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Ford Explorer Mercury Mountaineer 2006 and newer

859 messages,  Last post on Feb 28, 2012 at 4:00 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Explorer, SUV

Messages Page 46 of 87

#442 of 859 New Ford designs all around the Explorer by fsmmcsi

May 21, 2006 (5:57 pm)

nvbanker - I agree that the new GM SUVs, especially the Escalade, look nice on the exterior, but they still have solid rear axles and a lousy 3rd row design, plus very high prices.
 
Very soon, Ford will be out with the redesigned 2007 Expedition (regular and long versions) and Navigator, the new 2007 Edge and MKX, the redesigned Escape and Mariner, the redesigned Freestyle, the Mazda CX-7, and the Mazda CX-9. With all of those other choices, the small niche left for the Explorer and Mountaineer is people who:
 
A) Are willing to pay for the fuel;
 
B) Prefer rear wheel drive; and,
 
C) Want the easier parking and manuvering provided by a vehicle the size of an Explorer / Mountaineer instead of something larger.
 
An even smaller sub-set of those people will need the towing and/or off-road capabilities of a vehicle with a separate body and frame.

#443 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [fsmmcsi] by chuck1

May 21, 2006 (9:08 pm)

Replying to: fsmmcsi (May 21, 2006 5:57 pm)
"Very soon, Ford will be out with the redesigned 2007 Expedition (regular and long versions) and Navigator, the new 2007 Edge and MKX, the redesigned Escape and Mariner, the redesigned Freestyle, the Mazda CX-7, and the Mazda CX-9"
 
Mazda - while not extremely daring they are on the right track with their designs. We will have to wait and see what Ford comes up with the Expedition and others. However, Ford will really have to raise the bar to compete with the full-size SUVs from The General with the Expedition. With all the "budget crunching" that is going on over there, I am less than optimistic.

#444 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [chuck1] by baggs32

May 22, 2006 (5:41 am)

Replying to: chuck1 (May 21, 2006 9:08 pm)
However, Ford will really have to raise the bar to compete with the full-size SUVs from The General with the Expedition.
 
I'm pretty sure I read a comparo between the '07 Suburban and a pre-production '07 Expedition in MT a couple of months ago and the Suburban barely beat the Expedition solely based on engine performance. Call me crazy, but 0-60 times that are within a few tenths of each other for two huge SUVs shouldn't matter much to the vast majority of shoppers. So I don't think you're going to see too many Ford or GM buyers jumping to the other side anytime soon.
 
C'mon Chuck, SRA aside, you still have to pull a heavy third row seat out of the back of the GM's and store it somewhere to use the space. That's so 1980's.

#445 of 859 Re: New Door handles and order guides! [nvbanker] by zeeman84

May 22, 2006 (5:53 am)

Replying to: nvbanker (May 21, 2006 12:37 pm)
Yes, GM did a very good job on their exterior design. I looked very hard at the Tahoe before purchasing my 06 E.B. Explorer. The problems with the Tahoe include the four speed transmission. I think that the Explorer six speed transimission has the GM unit beat as far as helping gas mileage. Plus, GM is having a lot of problems producing this vehicle with options such as nav. radio, side airbags, 20" inch wheels, and rear camera. I think that due to penny pinching on GM's part, they way underestimated the demand for these options.

#446 of 859 Always the case with GM....... by nvbanker

May 22, 2006 (4:55 pm)

They do a good job on the outside, but leave the engineering back in the 70's so many times.... Lots of folks don't notice that though, and they do run well - old technology works, the bugs are out. It's been GM's M.O. for years now, and it's still working. The 3rd seat thing though will always be a problem with me. Having had power folding 3rd seat, I could never go back to lifting one out and storing it again. I'll buy the Fords, Nissans and anybody else who has IRS and the folding rear seats - but not GM, Dodge or anybody who has the old fashioned design. 0-60 times are irrelevant to me in these trucks, and the Fords have always had sufficient towing power for my needs, and more.

#447 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [baggs32] by ajmtbm

May 22, 2006 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (May 22, 2006 5:41 am)
are the rear seats in the GM vehicles really removable and not fold-flat?
 
what a huge mistake.
 
the GM units will compete on rpice - they will be cheaper than the ford. and i concur that the cost cutting at ford will probably cost ford some.

#448 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [ajmtbm] by nvbanker

May 22, 2006 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: ajmtbm (May 22, 2006 4:55 pm)
Absolutely they are. Their rear axle is still solid, like the Model T was, and their transmission is still a 4 speed - the Nissan has 5, and the Fords have 6 speeds. They look great - but honestly, they are the same old truck the old ones were - nothing much new under the truck.

#449 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [nvbanker] by chuck1

May 22, 2006 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (May 22, 2006 5:08 pm)
"Absolutely they are. Their rear axle is still solid, like the Model T was, and their transmission is still a 4 speed - the Nissan has 5, and the Fords have 6 speeds. They look great - but honestly, they are the same old truck the old ones were - nothing much new under the truck."
 
I believe they now have cylinder deactivation, and actually are rated at better mpg than the previous generation. The now also ride and handle better than the previous generation.
 
But the bottom line is this - EVEN WITH A 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION - EVEN WITH THE NON-FOLDABLE THIRD SEAT - EVEN WITH THE OLD MOTORS - the sells are up and the transaction (final) price is up as well. So apparently buyers feel there is something more to pay their hard earned money for.
One can't say that about the "redesign that isn't" on the Ford Explorer.
We all know THERE ARE A TON of used Explorers and Suburbans that can be had real cheap if you want to save some money!

#450 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [chuck1] by nvbanker

May 22, 2006 (6:52 pm)

Replying to: chuck1 (May 22, 2006 5:39 pm)
Proving once again, chuck1, that form over function still sells the most cars, right?

#451 of 859 Re: New Ford designs all around the Explorer [nvbanker] by chuck1

May 22, 2006 (10:27 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (May 22, 2006 6:52 pm)
"form over function still sells the most cars, right?"
 
Agreed! Most people will not even think about a 4 speed tranny vs. a six speed. Or a pushrod vs. OHC motor. Nope, with most people these things are not even a consideration!

Messages Page 46 of 87

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