2011 Ford Explorer

[AmericaOverland]

So it's going to be a car. Nothing appeals to me from this latest Ford offering.

I want to meet these focus groups that are driving Ford to make an SUV built on a "CAR" platform. I'll keep my old vehicles thanks.

Straight up, Dude!

You notice? It gets worse faster and faster every year. Pretty soon, you'll be able to fly one of these things, and then I guess in about 10 years, they'll add on transporter or stargate capabilities. You just zip-zip, and you're there in two seconds, and you'll never get stuck (wow, you mean you know how to repair these multi-mode systems in the field? More power to you!). It nauseates me that they ripped the frame right off the body. Heck, they threw the whole design out the window for a unibody, and even then, it rode like a car before!

No thanks. Bronco Dudeness, you better collect ALL the oldies you can get your hands on and restore as many of them as you can against rust damage (especially if you're parting them out for spares). They're NOT making like the oldies anymore, and have no intention to. We'll be stuck with all the cars, and the world will continue to buy and inherit ALL the properly-made trucks. I'm considering what I want to do for a second vehicle when I decide to let go of my Corolla (will be 18 yo).

This is the SAME STORY with hearing aids for profoundly deaf people. ALL the makers for them in this loss range (worse there is before you fall off the end of the world and disappear into the deaf world) no longer make analog hearing aids, which have been great for musicians. The new digitals are horrible for speech and music reproduction. I have started stocking up on the old hearing aids before they can no longer be bought used. Because of this direction, I'm hoping that the stem cell field can hurry up and solve my hearing loss, otherwise it's going to be a long time before I'll hear like I am now.

 

[haven]

The first of many reviews of the new 2011 Explorer is online at Autoblog

part one:
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/26/...ed-tries-crossing-over-on-road-to-redemption/

part two:
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/26/2011-ford-explorer-puts-four-cylinder-ecoboost-engine-above-v6/

photos:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer/

Ford has a configuration page online here
http://bp2.forddirect.fordvehicles.com/2011-Ford-Explorer#page=/Models/

Pricing for a reasonably well equipped Explorer with V6 and 4x4 is
about $35,000. Add the luxury fittings and you're closer to $45K.

One place the Jeep Grand Cherokee has the advantage is in the available
V8 engine. That raises towing to 7400 lbs, up from 5000 for the Explorer
with V6.

 

[iigs]

The first of many reviews of the new 2011 Explorer is online at Autoblog
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer/

I want to hate it (and, frankly, I don't have much use for it myself), but it looks great, and it appears to be very well executed. It's definitely the best looking Edge-family vehicle, IMO.

Despite a few people making them into good offroaders, the heritage of the Explorer is definitely in the soccer field parking lot, and this is a worthy follow-on to that.

Also, that gauge cluster is astonishing! Wow!

 

[haven]

Looks like the Explorer will be a couple of thousand dollars cheaper
than a comparable Grand Cherokee. The Explorer is a longer
vehicle than the GC, with a third row of seats and 80 cu ft of cargo
space with the 2nd and 3rd rows folded. That's as much cargo space
as the Mercedes GL-series SUV and the Land Cruiser have. The GC
has just 68 cu ft, the 4Runner 70 cu ft.

I know lots of people who like the idea of having a 3rd row of seats,
even if they only use it occasionally.

 

[lstzephyr]

Looks like a...

Subaruaudihyundaihondatoyotabuicknissanacuralexuschevydodge....


Do the manufactures hire the same design team?

Do new cars look all the same or what!?

Yawn....

Yep. Pretty unexciting really.

About the only reason I would want an explorer would be to build one of these. :victory: