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You are here: Home / Archives for review

Focused on family: The 2016 Ford Flex is staying on top with technology and safety

June 27, 2016 by Wendy S

It’s been a few years since I was in the Ford Flex.

Here’s my review of the 2013 Ford Flex: http://www.mapsgirl.ca/2013/06/ford-canada-2013-flex-awd-limited-review.html

2016 Ford Flex @ mapsgirl.ca

At First Glance

The 2016 Ford Flex has remained consistent with the location of all the controls. The seats are still very comfortable and there is lots of space for family, pets, and gear!

2016 Ford Flex

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The fun features that the girls loved from the 2013, like the multi-panel vista roof, made their time in the 2016 Flex so enjoyable.

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A beautiful day to have the roof open! #FordFlex #fordcanada @FordCanada

A photo posted by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Jun 7, 2016 at 1:24pm PDT

The 2016 Flex Limited model I tested had room for 3 passengers in the middle row rather than the 2 captains chairs.

Getting around

The handling was just as I remembered it! Fun to drive on the highway or on city streets.

 

Traffic report doesn’t look great, but my ride in the #FordFlex will be fun! @fordcanada

A photo posted by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Jun 7, 2016 at 12:18pm PDT

I still love the Ecoboost engine. Our F-150 has it and it would definitely be something that I would look for when purchasing a Ford vehicle. To learn more about this engine, read “Ecoboost: Efficiency without Compromise” from Ford Blue.

Ford continues to provide amazing features, and it’s nice to know they are still offering the blind-spot information system (BLIS), cross traffic alert (collision warning system) and adaptive cruise control. Adaptive cruise is one of the features that I miss. My regular vehicle doesn’t have it.

I was really hoping that Ford would offer the Ecoboost engine in the FWD version of the Flex. But not yet. I’ll keep my fingers crossed! Another feature that is really nice to have, that comes standard on all Ford vehicles, is the Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler. You never have to worry about forgetting to put the cap back on the fuel tank at the pumps, or having gasoline stolen from your vehicle. An integrated spring-loaded door opens when the gas nozzle is inserted into the tank. Upon removal, the door springs back and seals the tank closed. Brilliant!

A technology geek’s playground!

Of course, I had to check out the navigation system!  The detail of 3D buildings is a nice touch!  Also, enter the address and city is very easy.

 

I love the 3D buildings on the SYNC 3 Navigation! #FordFlex #GIS #map @fordcanada

A photo posted by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Jun 7, 2016 at 8:24pm PDT

The 2016 Ford Flex has SYNC® 3 with SYNC® AppLink™. SYNC® 3 is Ford’s easy-to-use next generation infotainment system. I love MFT, as Craig has it in his F-150 – but I really love SYNC® 3. The interface is cleaner, more responsive, and amazingly fast!

Via SYNC® AppLink™, you can launch and voice-control some of your favorite mobile apps or access them in the organized apps section, which automatically loads SYNC-enabled apps from your paired and connected smartphone.

Listening to Spotify or checking the weather using AccuWeather was so cool!

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You can check out the SYNC AppLink catalog here.

Family fun!

We had fun in Toronto one evening. A nice family dinner out and a scenic drive through the CNE.  It was nice to just relax and drive without the stress of traffic.    We had fun capturing photos and videos of the 2016 Flex.

 

Site seeing with my family in Toronto in the @FordCanada Flex. It’s roomy, comfortable, and the multipanel Vista Roof allows us to see the beautiful clouds above. #FordFlex #Toronto #the6ix #Ford

A video posted by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Jun 7, 2016 at 8:40pm PDT

 

BMO Field provided a great backdrop for the @fordcanada Flex. This would be a great vehicle to take to a @TorontoFC game! #FordFlex #FordCanada #Ford #The6ix #Toronto #GTA #TorontoFC #BMOfield

A photo posted by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Jun 9, 2016 at 3:53pm PDT

 

Driving south on Dufferin Street from Liberty Village, I had to stop at Dufferin Gate. Such a beautiful backdrop for the @FordCanada Flex. #Ford #FordFlex #The6ix #CNE #DufferinGate #LibertyVillage

A photo posted by Wendy {mapsgirl} (@mapsgirl) on Jun 8, 2016 at 5:45am PDT

I was excited to find out that @FordCanada retweeted my tweet of this photo:

Dufferin Gate. Such a beautiful backdrop for the @FordCanada Flex. #FordFlex pic.twitter.com/KZNDe6Gfy3

— Wendy [mapsgirl] (@mapsgirl) June 10, 2016

And even more excited that it appeared in an article from CNW featuring Diane Craig, Ford Canada’s CEO

Cdn CEOs @ mapsgirl.ca
Four Communications Takeaways from Canadian CEOs

Let’s check out the back seat!

As a car seat technician, parents will frequently ask how car seats fit in their vehicles. Let’s see how the Ford Flex did with a Maxi Cosi Mico!

The middle row has lots of space for a rear-facing car seat! And there are 4 seating positions with top tether anchors! This gives you more options for installing forward-facing car seats. Many SUVs and crossovers only have 2 or 3 top tether anchors.

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You’ll have to be a bit more careful if you have a wider car seat to ensure that the plastic hinges don’t interfere with getting a good installation.

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The middle seat of the middle row isn’t wide enough to install this car seat. If you were to install a car seat in the center position, the drivers-side passenger seat would be unusable due the overlapping seatbelts.

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Passengers have access to a lot of features in the 2nd row. There are cupholders, storage spaces, and an electrical outlet!

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The inflatable seat belts are a nice safety feature. These are optional in the Ford Flex.

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The 3rd row has seats for 2 people with low anchors and top tether anchor in one seating position. As the 3rd row is a bit smaller than the 2nd row, forward facing seats would work best.

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This rear facing seat doesn’t fit.

The 3rd row does have the power folding capability! The girls and I had breakfast at the park one morning and the tailgating position came in handy.

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I really enjoyed my time with the 2016 Ford Flex. From it’s large spacious cabin, to the technology and safety features, to the comfortable ride, it was a hit for our family. If you are looking for a spacious family vehicle that is capable of hauling your family and all their gear up to the cottage, or to your kid’s baseball or soccer game, the Flex is a great choice.

Head over to Ford.ca for more information!

TTFN @ mapsgirl.ca

 

 

~ Wendy


Pros:
Roomy, comfortable, luxurious, lots of fun technology and sunroofs!

Cons:
Larger vehicle, tricky car seat installations

Specs (as tested):
• 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine
• All-Wheel Drive
• 7 passenger
• City: 15.7 L/100km
• Hwy: 11.2 L/100km
• Maximum Towing Capacity: Class I; up to Class III with optional Trailer Tow Package
• Horsepower (SAE net @ rpm): 365 @ 5500
• Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): 350 @ 3500
• Transmission : 6-speed SelectShift® automatic with paddle activation
• Steering: Electric power assist Rack-and-Pinion
• Braking: Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Front suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts with rear-facing lower L-arms
• Front shocks: Gas-pressurized twin tube
• Rear suspension: Multi-link, fully independent suspension, fully isolated rear subframe
• Rear shocks: Gas-pressurized twin tube
• Wheelbase: 2994mm
• Length: 5125mm
• Height: 1726mm
• Passenger Volume: 4412
• Cargo Volume Behind First Row: 2355
• Cargo Volume Behind Second Row: 1224
• Cargo Volume Behind Third Row *Including rear seat well: 426*

Available in 3 models:
• Flex SE – Starting at $29,799
• Flex SEL – Starting at $36,799
• Flex Limited – Starting at $43,599

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Ford Canada loaned me the vehicle for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: auto reviews, Products & Reviews Tagged With: auto, flex, ford, Ford Canada, ford flex, review, suv, SYNC3, vehicle

TwirlyGirl Spinderella Dress™ review

March 24, 2014 by Wendy S

logoonly

Lauren was ecstatic when her TwirlyGirl arrived in the mail!  She is our little fashionista and loves little girl dresses like these!

“Sunshine Cotton Candy” Spinderella Dress™ from TwirlyGirl!

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Her first reaction was that she loved the colours and the feel of the fabric! “It’s so soft and fuzzy!” she exclaimed!

Twirl!

Then I told her to spin. She was over the moon!

Dresses for little girls that twirl just make the that much more fun!

But watch out!  She spun so much that she got dizzy! (I don’t recommend this, but it guess it’s bound to happen sometimes!)

This dress requires legging, tights or shorts to be worn underneath it so that your little girl remains respectful.  Lauren just wore leggings that she already owns, but you can buy shorts from the TwirlyGirl site.

I also really liked that they are easy to care for! As a busy mom, everything needs to be machine washable.  TwirlyGirl is just that!  Perfect!  I hung it to dry as I would hate to risk it shrinking.  TwirlyGirl suggest lying flat to dry, but I found hanging worked well too.

Bright fun colours!

When Lauren was asked to wear “bright colours” as part of the Spring Youth concert at church, her TwirlyGirl dress was her first choice!

 Twirly Girl Review

As a mom, I love that TwirlyGirl has colours and fabrics to suit so many different girls! There are so many different colours and styles of little girl dresses to reflect the personalities of every little girl.

Even my “I don’t wear dresses” daughter found a few styles and colours that she liked too! The TwirlyGirl pants are perfect for her. She can still play like she wants to be still be a little “girly”.  My older daughter is more of a tomboy so regular dresses aren’t usually something she wears.

For me, I love the Maxi Skirts!  They are long, flowing and definitely twirly!  I wish these little girls dresses the came in my size!

Doll dresses too!

When we went on the TwirlyGirl website to see what other dresses Lauren wants to add to her wish list, she fell in love with the dresses for her 18″ doll. I might just have to buy her one of these for her birthday!

 
 

Design your own!

You can even design your own Twirly Girl dress!  With so many colour choices, the sky’s the limit!
 

Check out Twirly Girl today!

Visit TwirlyGirl today and use the code  Fun51TG to get 15% off your  little girl dress order, when purchased before April 1st!  
 
(The code is case sensitive. Please note it does not apply to sale items, gift certificates or Design your Own Dress feature.)
 

 
Disclosure: I was sent a TwirlyGirl dress for Lauren to wear for me to review. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: dresses, review, twirlygirl

Book review: “Fitness Confidential” by @VinnieTortorich

March 14, 2014 by Wendy S

I was sent the e-book version of “Fitness Confidential” to review.

Book review: FItness Confidential

Since I have been working out with a trainer for the last few months, I was curious to see what this book is about.

Vinnie Tortorich has years and years of experience in fitness and nutrition. In “Fitness Confidential” he shares his story and all of this knowledge.  

The book is divided into 4 main sections: Eat to Lose, Exercise to Win, Life into Living, Cut the Crap

Eat to Lose

He talks about societies habits, the changes in our food and how we try to make things sound healthy.  He dispels many of the myths and warns of the hazards around some of the diet fads that exist.  There is a lot of information about how our bodies work and how it handles different types of food. He believes that it’s best to eliminate sugar and grains and  he describes that people need to eat the right foods to become and/or stay healthy. 

Exercise to Win

After being bullied as a kid, he started working out, changed his body and changed how everyone looked at him. He started eating properly and exercising and got in shape.  He gives some tips on choosing a gym that is right for you and tips on how to approach your workout routine. He reminds the reader that what you eat is most important for losing weight and many other valuable pieces of advice.

Vinnie describes some of the exercises that will give you the most out of your workout in the least amount of time.  Like his discussion on choosing the right gym, Vinnie discusses what makes a great trainer.  And, his best infomercial-type style, he tells you want the best piece of fitness equipment you can buy. (I’m not giving it away. It’s too funny not to read.) He goes on to explain that even with all of these things, you still need to be mentally willing to put in the work.

Life into Living

This section of the book threw me for a loop! There’s no way for me to get into detail with out ruining what happens. But it’s truly amazing what Vinnie is able to accomplish. 

Cut the Crap

This final chapter is filled with examples of why you just need to get off your butt and get moving. He spends the whole chapter motivating you to start on a new path but keeps it real. He wants people to be able to help themselves and be working out and eating better for all the right reasons. 


My thoughts:

When reading the book you can tell that it was written with the same inflection as if Vinnie was talking to you. He’s blunt, he swears, and he doesn’t beat around the bush. He will open your eyes to some of the myths that we have come to believe are fact. He likes to knock down some of the media hype that surrounds a lot of the existing “healthy” products and ideas that retailers would like you to think are good for you.  

 I like that at the beginning of each section, there are some real-life examples of what he will be focusing on.  Many times he’ll give some history about himself  and what were his motivating factors that moved him to where he is today. As he discusses nutrition, exercise, and habits that people need to be healthy, he declares himself as the readers trainer. He’ll have the reader reflect on their own lives and then he gives them things to do to start changing their lives. Even if it is just a small things.

This personal story, mixed with facts and fitness knowledge, is a great way to show people that anything is possible. You need the right knowledge and motivation to get you going and keep you going.  If you’re looking for a book to get you started on a healthy journey, or need a good refresher as to why you’re working out, this is a good book to read. 


Title: Fitness Confidential

Authors: Vinnie Tortorich and Dean Lorey

ISBN: 978-1939337924

Publisher: Telemachus Press, LLC (June 27, 2013)

Format/Length:Paperback 248 pages (kindle edition 638 KB)

From the Publishers:

America’s Angriest Trainer, Vinnie Tortorich, exposes the nasty underbelly of the fitness industry while getting you into the best shape of your life. For over 20 years, Vinnie has been Hollywood’s go-to guy for celebrities and athletes looking to get fit fast. Now, in this hilarious and often r-rated memoir, he holds nothing back. What’s the best piece of fitness equipment money can buy? What’s the fastest way to lose weight: diet or exercise? Why are health clubs worse than used car lots? In FITNESS CONFIDENTIAL, Vinnie tells all. So get ready to get fit, get inspired and get the dirt with Hollywood’s most outrageous personal trainer!  

To learn more about Vinnie Tortorich, check out his website: http://vinnietortorich.com/  

And you can listen to his podcast by subscribing here: The Podcast 

Like him on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angriesttrainer

Follow on twitter: @VinnieTortorich

You can purchase the book on Amazon.

Filed Under: body mind spirit, book review, Life, Products & Reviews Tagged With: book, fitness, Fitness Confidential, health, review

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mapsgirl@gmail.com

Why “mapsgirl” ?

Wendy is a cartographer! She draws maps!

When not mapping, Wendy is also a mom to two daughters. They are the inspiration of this blog. Passionate about child passenger safety, Wendy was a certified Car Seat Technician in Ontario, Canada from 2008 to 2020. [Read More …]

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