BEHIND THE WHEEL: Ford has room to Flex

While driving a 2009 Ford Flex this week, I had the strongest urge to find myself a driver so that I could sit in the second row of seating and wave out the window like a celebrity on tour.

To be honest, I didn’t think I would like the Flex. To me, they’re not the prettiest cars on the lot, but then I don’t care much for the looks of the Chevy HHR or the Chrysler PT Cruiser either.

I guess maybe all three remind me of early gangster cars.

Anyway, I wasn’t prepared to like the Flex, but now I do.

The interior room is amazing. It has a limousine feel. The seats are big and plush, very upscale — very luxurious and comfortable.

“Touring car” kept running through my head. This is a car you could easily take on a cross country trip and still be speaking to each other when you get there.

The console between the front seats is the biggest I’ve ever seen and the console between the second-row seating really is a small refrigerator.

The third-row seating tilts and tumbles into the floor for hauling cargo.

Everything about the interior shouts upscale. The Sirius satellite radio features AM/FM and a CD player. The latest technology, SYNC, allows hands-free activation of the radio and cell phone.

Visibility on all four sides is excellent.

The Flex, a crossover vehicle that gets 24 miles per gallon, is fun to drive and feels connected to the road. It comes with a choice of three wheel sizes and styles (17-inch, 18-inch and 19-inch wheels in chrome, machined finish or polished).

The wheels, out to the edge of the sheet metal, give the Flex an edgy look and an advanced tracking sensing system adds to road stability.

The front passenger sensing system determines the size of the passenger and whether the air bag should be deployed in the event of impact.

The safety canopy system determines which air bags in the vehicle, if any, should be deployed in the remainder of the vehicle.

The Flex has a definite “metro” feel. And, for those who feel that “bigger is better,” this is the car for you.

Right now Ottawa Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, 402 N. Main St., has zero-percent financing for 60 months, with approved credit, or Customer Cash of $1,500, Competitive Owner Trade-in allowance of $1,000 and a Drive the Ford Difference incentive of $1,500 for qualified buyers.

Selling price on this week’s featured vehicle is $34,995.

To put yourself behind the wheel, visit Ottawa Ford today. To pre-qualify, call (785) 242-5100.

Linda Brown is marketing director for The Ottawa Herald. E-mail her at lbrown@ottawaherald.com.