This is even better: DISAPPEARING CAR DOOR

I loved my (departed) 1994 Taurus SHO. (I totaled a police car with it – don’t ask.) The designers carefully thought out many of the details – best seats I ever had, two sets of visors for those times when you need to block the sun from the windshield and your window at the same time, cornering lights that were not overly complex pivoting things but simply wired to the turn signals, etc.

Ford carefully decontented later Tauruses to have not one of these “suprise and delight” features.

I drive an Audi now.

Here’s a solution.

BUY A FLAMING AUTOMOBILE so you don’t have to climb up and down from the frapping stupid things.

It also does wonders for driving fun to have a low center of gravity, something called “road feel” (even in a modest Hyundai Sonata), not nearly so much frapping weight to move about, not so much wind noise and not so much fuel usage for the same dang job done (moving one’s buns from home to work, to the store, to the park, etc).

God, I loathe Stupidously Ugly Vehicles.

I’m waiting joyfully for them to take their place in the automotive history museum next to “Americanus-Humogouswastrelous” dog-leg windshield monstrosities with massive fins, such as the 1959 Cadillac.

That’s exactly what I was referring to. VAG is always on top of the little features that oft get overlooked.

I’s a nice touch on Ford’s part, but it’s not unique.

@Katie: we still use “trousers” to refer to what most American’s term “pants”. However, jeans and “cargo pants” don’t typically fit in the category. “Trousers” seem to be something that you typically would wear with loafers or something dressier (as opposed to sneakers).

As to the Flex; seems like a nice idea, especially if it keeps those pesky white stains off one’s trousers.

Road salt, I mean.

Or hasn’t anyone here heard of pucker factor in relation to an almost automotive event?

I think it looks like a cool vehicle. As a fan of the Taurus X (Freestyle) I am curious to see how this vehicle is promoted ane received.

Cheers!
Swervin

That’s why I’ll only own one under warranty. Still got creamed by a cracked oil pan not too long ago. No warranty coverage for that.

I understand that soiling one’s trousers is a common occurance amongst VW owners, especially when they receive their repair shop bills.

As for Ford, PR types should have learned by now that in the age of the internet you don’t trumpet the world’s first anything without being damn sure you are the first. Fact checking is way easier than it used to be.

Ford has attempted to make the Flex a details focused vehicle, which is awesome, but not likely to win a lot of buyers. Should make people who do buy the vehicle “feel good” about their product, and that’s how you win repeat buyers.

I wear pants or jeans…

Thinking more broadly, it suggests that the Ford team really thought through the details.