Explain the Ford Explorer to me

In My Humble Opinion
1

I don’t desire this to turn into a pro/anti SUV thread, but if that happens, so be it. Instead, I hoped someone who likes the Ford Explorer - or a similar vehicle, would explain why they like it. There seem to be quite a few of them on the roads, it seems as tho people must like them.

I recently returned from a vacation during which I drove one as a rental, and I was unimpressed with a number of things. (We had reserved a RAV4, but they were out.) My comparisons are my Toyota Sienna minivan, and Toyota Matrix compact wagon. For full disclosure, if forced to take a position, I’m somewhat anti-SUV - just because I believe they use more gas and take up more space than I consider necessary. Especially when driven primarily on paved roads with few people and small loads. But I pretty much figure anyone can drive whatever they wish to and can afford.

What surprised me most about the Explorer was how little passenger room it had. It had a massive center console and large door armrests, such that both front seat passengers constantly had both knees pressing up against something. Just got back from driving my Matrix this a.m., and was surprised that such a smaller car had such better leg room. My 2 kids said they have more leg room in the back seats of either of our cars.

It also seemed a little small getting in and out such that you could bump your head. My wife commented on this more than I. And the running board seemed unnecessary - the vehicle wasn’t so tall as to need a step, and the running board sticking out just made entry and exit a little less comfortable.

The rear area was quite large with the 3d row of seats folded down, but didn’t seem bigger than my minivan. And I was pleasantly surprised that it got 21 MPG, but again, my van gets better. (We got them to give us a $50 voucher to cover the worse mileage than the RAV4.)

It drove and handled fine, so I have no complaints in that department. Nothing great, but nothing horrible. Just a car. Felt really big to me - especially the hood, but I’m sure I’d get used to it. It impressed me as quite a bit trickier to maneuver into many parking spaces.

I can imagine it would feel safe, with all that metal around you. And I’m sure it would do well for towing - which neither of my cars can do. But I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to drive something that large around all the time.

So - those are my impressions. I’m not interested in convincing anyone that my impressions are correct. But I am very interested in hearing anyone’s impressions to the contrary.

2

Looks and a false sense of security. People seem to like being surrounded by massive steel cages and the ride height allows you to constantly look down on other people.

Your Matrix might be incredibly practical but damn is it ugly. I’d look at least 3x cooler stepping out of an Explorer. Cars like these are as much about image as anything else.

3

It has a crappy center of gravity and rolls easily. It is a characteristic of SUVs ,but I have heard the Explorer is particularly bad.

4

With our 3d kid just entering college, my wife and I talk about when we will buy what type of car to replace our “practical” wagon and minivan. Only problem is they both have less than 80k on them, and at least while I’m paying for tuition I’d just as soon drive these 2 into the ground.

I often hear folk say how practical their SUVs are for hauling people and things. Based on my very limited recent experience, I don’t see it. If you are towing or off-roading - no question.

5

I drove a 97 Ford Explorer XLT for several years. We bought it in 1998. I didn’t have any problems with it and didn’t encounter the lack of roominess you’re talking about, Dinsdale.

The XLT model (at that time anyway), didn’t have a running board to step on.

I can’t speak to the newer models, but I liked mine just fine. It was “roomy”, but didn’t feel big. It handled quite nicely and was perfect for our needs at the time.

We ended up trading it in for a 2006 Ford Expedition XLT in 2006. We needed the Expedition to tow our boat and haul all of us around. We got rid of the boat last year, but I’m hanging on to the Expedition precisely because I have one kid in college and another heading that way in a couple of years. What I found somewhat ironic, is that the Expedition felt “tighter” and seemed to handle a little better than the Explorer.

I kind of got off-track there, but that’s my piece, I guess.

6

I think Matrixes (Matrices?) are *far *cooler-looking than Explorers.

Then again, I drive an XB (an '08, but still).

7

Call me a weirdo, if you like, but I do not like the Eddie Bauer models. I hate that beigey two-tone look. This is why I stuck with the XLT models.

Sorry, HoD, but I think the XBs look like boxes.

8

Why sorry? They totally do.

9

I guess I was worried that I’d come across as sounding rude, which is not my intent, HoD.

10

I’m not sure what you meant here. Are you saying it’s cheaper to keep the Expedition than to replace it with a newer smaller vehicle?

11

Not at all, Taters :slight_smile: That was my point actually - that I think the Matrix looks cool, but given that I drive a kitchen stove, my taste in automobiles may be questionable.

12

Yeah, it’s actually cheaper to keep this rig, than to get a newer, smaller vehicle. The payments are very reasonable, it has low miles, and given the winter we had last year and the year before, (first snow and then flooding) I’ll hang onto it. I was able to get to work through all the ice and snow, while my husband, who drives a BMW 525i had the worst time of it.

My commute isn’t horrible (about 35 miles round trip), and it’s handy for those monthly Costco runs and hauling gear for camping trips.

Once the kids are gone, I’ll probably go to something smaller, but for now, I like this rig.

13

I think it’s generally cheaper to keep driving an existing car than to replace it with a new one. Provided, of course, that the existing car is not falling apart.

14

My father loves them and plans to replace his with another one. It has close to 400k miles on it so I can understand why he’s been happy with it.

He uses it for service calls as a well water professional mostly. He got tired of using vans because they are loud and uncomfortable in the winter.

When compared to minivans they have a higher ground clearance which makes it a lot easier to drive off the road for any reason or even some peoples driveways. They also have a heavier carrying capacity.

I’m 6’1" 250lbs and have never felt uncomfortable sitting in or driving an explorer.

15

6’3" 210# myself. But my wife and kids all agreed that it was less roomy than our Matrix. I’ll have to look up the specs. I guess what slightly bothered me (but didn’'t make it uncomfortable) was that with the armrest and the center console the outside edges of both of my legs were touching something while driving. And the continuous console limited the space for putting something - like a camera - on the floor.

I’d assume this Explorer was no more than a year old. I believe it had 30k miles on it.

Do you get used to the size as far as pulling into parking lot spaces and parallel parking? Or do you pretty much look for wider spaces?

16

I guess, I’ve drive larger vehicles on a regular basis so something like an explorer doesn’t phase me.

17

What I like about Trucks/SUVs versus cars is the elevation of the drivers seats. While driving at night, I find the glare from on coming headlights blinding when I am driving a car. IME, The extra foot or so in elevation reduces the glare to a tolerable level.

18

In 2001 or so, my friends and I decided to rent a car and drive to Montreal. The one friend (the only one old enough to rent at the time) decided on an Escape. I looked at the specs and threw a bit of a hissy fit because my friend didn’t seem to understand that I am a Very Large Person and no way was I going to fit comfortably in the backseat of a “mini SUV” for such a long ride.

Anyway, we settled on a Mountaineer - which is the Mercury version of the Explorer. One step up from Escape. My friends and I agreed that we had PLENTY of room in the back for a comfortable ride. I actually ended up doing most of the driving because no one wanted to drive a big SUV (it was my first time too) and I found it to be quite pleasant. A little scary going into tight parking garages, height-wise, but otherwise a good vehicle.

In 2003 I bought myself an Escape. I knew that the back seats are not very roomy (still true) but it is the absolute perfect car for me and my big dog. I get the front, she gets the back with the seats turned down. On occasion we have folks in the back seat and they do ok, on short rides. One time I took 4 guys to Detroit (from Cleveland) and the three in the back were miserable (duh!)

You can pack an amazing amount of stuff in the back of an Escape with the seats down. I’ve packed it full on several occasions and have surprised several people with the roominess of the cargo area.

The MPG is decent on the Escape. I don’t worry about it too much as I only go about 7k-10k miles a year.

The best thing about it is it’s so easy to drive. I went right from driving an Escort daily to the Escape and had NO problems with its size. Now, when I drive a sedan, I feel like I am driving underneath everyone else.

I would not recommend an Escape to a family. Like I said, the back is annoyingly tight. Seats are comfy enough but kids would get cranky back there.

As for the Explorer…I’m sure it feels and drives more like a large SUV than the Escape. I think the Escape was a godsend from Ford. My dad is a Ford retiree and I only had a handful of options to choose from as a young single woman. The Focus was too small for me and the dog, and I was grateful to find the perfect fit in the Escape.

Sorry about the somewhat-off-topic rant about Escapes here. I just truly love my car!

19

Don’t know about the Explorer. I drive a Nissan Pathfinder, my Wife drives a Grand Jeep. They are similar in size to the Explorer.

I am 6’4” and 210 lbs and have no problems in either vehicle. Both have adjustable peddles so that may have something to do with it. The back seats are tighter of course.

The Explorer seems to have lost all of its ground clearance. Mostly due to the rollover Firestone tire BS. I’ve never been a Ford fan, so I haven’t really looked too closely at the Explorer.

Mostly, for my wife and I, it’s the ability to make it through up to 2 feet of snow. We live pretty much on top of a mountain. I pull 2-3 people out of the snow every year.

My Wife is a triathlete/IronMan, and rides some VERY expensive bicycles. It’s nice to be able to carry them in the back and not on a rack (though we do the rack too).

The dogs are real comfy in our vehicles. A trip into the city (100 miles) is no problem. We recently drove my Pathfinder 1200 miles to a tri race. On the way back we did it in one shot. It’s darn comfy and forgiving to drive. Yet I have no problem throwing a chain on the tow hook putting it in low range and pulling out another car. It happens. One of the reasons I chose the Pathfinder is because it’s built on a truck frame. I once pulled a person out of a ditch and they then bitched to me that I was driving too big of a vehicle and was ruining the planet. Shrug. I suspect they where just a bit wound up from being stuck.

We usually rent a big car when we have to fly somewhere. Grand Marquise, something like that. While comfortable on the road, regular cars are hard for me to get in and out of. Way, way too low the ground for my 6’4” frame and 210 pounds. I would never want one for my daily driver.

Pretty much everyone where I live either drives an SUV or a 4x4 truck. It amuses me that people complain about how large SUV’s are. Have they forgotten the station wagons from the 70’s?

SUV’s are not necessarily great at any one thing, but they are at least good at most things.

My commute

Almost home

Note that I was able to take pictures during this storm. I have to concentrate on my driving when it gets bad out and can’t take pics.

.

20

I was actually thinking about you as I drove up to Hurricane Ridge through a layer of clouds into the sunshine. Didn’t particularly enjoy the drive, and thought of you doing the same daily, and through snow! :eek: