Looking forward to test driving the new Explorer

[Titan12345]

Ok, now see if the both of you can keep up in a tight turn?

Nothing better than sitting up a bit higher than the rest.

As these crossovers evolve, the fun for the off-road person to improve the off road performance is going to be tough more difficult.
T

 

[JDraper]

..Out of all the 4wd drivetrains out there I prefer the rwd with a selectable 4wd system that engages the front wheels instead of the back.

I'd rather have that than a front wheel drive based system too, but it didn't happen in the new Explorer, so I went with what they produced. For non wheeling purposes, I'd prefer it to be a system like the '11's have, but RWD biased instead of FWD biased. I will say that after driving this for a week, Ford did a pretty good job at making the system close to transparent to the user. I've only made it torquesteer once, and that's when one front wheel was on slippery stuff and the other wasn't. It only lasted a fraction of a second until the AWD kicked in and then it tracked nice and straight.

I think stock for stock, this new Explorer will go just about anywhere that an older Explorer can. Obviously it doesn't have a 4Lo setting, and it can't be modded anything like the pre-IRS Explorers so once you start the modding, the older Explorers will do far better offroad.....but with the power, traction system and gearing, it will perform reasonably.

For true offroading..gimme a Samurai anyday...

 

[JDraper]

...As these crossovers evolve, the fun for the off-road person to improve the off road performance is going to be tough more difficult.
T

Maybe I'll have to get me a dinged up '11 Edge or Explorer in a couple of years and see if I can tweak one for wheeling..just for giggles. The Edge would probably be a better platform to start with because of it's wheelbase. The '11 Explorer is too long to make a good wheeler.

 

[JLindley]

I'd rather have that than a front wheel drive based system too, but it didn't happen in the new Explorer, so I went with what they produced. For non wheeling purposes, I'd prefer it to be a system like the '11's have, but RWD biased instead of FWD biased. I will say that after driving this for a week, Ford did a pretty good job at making the system close to transparent to the user. I've only made it torquesteer once, and that's when one front wheel was on slippery stuff and the other wasn't. It only lasted a fraction of a second until the AWD kicked in and then it tracked nice and straight.

I think stock for stock, this new Explorer will go just about anywhere that an older Explorer can. Obviously it doesn't have a 4Lo setting, and it can't be modded anything like the pre-IRS Explorers so once you start the modding, the older Explorers will do far better offroad.....but with the power, traction system and gearing, it will perform reasonably.

For true offroading..gimme a Samurai anyday...

Yea, true. This time go round Ford was aiming more towards the people who don't go offroad and want better gas mileage. Im sure the new awd drive train works really well on the snowy services/wet grass and light off road conditions. I dont blame ford for aiming more towards that kind of market b/c its crucial these days for automakers to make it.