looks, style, weight, real snappy suv

wind noise--previous brake problem--

I trade my suv, usually every 1 1/2 to 2 yrs, but this one may make the 2 yr limit--drives great, computer controls, cd, cassette, front & rear
both ac front, rear, seat warmers--not used much in texas--but nice
moonroof, running boards, heated mirrors are a must from now on--power
everything, control for garages doors and a message recorder--has steel in
the doors, feel really safe--is roomy and cools down quick--v8 is a must
never will have a 6 again--gas for the suv is rarely great--but i now have 9750 miles and get 18 + on highway and 15 + in town (sometimes) so far no
real big complaints--paid 30000--the limited is nice and i recommend anyone give it a chance--you will be glad you did--They r built tough!!!

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loved my first blazer--not so on the next one--first explorer i hated
swore would never buy another ford--but glad i did now

Cargo Space; Styling at the time (now styling looks old); Powerful optional larger V6;

Poor Quality (expect many trips to dealer), cabin squeeks, poor directional signal switch (always turns off way before you turn); dealers are low class vs Toyota and Honda; no back seat room; several power window and door lock motors went bad starting from the first month; VERY uncomfortable seat belts that seem to be designed to keep getting tighter and tighter as you drive; Poor resale value; Traction marginal for a 4x4 (standard tires are not effective);

I would recommend you buy anything else (except maybe GM) instead of Ford. They just can't design and build a quality vehicle as well as other manufacturers (they do beat GM, but that's easy). Now that my warranty is up, I will probably sell it.

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No other SUV.

Plenty of interior room, reliable 4x4 system, good overall reliability, great price compared to competing SUV's.

Fuel economy (but you shouldn't expect anything more from an SUV), soft suspension, wind/road noise increases as vehicle gets older.

Bought my Explorer new in Feb 1996. Have just passed 115K kms (71K miles) and have only had to do regular maintenance. This is no pavement princess either as I regularily off-road with it and do lots of camping and skiing. Transmission is starting to show signs of wear, and will likely require a rebuild before the year is up. Dealer also recommends replacing stock shocks. Other than that a very reliable and practical vehicle. I have improved several areas with cheap performance improvements. More ground clearance with modest lift and larger 31" tires, more performance and fuel economy with aftermarket plug wires, plugs, synthetic fluids throughout, KKM intake kit and Borla stainless cat-back exhaust. All items could be considered as regularly scheduled maintenance parts improvements.

I would recommend the Explorer to anyone who is new to the SUV world, and especially to active families. Easy to drive, comfortable on long trips, and plenty of room for gear.

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1st SUV

Comfey seats.
Plenty of space.
Good towing for a OHV V-8.

Ride quality.
Needs more pep in the V-8 department.

Paid 28,560 for V-8,overhead console,Cloth Captains seats,and etc.
The sticker price was 30,560,but the sales rep. budged.Well, one day in Joppa,MD a Silver Jetta was in front of me at a red light.Light turned green,and the Jetta never moved.The Explorer did!!!!!Tap!!!!Next thing I know the Jetta had crack and a bolt pop.I get out to see the damage of the Explorer.A smudge.The Neon story goes like this.One day at another red light the Neon pulls behind me.Well, the Neon hit the rear of the Explorer.Neon damage:Cracked front bumper.Explorer's damage:Nothing.I think the Explorer is a great value and would defintly recommend it.By the way they are "Built Ford Tough".

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First SUV

Easy to drive. Good view of the road. Ease of use of rear door. Good A/C.

Rough ride. Noisy. Not quite wide enough to load and haul 4 x 8 materials without a struggle. Sound system.

One of the better smaller SUVs on the market. Good value for the money.

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Quiet ride, dependable.

Suspension

Purchased used almost 3 years ago, at auction for $21,000. (Dealerships were trying to charge me $25,000-28,000 for ones I saw on their lots). It's black with the tan accent, grey leather, sunroof, upgraded stereo system (without the CD player), and 4-liter, 6 cyl engine. Nice thing to drive, especially in rain or snow, or in the heat of day. Fuel econ has been 17 on avg, and I can get around 23-24 mpg on flat hwy (keep your speed down). Sometimes I kick in the 4WD auto when the road surface is wet, just to keep the rear wheels from slipping too much. That, I think is the fault of its stock wheels, which I will replace the late part of this year. I've never been impressed with them, the Goodyears you see on most Ford Explorers.
The truck gets the job done in the snow, but beware: Do not think that a 4WD will make everything OK in bad weather, you have a 4,000-lb. truck that you must respect, or you'll one day find yourself slamming into someone's rear, or rolled over. It's not the same as even driving a minivan. The suspension is much different, and I don't care for the bouncy play it has. My shocks have been checked, and they are fine. The electronic AC has auto and max, plus a setting that will allow the system to regulate the specific temperature inside the compartment. So far I have driven it about 50,000 miles, with only one failure to start, which was I think last year when the engine cranked but didn't start on my first attempt in cold weather. The second attempt, it started without a hitch.
My truck has a less-than-quality paint job on its roof. The coating is not as deep and rich as on the rest of the truck. Keep it waxed (Nu Finish is good) and clean bird droppings ASAP since they will eat into the finish easily. And keep it maintained, especially the transmission. I've only read that some others have had problems with them. I dropped the value to 3 stars, because fuel econ is less than ideal. Overall it gets 4 since it's worked flawlessly, but fuel and suspension hold my rating down.

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not too much. Nice Interior. There are stereo controls in the back.

reliability, gas, stereo, looks, ability to stay upright

We have had a lot of problems with the Ford. The battery has literally exploded twice. Once it popped the hood off. The Stereo system is broken, along with the CD changer. It drives more like a truck then an SUV. You can feel all the bumps in the road a lot more then in our Jeep Grand Cherokee. The back right window is broken. The gas mileage isn't good, but that's what you get when you get an SUV. Also, the ford does not feel safe when turning. And it's just plain ugly too.
One good feature is the stereo controls in the back. If the stereo worked that is.
I would not recommend this car.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee (much better SUV)

nice powerband (205HP Model), pretty roomy for 4+ adults and can pack a TON of stuff in the back

squeaky brakes and bearings (i think there was a recall for that)

Was rented for several months (work related), was my choice every time I needed a good solid vehicle for transportation/snow, etc...

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It does drive fairly well, and can accelerate well.

I was in a roll-over accident with it.

I was in a solo roll-over accident with my aunt, her husband, and her 5 year old son. Her husband is in critical condition (he wasn't wearing a seat belt). The worst part was my cousin's seat belt came unbuckled when the car rolled. This car cannot turn well without rolling over. I will never drive an SUV after this incident.

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None

Horsepower,easy to drive,comfortable interior,smooth ride,lots of cargo space.

Four trips to Ford dealer for various recalls. Defective cd player/radio in dash. Expensive,computer chip keys to make back ups. Low miles per gallon of gas. Needs big garage.

$32,000 off the lot price. Recommended to all.

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