2011 Explorer gets ECOboost twinturbo V6?

[uniquename]

I never said anything bad about it. It looks like, and I'm sure it is, and awesome vehicle. My only complaint is that they used the name Explorer for it. I am positive that the refinement, comfort, and drive-ability would leave my 2nd gen in the dust. At least on the street, and thats what its designed for. Comfortable people hauling on the street, and inclement weather/dry dirt road leading to a campsite type terrain. Not off roading.

My memory isn't serving me, but even the gen1 was IFS, correct? That just doesn't scream "wheeler" to me. For offroad use, I have kept my wrangler. There simply aren't many modern vehicles "made" to offroad, the market isn't there.

By the time you mod your "real explorer" to keep up offroad, you have sort of wrecked it for the road (compared to stock), no? For me, the '08 has been great, and I expect the '11 to be better.

Either way, buy or keep what suits your use.

 

[Elessar65]

Interesting comment. Did you know that the ground clearance for a stock '98 Explorer is 6.7" and the ground clearance for a stock '11 Explorer is 7.6"?

That is interesting, and I was not aware of that. Is that at the lowest point, or in the center of the vehicle? Since it doesn't have a differential hanging down in the rear it should have more clearance there, and I would expect it to be a lot less closer to the wheels with the IFS/IRS arms hanging down. What size tires do they come with? Thats the major deciding factor when it comes to clearance.

The approach angle for a 2011 is only 21 degrees, while a 1998 is listed as 25.9.

 

[JDraper]

That is the lowest point on the vehicle. They call it "minimum running height".

Tires are 245/60R-18's

Approach angle will be less because the nose is definitely closer to the ground. IIRC, there's a federal mandate out to equalize bumper heights as much as possible. It also helps with the on-road handling and fuel mileage by letting less air under the vehicle.

 

[Elessar65]

I would say that even an explorer modded more than mine, really all i have done is lift it a couple inches to fit 32" tires, sway bar disco's, HD Bilstein shocks, and add a locker, would be better on the road than a wrangler. Anything with a wheelbase that short is going to ride like a covered wagon.

 

[Elessar65]

245/60R18 would be 29.6" in diameter, and 235/75R15 (I think thats the stock size for 98??) is 28.9" so the tire size equates to .35" difference in clearance. Hmm, what else is hanging down in the way on the 2nd gen? Leaf spring plate/shock mounts, torsion bar brackets for the most part?

 

[JDraper]

probably the shock mounting brackets, the front cross-member and the pumpkin. I know on my '01, those were the first things I scraped up wheeling.

 

[Elessar65]

probably the shock mounting brackets, the front cross-member and the pumpkin. I know on my '01, those were the first things I scraped up wheeling.

I always seem to get caught on the front leaf spring hangers too, lol.

 

[JDraper]

I agree this isn't a truck based vehicle like the old Explorers, but for everything but serious wheeling, I think it's equal or better. Tows 5k and comes with a class III hitch and wired for a brake controller, the AWD modes work really well and it's very stable on the roads and in crosswinds. Great interior and gadgets, and it does still seem like an Explorer when looking out the windshield. Will it please everyone? Nope. But it will sell well and that's what Ford is interested in.

 

[Elessar65]

Will it please everyone? Nope. But it will sell well and that's what Ford is interested in.

True Story....

 

[JDraper]

On a side note, if I do start wheeling again, I'll go buy a Samurai. Awesome offroad vehicle. My old Sammy with a modest lift on 33's with a lunchbox locker in the rear and a re-geared transfer case ran circles around jeeps on 35's fully locked on both ends.

 

[Elessar65]

On a side note, if I do start wheeling again, I'll go buy a Samurai. Awesome offroad vehicle. My old Sammy with a modest lift on 33's with a lunchbox locker in the rear and a re-geared transfer case ran circles around jeeps on 35's fully locked on both ends.

For sure, I just put a set of 33s on a little Sami last week at work. It looked pretty sweet. Not much lift, but the guy did a real clean job trimming the fenders. Looked almost factory.

 

[Gandalf]

That is the lowest point on the vehicle. They call it "minimum running height".

Tires are 245/60R-18's

Do you happen to know if the Limited will have a different ground clearance given the 20" wheels? I didn't see anything in the specs. I am also thinking the tire sizes across the models may be such that the ground clearance is not significantly different, but that's just speculation on my part.

 

[JDraper]

Do you happen to know if the Limited will have a different ground clearance given the 20" wheels? I didn't see anything in the specs. I am also thinking the tire sizes across the models may be such that the ground clearance is not significantly different, but that's just speculation on my part.

Don't know for sure, but they will come with low profile tires so the running height will probably be about the same.

 

[Elessar65]

Don't know for sure, but they will come with low profile tires so the running height will probably be about the same.

Ditto, probably 40 or 45 series tires, the overall diameter might be a little different, but not enough to matter.

A little hint for anyone thinking of buying this, or any other new vehicle: Check and see what kind of options are out there when it comes time to replace your tires in 40k or so when the OE ones wear out. I work in a tire shop and people come in all the time in the Acadia and Vue to get tires, and then get sticker shock when they realize that there are literally only 2 options on the planet for replacements. Since GM decided to come up with a funky size, and those are the only 2 vehicles on the planet that take that size. And they are about $330 per tire.

 

[Gandalf]

Don't know for sure, but they will come with low profile tires so the running height will probably be about the same.

OK, thanks. That about what I figured.

 

[olaverty]

Ditto, probably 40 or 45 series tires, the overall diameter might be a little different, but not enough to matter.

A little hint for anyone thinking of buying this, or any other new vehicle: Check and see what kind of options are out there when it comes time to replace your tires in 40k or so when the OE ones wear out. I work in a tire shop and people come in all the time in the Acadia and Vue to get tires, and then get sticker shock when they realize that there are literally only 2 options on the planet for replacements. Since GM decided to come up with a funky size, and those are the only 2 vehicles on the planet that take that size. And they are about $330 per tire.

Went through that on our Outlook (same funky tire size as acadia/traverse/buick - 255/65R18). There are a few options if you research, I ended up with some Falkens from on-line at about 150 each, not bad and hell of a lot better than those goodyears at $300.

 

[Thrumcap]

They also make an AWD version (what I have). It's very capable in the snow, as I've found out in the last two days. I've owned 3 other Explorers in the past, and this one is by far the most sure footed in the snow of any of them. The power transfer is much smoother than the old control trac system, and you don't have the same steering issues when cornering that you have with conventional 4wd.

I understand that and the AWD version is the only one I would consider. I was commenting on peterk9's post that the 4 cyl. ecoboost was for those who want go anywhere capability but do not need to tow. FWD does not equal go anywhere capability in any way at all.
Unless you are getting AWD, I don't understand the appeal of this vehicle over a minivan.

 

[Limited02]

I understand that and the AWD version is the only one I would consider. I was commenting on peterk9's post that the 4 cyl. ecoboost was for those who want go anywhere capability but do not need to tow. FWD does not equal go anywhere capability in any way at all.
Unless you are getting AWD, I don't understand the appeal of this vehicle over a minivan.

The appeal of the Explorer over a minivan is that some people(like my GF) wouldn't want to be caught driving one

 

[tmsoko]

Same reason for the 4x2 Gen 1, 2, 3 explorers, 4x2 trucks, 4x2 expeditions, etc.. Some just like the look / feel of driving an SUV and have no need for the traction (either in the south or don't off road). Why not save the $$$ and improve fuel economy?

 

[willied]

I understand that and the AWD version is the only one I would consider. I was commenting on peterk9's post that the 4 cyl. ecoboost was for those who want go anywhere capability but do not need to tow. FWD does not equal go anywhere capability in any way at all.
Unless you are getting AWD, I don't understand the appeal of this vehicle over a minivan.

But the 4 cylinder doesn't come with AWD, right?

Same reason for the 4x2 Gen 1, 2, 3 explorers, 4x2 trucks, 4x2 expeditions, etc.. Some just like the look / feel of driving an SUV and have no need for the traction (either in the south or don't off road). Why not save the $$$ and improve fuel economy?

Agreed.