Spy Shots: Ford Flex gets the woody treatment
Certain automotive fashions are better left in the grave. To wit: faux wood paneling. It looks good on the old Woody, but it's an absolute atrocity on everything else (see: Griswold, PT Cruiser). However, spies have caught the new Ford Flex donning some woodgrain shelf paper paneling, and as much as FoMoCo is trying to redefine the people-mover/minivan segment with the Flex, this would seem to be a seriously counterintuitive move. We're hoping it's a joke, and for our money, it is.[Source: The Car Connection]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mammy 6:03PM (3/24/2008)
That looks terrible!
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Andrew L 6:07PM (3/24/2008)
it actually might not look bad if done correctly
that image is not done correctly
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94 taurus owner 4:51PM (3/25/2008)
Agreed.
TriShield 6:07PM (3/24/2008)
Believe it or not there are many people (generally older) that miss woodgrain on vehicles and in some cases it seems to actually fit (HHR, PT Cruiser). If Ford doesn't put it on the Flex you can be there are many out there who will stick it on.
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L.Wood 6:15PM (3/24/2008)
Older people who prefer wood grain on their vehicles are either dead or getting really close. We are talking "pipples" in their 80's and 90's, maybe in their 100's.
Ford needs to find a way into the 21st century, and fake woodies ain't it.
antrow 6:31PM (3/24/2008)
Like I said below... I am only 38 and I like the woodgrain. So it will hopefully be another 70 years before they stop producing the woodgrain contact paper for cars. :-)
Randy 10:26AM (3/25/2008)
May I recommend "Contact Paper". It will work on any car! Actually it doesn't breath and will wreck your paint. Go to a car wrapping (advertisement) place and as them to wrap your car in wood! Really, I'm not kidding! It has little holes it in and allows your paint to breath!
Daniel 6:14PM (3/24/2008)
Regression.
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antrow 6:15PM (3/24/2008)
Okay, I know it is not PC in the auto world, but I like a wagon with wood grain trim as well as cars with white walls, landau roofs and two tone paint. If they had offered an XC70 with woodgrain (minus all the black plastic) it would be in my garage now. I miss the days when there was more to check on the options list then just tan or gray interior and one of five paint choices.
No, I am not 89 years old, I am not a geeky type. I work out, look decent enough and only have 38 years on the ticker. Makes no sense, I know...
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antrow 6:17PM (3/24/2008)
I forgot to mention fake convertible tops....
Gosh, I miss my 1990 Couple Deville...LOL
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mammy 6:31PM (3/24/2008)
it looks like the top of a school desk.
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Carlos 6:32PM (3/24/2008)
Drugs are bad, and when mixed with car design you get crazy stuff like this.
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Niels 6:36PM (3/24/2008)
Even the Pinto didn't have wood paneling, and that's a good thing. It would have burned as easily as it caught fire.
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antrow 6:38PM (3/24/2008)
Are you sure of that??? I think the Pinto may have, at least on the short lived 2 door wagon.
John 6:44PM (3/24/2008)
Plenty of woodgrain Pintos here. Both wagon and runabout.
http://members.aol.com/cgextras/ColchesterPintosJune2006.html
I think the trim on the Flex is for laughs. Looks like the contact paper you can buy at Target.
antrow 6:49PM (3/24/2008)
Thanks for the Pinto link. Lots of great woodgrain shots there. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet !!!
AZMike 1:04AM (3/25/2008)
is everyone here ten years old?
the Pinto wagon was introduced in 1972; it lasted until 1980. the Squire option (think woodgrain) was available EVERY year. as a matter of fact, it was even available on the Runabout (hatchback) in 1975-1976.
ditto for the Vega (Estate) and even the Chevette (Woody) in 1976-1977.
also, 1975-1982 Toyota Corolla and Corona wagons.
Ford, I'm ready for a Flex Squire!
AZMike
MemphisNET 6:52PM (3/24/2008)
There are people who still like this kind of stuff, so good-on Ford for at least offering it. It's most likely a dealer-installed option or a very small run of these 'Woody's'.
The PT didn't look too bad with its Faux-wood, and this has much more surface area to work with so it might not be so bad if done correctly.
I wouldn't buy it, (the wood that is) but I understand the look.
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f3rg 7:12PM (3/24/2008)
Man, this is such a terrible idea. How many woodie Caravans are still (barely) rolling around out there? It's a horrible trend and I really hope Ford doesn't do this to society.
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Luis 7:14PM (3/24/2008)
Some things are better left in the decade they came from...that's why woodies had REAL wood, not this ugly vinyl junk...
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