivan. Get a Miata/911/GT-R/Aston Martin or whatever for fun or to compensation of insecurities. If you can't afford the 3rd/4th car, then that's just life and this crap economy, don't blame the fat minivan for your inadequacy.

The Flex looks like a hearse, but so what ... you drive what you want; just don't make it seem like somehow any of these fat things are more cool than another.

I know minivan's are very practical but I would get a Flex anyday over one.

Odyssey, for sure. There is no denying that a minivan is probably the most practical form of transportation out there, and it has much more usable cargo space than the Flex. A Flex will appease your ego, but a minivan will make your family, wife, and even you happy just because of the sheer comfort for 6 people (and capability of holding 8), and the imminent practicality and versatility. Plus, the Odyssey is no slouch to drive. What model Odyssey/Flex are you looking at? I currently own a new 2011 Odyssey EX-L and I LOVE it. In fact, this is my 4th Odyssey (and probably my final, as the kids grow up) since 2002. You start out weary, but within a few months, you'll become a true minivan convert. You won't regret either vehicle, as they are both high quality, comfortable, and practical, but the Odyssey will serve you better, IMHO.

I consider trading in our FX35 and get something with a little more room. I like the looks of the Flex but I imagine I could get bored with them quick. I don't mind the Odyssey or Sienna, they look fine to me.

I don't much like SUV/Crossovers, but I think the Mazda CX-9 pretty much ticks all the boxes.

Between the flex and Honda: Flex. Its better looking more fun, unique and it has sync. All these comments about ego are petty IMO. It boils down to what you like. I've said it before: Why would anyone pay that much money for an ugly appliance when there are other options like the Flex and cars like the the Mazda CX9? This is the same mentality that sells so many freaking camrys. That said I probably wouldn't buy a flex because of the faux wood grain and the fact that I don't really see needing that much space. Our Mz5 fits our needs nicely. And looks good at the same time.

Odyssey if you view vehicles as appliances.

Flex if you like vehicles with a personality.

I'd vote for neither and go pick up a used E55 AMG wagon :)

If the Flex had sliding rear doors like it should instead of conventional ones, I would say the Flex. All the carrying capacity you really need, a lower center of gravity and (IMHO) way cooler looking.

But if I had multiple kids I think the minivan is the way to go. Although I would go with the Sienna over the butt ugly new Odyssey.

I would definitely get a Flex over a Pilot though.

I pity the fool...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-M9k5UrD54

Or one could work at Edmunds and drop one of their kids off at school in the Corvette one day, the next day, drop the entire brood off at school in the Raptor, and the next day take the soccer team to practice in the Flex.

I vote for a Dodge Caravan. Cost less than the above choices and is more flexible.

My bad. I shouldn't have mentioned Dodge. According to Edmunds, they're not a major player in the minivan segment:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2010/09/weekly-top-three-the-minivan-im-not-dead.html

Flex

Forget both of these. The A-Team tribute to the G30 was the best feature of this post. Love it! That thing had some seriously stiff springs and anti-roll bars, but the shocks can't quite keep up. The rear was SOO stiff I'm surprised it didn't hop and tip over.

Have driven an Odyssey for seven years. It was fantastic when the kids were little, but now that they are a bit larger, I would kill for a Flex.

Odyssey any day. Your hearing this from a 17 year old. I was actually a passenger in one for 12 hours and never did I think it was uncomfortable or would flip in a turn. Felt really well damped and composed. Maybe the Flex looks a bit better but not enough to sacrifice practicality and I believe the base Honda is cheaper (I may be wrong).

Flex. It's got the style (which is actually aging quite well), enough practicality for most people, and hell, if you want more thrust with no sacrifice to fuel economy, the Flex is your only choice. The only deal breaker would be if I had kids with little to no home training who opened doors with little regard for the property of others around them, then sure I'd prefer sliding doors. But that's not exactly the case right now.

Not to mention, I would second- or third- guess myself on spending $40k on something with all the personality of a loaf of Home Pride White.

I would rather have the Flex but if I needed practicality I would go for a real van like a E350 with a diesel.

Odyssey all day long. I always scratch my head when I hear people won't consider a van because of the stigma. What.. Are you 10 years old? The van CRUSHES the flex for cargo capacity, ease of loading and kid friendly design. Use the right tool for the job

dodge caravan

I'd like to say the Flex ('cause I like its looks), but would probably end up going with the Odyssey. Its practicality and versatility trumps the Flex's looks.

I can't think of any odyssey that looks dated really. The flex is trying to hard to be cool, the ody accepts
What it is and does it flawlessly. The flex in ten years is going to look silly. My wife and I only have one child
But the odyssey is the only people hauler she expressed not minding to own. And all these comments
Of the flex being better to drive....uh have you folks ever driven an odyssey? You know to confirm what
Countless people have been saying about it since it came out? The odyssey is a well driving vehicle, period.

We just sold our 2006 Odyssey to buy a 2011 Flex. It's not an ego thing.

We have three small kids in full size car seats (3 years and two at two months), and the Honda will not hold three car seats in the same row. They've fixed this with the new version of the Honda, but I was really disappointed to find that what we thought was the ultimate family hauler, was not.

The Flex, while smaller, does not have the sliding side doors, and thus does not have the intrusion into the interior space of the second row. Three car seats fit fine. With the Honda, it wasn't even close.

Either are fine but I for one cannot look at a Flex and put my money down on it and be happy with driving a hearse. Would rather get the Odyssey if I had to choose between the two.

Honestly, i probably will buy one later on in life but not having a family now hasn't brought me to that point yet. We still take cross country trips in either an Altima or M45 with three or four people in car plus luggage and are fine, maybe slightly cramped with all the food and drinks that we take but nothing uncomfortable.

Sorry, the sliding doors and much larger cargo capacity of the Odyssey trump the Family-Truckster-on-Steroids any day.

"I'd vote for neither and go pick up a used E55 AMG wagon :)

Or maybe an S4. Or an X5 4.8is.

I'm surprised at the near 50-50 reaction here. I figured it'd be more biased one way or another.

I own a Flex, so you know what gets my vote. I bought it for Sync and the humongous second row (where wife and kid spend all their time). It's also very well suspended and the base engine is powerful enough while delivering decent fuel economy. The reliability of the long-term Flex and all the positive reviews also were big factors in my purchase decision.

Looks and stigma had nothing to do with my decision (though my wife did swear she'd never own a minivan).

@evansc6

Didn't know that the Flex offered three person seating in the second row but after looking at some pics the seats don't seem to have good bolsters. In your situation the Flex does look like the better solution but if I were in such a situation I would probably opt for a large wagon.

@felonious

I agree, it does seem equal and I was expecting the blog to be favoring the Flex.

AWD + Ecoboost + way better dynamics. The Odyssey drives just fine, just like all other Hondas, but it's not engaging like the Flex (particularly Ecoboost). The space in the minivan is larger, of course, but our family decided it was TOO much. Larger is not always better, and I decided the Flex and its superior looks and driving dynamics for the same 18 mpg (cross-shopped with an AWD Sienna) got our vote.

By the way, all the comments on ego are way off, but not for the reasons mentioned here. If you think that your consumer decisions are NOT based on ego, meaning you don't consider what you want first, based on who you think you are as a person, you have no idea what's going on in your brain. I like this car, like the way it looks, and I like the way I feel about myself when I drive it. I feel content, safe, and I'm having fun. In a minivan I feel like I'm driving one of my son's toy cars around.

those who decided to "vote" for a choice other than presented -- especially wagons and sedans -- are copping out. How about the CTS-V wagon? Heck, if we're *fantasizing* about potential family-haulers, how about the RS6???

I'm 21, and my family used to drive a minivan (Ford Windstar) before my mom switched to a Saturn Vue (2.2 4-cyl - blech). The minivan has infinite practicality, and when properly equipped, can even be fun (100 MPH in a minivan is doable. I've done it repeatedly - 3.8 V-6 for the win). Yes, some people attach a stigma to the minivan, saying it is lame and not cool. I challenge you to find a more practical vehicle. Yes, the Flex looks better, but without those sliding doors it is essentially just another SUV/CUV and honestly, I have to give the final judgement in favor of the minivan. The only purpose I can see to the flex is the Ecoboost. I'd kill to see how fast I can get that thing going.... MUAHAHAHA!

Easy. Honda and Toyota offer but one engine. Flex offers Ecoboost and AWD. Add some Bilstein's and Pilot Sport A/S tire and have fun! That said, nothing, including my beloved 4x4 Excursion holds more people and the crap they travel with than a minivan!

Depends howany kids you have. If you have 2, the emergency seats are plenty for the odd tag-along or soccer kid who comes from a neglectful family. You'll have awd and ecoboost and you'll at least be quick. You'll also have sync. If you have 3... Wife wins and you're in the Odyssey trying to reconcile what on earth Honda stylists were after with that kink in the beltline.

I have an '07 Odyssey EX and a '10 Flex SE. I like them both, but the Odyssey is better.

If I had fewer than four kids, I would pick the Flex. Just fold down one or both of the third row seats, and you have plenty of cargo capacity and comfortable seating for the whole family.

But once you have two people in each row, you can't fit groceries for a family of six in the back of the Flex. You can fit them just fine in the back of the Odyssey.