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

[Joeymustang]

I tried the FJ Cruiser before buying the Explorer, and considering that 98% of my use will be on roads, there was no reason to go with a rougher ride just because of that 2%

 

[2TimingTom]

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.

never once have I criticized Ford for what they designed. They knew their target market, designed a vehicle for it and hit the nail right on the head with it. Just call it something other than "Explorer".

If the new Mustang had 4 doors- imagine the uproar that would cause. Imagine if Jeep put "Wrangler" on a FWD economy car..... The Corvette name was put on a pickup truck..... Humvee on a sportscar..... When Porsche came out with a 4 door car, they didn't call it the 911. They knew better. The Panorama is similar to the 911 but is aimed at a different market than the 911 market.

It'll always be a minivan to me.

 

[sciond]

even jeeps change I also bought a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited..who woulda thunk..4 doors

 

[Bryceb]

never once have I criticized Ford for what they designed. They knew their target market, designed a vehicle for it and hit the nail right on the head with it. Just call it something other than "Explorer".

If the new Mustang had 4 doors- imagine the uproar that would cause. Imagine if Jeep put "Wrangler" on a FWD economy car..... The Corvette name was put on a pickup truck..... Humvee on a sportscar..... When Porsche came out with a 4 door car, they didn't call it the 911. They knew better. The Panorama is similar to the 911 but is aimed at a different market than the 911 market.

It'll always be a minivan to me.

Or the name for a trim package form a 70s pickup on a SUV... At least they called it Explorer instead of the Bronco II XL. I have a Bronco II, BTW

 

[2TimingTom]

Or the name for a trim package form a 70s pickup on a SUV... At least they called it Explorer instead of the Bronco II XL. I have a Bronco II, BTW

I'd forgotten about that. I had a friend that had a pickup Explorer.

 

[13.]

Minivans?

They're both minivans...


Si

Crossover?

Calling it a minivan is silly. They share little in common other than 3 rows of seats and the fact that you don't like either.

 

[colintrax]

^It's a minivan. Unibody, 3 rows seating, fwd, can't get anything bigger than a v6 (granted a fast v6), independent suspension, no manual trans, the size of a tank but only sits 5" off the ground, and all the little gadgets/cute things. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...-explorer-the-minivan-antidote/article628217/

However, why are we attacking the new explorer? It's a minivan, who cares. Atleast it's a cool minivan. Not like the explorer was real offroad worthy after 2002, the bigger body and independent rear suspension killed it. Ford just finally got rid of the frame, and RWD basis. Oh, and the v8.

 

[Bryceb]

^It's a minivan. Unibody, 3 rows seating, fwd, can't get anything bigger than a v6 (granted a fast v6), independent suspension, no manual trans, the size of a tank but only sits 5" off the ground, and all the little gadgets/cute things. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...-explorer-the-minivan-antidote/article628217/

However, why are we attacking the new explorer? It's a minivan, who cares. Atleast it's a cool minivan. Not like the explorer was real offroad worthy after 2002, the bigger body and independent rear suspension killed it. Ford just finally got rid of the frame, and RWD basis. Oh, and the v8.

When I first brought our Explorer home, the kids came out to check it out. My 10yo son immediately insulted it. "Cool van, Dad." I wanted to curl up and die, but he was serious about it being cool.

 

[broken strut]

Why do people who don't even own a new gen ex come on here. It would be different if I went on their forum and started talking about how crappy a 2nd Gen is. It is how the vehicle received it's nickname. EXPLODER. Get over it. Your old POS Exploders are out of production. I do believe the new ones are selling nicely. It's business plain and simple. Out with the old and in with the new.

 

[13.]

If we go by above logic the explorer was always a minivan/people mover. Granted it may not have always had three rows but it purpose is to move people from point a to point b. and not be very exciting while doing it.

I've had a '91 and a '97 and the only thing the extra 1.7" of ground clearance gave me was the ability to get stuck on stuff the was 1.7" taller so thats kind of a moot point. The new naturally aspirated 6 has more horsepower than any 8 offered in an explorer so thats out. There are plenty of vehicles on the road with unibodies but they're not classified as minivans so I dont see how that defines it.

Never mind. This has gotten boring. Call it whatever you want.

 

[broken strut]

Yes the 97 had a towering 6.7" ground clearance and a whopping 210 h.p. V8 (glug glug). Yes those were much better and manly trucks. LOL. IF you could keep them on the road. Ford has come leaps and bounds with the new and IMPROVED explorer. If i wanted a vehicle to take 4 wheeling, yes I would get a POS Exploder and smash and bang the crap out of it. However, that's not the way of the future. Don't like the new one. Go buy a Jeep.

 

[colintrax]

Why do people who don't even own a new gen ex come on here. It would be different if I went on their forum and started talking about how crappy a 2nd Gen is. It is how the vehicle received it's nickname. EXPLODER. Get over it. Your old POS Exploders are out of production. I do believe the new ones are selling nicely. It's business plain and simple. Out with the old and in with the new.

I can't speak for the other guys, but I'm a car guy and look on every generation sub forum on here. I own a 97, but I love all the 1st and 2nd gens. The new sport is pretty cool to. Just the same as I look at the "chevy" "dodge" "Jeep" "suzuki" and other brands on pirate4x4

Just don't expect me to know anything about your POS Toyotas, Hondas, and Kias. I would never own one, and thus could give 2 sh!ts about em.
Oh, and my "crappy 2nd gen exploder" has 170,000 miles of offroading, towing, and driving hard without any major issues. Ball joints and lower intake manifold gaskets is the worst I've had to replace.

 

[colintrax]

Check this thread out, the new explorers are good for what they were made to for. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378250

A family vehicle. I love my 97, but getting rear ended at 62mph by a dump truck. I probably wouldn't be walking out of that. Of course who knows, I did slide backwards into a ditch at 60. Drove out the ditch, and threw the spare tire on (FL tire got sticks/grass wedged between the bead) had to get the frame straightened but the truck drove around just fine. And I was uninjured.
But after seeing some other cars after accidents, I'd say the new explorers are pretty damn safe. Which is great for moms and dads who don't want a minivan but need a practical vehicle. New explorer is smooth, looks good, safe, 20+mpg, can tow a decent amount, lots of storage, and once again. It's safe. Oh, and kids will love it.

 

[13.]

Yeah. That's why I bought ours. Safety for my family.

 

[swkooter]

A real explorer using his Explorer to do some exploring

Good read, good points all around. Here's my two cents:

See the following in our forum here, about post number #130

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354376

Maybe not exploring in the Ponce de Leon sense, strictly speaking. But a fine example of using the vehicle for well, exploring.

 

[01STrunner]

I remember reading points from that trip. It looked like it was a great expedition or maybe exploration?