Ford Escape with a RM8,000 Difference
The Ford Escape, as it comes, has a pretty comprehensive list of standard features and equipment and most buyers would probably be quite satisfied. However, there are always customers who like something extra and also like their vehicle to be more distinctive.
It is usually the case that such customers will head straight for the accessory shop and have various accessories fitted. Generally, the fit and finish are fairly good but there are occasions when things don’t turn out well either.
Another alternative is to include a package of accessories from the car dealer and this is usually a better idea because the accessories are properly matched to the vehicle and the entire cost of the package can be included in the finance package. So you get to pay for the extras over six years… something which no accessory shop would offer!
Ford Concessionaires (FC), in its latest promotion, wants to offer its customers a package of accessories but unlike the packages offered by other companies, this one will cost the customer nothing. And it’s no ordinary package either because the value is in the region of RM8,000.
Externally, the Ford Escape Special Edition, as it is called, has the gray bumpers and side panels painted the same as the body colour and there are two colours – Yellow, and Silver. The visual effect is impressive although it does make the SUV look even more urbanised. There is also a two-tone Champagne colour scheme available with the package of accessories.
The exterior colour is carried through to the cabin where the leather trim is of a matching shade. In the case of the yellow body, there are stylish black and yellow seats which are well upholstered using high quality Italian hide.
Other items in the package include a stainless steel rubbing plate on the door sills, a stainless steel tailpipe cover, tinted window visors, customised carpets and a side fender mirror.
The side fender mirror, more commonly seen on domestic Japanese models, has an interesting background. Back in the mid-1980s, there was a tragic accident in Japan where a large and tall truck rolled over a small child next to the vehicle. The driver had not been able to see the child due to the height of the vehicle and because of that, the industry quickly responded by installing an additional mirror on the left fender so that it would be possible for the driver to view the area near the wheel.
For the Escape, this specific function may not be required but the driver will still find it useful in judging the distance from the kerb during parking. The only problem is that the image on the mirror can be irritating while on the move as the mirror is pointed at the road and there is a lot of movement visible.
The Special edition package also comes with a reverse sensor and according to a FC executive, this is an upgraded unit from the ones offered so far.
By far, the most ‘valuable’ item in the package would be the two 5-inch colour monitors integrated in the front head restraints. This is as neatly done as on a Boeing 777 and even has a flap to cover the screen when not in use. The Clarion player that replaces the standard Ford system is designed to play both music and movie CDs. So it’s no longer necessary to buy a BMW X-5 to get this kind of feature…
Perhaps, in their objective to cater more to rear passenger entertainment, FC should have also installed an AC adaptor with conventional 3-pin or 2-pin plug-in points so kids can get power supply for their Gameboy or Playstation machines.
“The Ford Escape Special Edition is available only through Ford Concessionaires which has 16 branches nationwide,” said Mohd Zaifullizan bin Abdul Aziz, the company’s General Manager. “Its availability will be for a limited period only.” He clarified that those who buy the Special Edition would not be able to enjoy the current 3% p.a. H-P interest rate that is offered in a different promotional campaign.
