New Edge after 6 days

[phlatlander]

In mid September our 2003 Passat wagon (loved that car) was sideswiped in a traffic accident in Duluth and needed to be replaced. Since that purchase in 2002 we are (now) retired and so our requirements and wish list has changed. BTW:

- our cars live on our driveway and are NEVER garaged.

- our cars are equipped with block heaters, that's it.

- unless we are driving babies or grandparents, we never idle ours cars, regardless of the temperature. Start and go, just don't accelerate hard for the 1st 5 minutes. I avoid lineups in Tim Horton;s by going inside.

 

Mandatory: easy (as in higher) entry, sunroof, HID headlights, leather with heated seats

Optional: AWD or 4WD

 

Short list became Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback and Ford Edge. A year ago a Murano would have made the list but now no, and I can't give a good reason.

 

Well, our 2011 Edge is now 6 days old. We placed our order on Oct 22 and it was ready to go on December 7. We waited 46 days and to pass the time I frequented this forum and read many posts to learn as much as practicable so now it my turn to post our impressions.

 

2011 Edge Limited AWD, Bordeaux Reserve with Sienna Leather. Ordered options; Canadian Touring package (really wanted the BAMR), block heater (hey, we live in Winnipeg!), rubber floor mats, trailer hitch, and HID headlights.

 

We bought the car in Steinbach (about 40miles away) and had to return to the dealer after lunch – we couldn't locate the block heater… Although the first impression is almost overwhelming (How do I get the heated seats on? Where is the button for the Sirius radio? Where is the volume control?) by the end of day 2 that had mostly disappeared and by day 3 we were both comfortable working the ventilation and sound systems.

 

Good Stuff:

- The ride is firm and stable and as others have mentioned the AWD performs unobtrusively.

- The heating system is excellent and the heated seats work very well.

- Love the great big glass roof!

- The Sony sound system is great. I haven't tried the cd player yet but my Ipod works well as does a couple of usb sticks. We don't (yet) have a bluetooth cell but that is coming for Christmas.

- Quite pleased with the Sync graphical user interface (GUI). Does everything well and the displays are bright and clear. If anything there is too much information! I have already loaded a selection of wallpapers of the grandkids…

- Rear camera and warning chimes are quite accurate and handy.

- Lighting system is excellent and the HIDs are worth every penny! Good flat pattern.The puddle lights (that's what they are called on VW/Audi) on the bottom of the mirrors are good.

- The daylight running lights (DRLs) are separate bright amber lights so the headlights are not used. The usual approach is to use the lowbeam headlights at 80% which shortens headlight bulb life. Well done Ford!

 

Could be better:

- the leather seats bottoms could be about an inch longer and would offer more support

- the warning hazard switch should be relocated to right of the steering column and should be a button similar to the seat 1&2 buttons. I think the design committee clearly won over the function committee..

- The front headrests should allow some adjustment.

- The driver information (trip odometer, mileage, etc) could be better designed. In our 8 yr old Passat the trip computer was always visible and provided far more information. In the Edge you have to "drill down" to get less information.

 

Missed the boat:

- Other than the fact that center screen is clear and is quite large, the SD based nav system is not good. Perhaps if I didn't already use a portable GPS then it would be marginally acceptable but if I was to rate my $220 Garmin 1390 (with lifetime maps) as a 9/10, the Edge sd system would rate a 3/10, 2 for the display and another 1 because I may be expecting too much. It's too bad because just about everything else in the GUI is well thought out.

 

Conclusion: Great, good looking and capable car. Very satisified with our purchase.

And yes, I have seen the blank screen followed by "Sytem maintenance" message while attempting to enter an address in the nav mode! I'm even getting used to the chrome wheels…

 

 

[Edgieguy]

Congratulations on your new ride. Very nice, well thought out review.

[richy]

Well written, informative review. Thanks.

[cirockets]

In mid September our 2003 Passat wagon (loved that car) was sideswiped in a traffic accident in Duluth and needed to be replaced. Since that purchase in 2002 we are (now) retired and so our requirements and wish list has changed. BTW:

- our cars live on our driveway and are NEVER garaged.

- our cars are equipped with block heaters, that's it.

- unless we are driving babies or grandparents, we never idle ours cars, regardless of the temperature. Start and go, just don't accelerate hard for the 1st 5 minutes. I avoid lineups in Tim Horton;s by going inside.

 

Mandatory: easy (as in higher) entry, sunroof, HID headlights, leather with heated seats

Optional: AWD or 4WD

 

Short list became Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback and Ford Edge. A year ago a Murano would have made the list but now no, and I can't give a good reason.

 

Well, our 2011 Edge is now 6 days old. We placed our order on Oct 22 and it was ready to go on December 7. We waited 46 days and to pass the time I frequented this forum and read many posts to learn as much as practicable so now it my turn to post our impressions.

 

2011 Edge Limited AWD, Bordeaux Reserve with Sienna Leather. Ordered options; Canadian Touring package (really wanted the BAMR), block heater (hey, we live in Winnipeg!), rubber floor mats, trailer hitch, and HID headlights.

 

We bought the car in Steinbach (about 40miles away) and had to return to the dealer after lunch – we couldn't locate the block heater… Although the first impression is almost overwhelming (How do I get the heated seats on? Where is the button for the Sirius radio? Where is the volume control?) by the end of day 2 that had mostly disappeared and by day 3 we were both comfortable working the ventilation and sound systems.

 

Good Stuff:

- The ride is firm and stable and as others have mentioned the AWD performs unobtrusively.

- The heating system is excellent and the heated seats work very well.

- Love the great big glass roof!

- The Sony sound system is great. I haven't tried the cd player yet but my Ipod works well as does a couple of usb sticks. We don't (yet) have a bluetooth cell but that is coming for Christmas.

- Quite pleased with the Sync graphical user interface (GUI). Does everything well and the displays are bright and clear. If anything there is too much information! I have already loaded a selection of wallpapers of the grandkids…

- Rear camera and warning chimes are quite accurate and handy.

- Lighting system is excellent and the HIDs are worth every penny! Good flat pattern.The puddle lights (that's what they are called on VW/Audi) on the bottom of the mirrors are good.

- The daylight running lights (DRLs) are separate bright amber lights so the headlights are not used. The usual approach is to use the lowbeam headlights at 80% which shortens headlight bulb life. Well done Ford!

 

Could be better:

- the leather seats bottoms could be about an inch longer and would offer more support

- the warning hazard switch should be relocated to right of the steering column and should be a button similar to the seat 1&2 buttons. I think the design committee clearly won over the function committee..

- The front headrests should allow some adjustment.

- The driver information (trip odometer, mileage, etc) could be better designed. In our 8 yr old Passat the trip computer was always visible and provided far more information. In the Edge you have to "drill down" to get less information.

 

Missed the boat:

- Other than the fact that center screen is clear and is quite large, the SD based nav system is not good. Perhaps if I didn't already use a portable GPS then it would be marginally acceptable but if I was to rate my $220 Garmin 1390 (with lifetime maps) as a 9/10, the Edge sd system would rate a 3/10, 2 for the display and another 1 because I may be expecting too much. It's too bad because just about everything else in the GUI is well thought out.

 

Conclusion: Great, good looking and capable car. Very satisified with our purchase.

And yes, I have seen the blank screen followed by "Sytem maintenance" message while attempting to enter an address in the nav mode! I'm even getting used to the chrome wheels…

 

 

 

Great review. Mine as been on order for 6 weeks and still no Edge. I am a Garmin Nuvi man myself and I know, like you, I will be disappointed in the Nav. System. Oh well, can't have it all. Do you have winter tires or all seasons?

[phlatlander]

Great review. Mine as been on order for 6 weeks and still no Edge. I am a Garmin Nuvi man myself and I know, like you, I will be disappointed in the Nav. System. Oh well, can't have it all. Do you have winter tires or all seasons?

 

 

Just the all season Michelins that came installed. I figure they should be quite adequate for at least 1 winter. We usually do not have a lot of snow just cold.

 

We will be going out for breakfast tomorrow with friends who teach in Northern Ontario and will be on their way back to the Rock for Christmas.

[cirockets]

Just the all season Michelins that came installed. I figure they should be quite adequate for at least 1 winter. We usually do not have a lot of snow just cold.

 

We will be going out for breakfast tomorrow with friends who teach in Northern Ontario and will be on their way back to the Rock for Christmas.

 

I spent 40+ years in Ont. and never had snow tires and 8 years on the rock without snows but have been inquiring about the snow tires people are using on the Edge. No snow in Central NL yet. Safe trip.

[rwolson]

Great review, thanks. My Limited's scheduled to arrive this week. So, I'm jealous you're playing in yours.

 

I've used many Garmins over the years and expect I'll still carry a Garmin even with the Limited's onboard nav. Car manufacturers cannot keep up with the aftermarket GPS vendors.

[cirockets]

Great review, thanks. My Limited's scheduled to arrive this week. So, I'm jealous you're playing in yours.

 

I've used many Garmins over the years and expect I'll still carry a Garmin even with the Limited's onboard nav. Car manufacturers cannot keep up with the aftermarket GPS vendors.

 

Absolutely correct...not even close.

[Feirstein]

My neighbor used to represent a major radio manufacurer in its efforts to sell units to the big 4. They, (the car companies) wanted to see and test the exact unit they would need 5 to 6 years down the road and would not accept any changes after the selection. His client told him that they did not even know what they would build in 12 months, since advances came along fast in their industry. Needless to say he never got an order for his client. This might explain why advances such as digital AM and FM radio, have taken so long to show up on the option or standard equiptment list from some venders.

 

Richard

[11edgelimited]

In mid September our 2003 Passat wagon (loved that car) was sideswiped in a traffic accident in Duluth and needed to be replaced. Since that purchase in 2002 we are (now) retired and so our requirements and wish list has changed. BTW:

- our cars live on our driveway and are NEVER garaged.

- our cars are equipped with block heaters, that's it.

- unless we are driving babies or grandparents, we never idle ours cars, regardless of the temperature. Start and go, just don't accelerate hard for the 1st 5 minutes. I avoid lineups in Tim Horton;s by going inside.

 

Mandatory: easy (as in higher) entry, sunroof, HID headlights, leather with heated seats

Optional: AWD or 4WD

 

Short list became Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback and Ford Edge. A year ago a Murano would have made the list but now no, and I can't give a good reason.

 

Well, our 2011 Edge is now 6 days old. We placed our order on Oct 22 and it was ready to go on December 7. We waited 46 days and to pass the time I frequented this forum and read many posts to learn as much as practicable so now it my turn to post our impressions.

 

2011 Edge Limited AWD, Bordeaux Reserve with Sienna Leather. Ordered options; Canadian Touring package (really wanted the BAMR), block heater (hey, we live in Winnipeg!), rubber floor mats, trailer hitch, and HID headlights.

 

We bought the car in Steinbach (about 40miles away) and had to return to the dealer after lunch – we couldn't locate the block heater… Although the first impression is almost overwhelming (How do I get the heated seats on? Where is the button for the Sirius radio? Where is the volume control?) by the end of day 2 that had mostly disappeared and by day 3 we were both comfortable working the ventilation and sound systems.

 

Good Stuff:

- The ride is firm and stable and as others have mentioned the AWD performs unobtrusively.

- The heating system is excellent and the heated seats work very well.

- Love the great big glass roof!

- The Sony sound system is great. I haven't tried the cd player yet but my Ipod works well as does a couple of usb sticks. We don't (yet) have a bluetooth cell but that is coming for Christmas.

- Quite pleased with the Sync graphical user interface (GUI). Does everything well and the displays are bright and clear. If anything there is too much information! I have already loaded a selection of wallpapers of the grandkids…

- Rear camera and warning chimes are quite accurate and handy.

- Lighting system is excellent and the HIDs are worth every penny! Good flat pattern.The puddle lights (that's what they are called on VW/Audi) on the bottom of the mirrors are good.

- The daylight running lights (DRLs) are separate bright amber lights so the headlights are not used. The usual approach is to use the lowbeam headlights at 80% which shortens headlight bulb life. Well done Ford!

 

Could be better:

- the leather seats bottoms could be about an inch longer and would offer more support

- the warning hazard switch should be relocated to right of the steering column and should be a button similar to the seat 1&2 buttons. I think the design committee clearly won over the function committee..

- The front headrests should allow some adjustment.

- The driver information (trip odometer, mileage, etc) could be better designed. In our 8 yr old Passat the trip computer was always visible and provided far more information. In the Edge you have to "drill down" to get less information.

 

Missed the boat:

- Other than the fact that center screen is clear and is quite large, the SD based nav system is not good. Perhaps if I didn't already use a portable GPS then it would be marginally acceptable but if I was to rate my $220 Garmin 1390 (with lifetime maps) as a 9/10, the Edge sd system would rate a 3/10, 2 for the display and another 1 because I may be expecting too much. It's too bad because just about everything else in the GUI is well thought out.

 

Conclusion: Great, good looking and capable car. Very satisified with our purchase.

And yes, I have seen the blank screen followed by "Sytem maintenance" message while attempting to enter an address in the nav mode! I'm even getting used to the chrome wheels…

 

 

 

 

I realize this is an old post but I also agree with where the hazard light button is. I am coming from an 08 Scion XB. I loved that the hazard switch was on the drivers side between the gear shift and the heating and cooling controls. I never had to look down when traffic slowed quickly and was able to feel it and hit it with zero problems.

 

[attana]

Love our 2 month old 2012 limited. Could not handle the chrome wheels. Replaced them. No problem except a rear door that sometimes changes it mind and opens back up.

[JOEHIO]

Love our 2 month old 2012 limited. Could not handle the chrome wheels. Replaced them. No problem except a rear door that sometimes changes it mind and opens back up.

 

Regarding you rear door problem, i am assuming that you are referring to the liftgate. There a numerous posts on this issue, and from what my dealer told me, and other posts on this problem, it is a software issue, being worked on by Ford. Keep on your dealers butt regarding this.

Edited February 1, 2012 by JOEHIO