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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 66 of 87

#646 of 859 Re: 2006 Explorer V8 6000 mile report [wesleydma] by panzer

Dec 31, 2006 (11:40 am)

Replying to: wesleydma (Dec 29, 2006 1:47 am)
I could go on for hours on the subject, but I won't. If you appreciate German cars, and understand their issues, mainly to do with high maintenance costs and dependence on computers and high tech stuff that are prone to glitches, go for it. You will get a vehicle that handles everything with comfort, speed, and grace. I loved my Touareg (a V6) but VW does not care for their owners nearly as much as Lexus and other customer-oriented manufacturers (not Ford). You will pay big bucks for a vehicle that depreciates rapidly. There is no other car on the road like it. Despite what their owners might tell you, the Touareg is every bit as good and nice as a Porsche Cayenne and a hell of lot cheaper. Looks better in my opinion. Two months after I sold my Touareg, I find that VW now offers a pre-paid maintenance contract for either 3 or 4 years. Based on my experience, I think that would be a good idea. Read up on the Touareg site, although most of the bitching you will see is about 2004 models, as I had. Back to comparison, the Explorer and Touareg are completely different approaches to SUV. If you want an American vehicle with decent utility and room, the Explorer is a good choice; you may want to look at all the other choices out there too. As I've said before, the Explorer goes off-road, but ground clearance is not too good. If you want a sporty SUV that will actually tow a big boat and go off-road, the Touareg is pretty much it. If towing or off-road is not important, you may want to look at the BMW's and Infinity. The new Tahoe is pretty nice too, not very sporty, but will tow and go off-road. If you go with a Touareg, make sure the dealer is going to be there for you. You will get to know your service writer on first name basis. The little things like making sure you have a loaner or rental, communication, etc are important with VW ownership.

#647 of 859 Re: 2006 Explorer V8 6000 mile report [nvbanker] by blkhemi

Dec 31, 2006 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Dec 31, 2006 11:07 am)
"I'm sure the Aspen is a great truck, based upon what it's made from. However, couldn't the have found a better namer for it than "Aspen"."
 
I asked myself that the first time I saw it. I went, Aspen? Not to fond memeries.
 
But the truck is an awesome piece of machinery. It's bascially all in a league it's own. Smaller than the Expedition(exterior only as the 112cu.ft of interior cargo capacity ups the Expeditions 108, and also Tahoes) but bigger than the Explorer/JGC/TrailBlazer. It rides argueably better than them all due in fact to higher weight. And judging from the awesome fit/finish of the Durango, the Aspen should do just as well.

#648 of 859 nvbanker by marsha7

Jan 02, 2007 (11:55 am)

Quote: "I'd fire the engineer who designed that faster than Donald Trump"
 
Why would you fire Donald Trump for the armrest fiasco???
 
Heh, heh, heh, heh.....
 
Sorry, had a few minutes to kill, and you seemed like the one to pick on...

#649 of 859 Re: 2006 Explorer V8 6000 mile report [nvbanker] by tidester

Jan 02, 2007 (1:14 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Dec 31, 2006 11:07 am)
I'd fire the engineer who designed that faster than Donald Trump.
 
I understand that Mr. Trump is into giving people second chances these days.
 
tidester, host

#650 of 859 Re: 2006 Explorer V8 6000 mile report [tidester] by nvbanker

Jan 02, 2007 (5:57 pm)

Replying to: tidester (Jan 02, 2007 1:14 pm)
Oh, that's funny!!! Well, I wouldn't. And I'd fire the whole committee that let that door panel get into production - it is the most assinine thing I've seen in decades - and it's so ridiculous because the Explorer has always had one of the most ergonomically correct cabin around - this thing should actually be recalled IMO.

#651 of 859 tidester by marsha7

Jan 02, 2007 (8:28 pm)

Only if you are female, beautiful, sexy, and young...
 
If she looked like Helen Thomas of the White House Press Corp, she might be wearing cement overshoes, never to be heard from again...
 
Actually, back in 1994, in the movie True Lies, when the terrorist from the Islamic Jihad was hanging from the Harrier side-mounted missle, Arnold says, just before launch, "You're Fired"...beat Trump by almost a decade...

#652 of 859 Re: tidester [marsha7] by tidester

Jan 02, 2007 (11:24 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Jan 02, 2007 8:28 pm)
Only if you are female, beautiful, sexy, and young...
 
Unfortunately, we don't have a physical desrcription of the engineer.
 
tidester, host

#653 of 859 The door handle by mschmal

Jan 04, 2007 (1:14 pm)

You are only annoyed with it because it is different. If you had a chance to get used to it, you won't notice it.
 
Incidentally, if you were ever in a side impact and had your ribs cracked by a hard plastic door handle I bet you would run to the court house to sue Ford for putting the handle where it could crack your ribs.
 
Mark.

#654 of 859 Next Explorer based on Volvo? by fsmmcsi

Jan 04, 2007 (1:53 pm)

I read elsewhere that Ford showed employees a next Explorer based on a Volvo vehicle. I wonder if that is the XC-90, or more properly, the next generation XC-90 based on the upcoming next generation S-80? If Ford is reading - a V8, rear wheel drive, and an independent rear suspension are my requirements for any and all future vehicle purchases (perhaps a super or turbo-charged 4 would be OK, as in teh C230 we now own, but the V8 is really best).

#655 of 859 Re: The door handle [mschmal] by panzer

Jan 04, 2007 (5:10 pm)

Replying to: mschmal (Jan 04, 2007 1:14 pm)
I've owned and driven a lot of different cars and trucks over 35 years. Never had anything with a door handle this stupid. My ribs could be whacked very efficiently by the armrest as it sits, so I'm not sure what you are talking about. If they had simply put a deep finger groove in the armrest for "grab-ability", that would keep me from complaining about the almost useless door handle. There's no way I will get used to it, I just won't be able to use it. I'm 6'4" with ape arms and I still can't reach it comfortably. I'm quite sure there is an elegant solution that would keep the product liability attorneys from preying on poor Ford for a few cracked ribs.
 
I agree with a previous poster; If Ford really wanted to make some points with people, they should offer all of us 2006 owners new door panel assemblies. In my business, admitting a mistake and making it right nearly always cements a customer for life. As I said before, this is a pretty satisfying SUV on most other counts.

Messages Page 66 of 87

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