2009 Ford Flex Sel Sport Utility 4-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

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Old vs. new debate gets new life with $25,000 Fiesta ST vs. E46 M3 showdown

You know who you are. There's probably a few of you reading; the ones that say, "Why would I spend $27,000 on a new Mazda MX-5 when I could get a used Chevrolet Corvette with more power." Yes, we're talking to you, used car proponents. While it is a fair argument, it's not like used cars don't come with drawbacks of their own, though.
In an attempt to put this new-versus-used argument to bed once and for all, Matt Farah of the The Smoking Tire has picked up a pair of $25,000 cars - a used, but lightly modified, 2003 BMW M3 and a 2013 Ford Fiesta ST. Naturally, there's a comparison.
Farah, as he's wont to do, does get into the nitty gritty of what each car is like to drive, and discusses the merits of used and new-car shopping. But as he rightly points out while testing the M3, "So, it is a good car. But like any used car, it really does depend on the individual car."

NHTSA closes Ford F-Series Super Duty steering probe without recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's investigation into 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickups, which was originally opened last year, has now ended without a recall. NHTSA was looking into steering failures on some 336,000 trucks.
The issue rested with the steering gear - NHTSA received five complaints of failures - which was redesigned in 2005. According to the report on the matter, investigators "found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload."
NHTSA investigators, however, "found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures. Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns," according to the report, obtained by The Detroit News.

Ford Raptor or Corvette-powered Defender, which would you choose?

Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. No donation or payment necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes. See official rules on Omaze.  Enter this sweepstakes today and get 150 bonus entries by signing up for the Autoblog Newsletter right here! Going around a track at breakneck speeds is exhilarating, but I much prefer leaving the asphalt behind and hitting the trail, which is why my dream garage is filled with vehicles like Land Cruisers, Broncos, Jeeps, Rams and even a lifted Subaru or two. Not to mention the two vehicles pictured above, the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Land Rover Defender. If either of these are in your dream garage, you’re in luck, because Omaze just happens to be giving away both, right now. All you have to do is enter here for the Raptor and here for the Defender. Win a Ford F-150 Raptor or a Himalaya Land Rover Defender - Enter Here Here is a side-by-side of the specs, according to Omaze: Vehicle: Himalaya Defender 110 Crew Cab / 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor 37 Maximum Seating: Four / Five Engine: 6.2-liter Corvette LS3 / 3.5L V6 EcoBoost Maximum Horsepower: 430 hp / 450 hp Maximum Torque: 425 lb-ft / 510 lb-ft Transmission: 6-speed automatic / 10-speed automatic Drivetrain: 4WD / 4WD Exterior Color: Satin Grey / Lead Foot Grey Interior Color: Jet Black / Rhapsody Blue Approximate Retail Value: $210,000 / $83,525 Defender special features: Black exterior roll bars and trim; Black 18” Sawtooth wheels with 35” tires; Wilwood brakes; 3" lift; Black diamond-stitched leather sport seats; MOMO Millenium steering wheel; front and rear matching consoles; Himalaya gauge cluster; Himalaya front and rear bumpers, bed-mounted tire carrier, and extended fender flares; Puma hood; LED lighting. F-150 Raptor special features: 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, 15 city / 18 highway miles per gallon fuel economy, Extended Range 36 Gallon Fuel Tank, 8,200-lb towing capacity, 17” beadlock-capable forged wheels, 37”x12.50 tires; Twin Panel Moonroof; Recaro Front-Seats; B&O Sound System; Fox Racing Shocks. Exterior Looks - Winner: Himalaya Land Rover Defender ThereÂ’s just something about the Defender. ItÂ’s rugged, yet handsome. ItÂ’s got classic appeal yet feels modern. It also has style while appearing to be as strong as a tank.