So - you’ve gotten married, gone and had a kid or two, and need to trade that sports coupe in reasonably-priced used hauler that won’t break the bank. Welcome to the minivan community: a large group of individuals that love the size to price equation, car-like ride and comfort factor of this once-popular vehicle genre.
Why a minivan? They tend to be cheaper to run and more car-like than an SUV while offering enormous interior capacities. Some shop minivans in place of a pickup truck, others like the commanding ride height, and some argue it’s the hands-down best sort of machine on the market for moving people and their things.
Though the crossover SUV has made the minivan largely irrelevant, numerous newer minivan models are available in the used market for shoppers to investigate. The Ford Freestar is one of them.
A redesigned, overhauled replacement for the Windstar, Freestar’s new name brought with it some new hardware, styling and features. The Freestar was on sale in Canada for model years 2004 to 2007 inclusive. Then, slow sales killed it off and left Ford to focus on the emerging crossover scene.
What’s the draw to the used Freestar? Most likely, it’ll be a combination of lower-than-average resale value, bigger-than-average space and reasonably reliable operation. Freestar came with a standard remote, ABS brakes, air conditioning and power accessories. A CD player was standard too, as were 16-inch wheels. Seems like all the bases were adequately covered, even in the basic ‘S’ model.
Freestar could be had in numerous trim levels, topping out as the Freestar Limited. This comfort-cruiser included memory seats, pedals and mirrors, a compass, thermometer, leather seating and even power sliding doors. Automatic lights, heated mirrors and dual-zone climate control were also on board, and a 6-CD changer audio system handled audio duty.
Perhaps more important to minivan shoppers, the Freestar offered seating for 7, a 3,500-pound towing capacity and over 3,800 litres of trunk space. With a standard 4.2 litre V6 offering up 263 lb.-ft. of torque, owners typically say they’re happy with the performance and pickup, but not so happy about the fuel mileage.
They also frequently report being most pleased with the Freestar’s functional aspects, as well as the smooth and comfortable ride. Big praise is directed at the upscale cabin and body styling, in higher trim levels, too. Apparently, the DVD entertainment system is a must-have feature for those who frequently transport numerous youngsters.
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| 2006 Ford Freestar |
Why a minivan? They tend to be cheaper to run and more car-like than an SUV while offering enormous interior capacities. Some shop minivans in place of a pickup truck, others like the commanding ride height, and some argue it’s the hands-down best sort of machine on the market for moving people and their things.
Though the crossover SUV has made the minivan largely irrelevant, numerous newer minivan models are available in the used market for shoppers to investigate. The Ford Freestar is one of them.
A redesigned, overhauled replacement for the Windstar, Freestar’s new name brought with it some new hardware, styling and features. The Freestar was on sale in Canada for model years 2004 to 2007 inclusive. Then, slow sales killed it off and left Ford to focus on the emerging crossover scene.
What’s the draw to the used Freestar? Most likely, it’ll be a combination of lower-than-average resale value, bigger-than-average space and reasonably reliable operation. Freestar came with a standard remote, ABS brakes, air conditioning and power accessories. A CD player was standard too, as were 16-inch wheels. Seems like all the bases were adequately covered, even in the basic ‘S’ model.
Freestar could be had in numerous trim levels, topping out as the Freestar Limited. This comfort-cruiser included memory seats, pedals and mirrors, a compass, thermometer, leather seating and even power sliding doors. Automatic lights, heated mirrors and dual-zone climate control were also on board, and a 6-CD changer audio system handled audio duty.
Perhaps more important to minivan shoppers, the Freestar offered seating for 7, a 3,500-pound towing capacity and over 3,800 litres of trunk space. With a standard 4.2 litre V6 offering up 263 lb.-ft. of torque, owners typically say they’re happy with the performance and pickup, but not so happy about the fuel mileage.
They also frequently report being most pleased with the Freestar’s functional aspects, as well as the smooth and comfortable ride. Big praise is directed at the upscale cabin and body styling, in higher trim levels, too. Apparently, the DVD entertainment system is a must-have feature for those who frequently transport numerous youngsters.
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| 2006 Ford Freestar |