Questions after testing an ST and Limited

[jds22]

Hey all, first time poster.

Last night my wife and I test drove an ST and Limited and now I have a few questions about the ST.

First off I knew the ST ride would be more firm but it was quite a bit more so compared to the Limited. Bumps seemed kind of harsh and there seemed to be quite a bit of tire chatter (for lack of a better term) when going over seams in the road or overpasses. When I returned it, I found the tire pressures were all at 44. Would that over inflation make much difference? I didn't have time to correct them and take it back out.

Secondly the seats in the ST were more firm than the Limited. They had the massage feature in them and the salesperson said that contributes to the harder feel of the seat but I am not sure I believe that. Do you think the ST seats without the massage feature would feel closer to the Limited seats?

Thanks,
Jerry

 

[DoraAExplorer]

Hey all, first time poster.

Last night my wife and I test drove an ST and Limited and now I have a few questions about the ST.

First off I knew the ST ride would be more firm but it was quite a bit more so compared to the Limited. Bumps seemed kind of harsh and there seemed to be quite a bit of tire chatter (for lack of a better term) when going over seams in the road or overpasses. When I returned it, I found the tire pressures were all at 44. Would that over inflation make much difference? I didn't have time to correct them and take it back out.

Secondly the seats in the ST were more firm than the Limited. They had the massage feature in them and the salesperson said that contributes to the harder feel of the seat but I am not sure I believe that. Do you think the ST seats without the massage feature would feel closer to the Limited seats?

Thanks,
Jerry

The ST has a tuned sport suspension so yes it will be firmer, the tires can make a difference to how much firmness is transferred to the driver. The Michelin Pilot Sports are firm yet soft so unless they use those type of tires then it probably makes it feel more firmer than it could. Most sport tires have a hard thin sidewall which will transmit more vibrations/ harshness through the vehicle. Tire pressure can make a difference but usually is not much of a difference other than feeling more bounce on potholes/ bumps. I am not sure about the massaging seats as it really makes no sense how Ford puts them in vehicles. It is absent on the F150 SVT or Ford Performance Raptors but present on the ST Explorer. The Active X material is very soft and supportive. The ST would have a firmer harder foam and thus a more structure feel to them.

I honestly feel like the ST and Limited are both over kills for the Explorer. Look at an XLT packaged optioned with the Sports Appearance Package if you want the comfort of the Limited with the appearance of the ST. If you want a fast SUV then I would go electric similar to the Model Y Tesla which can out perform any similar gas powered SUV but is range limited to around 300 miles.

Good Luck with your purchase decision.

 

[jds22]

The ST has a tuned sport suspension so yes it will be firmer, the tires can make a difference to how much firmness is transferred to the driver. The Michelin Pilot Sports are firm yet soft so unless they use those type of tires then it probably makes it feel more firmer than it could. Most sport tires have a hard thin sidewall which will transmit more vibrations/ harshness through the vehicle. Tire pressure can make a difference but usually is not much of a difference other than feeling more bounce on potholes/ bumps. I am not sure about the massaging seats as it really makes no sense how Ford puts them in vehicles. It is absent on the F150 SVT or Ford Performance Raptors but present on the ST Explorer. The Active X material is very soft and supportive. The ST would have a firmer harder foam and thus a more structure feel to them.

I honestly feel like the ST and Limited are both over kills for the Explorer. Look at an XLT packaged optioned with the Sports Appearance Package if you want the comfort of the Limited with the appearance of the ST. If you want a fast SUV then I would go electric similar to the Model Y Tesla which can out perform any similar gas powered SUV but is range limited to around 300 miles.

Good Luck with your purchase decision.

Thanks for the info. We drove an XLT a month or so ago and really liked the way it rode and the seats were softer and IMHO more comfy than the ST. We were hoping to compare the ST with an XLT yesterday but they didn't have an XLT and gave us a Limited instead. That was ok because we were able to see how the 2.3L and softer suspension felt compared to the ST.

I think we'd be happy with an XLT and would opt for the Sport Appearance Package.

Thanks again.

 

[TonyST]

Thanks for the info. We drove an XLT a month or so ago and really liked the way it rode and the seats were softer and IMHO more comfy than the ST. We were hoping to compare the ST with an XLT yesterday but they didn't have an XLT and gave us a Limited instead. That was ok because we were able to see how the 2.3L and softer suspension felt compared to the ST.

I think we'd be happy with an XLT and would opt for the Sport Appearance Package.

Thanks again.

There was a discussion earlier about how rough the ST rode with the higher pressure they use in the tires for transport. The dealer is supposed to set the correct tire pressure on receipt service but seems that a lot are not doing that. 44 lbs vs 33 makes a BIG difference in the ride quality on the ST Pirelli Scorpions. You need to drive one that has the tires set at the right pressure. I can tell a big diffference in my ST with just about 4 or 5 lbs difference.

 

[jds22]

There was a discussion earlier about how rough the ST rode with the higher pressure they use in the tires for transport. The dealer is supposed to set the correct tire pressure on receipt service but seems that a lot are not doing that. 44 lbs vs 33 makes a BIG difference in the ride quality on the ST Pirelli Scorpions. You need to drive one that has the tires set at the right pressure. I can tell a big diffference in my ST with just about 4 or 5 lbs difference.

That's good to know. I'm going to another dealer tomorrow that has some STs and XLTs on the lot. I'm taking my tire gauge with me.

 

[peterk9]

That's good to know. I'm going to another dealer tomorrow that has some STs and XLTs on the lot. I'm taking my tire gauge with me.

Welcome to the Forum.
re tire pressure see; New Vehicle High PSI Readings Upon Delivery
As for the seats, I had the massaging seats in my 2017 Platinum and now in my Aviator and there were/are very comfortable. Granted, I haven't sat in the Limited or ST. Perhaps try sitting in the Platinum and compare them to the ST.

Peter

 

[jds22]

Welcome to the Forum.
re tire pressure see; New Vehicle High PSI Readings Upon Delivery
As for the seats, I had the massaging seats in my 2017 Platinum and now in my Aviator and there were/are very comfortable. Granted, I haven't sat in the Limited or ST. Perhaps try sitting in the Platinum and compare them to the ST.

Peter

Thanks. I just read that thread on tire pressure. I'll be sure to take my gauge with me tomorrow.

 

[Spacey]

I've had my ST for about 15 months. It was delivered with the tires at transport pressure. After I adjusted them the ride improved, but it is not good. My opinion, the suspension is very unrefined, poorly calibrated, much harsher than it needs to be. It's almost like Ford thought, "Well it's an ST people won't be happy unless their kidneys hurt." They should have driven an Audi first. If I still have the car when the shocks are worn (unlikely) I'll be looking to improve the suspension. It shouldn't be difficult to make it much better; just expensive.

 

[jds22]

I've had my ST for about 15 months. It was delivered with the tires at transport pressure. After I adjusted them the ride improved, but it is not good. My opinion, the suspension is very unrefined, poorly calibrated, much harsher than it needs to be. It's almost like Ford thought, "Well it's an ST people won't be happy unless their kidneys hurt." They should have driven an Audi first. If I still have the car when the shocks are worn (unlikely) I'll be looking to improve the suspension. It shouldn't be difficult to make it much better; just expensive.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Sgt1411]

I've had my ST for about 15 months. It was delivered with the tires at transport pressure. After I adjusted them the ride improved, but it is not good. My opinion, the suspension is very unrefined, poorly calibrated, much harsher than it needs to be. It's almost like Ford thought, "Well it's an ST people won't be happy unless their kidneys hurt." They should have driven an Audi first. If I still have the car when the shocks are worn (unlikely) I'll be looking to improve the suspension. It shouldn't be difficult to make it much better; just expensive.

Respectfully disagree

After spending some time with the engineering team who put together the PIU and subsequently pushed some of that engineering to the ST I would say the driving dynamics are very well refined and expertly calibrated.

The ST has the driving dynamics and calibration for the intended customer, perhaps not everyone should drive an ST.

I recently picked up a 2021 Kia Telluride Midnight Edition lease vehicle for work and it has a SPORT mode where it makes all the adjustments automatically and it's a huge difference in calibration and driving dynamics compared to the ST, perhaps not an equal comparison but big difference.

As a more level comparison maybe drive a GM Blazer RS or Traverse RS, or Tahoe RS (different class I know). The ST engineering will be significantly better. Or an even better comparison would be a Durango SRT, Im not talking HP I'm talking driving dynamics and engineering.

But then there's SYNC3, no argument there, it's by far the most poorly executed multimedia platform of all the OEMs, including KIA.

 

[fireftr]

Hey all, first time poster.

Last night my wife and I test drove an ST and Limited and now I have a few questions about the ST.

First off I knew the ST ride would be more firm but it was quite a bit more so compared to the Limited. Bumps seemed kind of harsh and there seemed to be quite a bit of tire chatter (for lack of a better term) when going over seams in the road or overpasses. When I returned it, I found the tire pressures were all at 44. Would that over inflation make much difference? I didn't have time to correct them and take it back out.

Secondly the seats in the ST were more firm than the Limited. They had the massage feature in them and the salesperson said that contributes to the harder feel of the seat but I am not sure I believe that. Do you think the ST seats without the massage feature would feel closer to the Limited seats?

Thanks,
Jerry

44? No wonder you heard all the road noise!
Great for gas mileage, cause only the centers of the tires were in contact with the road, but makes for poor tire wear!

eb guy

 

[peterk9]

44? No wonder you heard all the road noise!
Great for gas mileage, cause only the centers of the tires were in contact with the road, but makes for poor tire wear!

eb guy

They are all transported that way from the factory. It is up to the dealer to correct PSI as part of the redelivery inspection.

Peter

 

[1sttimeexplorerowner]

Hey all, first time poster.

Last night my wife and I test drove an ST and Limited and now I have a few questions about the ST.

First off I knew the ST ride would be more firm but it was quite a bit more so compared to the Limited. Bumps seemed kind of harsh and there seemed to be quite a bit of tire chatter (for lack of a better term) when going over seams in the road or overpasses. When I returned it, I found the tire pressures were all at 44. Would that over inflation make much difference? I didn't have time to correct them and take it back out.

Secondly the seats in the ST were more firm than the Limited. They had the massage feature in them and the salesperson said that contributes to the harder feel of the seat but I am not sure I believe that. Do you think the ST seats without the massage feature would feel closer to the Limited seats?

Thanks,
Jerry

Performance vehicles generally are firmer than regular "economy" based cars or variants. Since the explorer has many trims, the ST being their most performance oriented variant, firm suspension comes with the territory. Unless the car is equipped with some sort of magnetic ride or air suspension where you can adjust the ride softness/harshness and sometimes even height.

If i had to do it all over. Knowing what i know now, i would have spent more and gotten the ST.

It looks better, faster and even though it might or might not have those 20+ explorer "hiccups", would easily be negated because the car itself overall was worth it. At least that's how i view it. I have my own issues with my XLT but if i had an ST, with the same issues, i wouldn't mind. Because i have the top of line, most performance oriented version of the car.

As far as your air pressures. It was the same thing for me. 45PSI all around.

And i knew this was the case right away when i drove home from the dealer that night. It rode smooth but the car kept jarring at every imperfection. As soon as i noticed that, i said this is not right, i bet the tires are over inflated. Checked the cluster and it said 45.

Went home and verified with my own gauge, and it read 44.

 

[jds22]

We tested 3 different cars yesterday, Explorer, Highlander, Santa Fe. All of 3 of them had pressures between 44-50. I set them to factory spec and then set off. I made quite a bit of difference.

TLDR version our decision is down to the Santa Fe or Explorer. It's pretty much a tie between the 2. The Explorer has the most comfortable seats but the bang for buck that the Santa Fe offers is hard to beat.

Thanks for the replies and tips, I really appreciate it.

 

[Mbrooks420]

We tested 3 different cars yesterday, Explorer, Highlander, Santa Fe. All of 3 of them had pressures between 44-50. I set them to factory spec and then set off. I made quite a bit of difference.

TLDR version our decision is down to the Santa Fe or Explorer. It's pretty much a tie between the 2. The Explorer has the most comfortable seats but the bang for buck that the Santa Fe offers is hard to beat.

Thanks for the replies and tips, I really appreciate it.

Read up on the major complaints between the two. If you are planning on keeping it a long time I’d also check out the Kia counterpart.

I’d also price them out with the extended warranties. The 100k bumper to bumper is hard to beat on the Kias, value wise.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Thanks. I just read that thread on tire pressure. I'll be sure to take my gauge with me tomorrow.

No need to bring your gauge, the vehicle tells you what each tire is at in the cluster.

 

[DoraAExplorer]

No need to bring your gauge, the vehicle tells you what each tire is at in the cluster.

The display is not very accurate and will typically read 1-2 PSI over what they actually are.

 

[1sttimeexplorerowner]

The display is not very accurate and will typically read 1-2 PSI over what they actually are.

Exactly why i never trust an on board pressure read out. They are just references. They aren't accurate at all.

 

[jds22]

No need to bring your gauge, the vehicle tells you what each tire is at in the cluster.

Right but I used the gauge so I could accurately lower them.

Thanks

 

[jds22]

Read up on the major complaints between the two. If you are planning on keeping it a long time I’d also check out the Kia counterpart.

I’d also price them out with the extended warranties. The 100k bumper to bumper is hard to beat on the Kias, value wise.

Thank you very much for the info and food for thought.

I definitely have some reading to do.