06 Explorer and 07 Sporttrac

[Kelly Hayes]

Since the 2006 Explorer is now avaulable, has anyone been reading on the Explorer forums about its owners commnets?

I'm thinking since the 2007 Sportrac is similar in frame, engine, and other components, this reading may give an indication of things to come with the 2007 ST.

 

[Mike Pelletier]

I just picked up a 2006 Eddie Bauer 4x4 a few weeks back. We traded our 2002 xls for it and so far we are more than pleased with the new explorer. Here are my first hand observations over the 2002 xls:



-Ride is much smoother

-Accelerates effortlessly both during normal everyday driving and at highway passing speeds

-The 4x4 is solid (already had a few storms since we got it)

-Corners better with less body roll.

-Interior has a much more polished feel than the previous versions

-Wife likes that the tailgate is lighter and easier to close

-Back seats are higher but fold flatter, and the higher seats have full headrests like the driver and passenger seats (The higher seat keeps the dog from getting the urge to jump in the backseat)



Haven't really found something I dont like yet.....the new door handles took some getting used to but they grew on me quickly.



By the way we got the v6.



Hope this is helpful...

Mike

 

[ChrisW Vincent]

I am just not sold on the 500 dollar plastic chrome wheel covers. The rest of the Explorer looks great to me. I want to drive one and see what I think. Wife is bugging for a new vehicle!

 

[Travis Munday]

Don't look now...but those $50K F350s, Excursions and Navigators use "chrome clad wheels" as well.

 

[ChrisW Vincent]

OH NO!!! How Cheap! I was shocked at the price tag on those wheels. They don't look too bad now. I will be interested to see what they look like in 3-5 years. I am sure it won't be pretty.

 

[Travis Munday]

Why not? They'll be much more pretty then regular chrome wheels.



I don't see what the big hoop-lah over "chrome clad" wheels are. They are MUCH easier to clean, take care of, and look much better for longer. You don't have to take them off in the winter or when the roads get salted/sanded, you don't have to polish them, you don't have to worry about pitting, you do'nt have to worry about flaking, you don't have to worry about rusting; basically, all of the benefits of chrome, which is to say only one (looks good, subjectively), with almost none of the drawbacks.

 

[Tom Schindler]

I think people will be suprised to know many other manufacturers have already started doing that long before Ford did.





Tom

 

[James FreemanJr]

My uncles dodge truck is like that. You can't even tell there wheel covers unless you get in real close. Alot of fuss over nothing. If you don't want the option don't take it problem solved.

 

[David Torres]

I have to disagree with you Tiger. I had the chrome clad wheels on my '98 Ranger and by the time I sold it in '04 the chrome on the covers had pitted. And that's in SoCal where there is no sand or salt on the roads. In addition after washing the truck water would get stuck in between the chrome covers and the steel wheel. The only way to get it out was to drive the truck first, then dry the wheels. Then again it was only a $65 option on the '98 Ranger which wasn't bad but for $500 I'd definitely pass on it.

 

[Travis Munday]

The wheels may've been made different in '98. I had chrome cald wheels on my '01 Ranger, and in the 4 years they were on there, they still lloked brand new and only needed a soapy rag to get there.