New Explorer

[shane96ranger]

I have a different take on the new Ex. I actually like it. It doesn't lure me by looks so much as functionality. I had a 98 Mounty with a 5.0 in it which got 12 to 16 mpg. When gas prices were on the rise a couple years ago, I traded the Mounty in on an Escape (uni-body) which gets great MPG's and actually performs rather well in adverse weather conditions. The thing I don't like about the Escape is if you are packing to go somewhere (with 2 kids) for more than one or two nights you may as well forget it. The cargo area sucks. Although I am on both sides of the fence in the issue, I hate to see the old "framed" Explorer ousted, but I see Ford's point. The family market sells, plain and simple.

And I really don't understand why people are complaining much anyway. I mean, when the Ex went to IRS in '02 we really lost the battle at that point. Not now.

So my plea to Ford is, don't kill the Ranger.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My parents '02 is too low for me to even consider really offroading with, and it beats the new JGC in most reguards. If it isn't any better than that, big deal.

2010 Explorer:

Approach - 28.2
Departure - 23.8
Ground Clearance - 8.3

http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/explorer/specifications/

And I gotta jack the '02 up to even get under the thing with a creaper. My '85 I can go anywhere but directly under a axle (I get get my head under though) with all four tires firmly planted on the ground.

The first generation Ex (what most consider the most offroad savvy Ex built) wouldn't fair a whole lot better, really pretty similar in some reguards:
Approach - 32.6 (better)
Departure - 22.3 probably without a receiver hitch, which really hangs down low (worse than new JGC and current Ex, slightly better than new Ex)
Ground Clearance - ? (can't find on internet, I know it isn't too spectacular)

And for your meager 16-17 mpg you get a max towing capacity of 5200 lbs... about the same as the new Ex.

 

[jasonl]

Well, it is what it is. There aint a darn thing any of us can do about it. Lift kits, bigger tires and V-8 engines are a thing of the past for the Ex......Maybe Ford will decide that 80% of Ranger owners don't need a real truck and will reinvent it to include FWD, minivan front end styling and terrain management too.....

 

[shane96ranger]

Well, it is what it is. There aint a darn thing any of us can do about it.

Well said. I don't want a certain tree hugging terrorist befriending bastard to be the President right now either, but there isn't a damn thing I can do about it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well, it is what it is. There aint a darn thing any of us can do about it. Lift kits, bigger tires and V-8 engines are a thing of the past for the Ex......Maybe Ford will decide that 80% of Ranger owners don't need a real truck and will reinvent it to include FWD, minivan front end styling and terrain management too.....

Suspension lift kits have been dead for the Ex since the '02 remodel, and have been unpractical since the '96.

Ford didn't decide this on their own, it was they are selling less than 1/8 as many 'sploders as they were when the current bodystyle came out 8 years ago, and it was just refreshed 4 years ago. What is much selling better than it? Not much with a frame or a V8.

Making crap that doesn't sell doesn't do much for paying off the huge loans they took out to stay afloat while everyone else went bankrupt.

 

[jasonl]

Suspension lift kits have been dead for the Ex since the '02 remodel, and have been unpractical since the '96.

Ford didn't decide this on their own, it was they are selling less than 1/8 as many 'sploders as they were when the current bodystyle came out 8 years ago, and it was just refreshed 4 years ago. What is much selling better than it? Not much with a frame or a V8.

Making crap that doesn't sell doesn't do much for paying off the huge loans they took out to stay afloat while everyone else went bankrupt.

True, very true. I may even like them in person, and I understand you have to change with the times and market. I like the lines of the new Ex, just wish the front end would have gotten a less "edge" look and a little more of a truck look to differentiate it...