All New MPV (5/7/8 Seater) from Honda... Freed

[Mage]

they better don't..

[Shern25]

I am finally freed from the headache of deciding between wish and stream after today seeing the live honda Freed at a shopping center for the first time. With price quoted at $66K for the 7seater version (8 seater adds $2k), I really drool and my mind is now very clear that this is the car i will be getting this month (but will be from PI).

 

With good looking exterior/interior, excellant FC(16.4km/l) with decent power (118bhp/6600) and decent torque(144Nm/4800), sliding doors, and seats 7 ppl comfortably, and also i really like the 2nd row seat (7seater config) with a gap to walk to the 3rd row with ease (so no need to fold down 2nd row). And 3rd row confirmed can seat 3 average size ppl.

 

But for the 8seater version, need to fold down the 2nd row to enter the 3rd row and the way to fold down is however not as convenient as Wish/Stream. Anywhere I will choose the 7seater version.

 

Another good point is that it is a small car as compared to wish/stream, so driving/parking will be easier.

 

Honda Freed....my new love .

 

and the most important buying factor: my wife loves it and has agreed to open up our cash door to get this car. (she is the financial controller of my family).

Edited August 10, 2008 by Shern25

[Porche]

if you can wait, KAH motor is bringing in next yr

[Shern25]

and the PI claim that they have already sold 40 Freed since they start launching in July.

[Shern25]

Will consider. But PI has 5yr warrently from comfortdelgro, and i think sending car to comfortdelgro for servicing should be much cheaper than sending to KM.

 

Do u know will KM bring in this car within 1st quarter of next year or much later?

[Toalson]

I am also keen on this car to Freed my disturbed mind but guess the time is still not right. Haiz. Do share more of your new ride once u got it.

[Ahyoo2002]

You sure or not?

 

Here is my review:

 

Like:

1) The walk in concept of 7 seater is . I am more than 1.7 m tall and yet I can walked (bent down a bit) from 1st row to 3rd row. My kid will surely like it a lot (which is not so safe in fact ).

2) The interior and the layout is good, very spacious. I guess maybe due to it is a much taller car, I feel it is much spacious as compare to Stream.

3) The seat at driver seat and 2nd row is very spacious and comfortable.

4) 3rd row also feel quite good, as the car is tall.

5) The sliding door is goood, the left side is with power door.

 

Dislike:

1) The 2nd row of 7 seater can not be fold down, only 5 and 8 seater can.

2) The dashborad is too broad, and my knee hit the right hand side panel where it has certain portion pertruding out when I want to exit from the driver seat (maybe can solve by adjusting the seat a bit)

3) Certain parts of the car is very plasticky.

4) The way the 3rd row was fold is not very good.

5) Do not like the rear look.

5) The car is a bit too narrow and tall (just my personal opinion). As it is narrow, I am wonder can it seat 3 in one row

6) No enough compartment.

7) Super old fashion antena

 

Overall, I think the car is good, if and only if it can sell much cheaper than what the PIs try to earn now.

 

Hopefully they can deliver with the price list of $66k.

 

Make sure you get the GL version, it come with power (auto) sliding door on the left side.

[Ahyoo2002]

To me, PI warranty is like Sim Lim's warranty

[Ahyoo2002]

I think KM plan to launch this car in June 09, if you can wait

[Ahyoo2002]

Flicker #1

[Porche]

1st or 2nd quarter bah....forget abt the report..! by then lots of Freed on the road liao

[Shern25]

correction on one of ur dislikes:

1) The 2nd row of 7 seater can not be fold down, only 5 and 8 seater can

Actually the car shown in the shopping ctr is 7 seater which the PI showed me can fold down 2nd row.

[Ahyoo2002]

Can fold down? Really? That is good news. Confirm?

 

This is another example why I dislike PI. They never know what they are selling.

 

A few weeks after Stream lauched by PI, I visited one PI. When i try to fold down the 2nd row, the SE told that no way it can fold . So, me walked to another PI and after some tries, I manage to fold the 2nd row down. For Freed, when I visited the PI, the PI's SE said they try many many time liao, confirm can not fold down the 2nd row of the 7 seater.

 

But now PI selling Stream Style Edition at $69k with rebate set at $14k, I do not see why I will go for this Freed at $66k.

[Shern25]

Probable reasons to choose freed over stream:

- Better FC so save money esp when oil price start to climb back up.

- 2nd row captain seats.

- going to 3rd row w/o need to fold seats.

[Ahyoo2002]

My favourite Mazda 5 also have this:

- 2nd row captain seats.

- going to 3rd row w/o need to fold seats.

[Shern25]

But Mazda5 is costing above $80K and high fuel consumption. And it's in the relm of pinic, oddessey, glandis etc.

 

And to add on the reasons:

- both sides are sliding doors, with the passenger side is a power door (i.e press button at driver side and the door will slide close by itself).

- being shorter so easy to park and drive.

- much more headspace than stream so will feel roomier. And despite being a taller vehicle, it's CG is actually low so cornering is still feel good.

 

And if u search in youtube and look at the Freed running on the road, how it was demostrated can put big bicycle inside, and how the lady can move from first row to 3rd row...the car really can impress me more than stream.

[Shern25]

In other words, Freed is like Mazda 5 but smaller in size, better FC and cheaper.

[Leclair]

just gotten a glimpse at expo over the weekend.

 

basically lke what many here said.

 

Fc could be nearer to 13km/l then the claimed 16 km/l

 

the seats are not leather , but still quite comfortable

 

the interior is quite spacious, feel more like a mpv than say Stream which feels cramp cos of the lack of height.

 

has a sliding door for a 1.5L (for gl model)

 

Road tax will be lower

 

petrol cost lower

 

the "boot space" is quite considerable if the third row is folded up. i estimate adult bicycles can go in with a little adjustment.

 

price still a bit high. THe price quoted was 67k with 1 k freebies. the stream quoted at $70k. just a few k diff.

 

My plan? 2 or 3 yrs down the road buy 2nd hand from 1st buyer