Not a bad van, not a really good van

My 2006 Freestar SE van is a company-provided vehicle so I didn't actually buy it, I just get to live with it for the next two years. In my opinion the Freestar isn't a BAD van, it just isn't a really GOOD van.

Here are my observations after 3 months:

1. Engine and Transmission - The 3.9 engine has enough power for normal use. If I were carrying lots of weight on a regular basis or if I lived in a hilly area then I might suggest the 4.2 engine. However, for what I use the van for, the 3.9 is fine and the city/highway mileage is about 16/23 even with my heavy right foot. The transmission shifts smoothly and always seems to pick the proper gear for the conditions. It's much better than some older Ford transmissions I've experienced. The engine isn't the quietest there is but it's not bad at all. Only at wide-open over about 4500 rpm do you really hear much at all. At 70 mph on the highway the engine is inaudible.


2. Driving - This is a van not a car and I tend to push things a bit. With that in mind, the van drives smoothly and comfortably. Long trips at high speeds are no problem. It will do 100 easily. Handling is safe and predictable. I've done some pretty wild maneuvers and the Michelin 60-series tires have plenty of grip and the van never gives a hint of becoming unstable. The brakes are fine, just the right amount of pedal pressure and reasonable stopping distances even in 'white-knuckle' situations. In normal driving, the Freestar drives every bit as good, in my opinion, as a 2005 Toyota Sienna.


3. Seating - This is where we have issues.

The folding third-row seat is the major problem. If you want to carry people you will find the rear seat to be essentially useless for anyone but small children. I am 5'10" and 200 pounds, a somewhat average-size American male, and when I am sitting on the rear seat with my feet flat on the floor my thighs are angled upwards at a 45 degree angle. The seat cushion is 9 inches from the floor. The headrest at it's lowest position ends up at the middle of my back. With the headrest at it's highest position it touches the middle of my shoulder blades. I can barely get my hand between my head and the ceiling. The rear seat is worthless for carrying average-sized humans. Larger people won't even fit.

If you want to carry cargo then the fixed latches for the rear seat, which are permanently mounted to the side panels of the van about 2.5 feet from the rear hatch, intrude on the cargo area. This limits the width of an object to 45". You can carry sheets of plywood but they have to be positioned up and over the seat latches. The rear area, except for around the seat latches, is about 49" wide so if the rear seat latches could be removed then this would be a decent cargo-carrying van. With the middle seat removed and the rear seat folded into the floor there is 6 feet of depth from the rear hatch to the front seats.

The middle seat will carry two people in reasonable comfort. The headrest at it's highest position hits me squarely in the back of the head. If I were any taller the headrests would not properly protect me. The middle seat is a heavy one-piece unit that really takes two people to easily remove and replace it, although I've done it by myself a few times. It does not fold into the floor, it's either in the van or in the garage. I think Ford should have made the middle seat fold into the floor for storage and made the rear seat removable.

The high-back front seats are excellent. I can drive for hours and still be comfortable. There is plenty of head protection for all sizes of people.


4. Quality - So far so good. Nothing has gone wrong in the 3 months I've had it. The paint and trim work are excellent. I have found no assembly flaws with this van. No squeaks or rattles either. Good job, Ford!


5. Value - From what I read the Freestar depreciates very quickly. From what I've seen at Carmax you can get a one-year-old Freestar nicely equipped with about 15k miles for about 45% less than a new one. These are pretty durable vehicles and if I were going to buy one I would definitely buy a year-or-two-old used one. The depreciation in the first year is way too much for my wallet.


In conclusion, based on my experience with this Freestar as well as my previous 2004 Freestar, I would have to say this is generally a reliable vehicle that drives nicely and would serve you well as long as you realize it's shortcomings in the seating and cargo areas. There are better vans out there, but a used Freestar is a relative bargain.