2004 Ford Freestar Review Oklahoma

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Introduction

Ford Freestar -- 2004 Review: Though growth in the minivan market has stagnated in recent years, stalling at about one million vehicle sales annually, competition within the segment has been intense since the release of the 1999 Honda Odyssey, which redefined what a minivan should be. Since then, domestic automakers have steadily lost sales against Asian models from Honda, Kia, Mazda and Toyota. In fact, Honda went from almost zero to more than 150,000 unit sales in just a few short years. Kia and Mazda have each found moderate success with the Sedona and MPV. And for 2004, Nissan and Toyota have debuted new versions of the Quest and Sienna that are further eroding Chrysler, Ford and GM market share.

Same van, different name

How has Ford chosen to meet this challenge? Witness the 2004 Freestar, a significantly upgraded and updated version of the outgoing Windstar (itself a significantly upgraded and updated version of the original 1995 model).

Ford hopes that an alliterative naming strategy, among other changes, will boost the blue oval back into the hunt for minivan supremacy. The company knows that it takes more than fresh styling, a new interior, and a big motor to entice minivan buyers into the showroom. More than ever before, safety and utility determine what minivan sells the most, and Ford intended to prove that it's got what it takes with the 2004 Freestar.

Safety sells

Ford has seemingly made every safety device it has ever created available on the 2004 Freestar. The standard Personal Safety System includes smart dual-stage airbags for the driver and front passenger that deploy based on factors such as crash severity, driver seat position, the existence and size of the front passenger, and seatbelt usage. Each of the Ford Freestar's seven seating positions is equipped with a three-point seatbelt, and four-wheel-vented-disc brakes with ABS and EBD are included on all models.

Optional safety equipment includes Ford's patented Safety Canopy side curtain airbag and rollover protection system. With the Safety Canopy, passengers in all three rows are protected, and the bags can remain inflated for up to six seconds to guard against injury in a rollover accident. Side-impact airbags designed to protect the chest are also optional. Additionally, Ford is making AdvanceTrac stability and traction control available on the 2004 Freestar, and when the system is ordered the brakes receive a panic assist feature. Other safety options include a reverse sensing system, adjustable pedals, and side signal mirrors.

Other safety items of note include a new fail-safe engine cooling system that allows the engine to run for a short time in the event of a complete loss of coolant, meaning the driver could limp the Ford Freestar to a service station rather than stop at the side of a busy highway. Self-sealing tires prove impervious to minor punctures, and in the event of a flat tire, Ford offers a full-diameter, radial temporary spare tire that can withstand higher speeds and longer trips than a conventional temporary donut. A full-size spare tire is available.

No longer the crash test king

With stiffened front structural rails, the 2004 Ford Freestar was designed to exceed the Windstar's already competent performance in crash tests. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Freestar, and it's corporate twin the 2004 Mercury Monterey, a "Best Pick" rating for safety. The only minivan to rate better than the Freestar is the Toyota Sienna. In National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) testing, the 2004 Freestar receives five-star ratings for all crash tests except the front door side impact event, for which the Freestar scored four stars. Unfortunately for Ford, the Honda Odyssey with side airbags, the Kia Sedona, the Mazda MPV, the Nissan Quest with side airbags and the Toyota Sienna all received five-star ratings across the board.

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Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.