Personally I did the fronts first for 1)to keep the dirt on the sides down. 2) to be cheap, 3) hoping it wouldn't look stupid whild holding out for possible molded rear flaps.

 

My feeling is that the rear ones are more a courtesy to other drivers and for looks, while the fronts are to help keep your vehicle clean and somewhat protected. On the 2008s the side steps provide some protection similar to the guards.

 

Nat & I have the factory ones front and rear. even though the rears are smaller, they are effective. We just moved from Florida to Utah and have driven in snow this season. The inside shape of the factory ones do catch snow, if you had flat ones they wouldn't catch snow just deflect it.

 

Heard from the dealer, said the factory splash guards would be a special order so I will not be getting them before my trip this week. I was told these factory ones do not exist for the front on the 2008s, only the rear. If anyone sees them post a photo for us, the Ford parts drawing doesn't really show what they look like as these are the only splash guards specific to the 08 Escapes. The accessory ones are also sold for the Crown Vic...

 

I'm gonna try calling the Dealer on Monday. is there a part number I should ask for? Or is it a special or molded flap for the 08?

 

I was told this is a molded splash guard unlike the flat ones that are in the accessory catalog. Were you able to order them? I will be going in soon to get my 5,000 mile free dealer service and will place an order...

 

I ordered them, and suprisingly ready the next day. excited i drove to the dealer, he plops some plastic odd shapes on the counter. He looked confused as well, this is what they sent, as he starts searching the computer to confirm. I grab one, go out to the car, it's the stinking black plastic wheel well shield all ready on there!!! So don't waste your time. All we have for now are generic flat Ford flaps, or maybe aftermarket, which most all are flat too.

 

That is a real pisser, I'll talk to my parts dept. when I go in and see what the deal is as they showed me parts drawing and it did not look like the wheel liner, but those drawings are not the greatest either... sorry for the trouble.

On a side note- I just got back from a trip to Texas and the Escape was getting over 40mpg the day I had a good tail wind across New Mexico, and I was driving over 70mph!

 

I did see a picture on the computer screen, I didn't ask to look closer at it, but it was equivelant of a stick figure of a car, front facing you, and you could see the side. It had a line pointing to the rear wheels. So nothing accurate

 

Yeah... my Dad is a parts manager at a Ford dealership and has been for years....

Lets just say he's often used some colorful language about the quality of the diagrams in the parts manuals... and leave it at that.