2011 Ford Explorer!

[BigRondo]

Whatever you say dude. If you don't want a real 4x4, that's you. I prefer a real truck with a real 4x4 system for when or if I need it.

thaywood, give it a rest already. You've got an opinion, everyone else has an opinion, heck I've even got an opinion. What makes you think you can sway everyone to your opinion? You don't like the 2011. We get it. Some here do like it, you don't. Nobody is wrong. Last time I checked there was no such thing as a wrong opinion. That's because it's an opinion!

That's just my opinion on the direction this thread has headed!

 

[2TimingTom]

Wow..... I do believe my lowered 2003 Mazda Protege (now sold) would be able to handle this driveway. Seriously, it looks like nothing more than a dirt road. I drove my 1991 Mazda 626 on an old forest service fire road without issues- one of those roads that you need to be very aware of approach and departure angles and not unloading the front suspension too much or else it'll spin.

 

[thaywood]

thaywood, give it a rest already. You've got an opinion, everyone else has an opinion, heck I've even got an opinion. What makes you think you can sway everyone to your opinion? You don't like the 2011. We get it. Some here do like it, you don't. Nobody is wrong. Last time I checked there was no such thing as a wrong opinion. That's because it's an opinion!

That's just my opinion on the direction this thread has headed!

Yep. My opinion is that the Flexplorer is a FWD joke on wheels and a travesty not worthy of the Explorer name. I have no use for it. It's nothing more than a rebodied Taurus/Flex. And that's my opinion. I would love it if everyone felt the way I do. But they don't. And that's fine. I have such a deep seated hatred of everything with a sideways engine driving the wrong wheels that I just can't keep my mouth shut. If that offends anyone...tough.

Wow..... I do believe my lowered 2003 Mazda Protege (now sold) would be able to handle this driveway. Seriously, it looks like nothing more than a dirt road. I drove my 1991 Mazda 626 on an old forest service fire road without issues- one of those roads that you need to be very aware of approach and departure angles and not unloading the front suspension too much or else it'll spin.

Yep. It's a dirt road. A dirt road a mile long with hills, potholes the size of Volkswagens, grand canyon size gullies after it rains, and horrible washboards. I love the neighborhood, but I hate the road. But unfortunately, all I can do is drag it with my tractor every so often (because nobody else will do it) and enjoy the relative smoothness for a day or two. I'm sure a wrong-wheel-drive car can handle this road. There are plenty of folks living down here who drive them. But today, the road is covered with snow and a layer of ice on top of that. Even 2WD F-150's can't make it. There was one stuck below my house since last night. But my Ex made it just fine.

 

[BigRondo]

Yep. My opinion is that the Flexplorer is a FWD joke on wheels and a travesty not worthy of the Explorer name. I have no use for it. It's nothing more than a rebodied Taurus/Flex. And that's my opinion. I would love it if everyone felt the way I do. But they don't. And that's fine. I have such a deep seated hatred of everything with a sideways engine driving the wrong wheels that I just can't keep my mouth shut. If that offends anyone...tough.

That's funny.

 

[2TimingTom]

Even 2WD F-150's can't make it. There was one stuck below my house since last night.

A 2wd pickup can't get around well in the snow/ice. There's a shocker.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I have such a deep seated hatred of everything with a sideways engine driving the wrong wheels that I just can't keep my mouth shut. If that offends anyone...tough.

It's a discussion forum- obviously you're more than welcome to post your thoughts, within reason, about how you feel. That's why this is an awesome forum. I know I can be overly critical of some things, however, a lot of your posts do reflect that hatred, up to and including calling members who have bought or will be buying a new 2011 Explorer names, and ridiculing their choices publically and even in their own threads.

Rondo is right- it can be toned down a bit, just to be civil. You do feel strongly, and that's fine. But you have 70+ posts, and 60+ of them are in the 2011 threads bashing the Explorer, including your last 40+

There are a lot of great subforums, and lots of members that need assistance with stuff, and other great conversations going on- why not crack a brew, take a look around, and see what other fun is out there on the rest of the forum too?

 

[tmike]

Oh yeah. That pre-historic log axle and the cheap-a$$ strut front suspension are the only things I don't like about the S197 Mustang.



Thank God! It's about time the Mustang finally made it to the 21st century.

You do know that the '03 Cobra's has IRS? They suck because, when you have anything more then the factory horses, the suspension couldn't hold the torque

 

[deamon3]

Here's a legit question , why do any of us care if the new explorer is a good off road car? None of us are going to buy one anyway...

I mean really just buy a different car then

 

[peterk9]

Here's a legit question , why do any of us care if the new explorer is a good off road car? None of us are going to buy one anyway...

I mean really just buy a different car then

Perhaps you haven't been reading all the posts. There are people on here ordering them, and some have already bought them. From what I can tell, sales are really going well. One post also provided a link to the Truck of the Year award given to it.

 

[edge929]

A 2wd pickup can't get around well in the snow/ice. There's a shocker.

A 2WD Ranger should be a mandatory winter-weather-driving learning vehicle for everyone, with no sand bags/weight in the rear. As much as it sucks in the winter, it's made me a more appreciative/skilled driver in inclement weather. Oh and make sure it has the bigger 4.0L V6, more torque to spin the wheels

Good for donuts though!

 

[Limited02]

Thaywood- Don't forget that the new '11 Explorer has a far more advanced 4x4 system(which means better) than any previous Explorer.

The video posted by Tom may not look like much to us, but the average person who drives ANY gen Explorer(stock) will think they are mud bogging and would consider that a true test to what they purchased.

I'm done playing chase the tail, the new Explorer is everything the past was and then some. It's smoother, quieter, more efficient, has better build quality, SAFER and just as capable off-road as anything in it's class right now and any Explorer previously made.

So that's my opinion, later tators

 

[FarmTruk]

Wrangler Unlimiteds are starting to look better to me.

 

[thaywood]

You do know that the '03 Cobra's has IRS? They suck because, when you have anything more then the factory horses, the suspension couldn't hold the torque

Yeppers. I knew that. It couldn't handle the extra torque because it was literally a makeshift IRS setup attached to the extremely flexible Fox platform. The S197 is loosely based on the DEW98 chassis from the Lincoln LS/Thunderbird/Jaguar S-Type. It should be more than adequate to handle anything the engine can throw at it, as long as it has a tough pumpkin.

A 2WD Ranger should be a mandatory winter-weather-driving learning vehicle for everyone, with no sand bags/weight in the rear. As much as it sucks in the winter, it's made me a more appreciative/skilled driver in inclement weather. Oh and make sure it has the bigger 4.0L V6, more torque to spin the wheels

Good for donuts though!

I agree. I had a regular cab, short bed '88 Ranger with a wimpy little 2.0 and 5-speed. That thing was a blast in the snow!

Thaywood- Don't forget that the new '11 Explorer has a far more advanced 4x4 system(which means better) than any previous Explorer.

It's not 4x4. It's front-biased, part-time AWD. There's a huge difference.

The video posted by Tom may not look like much to us, but the average person who drives ANY gen Explorer(stock) will think they are mud bogging and would consider that a true test to what they purchased.

I have to agree. And that's unfortunate.

I'm done playing chase the tail, the new Explorer is everything the past was and then some. It's smoother, quieter, more efficient, has better build quality, SAFER and just as capable off-road as anything in it's class right now and any Explorer previously made.

So that's my opinion, later tators

I don't agree with this. But that's my opinion.

Wrangler Unlimiteds are starting to look better to me.

Ditto.

 

[corkey]

than find a jeep site and go make it your new home,,

 

[willied]

Wrangler Unlimiteds are starting to look better to me.

Terrible reliability, terrible MPG, terrible power, terrible build quality. Sounds better everyday.

 

[Blee1099]

Guys remember this is a discussion not a debate about the 2011 platform.

 

[BigRondo]

Guys remember this is a discussion not a debate about the 2011 platform.

Thank you.

Here's the deal:

If you want to go wheeling, buy a 1st or 2nd gen.

The 3rd & 4th gen have independent suspension.

The 5th gen is front wheel drive unibody.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
PICK ONE AND GO FOR IT! DON'T CHASTISE THE GEN'S YOU DON'T LIKE!!

This isn't rocket science people. Pick a generation that suits you and go for it. Son of a *****. I'm out of breath

 

[thaywood]

than find a jeep site and go make it your new home,,

Nah. I'm an Explorer guy. Never been much of a Jeep fan. Although...the new Grand Cherokee with it's RWD platform is pretty awesome.

 

[Blee1099]

You guys have to realize that the people who offroad their Explorers are not the main customer category for Ford on this platform. They are going after the parents who would otherwise look at crossover SUVs like the Highlander, Equinox, Traverse, Murano, Pathfinder, etc. An average SUV owner hardly ever turns on the 4wd, they would rather have it be automatic. I've driven probably 20 types of vehicles if not more and when it comes to snow it all depends on driver abilities when it comes to 2wd/rwd vehicles. I've driven E350 vans loaded with carpet up snow covered driveways, fwd cars in long narrow gravel/dirt driveways in snow and even a old early 90s camaro in snow in high school. Having the right tires/chains/equipment sure helps, even lowering air pressure down in snow helps.

 

[FirstExplorer]

Even Tom and Ray on "Car Talk" call Jeeps "Cheaps"