ianken

Last time I checked a loss of backpreasuer would be a good thing, but I've never tweaked a normally aspriated vehicle. AFAIK an engine is an air pump and you want to pump as much air as you can. Back pressure, IMHO, not good.

Sweet. I'm currently driving an 05 legacy GT /w accessport tune. Cool to see I can do the same when my 08 Edge limited gets here. For less it would seem. I'll still miss the LGT though. :-)

LOL. Like MSFT (or anyone else) will deliberately enable people to surf the web while in motion. Or use the nav. Lawyers would have the suit ready to go. The moment a Sync equipped vehicle got into so much as a fender bender it'd be filed. You know it to be true. Hell, they'd probably file a class-action suit before hand claiming the missing nag screen and mobile browsing threatens bunnies, puppies, unicorns AND rainbows. I would LOVE to be able to play video from an iPod or Zune, or flash disk to the center stack and rear monitors. Being able to stream separate programs to front and rear displays would be sweet. Ordering my 08 on Friday, weak ass brakes not withstanding. :-) -Ian

$41K? ZOMG. Body kit OK. Wheels: too big, too bling (IMHO). Don't even want to know what the ride is like. Needs to be dropped if they're gonna run rubber bands like that: the ride is hosed already, might as well go all the way and slam it.

I think it is awesome that they have gone to the effort to make this work with non-nav systems. I know lots of folks who would love this but have no desire for the nav bits.

I was kinda waiting for Sync, but was willing to go wihtout it. Then I saw 08 brings dark blue as an exterior option, so I am defintly waiting. I will be getting sync as well. Probably. Newer PIoneer aftermarket navis look nice. Does anyone know if sync will stream video? Does anyone know what the audio output of the headunits (particularly the navi) is like? is it line level and friendly to aftermarket amps and speakers? IE: is it reasonably flat response-wise or is it burdened with some lame EQ curve to compensate for lame speakers?

That is cool, but alas it is two separate DVD players. It'd be nice if the screens were slaved to a unit up front.

Sync is cool. You really need to see it in action to appreciate it. You can plug prety much any digital music player into it and browse the contents via voice control. i-pod, playsforsure, zune, usb stick. Whatever. Powered USB port in the center console also charges the device. Voice works very well. You can alos stream music from a bluetooth phone or other device (if it supports it), so for example, if you listen to a variety of streaming stations on the net and your phone has the bandwidth you can listen to them through the BT connection. I listen to Virgin Radio Groove from the UK all the time, being able to do that on the road will be awesome. It will even read your SMS messages if you want, and provide a selection of common replies you can send back using voice commands. Don't discount sync. Ford has a really cool mobile audio/phone/gadget integration solution in it that is in a whole other class compared to any other OEM audio/bt/nav solution. Sync is the main reaosn I have yet to purchase an Edge. In my case Ford has been stricken by the Osborne Syndrome. I know a lot of folks go "nav...meh..." but sync is way more than nav. If Ford was wise they would offer upgrades for existing Edge owners. Anyway, my $.02 -Ian

www.syncmyride.com Essentially: it provides total mobile audio integration with iPod, Plays4Sure, Zune and USB thumb drives. AAC, WMA and MP3 support. Supports voice control, bluetooth audio streaming (stream net radio from your BT enabled phone) as well as the typical hands free phone stuff. From the demos I've seen the voice recognition is outstanding and does not require training. -Ian

http://wardsauto.com/ar/ford_awd_in-house/ While it is not a Haldex system it is Haldex-like. With the exception of Subaru, the bulk of AWD solutions in the market are Haldex, or Haldex-like in that they are FWD or RWD under normal conditions and a clutch or other device is engaged to move power to the other set of wheels on slip. It is not a true (usiung Subaru marketing mumbo jumbo terms) "symetrical" AWD system where all four wheels are driven and managed at all times. Subaru snobs call Haldex and otehr solutions "Faux Wheel Drive." :-) But the solution does have the advantage of better fuel economy under normal driving coditions. Disclaimer: I am a Subaru Snob. :-) But my LGT is not big enough for my legion of rug rats so I'm looking at the Edge. I like the Edge, but am waiting for '08 and the Sync tech. My test drive was great, the vehicle is really well thought out and I am certain that grandparents could not poissibly fill it with toys for the boogermonsters.