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Owners of these are not strangers to the service department. There also seems to be issues of unrepairable annoyances ... possibly of more significance than door handles that aren't body color. :shades:
Oh....and state if your a Ford employee... you know it's about perspective. Like I had with my '02 Explorer, with the bad leather, rear end whine, bad tranny solenoid, bad power window motor, the plastic body part underneath the rear window that cracked. You know these parts (underneath the rear window) are STILL CRACKING and Ford will not stand behind them even though it's a KNOWN DEFECT if your out of warranty? But it was an XLT with body-color door handles. Now, you can't get them on the XLT. That black matte plastic looks like garbage!
Thanks
By the way, I have driven 4Runners. The 4Runner does not even have lights on the door-mounted switches, and still has a primative solid rear axle. Anyone who has not driven a 2006 Explorer and a 4Runner back to back is missing out on a night and day comparison, especially if they drive on a good selection of streets, not just sooth new asphalt around the area in which some dealerships are located.
Yea, your right about the lights on the door, major pet peeve by the wife. And let's talk about the rear axle. It's a known fact that the solid rear axle allows for a suspension set up that has much more wheel/tire travel (up-down) in off road situations. Consequently, the 4Runner has much better off road manners than the Explorer. It is known as one of the best off-road vehicles one can buy. The 4Runner comes standard with skid plates for the motor and gas tank. (Even the 2wd versions.) Hope this helps. Also, I will tell you with the X-Reas suspension on the "Sport model" it handles much better than the Explorer in corners. Do a "google search" and read about the X-Reas setup. It is really unique!
True. But what's the percentage of owners who actually take these things off road up to now? Is it above 10% yet?
"Sport model" it handles much better than the Explorer in corners. Do a "google search" and read about the X-Reas setup. It is really unique!
So is the Explorer's RSC system (unique). I'd rather have that and a slightly worse handling SUV than a sporty handling SUV that doesn't have it. My other car is the fun one anyway.
All of this would be better served in a comparison forum. Do we have one?
We don't appear to have an active Explorer-4Runner comparison topic.
tidester, host
Your call Tidester. Something like this could end up like the CR-V vs Escape thread and I know you know where that stands. :surprise: You know better than I if there would be enough interest in the topic as well.
Mercedes-Benz M-class vs Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer vs Buick Rendezvous vs Acura MDX
The selection of topics is largely member driven so if you would like to see a particular comparison feel free to start one up!
Something like this could end up like the CR-V vs Escape thread...
<Gulp!>
Don't make me send you home for the rest of the week!
tidester, host
After all, I was torn between these four myself, since they are all so much alike...:):):):):):):)
Hey, cut me a break!!!...here I am at home on a Saturday night, when I could be out dancing and meeting beautiful women...of course, the wife may have something to say about that...
Bob
LoL! You really DO need to get out more!
tidester, host
Well, I currently have 2 Fords and 1 Lexus, so I like both brands, but I have to agree with you on this - I've recently rented an 06 Explorer, and man, was I impressed with the way it drives! It's almost as quiet as my Lexus, and rides nearly as well too. If they fix the interior door panels, which are ghastly, it would be about perfect.
The 4-Runner has much less headroom, have to take my hat off to drive it, and it's very trucky. Very very trucky.
Who was cross-shopping those? :confuse:
Looks like that one died a deserving death anyway.
I have no idea but the common feature supposedly was that they were all "7 passenger mid-size luxury or near luxury SUVs."
tidester, host
Absolutely the best SUV I have owned (Chevy, Honda, Toyota, and Jeep)- quieter, smoother, and not a rattle or squeak, as opposed to my '06 Acura that is already going back to have a couple of annoying rattles looked at - after only 2500 miles.
She really is mean...but...Oh, hi, honey, I was just getting off the Internet and Edmunds.com
Bye... ...the beatings will continue until morale improves...
Wow, this will make Chuck1 boiling mad....
I with you...may be the best Explorer built! They just totally BLEW IT on the redesign. Who hired those designers? Let me see - they were all in a room, and they finished up and it's hard to tell the new one from the one it replaces....
They are totally running scared since the Taurus fiasco. The 500 shows it too. However, the Fusion I like.
what i wonder is this, though - they totally redesigned the frame after 4 years, which of course nobody sees, and leave the exterior body panels the same. what am i missing? i cant imagine they needed to redesign the frame to improve the ride -
Despite all the issues my '02 had...I have to agree it rode nice!
So, they cleaned it all up for me, washed the car. I expected to pay for this, since it wasn't the car's fault, but there was no charge. Not even for the rental.
This is why I've been buying cars at that dealership for 16 years......they appreciate their customers and actually try to help them - even if the customer is a moron and the problem is user error.....
Thought you'd enjoy that story....
It's great that there are still some organizations that value their customers and wish to build-long term loyalty. Not charging you for the rental was a class act!!
Now it's good you can send the grand kids home when you get tired of them, or when they glue your car door shut!
Don't I wish!! Unfortunately - we raise the grand kids....long story.
I am leaning towards buying a 2006 Toyota RAV4 V6 or 2008 Freestyle, but every time I drive my wife's C230, I am reminded that I very much prefer real rear wheel drive.
Nvbanker - Thanks you for the story about excellent service from a Ford/L-M dealer, and thanks for raising those grandchildren instead taking the easy way out.
DITTO!!!!!!!
Good question; I see the Sport Trac info is up for '07 so hopefully the Explorer info will be along shortly.
From the Help files:
"We strive to release information on new vehicles as soon as possible. However, we don’t launch pages for new makes or models in the New Vehicles section of our site until we have sufficient information, including the vehicle’s suggested retail price and invoice price.
In some cases, we have information about new makes and models in our Future Vehicles section before they hit our New Vehicles section, so check that too.
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Steve, Host
What punishment does the guy deserve that designed the old ones?? JUST KIDDING!!
It would be no surprise if Explorer sales increase slightly because of the new door handles.
Yes, it will be interesting to see if this helps. I think the redesign that isn't - (exterior) is more of an issue.
You're right - though the lousy door panels are a hot topic of discussion by our valets here, the large GM SUVs are flat gorgeous - this from a guy who generally disdains the General. Put the Explorer up against them on that basis, no wonder they are getting ignored.
Very soon, Ford will be out with the redesigned 2007 Expedition (regular and long versions) and Navigator, the new 2007 Edge and MKX, the redesigned Escape and Mariner, the redesigned Freestyle, the Mazda CX-7, and the Mazda CX-9. With all of those other choices, the small niche left for the Explorer and Mountaineer is people who:
A) Are willing to pay for the fuel;
Prefer rear wheel drive; and,
C) Want the easier parking and manuvering provided by a vehicle the size of an Explorer / Mountaineer instead of something larger.
An even smaller sub-set of those people will need the towing and/or off-road capabilities of a vehicle with a separate body and frame.
Mazda - while not extremely daring they are on the right track with their designs. We will have to wait and see what Ford comes up with the Expedition and others. However, Ford will really have to raise the bar to compete with the full-size SUVs from The General with the Expedition. With all the "budget crunching" that is going on over there, I am less than optimistic.
I'm pretty sure I read a comparo between the '07 Suburban and a pre-production '07 Expedition in MT a couple of months ago and the Suburban barely beat the Expedition solely based on engine performance. Call me crazy, but 0-60 times that are within a few tenths of each other for two huge SUVs shouldn't matter much to the vast majority of shoppers. So I don't think you're going to see too many Ford or GM buyers jumping to the other side anytime soon.
C'mon Chuck, SRA aside, you still have to pull a heavy third row seat out of the back of the GM's and store it somewhere to use the space. That's so 1980's. :P
what a huge mistake.
the GM units will compete on rpice - they will be cheaper than the ford. and i concur that the cost cutting at ford will probably cost ford some.
I believe they now have cylinder deactivation, and actually are rated at better mpg than the previous generation. The now also ride and handle better than the previous generation.
But the bottom line is this - EVEN WITH A 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION - EVEN WITH THE NON-FOLDABLE THIRD SEAT - EVEN WITH THE OLD MOTORS - the sells are up and the transaction (final) price is up as well. So apparently buyers feel there is something more to pay their hard earned money for.
One can't say that about the "redesign that isn't" on the Ford Explorer.
We all know THERE ARE A TON of used Explorers and Suburbans that can be had real cheap if you want to save some money!
Agreed! Most people will not even think about a 4 speed tranny vs. a six speed. Or a pushrod vs. OHC motor. Nope, with most people these things are not even a consideration!
See for yourself! This is the '07 Cadillac Escalade from Edmunds' full test BTW. This copy rang the register at over $66k.
love those cadillac front seats, though.
I like Cadillac seats as well, and several other things about it, including how it looks. The moronic, unfunctional 3rd row though, just makes me furious, and I can't have it. I'd be psycho if I did, every time I had to use it.
I agree - it's a bad idea. And it doesn't even matter that some of us might not even need to remove it very often....but when you do that's when you break your back!