This might be a stupid question

[Khaelbee]

I'm new to the whole "Explorer" thing, I've only had mine for about 6 months. I was reading online that the Explorer Sport was intended to be the 2-door model... However (if I'm not mistaken, which I might be) I'm pretty sure I've seen some 4-door sports, and mine is a 2-door XL... What is the difference between the two?

Also, what is the difference between the 2-door sport and the 2-door XL besides the fender flares? (Or the difference between the XL and the XLT for that matter)...

pardon the stupid question, just trying to be knowledgeable.

 

[Joe Dirt]

All 2 door models were dubbed the 'Sport'

The XL model was a somewhat stripped model as far as options, which was followed by the XLT with more creature comforts (usually power everything and sometimes a moonroof were most popular), then the Eddie Bauer, then the Limited (4 door) model which had a factory installed cappuccino maker.

In 1995 there was a Sport 'Expedition' model which had some fender flares, chrome wheels, and some other goodies...

The Wikipedia entry for the Ex is pretty good too...

 

[Khaelbee]

but i have a 2-door and its not a sport, its an xl.... ?

 

[Maniak]

Your 2 door is a sport in XL trim.

XL is the trim
Sport is how many doors.. (2 door or 4 door)

~Mark

 

[jad2411]

There are 3rd gens 4dr sports...

 

[Maniak]

hrm.. I don't know anything about the 3rd Gens and newer. I can barely keep up with the 1st and 2nd gens..

~Mark

 

[kevinspann]

There are 3rd gens 4dr sports...

Where?

 

[Khaelbee]

"When the Explorer was redesigned for 2002, the Explorer Sport continued unchanged for 1 more year. Due to the decline of 2-door SUVs, the 2-door Explorer Sport was discontinued in 2003." <--- straight off the wiki site for explorers...

so apparently there are no 4 door sports. i'm still confused as to the specific differences between a 2 door sport and a 2 door xl, minus the fact that i have no fender flares.

 

[Vargas]

There are 3rd gens 4dr sports...

Pictures, please. (Unless you are thinking of Explorer Sport-Trac, which is entirely different)

 

[Lacky01]

my Sport has two doors, that was the intention behind the sport model. however, mine also says XL on the rear hatch cuz the lot kid at the dealership backed it into their building. they replaced the rear hatch with one from a four door. I believe the Sport had similar options to the XL model.

 

[jad2411]

Not the Sport Trac, the 4dr sport, there have been other threads about it, but search gave me too many hits since there are no keywords that won't bring too many results.

Here are 2 that I could find on a quick ebay search:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item19bb2efddd

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item35a8bfc523

 

[Kriegen]

In 2003, Ford did have an XLS and XLT 4 door sport

From edmunds:

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2003 Ford Explorer is available only as a four-door model in XLS, XLS Sport, XLT, XLT Sport, NBX, Eddie Bauer and Limited trims. The XLS comes standard with an automatic transmission and a CD player for 2003. The XLS Sport includes alloy wheels, side step bars, wheel lip moldings, an upgraded center console and floor mats. XLT models get a chrome grille and metallic interior accents, while XLT Sport adds special platinum gloss exterior trim and 17-inch machine-finished alloy wheels. The new NBX model includes special exterior trim, unique 17-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, a Yakima roof rack, rubber floor mats and a cargo area liner. Eddie Bauer also receives 17-inch wheels this year, while Limiteds are upgraded with chromed exterior trim, chrome wheels, a leather-upholstered center console cover and new wood grain interior trim. Major options on the Explorer include a six-disc 290-watt sound system, rear-seat climate control, a power moonroof and a rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system. There are also a number of safety-related options available.

 

[celly]

I believe the Sport had similar options to the XL model.

The XL was always the entry-level, basic version of the Explorer in either 2 or 4 door. The Sport was always a 2 door in the 1st and 2nd gen (I've also seen mention of the Sport in the later generation, but I thought it was the 4th). Not to confuse matters, but the Sport was available as an XLT trim in the '01+ rendition of the Sport too.

Having owned three Sports ('93, '97, 00) and two of them factory ordered ('93 and '97), I do know that the XL always had a LOT fewer options. It lacked many of the creature comforts of the Sport (power options etc), had more basic interiors and never leather, only had the OHV V6 if I recall, and lacked the cosmetic upgrades of the Sport (flares, wheels, side steps etc.)

The Sport was always the highest trim level available in the 2 door except the few years that Eddie Bauer was available in the 1st gen. XL was always the basic model in both 2 and 4 door. The XL trim level was eventually replaced by the XLS, but only available in the 4 door.

 

[sport97]

I also swear i've seen a few people say they have a 4th gen sport package. It has the nice 20" chrome wheels that all the 4th gen guys want.

Basically after the last 2dr sport was finished in 03 it became a package, not a body style.

 

[trailblazer295]

It is confusing they might have carried it on as a "package" like mentioned above instead of a model like Sport-trac. My 02 X sport is a 2dr and fully loaded with no extra badges. Has leather, moonroof, power everything, auto tint mirror etc.

 

[Khaelbee]

The XL was always the entry-level, basic version of the Explorer in either 2 or 4 door. The Sport was always a 2 door in the 1st and 2nd gen (I've also seen mention of the Sport in the later generation, but I thought it was the 4th). Not to confuse matters, but the Sport was available as an XLT trim in the '01+ rendition of the Sport too.

Having owned three Sports ('93, '97, 00) and two of them factory ordered ('93 and '97), I do know that the XL always had a LOT fewer options. It lacked many of the creature comforts of the Sport (power options etc), had more basic interiors and never leather, only had the OHV V6 if I recall, and lacked the cosmetic upgrades of the Sport (flares, wheels, side steps etc.)

The Sport was always the highest trim level available in the 2 door except the few years that Eddie Bauer was available in the 1st gen. XL was always the basic model in both 2 and 4 door. The XL trim level was eventually replaced by the XLS, but only available in the 4 door.

that explains A LOT... the only thing i will say is that yes, my xl came with no creature comforts... manual windows, manual locks, i don't mind any of that. mine does have leather seats though... and mine came with the freakin radio that had am/fm... there was a spot where there could have been a cd player, but i'm guessing they put THAT radio into the xlt and sport models.

 

[celly]

mine does have leather seats though.

There ya go. I was only speculating that it didn't have leather as an option. My Sports all had cloth seats (and comfy ones at that).

I can tell you one thing about those creature comforts....they break! Lots of posts in here about broken power locks and windows which plague our trucks.

 

[BWilliams]

Pictures, please. (Unless you are thinking of Explorer Sport-Trac, which is entirely different)

See my sig for my Elite registry.

The 3rd gen "Sports" aren't two door diffferent bodies like the 1st/2nd gen.
They're essentially an option package on top of the XLT that has dark silver painted lower plastic, step bars, leather seats, and a 6-disk changer.

 

[Khaelbee]

There ya go. I was only speculating that it didn't have leather as an option. My Sports all had cloth seats (and comfy ones at that).

I can tell you one thing about those creature comforts....they break! Lots of posts in here about broken power locks and windows which plague our trucks.

agreed. i went from power windows that never worked right in my old car, to manual windows in my explorer, and i'm surprisingly a lot happier with them. its less expensive to replace parts that might break.

 

[Vargas]

See my sig for my Elite registry.

The 3rd gen "Sports" aren't two door diffferent bodies like the 1st/2nd gen.
They're essentially an option package on top of the XLT that has dark silver painted lower plastic, step bars, leather seats, and a 6-disk changer.

On (at least some years, I'm thinking 98-01) the 2nd gen 4dr XLT, there was a "Sport Appearance Group" option that included step bars, fender flares, and painted bumpers (all in medium platinum gray metallic). Most visibly, this removed the black bumpers with chrome accents. The flares were different than the unpainted ones offered on the XLS. I'm not certain, but I think the pkg also included foglights and body colored grille, as I have not seen one that had the elements unique to the Sport Group but with a chrome grille or without foglights.