Why does the Explorer Sport get such terrible reviews

[leenjen]

i really like the 2001+ explorer sports. my wife and i are considering buying one. so i was doing some research on the internet and was surprised. the reviews of the explorer sport are the worst i ever read for any vehicle.
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/ford/explorersport/xls4wd2drsuv40l6cyl5m/overview.html
summary: What Edmunds.com Says
Way past its expiration date. There's no logical reason to buy this truck.

no logical reason??? are there any better 2 door SUVs out there? are there any better 4 door SUVs out there for that price?

i love this quote:
the Sport's constant rocking and swaying practically leaves you seasick after a quick jaunt to the grocery store

either the people at edmunds are extremely biased and hate fords, or the new explorer sports are really dangerous, uncomfortable, POS's.

any opinions?

 

[Mike]

my mom has one... i have driven it.. i like it.. it rides good and it looks nice.. screw them.. i have personal exp. with it and i like it... nothing bad to say about it...

mike

 

[squd92expsp]

Originally posted by leenjen
summary: What Edmunds.com Says
Way past its expiration date. There's no logical reason to buy this truck.

Hmm? It seems that there point of view is that since the old style SUV, truck design with a short wheel base, is not ideal for a daily, on road, grocery getter, that it should cease to exist. They do mention it is the best 2door out there.

Here's a review that may be a little more helpful, although it is a bit old. Dead Link Removed

 

[Rick]

That review was ridicoulous. Goes to show what the media is after...

 

[Mike]

welp like i said.. i have nothing bad to say about this truck... i like it... i really like the looks... wish my XLT had the same looks as the sport


Mike

 

[Alec]

My Explorer rocks less than than any car my parents have had, save my dad's SLK. When my mom first got her LS400, I actually did almost get seasick :-/

 

[JDraper]

The problem is that all these bozos reviewing the vehicles expect all SUV's to drive/ride/behave like Honda Accords, not trucks. They hardly even consider their 4 wheel drive capabilities since 90% of the people out there never even take them off the pavement. They're comparing it to station wagons like the Honda Pilot and the Subaru Forester, which are unibody awd grocery getters. No truck based SUV will ever get a fair shake.

P.S. Notice that even with their pathetic excuse for a review, the owners give it a 7.9 out of 10 rating. Hmmm, maybe the owners know something that Edmunds doesn't

 

[Defiantguy]

I never really read reviews. I prefer to review it myself from behind the wheel.

 

[BradE.]

Ever since the whole Firestone thing many reviewers are down on Explorers. I would still buy another Explorer. What else is there? All I hear is the Trailblazer is better. Yeah Right. I saw one of those, it has the typical GM cheap plastic interior that screams cheap rental car.

I know I have almost 78K miles on my 97' X and there has not been a single problem with it. It's a true workhorse. But, I have the OHV engine rather than the SOHC.

 

[oldschool4life]

Originally posted by leenjen
any opinions?

Let's send them a collective letter/e-mail from all of us...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear sir,

EAT MY SHORTS!!!

Love,

___________
(insert name)
Ford Explorer Enthusiast
explorerforum.com

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

I have looked at and driven several Sports for the last couple of months, from 94's up to the newer ones. In comparing them, the newer ones seem to drive and handle better than the previous years. This stands to reason, since Ford is improving the breed every year (or should be).

There's very few 2-dr SUV's left; since the demise of the Jeep Cherokee, the Sport is the ONLY domestic 2-dr left. I think that's sad, because I would like to have more to choose from. However, as an owner of a 2-dr Cherokee and a Bronco (and previously a BII), I still like the Sport.

 

[mrorayus]

Typical magazine review, I say. It turns out the x-sport might not be good for everyone. It dosen't exactly ride like a lexus, but its not a lexus. Its a short wheelbase 2dr truck. Go drive a full size bronco, or worse yet, a Jeep wrangler. Rides like bricks on bricks. Compared to a wrangler, the x-sport is a friggin rolls royce.
Personally, I have beaten my 97 sport ruthlessly, and I havent had any major problems. After 80k of four wheeling, pulling into driveways at full speed (i live in the bay area, gotta do it to keep the hondas off the rear bumper!) and not slowing down for speed bumps, everyhing seems to be holding up. The alignment has not needed adjusmet either! Built tough? Hell yea.

 

[MONMIX]

Man I am very happy with my 2000.
Hey Leenjen how your back feeling ?

 

[Robert]

Unless Ford screwed up the Sport since my '97 was built, then I wouldn't pay any attention to the reviews. My '97 rides very comfortable. When I used to do a lot of traveling and renting a lot of cars and SUVs, I always find myself wanting to get back home to drive my Explorer. None of the cars or SUVs that I have rented were as enjoyable to drive. Off the top of my head the list includes: Rodeo, Jimmy, Chrysler LHS, Oldsmobile Intrigue, Ford Taurus, Focus, Mustang Dodge Neon, Chevy Malibu, Lumina (boring), Pontiac Montana, Grand Am. Either the vehicles were just too boring to drive or the seating position wasn't as comfortable as my Explorer. I certainly have never gotten sea sick even after several 2000 mile trips across the US (and none of my passengers have ever mentioned it either).

 

[unabonked]

i'll admit, the ride is choppy with the mono-leaf. but i swaped those for packs for under 150 installed. the 01+ come with progresive rate springs and should handle even better!

the problem is, these are CAR guys, not truck guys. us in the explorer world are stuck with being too small to be adored by the truck crowd, and too truck like to be apreciated with the car lovers.

sigh, some writters will never know.

:redexp:

 

[Majisto]

Originally posted by unabonked
i'll admit, the ride is choppy with the mono-leaf. but i swaped those for packs for under 150 installed. the 01+ come with progresive rate springs and should handle even better!

the problem is, these are CAR guys, not truck guys. us in the explorer world are stuck with being too small to be adored by the truck crowd, and too truck like to be apreciated with the car lovers.

sigh, some writters will never know.

:redexp:

Heh well as for it not being a big enough truck, I always laugh at guys trying to park their HD Chevys and Superduty Fords at the mall, when I can easily pull my little Explorer into very tight spots And I still can haul more people than they can, and can off-road, and can haul cargo (And the occasional ass ), and tow