This is the interior of the refrigerator inside the 2009 Ford Flex. Pictured is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. There was also a fluffernutter, but it didn't last long enough to be in the photo. It's a neat idea but the execution here is a little lame. First, they put the rear armrest hinge on the front. Probably to dissuade the driver from attempting to reach in while driving. Sorry, Ford, not gonna work. Humans are where we are today by adapting and bending the will of our opponents, animate or not. It's possible to get inside if one's willing to drive with their foot (cruise control is a necessity here) and contort a little. It's easier still to make your passenger do it. Its second shortcoming is the size. That's not trick photography, folks it really is that small. The third thing wrong with the fridge is the freeze setting. 12-hours and there's only some frost on the side of the water. It keeps things--and even gets things--very cold, but if you're going to give me a button that says freeze, the damn thing better freeze. Solid. Maybe I should have gone 24-hours straight.
The fourth thing that warrants complaints about the availability of a fridge is the lack of a microwave. Don't laugh. It's got a TV and a DVD player and a refrigerator already. Why not? 10 years ago I would have punched the current me for suggesting a car have any of those things. Now I'm jealous of future-Mike for having an in-car microwave.
Take, for instance a road trip across the country. You drive through a town that actually has food that looks safe and edible, but you're just not hungry...or maybe it was so good you want another order to go. Why not? It won't spoil thanks to the modern marvel of refrigeration. But then the problem arises that cold BBQ sucks. Sure, I could've wrapped it in foil and chucked it under the hood for a few hours but that's not the point.
Speaking of Road Trips across the country, today's installment covers the first few days of the return trip. Boston, NYC, Columbus, St. Louis and Tulsa!
The return trip was intended from the beginning to simply be a return. I was going to go the southern route for a change of perspective, but it was going to be a straight shot. Unless, of course, I ran into some crazy road-side nonsense that I simply couldn't resist. Day one was great. I love NYC and got to spend a few hours there before the clock told me I had to leave. Driving west through PA was marked by cops. Lots of them. Everywhere. On the 76 the only thing I saw more frequently than highway patrol was deer carcasses. Seriously, give out some hunting licenses or something, there were dozens. Day one ended in Columbus with no drama.
Day two was Columbus Ohio to Tulsa, OK. Just over 800 miles and save for a short visit to St. Louis, not much to report. Tulsa did have the cheapest recorded gas of the trip, $2.75 / gal. So that was neat.
Day three I hit the wall. Somewhere around Groom Texas I just couldn't do it anymore. I was done. The pressure and dehydration of the last week finally caught up with me and I had to stop. It was a huge disappointment for me, but preventing a horrible crash seemed prudent at the time.
Driving one way was easy. Having to return was proving a bit more problematic.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 8,150 miles
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yea...what you dont know is that somebody out there is probably already beta testing the microwave idea...they just need to find the perfect spot so that the driver does not have to reach that far from the fridge to the microwave in the search to become EVEN FATTER!! ( I really do like the fridge, really I want one in my fusion)
Stop a while longer and make your home in the great nation of Texas!
Are you doing this journey alone? If you have a companion, let her drive for a while. What was the longest distance you covered in a day on this trip?
Wouldn't it be nice if more long distance drivers followed your lead and got off the road before they killed themselves - or someone else. Fatigue kills just as brutally as drinking and speeding. Thanks for the reminder.
The second row center armrest flips forward to make a flat load floor when you fold all the seats down. Otherwise, the armrest would poke up. It is the same kind of thing in the Taurus X/Freestyle. And, yeah, its kinda dorky/not engineered well.
You want a microwave to go along with the fridge? Get a Winnebago and stop complaining!
Hey, Mike - there's a 3-prong AC plug in the rear. Why not bring your own small microwave?
I'll pass on your other complains to the Flex design team.
Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company
The Flex seems pretty cool. I like the styling as its very unique, very attractive and well executed although the area after the rear wheels seems a bit too long.
One thing Ive ALWAYS hated about Fords offerings is there flat seats as they had little to no bolstering at all. Are the seats in the Flex flat?
At first I thought Mike was joking, but now I think he really is complaining. Some people will never be satisfied.
Uh oh, Ford chimed in... now it's like that conversation about your first date and her best friend walks into the room...
I'm trying to think of the logistics of having an in-car Microwave. Can you imagine the stench when buying a Ford Flex used? Most people abuse the OFFICE microwave, where it usually becomes all but unusable after a few weeks. Just imagine it in a non-climate-controlled environment. Yuck.
..unless the microwave is used to make popcorn all the time. Mmm-mmmm good.
Of course, an on-board microwave will also boost the choices at your full-service car wash. You will be able to choose from Regular Wash, Super Wash and Appliance Maintanence.
Scott Monty:
In my experience the 115/120v outlets in cars are not rated for very much wattage. Are you sure that the Flex outlet would handle a microwave?
So in theory, I could throw a water bottle in the freezer over night and it would stay at 32 degrees until all the ice in it melted during the drive the next day. I'm curious how long it would take on a 75 F degree car trip for a bottle of water in this fridge to stay colder then a pre-frozen one. The fridge is an interesting novelty that comes with great component investment and cost. I bet I'd run out of gas and could stock up on frozen drinks at a C-store before the fridge justified its existence.
About the fridge - does it stay on when the car is off? I'm guessing no, but hmmm...
I'm reminded of a Futurama episode where Amy buys a Beta Romeo with quadrupal climate control, a toaster, steering-wheel video conferencer, and margarita mixer. Great gas mileage.
In this kind of vehicle, the fridge seems like a great idea. I'm guessing Fords placement of the fridge is a good call, even if I agree that it would be annoying in the moment.