European Edge owner

[Wil123]

Hello friends across the big Atlantic pond.

 

In 2013 we bought a second hand 2008 ford edge with 30K on the counter.

Now after a year i can honestly say that this car is simply great.

 

You need to understand something about my country and american build cars.

You don't see them alot in my country (The Netherlands) i think there are about 10 edge's driving in holland.

 

The reasons for that is that most american build cars are unfairly high taxed because of so called enviromental laws.

To be honnest it is just a illegal way of keeping american cars of europeans roads because of competition with the european car builders. I know it is is the otherway around in the US with European build cars.

 

If i tell you how much a NEW 2014 edge will cost in holland ( you have to import it as there are no official USA ford dealers in Holland) you will go insane. Including all taxes the 2014 edge will cost as much as 80K $ u.s.

Yes you are reading it right 80K $ u.s.

 

It is pure theft.

 

Now on the secondhand market however most of them depreciate soo fast that (because of the high tax) that most buyers are not interested in buying a american build ford. So it is really a unfair trade situation.

 

When you buy a 80K ford edge the moment you drive it out of the dealership it depriciates by 50% because of taxes.

You will never be able to ask it back when selling it second hand.

 

Not to mention the gasoline prices here 8 dollars u.s per gallon YES YOU ARE READING IT CORRECTLY AGAIN

 

So to put a long story short in holland if you see an american car on the road it is simply because the driver loves an american build car.And as such SO DO I !!

 

 

 

Enough politics and taxes.

The car is really versatile and for longer trip trough europe a great way of travel.

I am 6.7 tall and it is trully the first car i own were i can sit fully comfortable (abeit driver seat all the way back)

The huge panoramic roof is breathtaking and the passengers always look up during the drives. (untill they get dizzy enough )

 

End of january it will go in to regular maintenance at a specialised usa car garage.

When we are in the US we always rent the biggest SUV in the collection of the rental company.

It add's to the vacation feeling Simply because going to a gas station is fun already (yes to us dutchies filling up a gas tank in the us is fun because for us gas in the us is dirt cheap)

 

I think ford really nailed it with the concept for this car.

If i can think of some Con's in this car it is probably the pick up of the transmission.

When you hammer the throttle there is about a second or 2 delay. But when it goes it goes pretty good.

 

I hope one day american cars in europe are as cheap as they are in the US.

I would love to own a new camarro or mustang but i dont have a 120 K u.s lying around to buy one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Hello, Wil! Glad to have another European Union Edge owner here Thank you for your love of American cars! 120K for a camaro or mustang? Serious OUCH!

 

The 3.5L is a proven engine in the Ford lineup. The transmission does have its' quirks, as you have noted. How many K's do you have on the Edge now?

 

If you want, you can try disconnecting the battery and having the Edge re-learn its' optimum parameters while in for service. That way, it will definitely be more customized to your style of driving. Though it sounds like it's pretty close already.

 

Having the fluids drained & refilled (especially engine & transmission/PTU/RDU) is a very worthwhile service, as is having the battery checked (replaced if necessary).

 

Good luck and please do let us know about your continuing experience. AND post some pix too, especially in outdoors settings Would love to get a tour of Netherlands through your eyes!

[Wil123]

Hello, Wil! Glad to have another European Union Edge owner here Thank you for your love of American cars! 120K for a camaro or mustang? Serious OUCH!

 

The 3.5L is a proven engine in the Ford lineup. The transmission does have its' quirks, as you have noted. How many K's do you have on the Edge now?

 

If you want, you can try disconnecting the battery and having the Edge re-learn its' optimum parameters while in for service. That way, it will definitely be more customized to your style of driving. Though it sounds like it's pretty close already.

 

Having the fluids drained & refilled (especially engine & transmission/PTU/RDU) is a very worthwhile service, as is having the battery checked (replaced if necessary).

 

Good luck and please do let us know about your continuing experience. AND post some pix too, especially in outdoors settings Would love to get a tour of Netherlands through your eyes!

 

Thanks for the reply

 

The maintenance information is really usefull thanks, the garage that i am going to is really specialised in american cars new and classic.

Most of the "European build" Ford dealers dont have the computer equipement to read out the engine paramaters so i need to go to a specialised garage.

 

By now we have about 38K on the counter. Originaly our Edge was a company car from the newyork area and was sold at auction (company bankrupt i think) Than a dutch guy bought it at the auction and imported it ,drove a few years in it but realised with the dutch gas prices it was not the best choice. So the mileage stayed fairly low for it's age. Initialy that actually scared me off a bit (odometer fraude??) But luckely i got it confirmed trough CARFAX and also the original dealer in newyork (sticker was one window) confirmed the miles when it was brought in for maintenance.

 

To be sure i took it to the specialised garage before purchase to see if they could find anything the history database of the cars computer and to give it a thorough check up to confirm that the car looked like it matched the mileage.

 

All came out positive they showed me at the garage how you can tell if someone temperred with the milleage by looking in the cars computer memmory (strange resets or battery disconnection etc etc) and to show were to look for wear and tear vs the claimed milleage.

All came out fine returned to the seller and made the purchase.

 

They only thing wrong with it at time of purchase was the constant tire pressure warning coming up. That was easily fixed by putting in a new tire transmitter. The seller took the cost for putting in a new one off the price so that was fair.

 

I put a new set of tires on it because of tire cupping (whobbly noise when driving) tere was no vibration in the steering wheel or chassis but just a noisy rumble from the wheels. Garage explained it was tire cupping and suggested new tires and aligning. That helped alot no more noises.

 

really the only thing now is the transmission that seems to work off it's shifting program a bit confusing, it's like sometimes it does not know where to go.Shifting is smooth without clunks but sometimes a bit un logical..

I will ask the garage to check it out and to change fluids like you said maybe that will help that plus the reset action.

Will send some pics later ...in front of a dutch windmill :-))))

Edited December 29, 2013 by Wil123

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

A good mechanic is worth his weight in gold!

[Wil123]

Filled my car up today for 112 that in euros my friends muhuhuhaaaaa ??

[Wil123]

Sorry it was a 102 euro's

[Wil123]

Sorry it actually was a112 ?

[Wil123]

As u can see 1,65 euro per liter my american friends.

Thats times 3.8 for gallon times 1,27 for dollar gallon price

Thats about 7,80 dollar for a gallon nice huh

[PaulSchott]

Connecticut has one of the highest gas prices in the U.S. at around $4.00/Gallon. (It's all state taxes) I guess I can not complain. I just purchased a 2007 SEL and will be registering it tomorrow. I can not wait. I have driven it a few times for 25 mile commutes from work and absolutely love it. Quiet, Quick, and handles well for the type vehicle it is.