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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/12/2019 in Posts

  1. What is this oil you speak of?
    3 points
  2. Finally had a chance to check out the Aviator in person at my dealership for a preview on a pre-production Reserve II. First off, it looks better in person. Though, I am not trying to say it doesn't look good in photos. For one, I am super happy that I was able to sit in it and make several seat adjustments. being 6-foot 3 I was almost concerned about the space. After spending a good 40 minutes with it and the Lincoln rep from Detroit I am happy to see that there is plenty room and I can even fit behind my front-seat adjustment in the 2nd row. I saw a couple videos of the second row and I became a bit concerned about the space but after checking it out in person there is plenty of room for tall individuals up front and in the second row (captains chairs). Moreover, the cargo room was decent. Not really large behind the 3rd row but more than I was expecting, and that's comparing it to a few other 3-row crossovers I've driven and reviewed. The headroom is plentiful unlike what some videos may tell you. Take my word, I adjusted the 30-way seats several times and had time to "play around" with all seat adjustments. one thing to note before I go on is that I have been an automotive journalist for over 15 years now mostly through my publication (automotiveaddicts.com). I have driven well over 1,000 cars and somewhat consider myself to be an expert. This is the first time I took a chance on ordering a vehicle without driving it. Pretty darn crazy and risky... I know. Other takeaways from my visit with the Aviator is that the air suspension system continually makes adjustments even when the vehicle is stationary. With the vehicle power on (no engine running) the suspension system adjusted to keep the vehicle level when people got in the back and shut the door. Pneumatic door latches work flawlessly despite them sounding a bit clunky when opening the door. The interior was very well thought out and the new vehicle chimes are a nice touch. I asked about the start-stop system and its lack of a physical button to disable. The disable toggle on screen and be brought up by one button press on the dashboard and then a click of the touch screen. The system will revert back to being ON after a new key-start. Though, there is a method to disable it quickly by toggling the drive mode to Excite, which is a turn of the knob counterclockwise. <--- cheap way of disabling it quickly but the vehicle will then be in its "sport" / Excite mode. The tech was saying the latest version of the 3.0-liter TT V6 "probably puts out way more power than Ford claims" - I said I would not quote him on that but its just "speculation" haha. He said the Aviator also has the sport brakes of the Explorer ST but not the track brakes, which are only just a Pad change (different pad surface)... otherwise, the sport brakes option on the Explorer is what we get on the Aviator by default. As far as delivery date, there is a lot of conflicting info out there. Tech says several Aviators have been built but are just sitting awaiting "release" - However, there is a month delay that is being discussed for some reason. No mention as to the reason. Tech still says some of the early orders should arrive at dealers in July. So, take that with a grain of salt for now. My thought is they want them to go through the "review" cycle with top auto magazines first before they release them. Currently, TODAY, the new 2020 Explorer is being tested by auto journalists and their opinions of the vehicle are embargoed until next week. I think the Aviator tests will happen within weeks as well. The 22-inch wheels and tires actually look nice in person and fill up the wheel well. Again, another aspect that looks better in person than in photos. The engine is mounted very low and there are strut tower braces installed. The hood latch is now like BMWs with the two pulls and does not require you to hunt for a hood latch under the hood.. you just lift it up now and let the hood struts do their job. Only thing thus far I was disappointed with is the lower-lower door trim is hard plastic... but I was not able to confirm if it is that way in the production unit. This pre-production unit was a very very early one that has been sitting for a few months in California. Tech says there were several "improvements" made from this vehicle to the production units. So, take whatever you will from that. We shall see very soon. The switchgear in the Aviator is all different from the Explorer... at least all that you can "touch". I was impressed by the immersion of soft touch surfaces and a high-level of quality... mostly like the current Navigator. Though, there was something more cohesive about the Aviator over the Navigator as if the interior fits around passengers better. Should be able to get a better grasp on this when I drive it... hopefully in the next couple of weeks when the dealer is said to get in their first demo unit. I will be sure to report back. Overall, the Aviator looks to be a winner and offers much more over the Explorer - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I've seen both in person now and there's plenty of "extra" substance to justify the Aviator's pricing, especially when you start to configure the competition with the same features. Lincoln has a winner here! Now, they need to hurry up and release the builds.
    2 points
  3. 95% of owner’s never even open their hood so how would they know?
    2 points
  4. Well half of them were gone but they just came back a couple of months ago.
    2 points
  5. Cool! Did you open the hood yet?
    1 point
  6. Thanks. The Wifey decided she'd rather have an Edge than an Explorer, so we picked-up a new one last weekend. HRG
    1 point
  7. I agree. My mother's 17 fusion 2.0 hums quietly... much more quiet refined then the 3.5 in my 11 Explorer.
    1 point
  8. Only the ones that regularly go to vehicle forums (enthusiasts).
    1 point
  9. I don't understand why they talked about the interiors in the review of each, and then didn't include any interior photos at all.
    1 point
  10. Nothing says "quality" like having the hood fall on your head when you are under it. Won't happen with a rod. Plus 99.5% of buyers of these will never open the hood themselves so rod vs strut is moot. Be more concerned with what they chose for a brake booster. Seriously. Thought they learned their lesson, but apparently not.
    1 point
  11. To me there's no excuse for a prop rod in a $50,000 vehicle. My 15 Edge has struts. If Ford wants to take the Explorer upmarket, fine. Don't cheapen it with features like this. Struts won't need to be replaced if good quality ones are used.
    1 point
  12. Because it’s a Ford. I don’t mind the prop rods - they never wear out or need to be replaced. That said I’m sure the Aviator gets struts like my MKX.
    1 point
  13. Ive seen the car in the flesh...looks great from the rear, side view is stunning...front doesn't do it for me....
    1 point
  14. Don't know for sure but when they change a color name like that after a long run it's usually a slightly different paint. You'd probably have to see them side by side to tell the difference though.
    1 point
  15. The ride height is the only significant difference between pickup trucks now and the 1980s. In the old days, 2WD pickup trucks didn't have the kind of suspension lift they do now. Things started to change in the early 2000s when fuel economy started to be footprint based so every car company started selling 2WD trucks with extra lift and suspension travel that were previously only fitted to 4WD. You can google images of overseas T6 Ranger 2WD with low suspension... it looks tiny compare to the US spec one which only comes with lifted suspension (low-rider suspension is standard on single cab, and hi-rider suspension is standard on double cab on rest of the world Ranger 2WD). Same thing with Tacoma... until 2015, you could get 2WD Tacoma with "normal" suspension. Now every Tacoma ships with lifts that were previously standard ride height on 4WD. I think Ford last offered a low riding 2WD F-150 in 2004? GM was the last one to offer a low riding fullsize. You could have bought a Silverado with short suspension as recent as 2010 I believe. edit: Ranger low-rider vs. hi-rider
    1 point
  16. Great pics! I can’t wait to get mine.
    1 point
  17. Easy answer, one word: Jeep
    1 point
  18. The people in the "I hate floating tablet screens" set will be unhappy.
    1 point
  19. No one is going to mention the new F-150 at about a minute into the video?
    1 point
  20. He's referring to the tech, not you. Relax my man.
    1 point
  21. CUV for sure...I wish a Lincoln Truck, but that is just wishful thinking.
    1 point
  22. Thank you, Auto, great thorough review from your extended sit-in. Very encouraging! Hard plastic in lower-lower door trim doesn't really bother me. You're not going to be touching it much with anything but your feet, and grime from your shoes cleans much better on hard plastic than on the tactile type.
    1 point
  23. Let me offer up a pair of window stickers. The 2014 is the one I just traded in, the 2020 is one I was looking at. Nearly identical 200A 4WD XLT's with the tow package, after 6 model years there's only a $4400 difference in MSRP's, yet the 2020 gets better mpg, has Sync-3, Co-Pilot 360, rear camera, etc. I'm not sure the "huge jump" in price is there. HRG 2020 Explorer.pdf 2014 Explorer.pdf
    1 point
  24. I dont want the autoblog link.. I want the gmi link lmao. Where is the popcorn? ?
    1 point
  25. The PIU will be heavier with all of the HD parts they use for durability. Plus, I am going to bet that it's tuned for more performance. Where I think the consumer version will be tuned for still good but less performance and more FE. It's all a guessing game now. We'll see in a few more weeks. My bet though, is the hybrid will at least equal performance of 2.3 and get better mileage. This is why I think the hybrid will sell like hotcakes if the pricing is close.
    1 point
  26. Funny because I didn't really see it as that crazy aside from the grille. It'll be interesting to see how they go forward design-wise. I agree with The Handler above in that it'd be nice to see them refine their current design language and move it forward and not ditch it for another styling direction.
    1 point
  27. The prototypes are probably still only out at night
    1 point
  28. The redskins should just change the logo to a potato and be done with it
    1 point
  29. Hi all. In case it has not already been mentioned, just a hint/FYI for those looking for very particular features in a new Fusion and are not willing to settle for close enough: If you have the time to wait, why not factory order what you want? In this way, you get exactly what you want, the options you want, no equipment you don't want, in the color you want, etc, etc (within the limits of the Order Guide, of course). Your new car will arrive at the Dealership, be cleaned and prepped and you will be the first non-Ford/Dealer employee to drive it. It hasn't been sitting on the lot for 6 months or more, hasn't been test driven by god knows who, etc. Dealers were originally limited in what they could order for Dealer stock, so many Dealers never caught up with their stock. So there are often not a lot of non-Hybrid Fusion choices out there. And yes, I understand there are those who don't care to factory order for all their own reasons and I respect their choices. And I realize not everyone can wait and they want/need a car right now. However, for those who can't find exactly what they want, can wait and/or did not know they could factory order (or were not told they could, perhaps because a Dealer hoped to clear out slow moving current stock), it is perfect. I have factory ordered every one of my cars since 1981. Hope this information helps and good luck.
    1 point
  30. Good luck to him. I hope the next design head builds on the current design language rather than ditching it. Lincoln has a long history of design instability.
    1 point
  31. You win some you lose some.
    1 point
  32. Yes, He's back in Melbourne with Ford Asia Pacific as Exrwriors Chief, Asia Pacific design. IMO,he was bumped from Lincoln in Favor of Woodhouse because he was too radical for the chiefs, Woodhouse's Quiet Luxury is what we now have, understated design tells you exactly the direction they chose.Wolff's plans were way too ambitious for safe Lincoln....
    0 points
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