1998 Ford Convertor. Er, EXPLORER! Goodbye Imports! - FORD COMES THROUGH!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Comfortable. Quiet and Smooth ride. Lots of unexpected features.

Cons: Mileage at 19MPG is per sticker but still a disappointment. Noisy tires (Michelin).

Handling And Control:

The Bottom Line: 
The FORD Explorer XLT 2WD is a very welcome replacement that is versatile enough to replace two completely different older vehicles.

Author's Review
BULLETIN
Our Explorer was nudging 30,000 miles during a difficult month for us - a major service was needed but I was paralyzed with indecision about how the nearest FORD Dealer in Carson City NV would react. My preliminary inquiries about the car and possible warranty issues Were simply brushed off with condescending comments - no offers to FIX things. We were filled with misgivings for months. I did not trust them.

Our laundry list had grown a bit: The front passenger seat belt was hanging up now. That was preceded by troubles with the Hazard Lights switch, the rear window wiper would not work, and a couple of minor irritants.

Came the day of decision - I took the Car over the hill (Sierras) to Sacramento, CA where we had purchased our prize. The service consulant appeared, wrote up the 30,000 mile service ($379); I added a $112 (including labor) set of mud flaps, then he lent a very interested ear to my woes. He looked at all four items, wrote them down; I asked him to estimate the costs to me - I was willing to come all the way back (224 mile round trip) to accommodate their schedule. He blinked, then took the keys.

And offered me a free rental car! The best place to be while enduring dentistry and car repairs is elsewhere and I went there for several hours. I returned after several hours to find the Explorer still sitting in its stall! Of course, it was a 'big' service and I had added the mud flaps at the last second. After another hour, came the call. $542.24 OK. $379 plus 112 = $491 plus Sales Tax & $50 Deductible on Warranty. Seemed OK.

What about the repairs estimate? "Huh? Those items were fixed - on Warranty!" I fainted.

It is incredible how much difference a Dealer can make.

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With the recent models of their EXPLORER SUV the Ford Motor Company appears to have beaten the Import Market at its own game. In fact, Ford HAS BECOME an import company; having absorbed such as Jaguar and Volvo recently. These acquisitions came with new "foreign" expertise, combined with the best of a century of manufacturing and merchandising in the USA. With these assets, Ford is producing new products that deliver what the buyer has become used to getting during the past 25 years. What did Ford do? Study the competition and note what the buyers like and try to do it better. Rather than torment buyers with agonizing decisions about options that should be standard items; Ford has created and delivers a standardized vehicle in three basic versions, any one of which can overcome buyer resistance with an ample complement of attractive and useful features that make sense and are easy to use. It should not be necessary to mention but high quality workmanship should be evident everywhere in the vehicle. It is.

WHAT MADE US CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE?

From 1973 to 1999, we owned imports by BMW, Audi, VW and Toyota, in that order. They offered reasonable pricing, fuel economy, needed few options and were readily recognizable. They delivered performance and, at times, lots of satisfaction but a graph would show how we fared monetarily - outrageously costly maintenance says it all.

Our son, cured of his addiction to Toyotas, purchased a Camry replacement last year. (One of his best friends is an executive with FORD.) It was a Ford EXPLORER! With TWO Wheel Drive!

And so, we were ready to be converted back (or domesticated.)

THE PURCHASE!

After two years of planning, we ventured into the car market. For budgeting reasons, the used car market was suitable for us and the search began.

My wife wrote the specifications. Explicitly, what she wanted had to be WHITE, have FOUR doors, less than FIVE years old, have LOW mileage, a reasonable PRICE, and COMFORTable. My input was limited to avoiding 4 Wheel Drive
Fully prepared, we went off on a joyride one Friday and found our dream car.

No luck on color, otherwise they had a 1998 that met her criteria. Exceeded it, in fact. The mileage was only 16,400! Marilyn, currently the breadwinner of the family, did the road testing. It was a "GO". The light green car sold itself.

OPERATING

The first impression when entering the EXPLORER is of the ample head room provided in the opening, as well as the roof ceiling height. No more contusions on my poor pate. Although the EXPLORER is a relatively complex vehicle, it is easy to drive. The engine power is ample; easily overcoming challenges from changes in terrain. Although the center of gravity is higher, the EXPLORER glides around curves. Being a car on a truck chassis, the ride becomes "jouncy" when passing over bumps and depressions in the pavement at slow speeds. This is a negligible nuisance. The transmission gear changes are barely perceptible. The transitions to and from OVERDRIVE are detectable only on the Tachometer. The overdrive control is within reach of an extended finger on the gear selection stalk.

Acceleration is startlingly effective. The SOHC V6 needs only the lightest touch on the pedal to take the EXPLORER from standing start to road speed. I estimate that adequate performance in traffic requires only about 1/4" of pedal. Why all that power? For towing a ton and a half trailer with full passenger complement. The EXPLORER is also available with a V8 engine; the operation of which must be pretty exciting.

The instruments and controls are clustered to allow the operator to run the machine without undue distraction from the road and traffic. Crucial instruments are larger; crucial controls, including windshield visibility, are within reach of an extended finger. One must reach for others; an effort that usually involves taking one's eyes off the road.

Driver information from the instrument set is abundant; although some warning lights are so small that anxiety can replace knowledge. As in an aircraft cockpit, an operator should know the instrument layout so well that a 'sweeping' scan is all that is needed to ascertain that operations are normal. Close scrutiny is advisable only when the vehicle is stopped. The same goes for the Steering Wheel 'tilt' adjustment. Simply stated, DO NOT try to do this while the vehicle is in motion.

Handling is rewarding and crisp; the EXPLORER has a very tight turning ratio, making it one of the most nimble vehicles we have driven. At road speeds, the steering is VERY sensitive, requiring very little input from the operator. This advantage has a price: One should maintain high levels of attention to the task at hand. Both hands, that is.

Braking is steady and smooth. We have not tested the panic conditions for which the ABS system was designed. The parking brake WORKS; an easy push of the foot will set it.

The controls for the "Cruise" control (labeled 'Speed' for some reason) are located on the steering wheel. One should get to know the 5 buttons by touch; studying them on the road is foolishness. The system is very accurate; requiring only a touch to set and to disable.

CAUTIONARY ADVISORY

Since it is a relatively high performance design, the EXPLORER is demanding on drivers; who must learn to concentrate on the task of running this finely tuned machine. All too often, drivers seem to become intoxicated with the SUV concept and design and allow the vehicle to govern them.

An operator who is distracted by passengers, usecured items items in the seating areas, comfort and audio control settings and, of course, the infamous cell phones; is out of control and is a hazard to persons and property. A lack of attention can lead to an unpleasant emergency situation.
Of course, the aggressive driver is a threat to all. A high performance vehicle like the EXPLORER is unforgiving of driver errors; which can account for some of the highly publicized rollovers.

Tire air pressure is problematic; the recent spate of highly publicized accidents illustrate that. In the Ford EXPLORER operator's manual, the recommendation is to inflate per instructions molded onto the tire itself (35PSI on our present equipment). On the EXPLORER itself, a door sticker advises a conflicting pressure of only 26 PSI! This utterly silly and dangerous advice probably stemmed from some anxious sales executive who meant to 'soften' the ride for some target buyer segment that dislike 'hard' or bumpy rides - or trucks in general (The Explorer design came from the "Ranger" pickup chassis.) Anyone with experience with radial tires going flat will recollect how sloppy the handling becomes. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TIRE YOU ARE INFLATING.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

We had some at first, exacerbated by an indifferent dealer in Nevada - 15 miles North of here. Per the above; all disappointments were remedied by a crackerjack dealer - 112 miles West of here.

SATISFACTION

It is a complete success with us. We have had it for eight months now and expect to keep it for 6.5 years. So far, each day has brought a new and happy surprise for us. (Ours is a 1998 2WD (two wheel drive) - NOT a 2D (two door) Model "SPORT" which is otherwise similar but shorter.)

FEATURES

This is a high end model variation, commonly referred to as 'Loaded'; which package includes many 'optional' items:

1. 1998 Ford EXPLORER XLT, 2 Wheel Drive, 4 Doors
2. Actual miles - 16,240 or 5,900 miles avg/Yr.
3. Engine: Single Overhead Cam, 204 HP 400 CuIn V6
4. Transmission: Automatic 4 Speed with Overdrive.
5. Instruments: Fuel, Engine Temp, Tach, Speedometer, Oil Pressure, Alternator Voltage.
6. Controls on Dash: Headlamps, Panel Lights, Air Vents, Hood Release, Parking Brake Release.
7. Controls on Steering Wheel: Horn, Cruise Control
8. Control Stalk (L): Turn Signal, Wiper/Washer
9. Control Stalk (R): Gear Selector, Overdrive on/off
10. Steering Wheel Tilt on Steering Column
11. Center Console: Twin Air Vents, CD AM/FM, Stereo Speaker (4) Controls, Rear Window Wiper/Washer, Rear Window Defrost, Foglamp, Climate Control Fan/Air Temp/Zone/A/C.
12. Safety Devices: Shoulder/Belt Harness 2 Front, Top attachment point is adjustable to occupant height. Lap Belts 3 places rear. Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Air Bags Driver, front Passenger. Padding on all inside surfaces exposed to Occupants. Warning lights for door and rear window latches. Rear door "Child Locks". Electric Defrost Rear Window. Foot Operated Parking Brake. Emergency Flasher.
13. Annunciators: Key in Ignition Chime, Door Ajar Light, Overdrive Off Light, Speed Control On Light. Tiny Lighted arrows on all window switches. (At night, it is like being in an aircraft cockpit.)
14. Rear Center Console: A/C direction and vents, Fan Speed, Earphone outlet. (The grandkids really LOVE this)
15. Front Bucket Power Seats, Rake, Fore and Aft, Tilt, Lumbar controls, Leather. (Front Passenger seat has mechanical adjustments.)
16. Rear Seats: Locked Back, Fold down lever, Leather, adjustable head rests 2 places.
17. Cargo Deck: Privacy Cover and Heavy Duty Mat, Heavy Duty floor mats 4 places. Rear seats fold down, have a 60/40 split which accomodates a third or fourth occupant.
18. Digital Outside Temperature and Compass, Dome lights over front, rear seats and Cargo Deck.
19. Personal Security: Keyless Push Button Entry Code Pad, Remote Keyless Door Lock Controls, Remote Panic/Warning Controls, Illuminated Entry includes Outside "Puddle" spotlight on base of each rear view mirror, Extra Lamp in Dome Light Housings, Automatic Door Locks activate as vehicle begins to move, "THEFT" light on dash flashes when security system is activated.
20. Other - Standard Rear Bumper Trailer package. Roof rack.

Overall, once the ample controls are set up to suit the driver, the Ford EXPLORER is easy to drive, quiet, handling is steady, and comfort is high.