2006 Ford Freestyle SE Start Up & Rev

Start up & rev of a 2006 Ford Freestyle SE

This has a 3.0L Duratec V6 making 203 HP paired to a CVT transmission.

The interior in these are cavernous, comfortable, & quality isn't too bad. But if theres anything to complain about, it's the engine & transmission. The 3.0L Duratec V6 is a very good engine, but it is just to small for such a heavy wagon. The CVT also hasn't proven very reliable either. I've seen many of these with trouble.

If you like this style wagon, I suggest going for the 2008-2009 Taurus X. It is overall identical except those come with a potent 3.5L V6 making 263 HP & it's paired to a 6 Speed Auto which has proven very reliable. It's definitely the way to go and they don't cost much more either.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2004
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• 2010
• Ford
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• Sel
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• 500
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• Intechdude300

[mkm230]

Hate the damn CVT's in these. They wouldn't have been half bad with a normal automatic and a little more power. Ford did a lot better with the Taurus X!

[Intechdude300]

@mkm230

What I couldn't understand was y they didn't offer 6 Speed like they did in the 500. Right Idea of a vehicle but still lotsah stupid decision making. It took a new CEO who knew nothing about cars to notice that LOL....

[fanowner12]

I had both an SE and an SEL for a rental one time, they were ultra slow. 

[Intechdude300]

@fanowner12

Small engine + CVT + Heavy Weight = Fail.

[LieKiller]

@Intechdude300 The cars are no speed demons from a dig, but they are flat surprising from a 40-50 roll given the HP rating. The cars never feel underpowered, I can get out of my 10 second Mustang and the car still doesn't feel like the dog some try to make it out to be, I have to laugh when the drive of 15-16 second cars try to act like they are unacceptably so. Only because the marketing department told you so!

[LieKiller]

@Intechdude300 The problem with the CVT isn't failure rates, b/c statistically it's very low as reflected in studies like CR (and Ford tech observations), it's the cost of fixing one versus the 6F. A reman'd 6F50 through Ford (Motorcraft) is ~$2700 while it's $4400 for the CFT30, this is why CVT owners are more likely to dump the car through an auction instead of repairing them. It's hard to justify a $4000 trans, plus a couple grand in shop labor, to fix a $10,000 car.

[LieKiller]

@Intechdude300 You're right, I got my nonclementure mixed up. The 6F50 is known for low-mileage valvebody/mechatronic issues which is why the CVT outperforms it in CR reliability surveys. One of my best friends is Ford double senior master and the auto trans guy for his dealership. He has seen/replaced 4 failed CVTs, he's replaced the mechatronics assemblies in his personal '09 Flex and '08 Taurus X. CFT30 failure rates are low.

[Intechdude300]

@LieKiller No, the Taurus X uses the heavier duty 6F50 which has been Fords most reliable gearbox in FWD applications so far. Used also in the Flex, Explorer, Edge, MKS & etc.

Consumer reports can kiss my toe lol. 6F35 used in the 2010 Fusion/Escape has been a POS & so is this CVT where I've seen countless Five Hundreds, Montegos, & Freestyles pushed through the auction block because the CVT is Inop. Only way you can make a Freestyle fly is having it screaming like a Banshee bike near redline

[LieKiller]

@Intechdude300 ....result varnished clutches and chattering torque converter clutches, it results in the chain eating the variators up. Proper maintenance is paramount with the CVT, and given the lack of dealership experience with the trans, most of the times these things either aren't serviced or aren't serviced properly. However, one look to Consumer Reports shows these CVTs to be every bit as reliable as the 6F35.

[LieKiller]

@Intechdude300 Probably because they haven't been serviced. Ford calls for 60K service intervals, which includes the high pressure case filter. I've seen too many people fight with service departments over that high pressure filter, most dealerships don't realize the cars have TWO filters and end up replacing the far less critical pan screen. If you see how these chain type CVTs work, you also realize how lube dependent they are. Spent CVT fluid doesn't....

[fanowner12]

It was funny to see the difference between the two Freestyles I rented at two different times: the SE I had was sparse, and had nothing, the SEL was fully-loaded.