Hello!

[CollectorX]

Hi all!

I'm new to the forums, and still fairly new as an Explorer owner. Bought an '03 Explorer Sport Trac XLT back in June.

Before that, my wife and I were both driving 1990 models (a Mercury Sable for her and a Chevy Corsica for me). I'm the type to hang on to a vehicle until it falls apart... not because I don't like new vehicles, but because I hate car payments!

But we knew we needed to do something... so off and on for two years I looked at cars... sports cars, sport-luxury cars, etc. Nothing hit me hard enough to make me take the plunge.

Until one day, on a Wednesday morning, I found myself in traffic next to a Sport Trac. And that was it... love at first sight! By Saturday I was behind the wheel.

It's been almost four months now and I'm still as happy with it as the day I bought it. For me it's the perfect vehicle. It comfortably seats as many people as you could get in a car, plus I've got the bed for hauling our bikes or lawn & garden stuff or whatever.

I've got pictures but not with me... a friend sent this link to me at work.

Some background on me... I'm 39, married (which you've probably gathered) with no kids. I'm in IT management. Hobbies... video games, biking, reading (mostly non-fiction), hiking, various creative endeavors, and hanging out in Internet message forums.

 

[Redrig]

WELCOME!!! and enjoy. i really liked them also when they came out but like you i didnt want to take the plunge.

 

[CollectorX]

pix!

I just ordered the hood-mounted smoke bug shield, the cargo bed extender, and the bed-mount bike rack from my dealer.

 

[Redrig]

nice truck!!! now just picture that 6 inches higher with 33' on it.

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by CollectorX
and the bed-mount bike rack from my dealer.

Now there's something I would love if i had a Sport Trac! I don't like my rack on the back b/c I can't open the hatch with it on and I'm too lazy to take it off

Gorgeous truck BTW!

 

[GaSouthern1]

Originally posted by redrig
nice truck!!! now just picture that 6 inches higher with 33' on it.

There have been a bunch of people fitting 285s on them stock (well TT/Shackles). They really look good like that as well, I saw one for sale up at the ford dealer and it looked great.

Congrats on the new truck...must be a step up from the corsica.

 

[CollectorX]

Thanks for the truck compliments.

Re: modding - I think I'll wait until the new wears off before I start experimenting. But I'm sure it'll happen at some point...

Re: my Corsica - yes, quite a change from the Corsica. I happened across the Corsica used back around '96 or '97... got it cheap because it needed some fixing up. It is definitely a no-frills car! But it gets good mileage. And did I mention it was cheap?

The Explorer is only the second vehicle I've bought new. My first was an '88 Nissan 4x4 pick-up. I was jonesing for the Pathfinder at the time but I couldn't afford it. But the truck served me well. It too was "no frills".

My first ever SUV was a Chevy Blazer... I think it was a '71 model. Bought it in the early 80's. It was full of rust-holes, needing painting... and the previous owner had carpeted the interior with 70's shag.

So really the Explorer is a big step up from pretty much everything I've ever owned.