- suv 94,563
- 611 below average
- 9,499 fair
- Schofield, WI
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- autoshopper.com
- 611 below average suv 94,563 gasoline red automatic
2008 ford explorer review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Haul people, tow boats. introductionford explorer is a traditional midsize suv with body-on-frame construction. Available with v6 or v8 power, the explorer competes against the chevy trailblazer, jeep grand cherokee, toyota 4runner, and nissan pathfinder. explorer was completely redesigned for the 2006 model year and we were pleased with the new steering, new suspension, and new brakes, all of which were vastly improved over the previous-generation. The latest explorer is quieter than previous models, and it rides better. It leans less in corners and the brakes are more responsive. The rear seats fold flatter, and the interior has been improved throughout. More important, it's a very nice vehicle that's pleasant to live with and it compares well with the competition. all explorers offer a smooth ride and decent handling for such big, heavy vehicles. The interiors are pleasant, with only oddly designed door panels to complain about. With five, six, or seven-passenger seating configurations, customers can outfit their explorers to fit their passenger and cargo carrying needs. with the v8 engine, the explorer is rated to tow up to a whopping 7,310 pounds; that's about as much as a jeep grand cherokee with a hemi. And explorer is rated to carry up to 1,531 pounds of payload. explorer has earned the best possible impact protection rating in the federal government's crash tests: five stars for the driver in a frontal impact, the front-seat passenger in a frontal impact, front-seat occupants in a side impact, and rear-seat occupants in a side impact, according to the national highway traffic safety administration's 2006 model year new car assessment program. Ford says the explorer is designed to meet all known federal frontal- and side-impact crash requirements through 2010. for 2008, ford adds new standard and optional features. Side curtain airbags are standard on 2008 models, voice activation is added to the optional navigation system, and top-line limited models get standard power adjustable pedals and a universal garage door opener. Explorer's truck-based chassis gives it towing capability, while its clever independent rear suspension smoothes the ride for back-seat passengers. lineupthe 2008 ford explorer lineup comprises the xlt 2wd 25,755), xlt 4wd 28,050), eddie bauer 2wd 28,100), eddie bauer 4wd 30,395), limited 2wd 31,870), and limited 4wd 34,165). All are available with the standard 4. 0-liter v6 and five-speed automatic transmission or an optional 4. 6-liter v8 with a six-speed automatic 1,295). The audiophile stereo 510) and sirius satellite radio 195) with six-month subscription are available separately. Power retracting running boards are optional for eddie bauer and limited 695). Later in the model year, 20-inch wheels, capless fueling, and ford sync will be offered. seating choices include a manually folding third-row seat 875) on xlt and eddie bauer, standard on limited. A power-folding third row is available on eddie bauer 1,370) and limited 495). The third-row seat comes standard on the limited, but can be deleted for credit (-$375), providing a flatter cargo floor. safety features standard on. walkaroundup front, ford explorer looks like an f-150 pickup with finer, scaled-down features. At the same time, its generous use of chrome, big-and-bold lamps, and square-cornered aero mirrors make this latest-generation explorer look more like a lexus suv than a ford, and we mean that in the most complimentary way. between the elaborate lamps front and back, however, explorer is a big, empty box with five large doors and a whole bunch of space inside. each explorer trim level presents its own visual personality. The graphics are accented with metal surrounds both shiny and matte. On the downside, we saw a fair amount of glare reflected off the dash top onto the windshield. the seats are supportive and comfortable. The colors and trims are elegant and tasteful, and the use of metallic trim is not overdone. second-row seats are available as a 60/40 split bench with recline adjustment, or as two captain's chairs with fold-down armrests and a center console. The bucket seats are more comfortable for adults, but the bench seats fold down better for cargo. the third row, when ordered, is always a 50/50 split, but is available with manual or power folding and unfolding. the cargo floor is completely flat when all the seats are folded, with almost no forward rise. The five-seater has slightly more room with the seats folded. the dvd-based navigation system is very easy to use, with excellent colors and graphics, and a big eight-inch display. For 2008, it can now be operated via voice commands. ford's sync communications and entertainment system, due late in the 2008 model year, can recognize bluetooth-enabled cell phones, access their phonebooks, and play calls and read text messages through the speakers. It also has a usb interface to connect with ipods and other mp3 players. Voice commands and/or steering wheel buttons can be used to control all functions. the rear-seat entertainment system's drop-down screen seems small a bit small. When in position for viewing, the video screen combines with the rear head restraints to block the driver's view to the rear. Outward visibility elsewhere is good, with less obstruction than expected from the thick c-pillars. we don't care for the door handles. Ford designed the interior door panels so the armrests and door pulls would supplement the impact protection hardware built into the door's innards. Thus, the armrests and door pulls were separated, with the pulls positioned below the armrests. This poor ergonomic positioning makes i.
9,499 Schofield, WISchofield, WI at autoshopper.com