2011 Ford Explorer!

[tmike]

If you've got the garage to hold it then it definitely makes sense to keep it in there. Keeping a car outside weathers it faster and it can get moldy easier. Sadly I have to keep mine outside.

That's if you have the humidity!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Good point tmike- you're in Nevada... Over here, in Michigan, we have what the layperson calls "weather" :

Simple- I don't scrape ice, brush snow, or deal with rain after I washed a car- it's in the garage they go...

 

[2TimingTom]

You see, I was born and raised in the mtns, until I left for the Navy right after highschool(1990). We've always us the garage for working on snow machines or putting the toys in! Hell, I remember when my dad bought his first and second new F250 Powerstrokes (50,000 a piece) they've never smelled a garage.

I'd like to see a subarban garage house an F250 Powerstroke.

The new Explorer would be for my wife to haul the kids around in. It's not going on the driveway. I have an attached 2 car garage- not an attached storage shed. If I have a toy car to put in the garage- fine, I'll park on the driveway. But I still want my wife's vehicle to fit in the garage.

 

[Dexplorer]

Found this new 12/16 review from driven blog on Winding Road, pretty encouraging ! now I really can't wait to test drive one !

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2011-ford-explorer/

Does anybody know if Ford dealers will allow you to get really cheap wheels shipped with an ordered vehicle if you plan on getting your own custom wheels put on first thing? I am thinking about the Sterling Grey Explorer with Black wheels

 

[Burns]

Im sure you can choose the wheels if you go and order one from the dealer. You would just have to go in and ask your local dealer

 

[MarielleLeigh]

Does anybody know if Ford dealers will allow you to get really cheap wheels shipped with an ordered vehicle if you plan on getting your own custom wheels put on first thing? I am thinking about the Sterling Grey Explorer with Black wheels

@Dexplorer I don't think that option is available unfortunately Here's some info on the tire options!

Standard:
P245/60R18 A/S BSW
18" is Michelin.

Optional
P255/50R20 A/S BSW
20" is Hankook.

 

[Titan12345]

Test Drove Limited

Test drove a 4wd limited today. Local dealer had a meet and great with two limited explorers visiting for a few hours. I must admit, Ford did a very nice job with the new Explorer. Of course it rode really nice and had plenty of creature comforts. Vehicle is larger than expected and roomier than expected. Intrumentation with Sync/touch screen was very attractive.
Some on this site wondered about the front wheel drive for towing, but if you tow, then you would want the 4wd. It's hi tech and not your old 4wd. The wheels will pull whenever needed. Only thing that in spite of my 6.1" frame was that the hood was a challenge to see over and to tell where it stops. Just take some getting used to. Other than that, it is very quiet and the current Ford incentives apply. I am seriously thinking about ordering one if the wife wants one. Dealer says 6-8 weeks to order, but I think much longer than that, especially if there is 30,000 ordered( rumor )
Titan

 

[edge929]

6-8 weeks huh? Could be. I've read some posts on the Explorer Facebook page where a couple people ordered in November and will take delivery late January. Considering production didn't start until Dec 1st, I think they got lucky if they speak the truth.

I ordered in late August, have yet to hear from my dealership. I'm taking next week off for the holidays, think I'll pay them a visit in person then

 

[2011ExplorerXLT]

Does anybody know how easy it will be to add a brake controller? I just ordered one, and the salesman couldn't tell me. It would be very helpful when towing.

 

[corkey]

they make add on aftermarket brake controllers,, they wire up pretty easily ,,

 

[Titan12345]

Edge 929,
I know it will take longer than 6-8 weeks. I think it will be 6-8 weeks from February.
I think they just started building them December 1st. The Ford guy said customer orders will be first in line, but it's anybodies guess. Let us know the total wait time from December when yours arrives. What did you order?
Titan

 

[edge929]

I spoke to my dealership yesterday. No VIN, no build date, no news. I ordered with them on September 3rd, well before Ford was officially "accepting" orders. People on the Explorer facebook page have noted they ordered 2-3 months AFTER me and have at least gotten build dates. It seems a big pre-order batch is being done in the week of Jan 10th to be delivered some 2 weeks later. I find it flat-out insulting that it doesn't work in a First-In First-Out pre-order system. I can understand dealer stock, test units, etc being rolled out first but not going by FIFO for preorders.....

There is one other guy who ordered in August who doesn't have any info either. I posted this on the facebook page also, but I live in Des Moines and as of a few days ago, of the 4 Ford dealerships in the metro area, not one has a single Explorer on their lot or even sold. The Ford rep on the facebook page said they mix up the build order between preorders, dealer stock, test units, etc and they will send more units to locations that have traditionally bought more Explorers. Going along with this, another user posted that a Frankfort, IL (suburb of Chicago) is advertising they have 32, let me repeat that THIRTY-TWO, Explorers on their lot ready to sell meanwhile the largest city in my state has 0. I told the guy, it' s a 4 hour drive to Frankfort for me. I can drive there and most likely get the exact model I ordered 3 months before it would have come.

I had hoped to drive it THIS winter (winter starts in November here) but if it doesn't come until March, that's pretty much start of spring, or at least snow is 95% done by then.

 

[Explorer nut]

That dealership in Frankfort Il has 3- 2011 Explorers and the rest are 2010's. In the
Chicagoland there are about a dozen 11's on dealer lots.Most are Limited's and a few
base models.Are you better off picking one from a dealer's stock or waitng for a new one?
There seems to be good rebates now if you trade in youir old explorer combined with the other rebates.

 

[Joe Dirt]

If I had a choice, I'd like to see a few hundred at least roll down the line before my pre-order was built...

 

[edge929]

I was thinking the same Joe and I'm sure that amount already has. Once you spread just 1 Explorer per Ford dealership you're already at what, 600+? Granted not a single Ford dealership has them in my area (0 for 4 in ~30 square miles). I read that the assembly plant workers don't get certified until they've worked on 800 Explorers with no errors. I'm not too worried about it, the same plant has been building the new Taurus and I haven't heard complaints about them falling apart yet.

 

[46er]

Each dealership in my area has at least one, with quite a few on order.

Marielle,

How are the answers to all the questions coming along?

 

[Explorer nut]

One option I am having trouble with is 4WD or FWD. I only tow a couple times a year
and think the 2K for 4WD could be used for other options such as a moonroof or Navi.
I think this new Explorer is going to be huge success next year because Ford listened
to their customers. I almost bought a Grand Cherokee but how are you going to take a bunch of kids to a ballgame with only 2 row seating and the only time I go off road
is when I slide off it during our nasty winters.

 

[edge929]

Ford inventory website finally showed all 4 dealerships in my metro area have some on the way (not on the lots yet). Ironically, they are ALL dealer orders, not a single preorder (or I'd be getting a 5-month-coming phone call).

 

[2TimingTom]

As far as navigation goes- you might want to call your insurance agent before you buy one with navigation. Navigation will typically bump you up into a higher monthly premium category. It seems navigation is a built in destraction.

I'd order it without and buy a $100-$250 Garmin, personally.

 

[46er]

As far as navigation goes- you might want to call your insurance agent before you buy one with navigation. Navigation will typically bump you up into a higher monthly premium category. It seems navigation is a built in destraction.

I'd order it without and buy a $100-$250 Garmin, personally.

It is also much more convenient to program in the comfort of ones home. I use a Garmin NUVI.