When I was growing up I used to be impressed by the newfangled numeric security keypads on the driver doors of Ford Tauruses and the like. They seemed so high-tech.

In 1986.

Of course, that was before the widespread availability of remote-transmitter key fobs. Nowadays, every new car comes with one of these key fobs -- including our long-term Ford Edge. Yet the Edge nonetheless soldiers on with its '80s-chic keypad.

I'm told the keypad is useful when you want to lock your keys in the car…but do you ever really want to lock your keys in the car? And does this marginal added flexibility really justify the aesthetic cost of having that unsightly keypad on the door? Karl vouched for the keypad in a previous post , but I personally think it's pretty cheesy.

Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 17,721 miles

OK, I didn't really get to take our 2007 Ford Edge SEL out this weekend since I had gone roadtripping with Erin Riches, Inside Line Senior Editor, in the Mini. But when I got into the Edge the couple of times I did, I noticed this. Our particular Edge is equipped with the Seating Flexibility Package ($985) which means leather-trimmed seats, six-way power driver and passenger seats and a fold-flat second-row seat with a rear EasyFold remote release. But even then, lumbar and recline functions (the levers to the left and right of the power button in the above picture) are manual. I don't think I've ever noticed being in a car that had both manual and power seat adjusters before. If you're going to make power seats, why not have 'em control lumbar and recline, too?

Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 17,667 miles

Remember two weeks ago when our 2007 Ford Edge came back from the dealership?
It had gone in for a check engine light and an odd noise from the front end. While the mystery noise wasn't repeatable (Customers love being told they're delusional) the check engine light was reset. Not fixed. Reset. Why? Because that's Ford's policy.

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So we got the 2007 Ford Edge back from the shop yesterday after it was sent there for a couple of issues: 1) the "Check Engine" light wouldn't turn off and 2) one of the editors reported that the car vibrates when coming to a stop and that she heard a knocking noise coming from the front brakes.

The dealership erased the code to reset the "Check Engine" light and "performed a visual multi point inspection." No charge for that since it's covered under warranty. But to test the car and find out where the knocking noise was coming from was $45. They drove the car around and were never able to duplicate the sound. But I wasn't either when I had the car last night, and it drove fine when I took it around downtown L.A. and back. Hm.

Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 17,367 miles

The Ford Edge goes into the dealership today to get its "check engine" light looked after. As some of you may know, the "check engine" light usually signifies "check gas cap" or "check some part of the emissions" system. After the light came on, we discovered the cap was indeed not "tightened until clicks" as the cap above suggests. So we did tighten until clicks and hoped the light would go off over the weekend. It didn't, so Magrath's taking it into the shop this morning to make sure everything's up to par (or more likely, to have the light shut off). Perhaps our brazen disregard for using BP gas is the true cause.

James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 17,295 miles

The Edge has been spanked repeatedly for its poor performance in braking tests, and justifiably so, since relative to others in its class, its achievement in this area is less than impressive. (Bad Edge - go to your room!) But when it comes to matters such as this, there's nothing like a real-life emergency situation to add a sense of perspective. This morning, just such a situation presented itself.

I was coming in to work. Some guy in a commercial truck suddenly pulled into my lane, without using his indicator. I didn't think there was a blind spot big enough to swallow the Edge, but apparently I was wrong, for this man was without a clue. I was forced to to slam on the brakes, and guess what? The Edge came through pretty nicely. By "pretty nicely," I mean I didn't wind up a pretzel wrapped round this guy's bumper. And you know, when you think about it, that really is the best that one could hope for in a circumstance like that. 

Edge, buddy, you're alright with me.

Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 16,281 miles

 

I was supposed to head out of town this last weekend, but last minutes changes of plan prevented me from doing so. Never the less, I had the Ford Edge for my days off.

I haven't been in it for a while, and by a "while" I mean since we bought the thing. I know the Edge hasn't been getting a lot of praise so I don't want to jump on the party train. Except for one small fact...

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As Magrath wrote yesterday, the Ford Edge is a pretty good car. Last summer, there was a stretch where it seemed like I was driving nothing but Ford's hit crossover and then my Edge supply ran dry for several months. I finally got back into its comfy, well-positioned driver seat last night and found it to be as pleasant as ever to drive. I also like that it's built 10 minutes from my hometown near Toronto.

Judging by its solid sales performance last year (fifth-best-selling SUV), the Edge is resonating with the car-buying public as well. But there are a few key areas Ford should (and probably will) address with the eventual midlife freshening to make it resonate even more.

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These, friends, are vanilla pods. What're they doing in a Ford Edge SEL post? What's the connection between vanilla and the Ford Edge? (Hint: you think you know but you don't.)

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Note how the title doesn't say "Fuel Economy Update".   I couldn't bear to use that word, given how inappropriate it was...Since we haven't done an update on the Edge's fuel usage in roughly six months, I felt it was overdue.  Sad to say, it's gone downhill since then.  In the last update, the Edge's average was a decent 18.6 mpg.  I say decent because that number nearly matches the EPA's more realistic 2008-style rating of 19 mpg combined average (with 16 city and 23 highway being the other numbers). 

Since then, our Edge's average has slipped to 16.9, a 1.7 mpg difference.  Granted, most of the miles have been gathered in the city of L.A., with the patience- and fuel-sucking ritual of stop-and-go traffic being the norm.  The best tank thus far has been an EPA-beating 25.1, while the worst tank would make a Hummer H2 proud: 9.6 mpg.  BTW, the pic shows the trip computer -- the current tank was averaging 14.7 thus far.

John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 15,311 miles.