Just Like That...Explorer sold after one month.

[willyexpy]

The Explorer is gone. Some notes for the possible buyer...

Me =

I paid $29K for it, got $34K on trade. Thank goodness for dealer incentives right?!

I'm not bashing the vehicle, it's just not for me.

The Bad (for me)...
1) Sync - How does such a flawed product make it into a vehicle
2) Towing - Really? 2,500K? (optional tow package S/B standard)
3) Drive excitement? I really felt like I was driving an Enterprise Rent a Car
4) Overall Feel - Very light as so much felt like a sacrifice for 1MPG
5) Resale value of Ford.....dear lord, why buy a new one? I had mine for one month only and got really lucky to get out with my neck in tact
6) Awkward width to door when seated. For the room, felt like it went wasted

The Good...
1) Looks - I give it an A!
2) Ride - Smooth and compliant
3) Comfort - Seats are nice!
4) MPG - for a three rower - GOOD! 22MPG combined
5) I thought the paint was good too!
6) Cargo area, not bad at all.

 

[VinceL]

So what forum are you headed to now that this is no longer a home to you?

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

I paid $29K for it, got $34K on trade. Thank goodness for dealer incentives right?!

You do understand how the "trade" and "buy" game works......right?

Good luck on your next ride.

 

[mitchness]

I agree Sync is garbage which is produced by a company that produces garbage operating systems for computers. This is a massive mistake on Ford's end and if my next Ford has sync, I'm physically removing it and installing Linux with all the car programs for FREE (hundreds of them).

Explorers are what they are...Explorers. Towing a fifth wheel isn't going to happen, but a camper to take out in the woods for the weekend won't give you any problems. It also yanks other trucks bigger than it out of ditches in the winter time effortlessly, but no, it's not a workaholic's truck. It's a truck for a soccer mom who isn't stupid enough to buy a minivan, and for her husband to go play in the woods when the kids are in school. To each their own though. Good luck with your next vehicle.

wait...you got 22mpg???

 

[182RG]

I agree Sync is garbage which is produced by a company that produces garbage operating systems for computers. This is a massive mistake on Ford's end and if my next Ford has sync, I'm physically removing it and installing Linux with all the car programs for FREE (hundreds of them).

Funniest ignorance I read on the Internet today...thx for the laugh....

When are you going to root your iPhone and run Linux on it?

 

[Sgt1411]

I would love to see that step by step modifiers post on the removal of SYNC and the installation of LINUX.....please post ASAP

 

[willyexpy]

So what forum are you headed to now that this is no longer a home to you?

I went back to those darn Japanese again. Hint, 381hp.

Explorers are what they are...Explorers. Towing a fifth wheel isn't going to happen, but a camper to take out in the woods for the weekend won't give you any problems. It also yanks other trucks bigger than it out of ditches in the winter time effortlessly, but no, it's not a workaholic's truck. It's a truck for a soccer mom who isn't stupid enough to buy a minivan, and for her husband to go play in the woods when the kids are in school. To each their own though. Good luck with your next vehicle.

wait...you got 22mpg???

I don't "hate" Explorers, just not my cup of tea. And yes, I got 21.5MPG on a trip down to Sedona Az from Las Vegas. Cruise was set to 87MPH. It's not all that crazy, the speed limit is 75MPH so I wasn't passing much of anyone.

 

[willyexpy]

You do understand how the "trade" and "buy" game works......right?

Good luck on your next ride.

Well let's see. I paid $29K OTD on a demo Explorer with dealer and factory incentives. When I traded the vehicle in, they gave me $32K plus sales tax credit to make $34K.

It's not the first time I've come out ahead like that on an American car. Just have to be in the right place at the right time when those dealers are desperate to get rid of something.

The nice part? I got $3850 off the new ride from the dealer on a 2012 model and another $3500 from the factory. So my $41,500 truck was $34,150. On top of that I negotiated down another $7K which was partly the reason the trade in was bumped so high.

So yeah, there are ways to pull one off every now and then. My payments are lower and I'm a happy camper.

 

[BostonHXC]

I agree Sync is garbage which is produced by a company that produces garbage operating systems for computers. This is a massive mistake on Ford's end and if my next Ford has sync, I'm physically removing it and installing Linux with all the car programs for FREE (hundreds of them).

HAHAHAHAHA! OK...

Garbage, really? I am a network engineer by trade and support both Linux and Windows on the server side, and on the desktop. Microsoft owns most of the installed userbase for a reason, they dont do everything right but most of their Operating systems (DOS, Win95/98/XP/7) are/were awesome. Yes Linux is a good server OS, and even a decent end user solution but to state that Sync is CRAP because Ford partnered with Microsoft is straight biased and not at all helpful. In fact MS saved Fords ass because Ford screwed the pooch trying to break the partnership and in the end messed up the OS themselves, then came crawling back to MS for help.

Now that said most drivers do not have the option of hacking their car and throwing in a custom Linux based system to replace the MFT. If you have an option for doing this, then good luck with it and please post a build thread. But in the meantime the rest of us will continue to enjoy our very capable MFT system that is covered by a nice warranty.

 

[2TimingTom]

Explorers are what they are...

Minivans?

It's a truck for a soccer mom who isn't stupid enough to buy a minivan,

....see, I think the new Explorers ARE minivans with 4 normal doors- no sliding doors. They certainly have little in common with its namesake that started it all.

And "truck"? Really? There's been discussion on the 1st and 2nd gen forums as to whether or not those Explorers are trucks- feelings are mixed. Calling the latest one a truck...... seriously? It's FWD..... like a minivan.

and for her husband to go play in the woods when the kids are in school.

'cuz nothing tackles the woods better than some BIG wheels and tiny sidewalled tires.

 

[blueka]

I drove the Freestyle and new Explorer back to back... same thing... even the rearmost seats are the same... Ford should bring the Galaxy over from Europe and make the Explorer a proper SUV like it used to be...
That way, they wouldn't be losing sale to the likes of the Grand Caravan, which is absolutely everywhere and the Explorer wouldn't be such a joke as it is in most motoring magazines... that's why I drive a 2nd gen...


Si

 

[peterk9]

I drove the Freestyle and new Explorer back to back... same thing... even the rearmost seats are the same... Ford should bring the Galaxy over from Europe and make the Explorer a proper SUV like it used to be...
That way, they wouldn't be losing sale to the likes of the Grand Caravan, which is absolutely everywhere and the Explorer wouldn't be such a joke as it is in most motoring magazines... that's why I drive a 2nd gen...


Si

The majority of buyers are not looking for "a proper SUV like it used to be". That is why Ford and now even Nissan with the Pathfinder have moved away from them. Not sure why the Explorer would lose sales to the Grand Caravan. They aren't even the same type of vehicle. I tested a 2002 Explorer after the lease on my Windstar was up but found it too rough a ride for my liking. I then spent the next 10+ years leasing 3 Highlanders. When I read about the change to the new Explorer I jumped back to Ford even with 2 1/2 uears to go on my Highlander lease which a friend took over. There are many others who bought the new Explorer because of the changes. Sales figures don't lie. This is a very popular vehicle. No joke.

Peter

 

[blueka]

Not sure why the Explorer would lose sales to the Grand Caravan. They aren't even the same type of vehicle.

Peter

They're both minivans...


Si

 

[harlenm]

They're both minivans...


Si

Where can I get me some sliding rear doors then??

 

[blueka]

sliding rear doors isn't the only thing that makes it a mini-van... the fact that going off-road is pretty limited by the very low front bumper and poor clearance... the FWD layout.. the crappy 4x4 system... not really and SUV...

Si

 

[2TimingTom]

Sales figures don't lie. This is a very popular vehicle. No joke.

Peter

Not gonna lie- I had one as a rental. I liked it. It was a great pavement pounder.

But like I said earlier- it shares little with its original namesake.

My problem with it is that they call it an "Explorer". It's not an Explorer.

Take the Porsche 911. It's been around for...... forever. I'm pretty sure I've seen cave paintings of it. Over the years, while it's changed a bunch, it's still largely the same: rear engine, rear wheel drive, same headlights, 2 door, same sloped back..... While the 911s of today are technical marvels compared to the original, you can easily see the inherent traits between the 2.

You could probably make the same case for the Mustang or the Camaro.... maybe. The F-150.

The new "Explorers" are great vehicles. Don't want to argue that. But, I'm gonna come out and say it- they shouldn't wear the Explorer nameplate.

Imagine if Bugatti took the Veyron- a car that is ridiculously good at going stupid fast in a straight line (doesn't really turn all that well) and morphed it over the years into something that had 4 doors, FWD, a 4 cylinder and a top speed of 100 mph. Because let's face it, most Veyron owners will never drive their Veyrons that fast (similar reasoning with Explorer owners not taking their Explorers offroad). Would the new Veyron really be a Veyron? Sure most Explorers never left the pavement- but the old ones COULD if they had to. The new Explorer wouldn't make it out of sight of the pavement on the tame trails around here while in mine I'd still be going- possibly still in 2wd.

 

[peterk9]

Not gonna lie- I had one as a rental. I liked it. It was a great pavement pounder.

But like I said earlier- it shares little with its original namesake.

My problem with it is that they call it an "Explorer". It's not an Explorer.

Take the Porsche 911. It's been around for...... forever. I'm pretty sure I've seen cave paintings of it. Over the years, while it's changed a bunch, it's still largely the same: rear engine, rear wheel drive, same headlights, 2 door, same sloped back..... While the 911s of today are technical marvels compared to the original, you can easily see the inherent traits between the 2.

You could probably make the same case for the Mustang or the Camaro.... maybe. The F-150.

The new "Explorers" are great vehicles. Don't want to argue that. But, I'm gonna come out and say it- they shouldn't wear the Explorer nameplate.

Imagine if Bugatti took the Veyron- a car that is ridiculously good at going stupid fast in a straight line (doesn't really turn all that well) and morphed it over the years into something that had 4 doors, FWD, a 4 cylinder and a top speed of 100 mph. Because let's face it, most Veyron owners will never drive their Veyrons that fast (similar reasoning with Explorer owners not taking their Explorers offroad). Would the new Veyron really be a Veyron? Sure most Explorers never left the pavement- but the old ones COULD if they had to. The new Explorer wouldn't make it out of sight of the pavement on the tame trails around here while in mine I'd still be going- possibly still in 2wd.

I do somewhat agree with you on the name part but I think that Ford just wanted to capitalize on the brand it had already established. I believe Nissan chose to do the same with the new Pathfinder. Many vehicles have evolved over time and kept the same name while others were 'reborn' with new ones or dropped all together. I think the Ex may surprise some with its limited off road capabilities but that isn't why I got mine. Moving over from Toyota, if I wanted/needed an off roader I likely would have gone with the 4Runner.
Cheers.

Peter

 

[01STrunner]

This thread is quite entertaining. I would never buy the new ex because that is not what I want in a vehicle. But the market has changed so much that everyone insists on getting over 20mpg and still be able to haul 25 people at the same time. Everyone has moved away from the body on frame SUVs to crossovers or CUVs as some manufacturers call them. The FWD basis with a unibody frame makes the road manners unarguably better than say a truck or body on frame vehicle. I don't like to pick at the 5th gen for that reason because they do very well at what they were designed to be. They are a people mover that IMO looks at least a billion times better than a minivan even if the guts are about the same, minus the respectable ecoboost engine. Honestly, I'm more disappointed in the ecoboost F150. 11K lbs towing capacity??? Yeah right Ford. A half ton truck could never safely pull a load that heavy.

 

[jrmexplorer]

Criticizing Ford for designing the Explorer to suit 99.99999% of the user base of the older model Explorers and not the .00001% use case that the older gen owners on this thread seem to want Ford to design it for is asinine.

Very few Explorer owners from older generations actually used the thing "off-road." Unless of course you count backing over the curb. If more people actually "off-roaded" with it, Ford would have designed it with that in mind.

 

[01STrunner]

Very few Explorer owners from older generations actually used the thing "off-road." Unless of course you count backing over the curb. If more people actually "off-roaded" with it, Ford would have designed it with that in mind.

Even jeep is doing this. A 2wd, 4dr JK....