- suv 143,434
- 1,757 below average
- 3,701 great
- Springfield, IL
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- autoshopper.com
- 1,757 below average suv 143,434 silver
2004 ford explorer review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. America's best-selling suv. introductionford explorer is the modern american station wagon. Ford sells more than 400,000 explorers a year, making it the best-selling suv and the sixth best-selling vehicle in america, and it's held these titles for a dozen years. Though quite capable as a tow vehicle and able to venture off the highway, most explorers, like most suvs, spend their entire lives shuttling people and performing the duties station wagons performed when baby boomers were growing up. The explorer answers this call admirably and comfortably, which is part of the reason it's so popular. the explorer is roomy and comfortable. It's capable of seating seven people when equipped with the optional third-row seat that folds flat into the cargo floor when not being used. Part of the reason for this is that the explorer benefits from a superb five-speed automatic transmission. safety features abound: anti-lock brakes come standard, and side-curtain air bags, designed to provide rollover protection, are optional and highly recommended. Ford's advancetrac electronic stability system is available for all xlt, eddie bauer, and limited models, providing improved traction and safety. The current model rides on a wider track and a longer wheelbase, giving it a more solid, more stable stance. Its newly developed independent rear suspension gives it a smoother ride and better handling than suvs with traditional live rear axles. new car test drive chose the explorer as the best all-around sport-utility vehicle for 2003. An overhead-cam v8 800) is an option for all models except the xls. All models come standard with the five-speed automatic. Xlt comes with aluminum alloy wheels, a new chrome grille and black-grain outside door handles. Leather trimmed upholstery with a six-way power driver's seat is available for $655. Nbx includes a yakima loadwarrior roof rack, which features a cargo basket made of heavy-duty steel, two-tone bumpers, body cladding, wheel-lip moldings, step bars, front tow hooks, and 17-inch aluminum wheels with p245/65r17 all-terrain tires. The nbx interior is trimmed with unique seat fabric, special rubber floormats, and a soft liner for the cargo area with a storage bag. eddie bauer 33,100) and limited 33,975) come with leather trimmed seating surfaces, automatic dual-zone climate control, 290-watt six-cd stereo with seven speakers, and wider tires. Six-way adjustable heated power seats with dual lumbar supports are used in front, and the driver's seat has a three-position memory feature. The top two explorer models differ in their distinctive trim: eddie bauer comes with arizona beige bumpers, moldings, lower bodyside cladding, 17-inch satin-nickel wheels and grille, and p245/65r17 all-terrain tires. Limited uses monochromatic bumpers, moldings and cladding with a chrome grille and unique 17-inch chrome wheels. The limited model is available in new ceramic white tri-coat. options include third-row seating 670), auxiliary air conditioning 610), power-adjustable pedals 120), reverse sensing system 255), and a power moonroof 800). Located in the roof, it is designed to help protect first- and second-row outboard occupants during side-impact or rollover accidents. The safety canopy is designed to improve side-impact protection by staying inflated for a longer period. Ford has done a great deal of research on this technology and we strongly reco. walkaroundthe current ford explorer is the same length overall as the pre-2002 models, but it rides on a longer wheelbase (by 2 inches) and a wider track. Pushing the wheels out toward the corners makes the explorer more stable and more comfortable. Though ubiquitous, it is a handsome, good-looking vehicle. Front and rear fascia are smoothly integrated, while jeweled headlamps and tail lamps give it a sophisticated look. Yet, it clearly evokes the previous-generation explorer. No one will have trouble identifying it, and few will notice it at all. Uplevel models come standard with an illuminated keypad on the door for keyless entry. The keypad doesn't improve the appearance of the explorer, but it continues to be a popular feature among loyal owners. interiorthe explorer is a comfortable vehicle, even on long trips. Handsome pecan wood accents lend a luxurious appearance. Light-colored trim on the inside a-pillars and grab handles add to the light, airy atmosphere. It's a successful execution, though the mouse-fur roof liner is nothing to write home about. The leather-trimmed upholstery is attractive. However, we wish ford would have stitched leather all the way around to the inside edge of the seat bottom instead of using carpet there to save money. the front seats are comfortable. They are wider and offer more fore-and-aft travel than before. We found the cloth seats in the xlt comfortable, firm, and supportive, with lots of adjustments. The same held true for the leather seats in the eddie bauer model. seat heaters are part of the eddie bauer way of living. The buttons that control them are mounted in an awkward location, on the sides of seats. Reaching down to the side of the driver's seat, the left hand is confronted with an array of seat adjusters; finding and pressing the seat-heater button is a challenge. Likewise, it isn't always easy to find the seat-height adjuster. Rake is easy to adjust, and there's a knob on the up-level seats for cranking in some lumbar support. adjustable pedals, a tilt steering wheel, and long seat travel help the explorer fit a wide variety of body types. Big coat hooks accommodate thick hangers and big loads of dry cleaning, something few manufacturers get right. Nicely designed cubbies with rubber mats provide space for wallet, sunglasses, a pen, cans, and bottles. A relatively large center console keep odds and ends in check. Interior door handles seem a bit awkward at first, but that.
3,701 Springfield, ILSpringfield, IL at autoshopper.com