Anyone happy with their Ex?

[sgparnes]

Small issues...no armests on 2nd row buckets w/o console. Sync slow to respond(I have not updated to 2.11 still on 2.8). Just came back from 2000 mi R/T trip to Florida, got average of 20mpg at hwy speed of about 79mph. I don't know how anyone can get 25+ mpg hwy, unless they go 55. Here in the south you get run over under 70.

 

[182RG]

I don't know how anyone can get 25+ mpg hwy, unless they go 55.

They don't, unless they've figured out how to suspend the laws of physics....

28, 29, 30....with 4wd....nope.....

 

[JDraper]

Yep, happy with mine and would buy another. Had some issues at first with the MFT, but an upgrade fixed them.

 

[K1200rsport]

I am happy and I've never purchased a car yet without any issues, I change vehicles every year.

 

[FordService]

Thats what I wanted to hear! I understand that internet forums tend to be a vocal minority but I wanted to make sure that was the case here. Thanks for all the replies!

Still a couple months out from buying but I'll be sure to let you know when I pick it up!

Glert,
I’m sure it’s good to hear from all the happy owners here and I know you’ll love your Explorer when it arrives. A few of the users waiting for their Explorer PM me their VIN or order number & dealer name and I research their current status. Drop me a line if you’d me to look up your status too.

Cory

 

[FoodDr]

The highway mileage of 25+ was at a speed of 65-70mph (not 55!) with cruise control. This is with a limited with FWD not 4WD.

 

[Carnivore]

Looking into getting a 2012 XLT, friends of ours own a Ford dealership and I can get a very good deal but it seems like all I read about is problems. Wondering if anyone is happy and would buy again?

Thanks!

LOVE MY LIMITED 4x4

 

[vulnox]

I would buy again without hesitation. MFT is quirky at times, but I have faith in it's improvement. Otherwise it is amazing to drive and I don't dread driving places because I just love driving it. Haven't said that about a vehicle in years. if I did get a chance to do it over, I would have gone Limited instead of XLT. Since I have the power lift gate there is no easy or cheap option to add remote start. Also I have been missing the cooled seats I tried in a test drive. Plus the power fold mirror would have come in handy a few times now. As well as the power third row seats. When my two year lease is up, unless Ford has something I want more, I am getting a Limited.

Don't be afraid of getting the Ex though. It is simply awesome.

 

[ex man in van]

I just got mine a month ago, and have spent quite a bit of time on here. I love my truck, as does my wife and my friends.
I've had to do some work to it and found this place great to answer questions about things not well covered in an owners or Haynes manual, and you do see a lot of issues come up, but keep in mind a lot of those questions are simply from the point of view of adding or doing things to improve or personalize their Ex, and getting the know how to do it themselves to save a buck or two. Y'know.....basic gearhead stuff.
From what I've heard the 2012 is a great ride, so I'd have no qualms going for it.

 

[RandyH2]

I certainly don't love my Limited AWD, but I have gotten over the buyers remorse I had for the first few months. MFT is still a frustration at least once every trip. I stlll find myeslf sitting off-center in the seat, the vehicle vibrates when the tires are cold (and I don't care what anyone says about tires flat spotting, this is unacceptable), gas mileage is averaging 18.7 for me, a drop of almost 1 mpg from our 2001 X5 driven the same. The lack of Daytime Running Lights is a glaring omission (see other post about that). No interior storage compartments in the back; easily accidentally activated power third row will squash things. Can't display engine temp and fuel economy at same time (or at least I can't). MFT/nav really stinks. Did we mention MFT is worthless? Try browsing Sirius stations... Keypad door entry- just seems insecure to me when there are 5 buttons and 5 digits- that's not a very big set of combinations.

What I do like: Being able to comfortable haul 7 people. Great interior and exterior design. Okay, I don't like the treatment around the rear glass- should be flush-mounted. Decent performance and handling. Quiet interior (much better than the Durango). Steering feel is good for a big vehicle. Paint seems to be good. Keyless entry and start is GREAT until you lock the keys in the back.

And I like this forum.

Would I buy again? Probably not, until they fix MFT at which point I would definitely buy.

 

[vulnox]

I certainly don't love my Limited AWD, but I have gotten over the buyers remorse I had for the first few months. MFT is still a frustration at least once every trip. I stlll find myeslf sitting off-center in the seat, the vehicle vibrates when the tires are cold (and I don't care what anyone says about tires flat spotting, this is unacceptable), gas mileage is averaging 18.7 for me, a drop of almost 1 mpg from our 2001 X5 driven the same. The lack of Daytime Running Lights is a glaring omission (see other post about that). No interior storage compartments in the back; easily accidentally activated power third row will squash things. Can't display engine temp and fuel economy at same time (or at least I can't). MFT/nav really stinks. Did we mention MFT is worthless? Try browsing Sirius stations... Keypad door entry- just seems insecure to me when there are 5 buttons and 5 digits- that's not a very big set of combinations.

What I do like: Being able to comfortable haul 7 people. Great interior and exterior design. Okay, I don't like the treatment around the rear glass- should be flush-mounted. Decent performance and handling. Quiet interior (much better than the Durango). Steering feel is good for a big vehicle. Paint seems to be good. Keyless entry and start is GREAT until you lock the keys in the back.

And I like this forum.

Would I buy again? Probably not, until they fix MFT at which point I would definitely buy.

MFT is far from worthless. I am not sure you know the definition of that word.

The only time I ran into a problem with it is when it locked up in 2.8. I had to pull the fuse, then got it on 2.11. Seems fine. Could stand to be quicker, but I have found plenty of worth.

5 button combo, just taking the buttons into consideration only, that is 3,125 combinations that would have to be attempted, assuming I remembered the formula correctly, and since it's a very simple one I believe I did, but won't bet my life on it. And then that only gets you into the vehicle, you still can't drive it without the fob. Would be quicker to bust the window, even if it were only 50 combos.

Cant speak to tire issues and that. I don't have any such vibration, and I love the seats in mine.

I will agree that the dash cluster screens could stand to offer more user choices. I hate that if I just want to switch to "manual" shifting and am in the fuel economy mode, it takes me to the rpm screen, even though I can see the rpm on the fuel economy screen. Then if you stay in manual mode and go back to fuel Econ, it still shows the current gear, so why Ford forces you to leave that screen I have no idea.

 

[ronninco]

Well worth the wait!

Originally, I ordered my 2011 Explorer Limited on March 24. On May 24 I was told I would have to choose a different color as the Bordeaux was not available because of Japan's Earthquake. On June 24 I was told the vehicle would not be built -to this day I'm not sure why- but the dealer offered to order a 2012. I declined the offer and found a dealer who located a 2011 Limited and I finally took delivery on July 6. Even with all this drama, I'm very happy with the vehicle. I have taken two road trips and accumulated 4,000 miles with no problems. The NAV system works great, no "A" pillar noise, no rain noise, and the voice commands work, as long as I say them the way she wants them said. Kinda like having two wives. Mine was built in late June so maybe they fixed the problems reported in the early builds. It a pleasure to drive both around town and on road trips. BLIS, and Adaptave Cruise Control, are the greatest. It was well worth the wait!

 

[gdecamp]

Excellent vehicle, lots of great features noted above and I would probably buy it again! They did over hype MFT and unless we get some guarantees from Ford that they will keep us up to date with firmware this could hurt our resale value. So far they have because of bugs but will it stop?

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I have a later (May) build and ~6000 miles. I've had no issues, no trips back to the dealer, and am very happy. Like most people I find MFT to be quirky and sometimes annoying, but nothing that the occasional reset doesn't fix. I'd buy it again.

 

[RandyH2]

MFT is far from worthless. I am not sure you know the definition of that word.

"worthless [ˈwɜːθlɪs]. adj. 1. without practical value or usefulness"

"practical Adjective/ˈpraktikəl/1. Of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something. 2. (of an idea, plan, or method) Likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances;"

In most situations, MFT fails my usability test for a consumer device which would be a commercial success. Given a stand-alone MFT device, an iPad, etc., would you ever really choose the MFT device? Personally, I would never even give it a second glance. The iDrive system in our other car would probably beat the iPad because I can operate it with tactile inputs and very minimal visual distraction. And it works, every_single_time. Promptly.
To me, a device which is expensive, not user-friendly, fails to function, fails to function in a timely manner, and is offered in lieu of a perfectly functioning system (the non-Sync/MFT base model) is essentially worthless. Yes, we could argue nuances of meaning but in my vernacular MFT is "worthless".

Okay, maybe just "almost worthless".

 

[FlyNavy]

A) I currently have a 2006 XC-90, V8, AWD. Nice vehicle, but the Nav, as with any factory installed nav, leaves something to be desired. Just updated nav DVD last year and can't find addresses that my '03 Dodge Ram factory nav can find. Plus it gives me the wrong directions about 1/4 of the time.

B) I too was wondering if anyone actually liked the new explorers. Seemed all the blogs were littered with problems. So I google "problems with 2011/21...Acadia/Grand Cherokee/Durango/Traverse/X5/XC-90, etc." It seems like everyone out there has the same problems. There's no one manufacturer that has it locked.

C) And yes - it seems like these issues are the minority, not the standard.

 

[calb]

The lack of Daytime Running Lights is a glaring omission

Randy, I know for a fact that the Ex has Daytime Running Lights (mandatory here in Canada and they don't do a special order for Canadians ).

The only question is finding out how to turn them on. Maybe Cory could help with this, as it doesn't seem to be something that should be a big issue, if as I believe, it is already built in?

 

[calb]

. I hate that if I just want to switch to "manual" shifting and am in the fuel economy mode, it takes me to the rpm screen, even though I can see the rpm on the fuel economy screen. Then if you stay in manual mode and go back to fuel Econ, it still shows the current gear, so why Ford forces you to leave that screen I have no idea.

Good point - you should post that comment up as a Ford Story user suggestion.

 

[scoobycarolan]

^^^ this ^^^

What ^^^^ said. Love my Ex(plorer, not ex-wife)

 

[DDF]

Love mine - and no problems.