2005Explorer

I'd take a Mazda platform over a Camry platform anyday in terms of ride, balance and handling.

Yeah that would qualify for best in class!!! I think it was suppose to read 265 HP NOT 265 MPH

Consumer Reports really likes the Fusion and Milan. They do very well in their tests and are 2 of the most reliable cars on the road. Why do so many people hate them around here??? I think Ford should be given credit for building such a well built, reliable car.

They have all had issues in the past, however none of them were ever praised like Toyota was for being perfect. Basically CR and others would say...no matter what you do to this Toyota it will never break because it is perfect in every way. Nobody is perfect. You are correct when you say that CR has been saying good things about many Ford products over the past 2 or 3 years. In fact, Ford is the only US automaker that CR seems to like.

From cnn.com http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/16/autos/cr_r...sion=2007101616 Have they been biased in the past...YES...and what is probably the biggest news story here is their outright admission of bias to Toyota... In the past, because Toyota (Charts) products have so consistently proved reliable, the magazine would assume at least average reliability for Toyota's brand new cars, without waiting for survey data from owners. But from now on, the magazine will wait for a full year of reliability survey data to come in before it recommends a Toyota product - as it does with most other manufacturers.

The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are some of the most reliable cars in the survey. Now what is so mediocre about that??? It does not really matter what people on this site think about Consumer Reports what matters is what the average consumer thinks. CR is a very popular magazine and people base many buying decisions off of it. We might not like it around here, but many people do, so what they have to say does matter. It matters a lot.

Well appliance color goes in trends. At one time you could buy avocado green, golden wheat and brown copper. I buy white appliances only. No matter what the trends have been over the years there is always and will always be white. It looks fine today and will look fine in 10 years, plus it goes with anything. As far as the gauge color goes...who cares? They are changing over to blue which is fine. After 10 years of blue then they can switch back to green and everyone will be impressed with the new color!

I think Mercury will live, but really only to fill out the product line for Lincoln dealers. The fact is that Lincoln needs to move upscale then there will be a spot for 2 or 3 Mercury vehicles to fill out the line. What Lincoln is today is where Mercury should be and Lincoln should move up to compete at a higher level. I think volume will shift however. I can see Mercury offer a Mariner, Milan and Sable to help fill out the bottom of Lincoln's line, but Lincoln becoming the larger volume brand.

Are you finding the Edge to be a better vehicle?

So do you also consider the new Sebring and Avenger to be superior cars to the triplets?

I think it would be possible. I currently have a snowmobile, a 2005 Yamaha that has a 3 cylinder 972cc engine which puts out 120HP. Snowmobiles get terrible fuel economy however, but an engine like this, tuned right, with an efficient transmission and light weight would do very well on fuel. Not like the VW, however at least it would have enough power to move itself and probably still get over 50MPG. Maybe a modern day Metro. Remember the Geo Metro??? Those things were amazing on fuel.

Don't say that too loud around here...there are a few people that might blast you for feeling that the Taurus is a superior product to the Maxima. Anyhow I am glad you like your new Taurus. The new Taurus is one of the best family cars being built right now. I hope that more people go in to check it out because I really think if they see it and drive it, they will buy it.

Add Party of Five to that list. I loved that show in college. I'm guessing you are an XY "MTV" generation kid like myself. The years 1976-1978 never really fit into a generation. Some call us the baby busters because those years had some of the lowest birth rates. Anyhow back in the late 90's we all got together for 90210 and Party of Five on Wednesday nights.

Every time someone says that Mercury needs to be dumped now should realize how much it will impact Ford Motor Company sales. If Ford was to announce 2008 will be the last year for Mercury you now have another 150,000 units to make up for. Don't assume that all of those customers will just go and buy a Ford or a Lincoln. I imagine you can figure about 1/2 of that 150,000 will shift to another company.

I am not sure that Mercury is going to be outright "killed" I think the volume will shift to Lincoln and Mercury will just be used on a couple of models to help fill out the line for Lincoln/Mercury dealers.

Over the past year or so Ford has done a lot of improvement to Lincoln. MKZ, MKX and the Navigator are all good products. The MKX could use more distinctive sheet metal and a more upscale engine and the Navigator could also use an exclusive engine, however all 3 products are well executed compared to what Lincoln offered before. The LS was a nice car, but was long forgotten and outdated. The MKS and the new people mover will help Lincoln continue the upward trend. I'd also like to see a more powerful engine in the Navigator and the new 3.7L V6 in the MKX. If Ford can get those things done soon, Lincoln will have an excellent line-up.

Let's not forget who tried doing this the first time...

Hey I was just pointing out the obvious. The statement was made about airbags and I was just saying that equipment like that is not going to do much good in this kind of vehicle. I spend a lot of time riding a Yamaha snowmobile in the winter. I know if I slam into a tree at 75MPH I will probably be dead. I also know that if a vehicle hits my snowmobile or ATV when I am crossing a road I will probably be dead. I just think that anything other then normal lighting and helmets on vehicles like this just won't do a lot of good.

I am not really sure how effective airbags would be in that thing. Looks like even a Focus would wipe you out in a collision.

Panthers great winter cars??? If you want a great winter car get a Fusion or Taurus with AWD. They will do MUCH better on bad roads then any FWD or RWD car on the road!

Hey easy on the Explorer! I love my Explorer. It is the Swiss Army Knife of vehicles. You are right about the fuel economy however. If Ford made an Explorer that was as capable as today's Explorer, but got 22MPG overall...I'd be right in line with the college students!

What is really sad is that the Trailblazer which has not been changed since 2002... which has a solid rear axle, a dash by Mattel, an old 4 speed auto and does not even offer 3rd row seating outsells the Explorer by 4,000 units. 10,000+ for the Explorer and 14,000+ for the Trailblazer. Who says you even need to update products anymore??? When that many more people are choosing a completely outdated, soon to be cancelled SUV over one with a much more advanced design and seating options can only mean that people just don't want a Ford anymore even if they are best in class.

Ford shouldn't be so quick to give up on the Explorer which sold over 10,000 units this month. It is selling at about the same rate as the Grand Cherokee and better then the Commander. It is also selling way better then the Durango.

Not to a negative person, but if things don't change at Ford and Chrysler for that matter, we might all be driving GM products in 5-10 years if we want a domestic automobile. I know if Ford goes down the crapper I will drive a GM before I drive a Japanese car.

Wasn't MSN just reprinting what Consumer Reports had to say though?