Test Drive update -- Farewell Flex, Hello Escape

It's all Ford around here lately. I just sent the 2009 Ford Flex on its merry way, and have welcomed the 2009 Ford Escape to my driveway for a visit.

Flex made quite an impression. Our friend Heather, hardly an SUV enthusiast, flipped for it, begging her husband Andy to make it the replacement for his tired Jeep Grand Cherokee. I don't think that Andy's going to bite, though, because I averaged just 13.8 mpg during my week with the Flex -- even worse mileage than he gets with his decrepit Jeep. I'm not insulting Jeep here -- I'm insulting Andy's Jeep, which any sane driver would have replaced or repaired six months ago. Andy is pathologically tight with a buck, though, and he's trying to squeeze absolutely every last mile out of the Jeep before he does anything. He sees his lurching, smoky drives as a victory against the tyranny of the new. We all see it in a slightly different light.

I'll make sure that Andy gets a look at the new Escape while I have it. Having driven both the Hybrid and the V6 versions, I'm eager to spend some time with the Silver 4-cylinder that I now hold keys for.

As a matter of fact, too much writing, not enough driving. I'm off.

Photo © Jason Fogelson