Off-Topic: Explorer

[Coronach]

Quick off-topic questions for the Ford Hive Mind:

My wife is finally retiring her minivan, and I think she's getting an Explorer (yay!). We're going for a lease return or otherwise gently used example. Anything in particular to look out for?

What internet forum do you recommend for research questions?

Also, how hard to locate would this combination be to locate, anyone know?

AWD, adaptive cruise (Safe and Smart Package?), OEM Class III tow package

I know that this will limit me to the V6 options, as the I-4 engines are all Class II. AFAIK, if I go for a Sport trim level, I get the tow package and AWD (Intelligent 4WD) as standard, but locally I have not found one with adaptive cruise, unless the sellers are not listing them online correctly (which happens and is annoying).

Thanks, and here's to a 2/3rds Ford garage!

Mike

 

[luigisho]

There are a bunch of Explorer forums out there. Look at a few and see which ones look active and informative. That's a much bigger set of owners than these niche cars.

 

[Zpak]

I’d stay on the hunt for a Sport. AWD, 3.5 eco, nice interior and personally I think they look the best.
I believe you need the technology package for the adaptive cruise.

And cheers from a 3/3rds ford garage.

 

[jgonza5]

I've gotten a lot of good Explorer info from this one:
ExplorerForum.com

My wife has a M.Y. 17 Explr Limited.

For the MY 2017 Explrs:

• 1st Year with Sync 3 (instead of My Ford Touch)
• Adaptive Cruise Control was:
  • available as Option on the Limited (and requires BLIS Plus Inflatable Rear Safety Belts Package)
  • available as Option on the Sport
  • standard on the Platinum
  • not available on XLT
• Class III Tow Package:
  • Limited - as option that requires delete the standard 2.3 I-4 EcoBoost and replaced with the N.A. 3.5 L V-6 (Non-Ecoboost)
  • Standard on Sport & Platinum, both with 3.5 L EcoBoost
  • XLT - optional with the N.A. 3.5 L
• I know this is obvious, but there is an XLT Sport Appearance Package which is separate from the Sport

Finally, the 2nd row seats have essentially 3 configurations:

• standard (common) 60/40 split (middle seat is about 11 inches wide)
• optional bucket seats, with optional 2nd row console (console can be removed, but carpet below is cut at factory)
• optional bucket seats (allows walk-thru access to 3rd row w/o folding a seat forward) (console can still be added later ~$350)
  • reminder - these are not captain chairs, so no arm rests - would need console

Sound like you are in Sport or Platinum territory.

Good Luck!

 

[limited02]

Prior to my MKS, I had an Explorer and
explorerforum.com was the site to use.

 

[ridered74]

I may be projecting my wants onto you, but you should 100% get a 16+ model with the platinum package. At the time I was looking to upgrade from my 11 SHO, it was a tough choice between a newer SHO or the platinum explorer. Massaging seats, cameras front and pack, much better sound system, room galore. Came down to what I needed for work at the time and partly I couldn't find an explorer under 34K at the time unless it was already approaching 100K miles. Now they are much cheaper.

Do it. Buy one. Let me live vicariously through you.


*edit - I guess I should add it also has the stuff you want as well. Adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, auto parks both parallel and millennial parking spaces, even has a 120v plug in case the wife needs to curl her hair on way to work or whatever else you would use it for.

 

[SM105K]

I’d stay on the hunt for a Sport. AWD, 3.5 eco, nice interior and personally I think they look the best.
I believe you need the technology package for the adaptive cruise.

And cheers from a 3/3rds ford garage.

I concur. I would love a sport.

 

[AmericanPride]

Has she looked at a FLEX? We love ours and it's not even an Eco.

No matter what you get, check the Carfax for maintenance. Just see if it was taken care of or not really

 

[Coronach]

She has looked at the Flex, and she doesn't like it. I would love to get a 19 Sport, but I'm okay with an XLT or Limited as long as it has what we want. Heck, I'd love to get a Platinum, but she doesn't want to spend the money.

Thanks for the info, it's very helpful.

 

[AmericanPride]

She has looked at the Flex, and she doesn't like it. I would love to get a 19 Sport, but I'm okay with an XLT or Limited as long as it has what we want. Heck, I'd love to get a Platinum, but she doesn't want to spend the money.

Thanks for the info, it's very helpful.

Personally I would go sport just because the styling. I much prefer what they do with that option. My favorite feature of my SHO is the air conditioned seats!

It wouldn't hurt to plan on flushing some things when you get it for maintenance sake. PTU, coolant, oil, etc.

 

[Coronach]

Personally I would go sport just because the styling. I much prefer what they do with that option. My favorite feature of my SHO is the air conditioned seats!

Yeah, the Sport is sharp. And I have AC seats in my SHO, too. They're really nice in the summer when you haven't had a chance to run the car for a bit on remote start.

It wouldn't hurt to plan on flushing some things when you get it for maintenance sake. PTU, coolant, oil, etc.

Yeah, so just like owning a second SHO. Pretty much?

 

[SM105K]

Yeah, the Sport is sharp. And I have AC seats in my SHO, too. They're really nice in the summer when you haven't had a chance to run the car for a bit on remote start.Yeah, so just like owning a second SHO. Pretty much?

They basically are just a big inflated SHO.

 

[Lurch3]

As jgonza5 pointed out, you can likely piece together a Limited that fits your needs, but I recommend the Sport. My wife purchased one last year, and we are very happy with it (so much so, I'm shopping for a SHO for when my lease is up). The Intelligent 4WD and Class III are standard on the Sport, and the adaptive cruise is an option. I found (like you) that most listings were wrong and resorted to looking at the steering wheel pictures to verify arrows on the second middle button on the left (see page 5 on brochure). We also wanted 401A (cooled seats/memory seats/front camera/etc.). The brochure seems to say if you get one, you have the other, but I found a few with only one or the other (or pictures were wrong).

Brochure is here.

Someone on this forum linked here to order guides that tell changes between model years. (fun fact, the 2017s have single exhaust tips on each side, 18/19 have dual - see page 3 of brochure for dual).

In regards to the Platinum, if you get 401A and Safe and Smart (adaptive), the only features you're missing are Multi-Contour seats, and the Active Park assist. We did not like the look of the Platinum (and they were $3,000-$5,000 more).

They basically are just a big inflated SHO.

That's good to hear! I'm still trying to find a local one to test drive, but have my eye on one a few hours away.

 

[Coronach]

It's my wife's car, she gets to pick. She's back and forth between a Limited and a Sport (both have the options packages we want). Besides styling and engine power, any other less-obvious things that favor the Sport? I'm personally pulling for that option, but it's her car/her choice.

We do plan on doing some towing, I know that the increased HP of the Sport would help ... would it be a huge difference? Wife wants to get a pop-up or other small camper. And yes, I'm going to register over at Explorerforum and crosspost that same question there.

Thanks guys.

Mike

 

[Coronach]

most listings were wrong and resorted to looking at the steering wheel pictures to verify

That is EXACTLY what I did. And the lack of good info is annoying AF on these ads.

 

[Lurch3]

I recommend driving both if the styling isn't a deciding factor for you. My wife could tell the Sport was faster than the Limited, but she would have been perfectly happy with Limited. I think the Class II would handle a pop up camper without issue (3500 lbs rating), but if you plan on anything bigger Class III is 10,000 lbs.

Aside from engine and styling, the only things you get with the Sport over Limited are:

• 500-watt Audio System from Sony with Clear Phase® and Live Acoustics™ technology
• illuminated scuff plates
• paddle shifters

But the Limited has massage seats and active park assist like the Platinum.

Good luck!

 

[Coronach]

On the Expy the breakdown is Class II 3500, Class III 5000.

 

[Joshw0000]

Wish I could've gotten the wife to focus more on function than just the appearance package. But we still love our Explorer.

Cheers from a 4/4 Ford family (I'm counting the New Holland Tractor lol).

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Lurch3]

On the Expy the breakdown is Class II 3500, Class III 5000.

Apologies, I used this site for my numbers above, but it looks like Ford's numbers are lower according to the manual.

 

[jgonza5]

To further clarify, for M.Y. 2017, with the Class III towing package (and a weight-distributing hitch), the max towing is 5,000 lb, for both the 3.5 L EcoBoost and N.A. 3.5 L. (See Explr Towing Guide)

Regarding performance, my DD is a 2014 Taurus SEL with the N.A. 3.5 L. There is big noticeable drop in acceleration, when driving the wife's 2017 Explorer Limited with CL III Tow Package, also equipped with the N.A. 3.5 L. You can really feel the effects of that extra ~1,000 lbs of curb weight (vs Taurus). So another reason to shoot for a Sport or Platinum.