Read about the next Explorer here:

New Ford Explorer Arrives on November 19 - Ford Trucks

Thanks!

 

Ford is probably an advertiser here and at the risk of offending the moderator, I'm disappointed in the new Explorer. This quote really got to me:

“The new Explorer is still the SUV America fell in love with – a vehicle built for the perfect family adventure,” said Jim Farley, Ford Global Marketing Honcho.

I'm not so sure about that anymore. I don't see a two speed transfer case in the list of goodies. No manual transmission. Instead, I see lots of stuff that requires more and more microprocessor control of things that don't need it. This translates into something the average person (or even trained technicians) can't fix or troubleshoot easily. Ford doesn't provide the logic in their shop manuals (unless things have changed). Once a wire goes into a black box, you have very little idea what it does with that input. In other industries, the logic is provided so you have some idea how to troubleshoot.

The new Ford Explorer is far removed from what it used to be. It's been emasculated. Is this the direction the market went or is this the way auto makers took it? It's a chicken or egg thing.

I'm considering the Jeep Wrangler for my next SUV. It doesn't seem to be loaded with so much stuff that you don't need but I'm sure it's got way more stuff than it should. Simplicity is something the auto makers should strive for.

Am I the only one who thinks like this? Call me a dinosaur. I just might deserve it.

 

I wasn't too thrilled when the Explorer went to a unibody frame. It seems to have become more about comfort and "soccer moms."

 

This should have been in the 2011+ Explorer forum, the only thing those newer ones share with the pre-2010 models is the name. They are front wheel drive now-

 

Sure hope the blend door issues are a thing of the past too.

All new cars from all manufacturers are SW feature loaded to the max, it is what younger buyers want.

Love our '04 explorer and mountaineer, along with my '05 Excursion, best of all no payments.

 

I guess that means the engine is pointed in the wrong direction, too. I'm sure the reason for doing this is to share a platform with something else, like maybe the Fusion.

 

Taurus, actually, from what I've seen previously.

 

That and they are faster to build, give more interior room, and better mileage in a strictly FWD configuration. You generally lose 10% of your potential economy when the power is turned 90*.

 

I feel the same way you folks do my Explorer off road on road family Truck is gone however there are other brands out there. From 1992 until now I have only owned 7 Explorer Trucks from new to over 140,000 miles The three that are left are approaching 200K thats over a million miles.
Now it is suppose to be better I just want to see you haul that 32 Point Buck Home in the Wife's new 2015 Explorer!!

 

Even at 1 time your 1992 Explorer was new and you probably wouldn't have hauled a dead animal in that.

As for interior space, I suspect there's more cargo space in that new Explorer than any of the previous generations. As mentioned, the current Explorer is based on the same platform as the Taurus. My 2011 Taurus SHO is wider and longer than my 2004 Aviator. While the new Explorer may look small, it's actually not.

Now, depending on where you killed that 32 point buck, the new Explorer may not be as well equipped to reach it as the old Explorer was....

-Rod

 

Looks like I was wrong on the cargo capacity:

1992 Explorer 4 door-
70.2" wide
184.3" long
81.6 cubic feet capacity

2015 Explorer
80.7" wide (excluding exterior mirrors)
197.1 " long
80.7 cubic feet capacity behind 1st row of seats

-Rod

 

Thanks for the information Rod. My big grip with the new Explorer is front seat leg room, it sits low and not off road.