afoulk

Last night, I was able to get my first look at the 2007 Expedition here in Indianapolis, along with a test drive. The dealership I visited had a Copper Limited EL with Black/Caramel interior, a Carbon Met. XLT EL with Stone leather, and two non ELs that I didn't spend much time on. My wife has really been anticipating the Limited so that's were we started. The overall fit and quality seemed to be top notch. I was a little disapointed with the liberal use of hard plastic. There is no longer a soft feel to the dash like is present in our 2000 Explorer Limited. I was afraid that I wouldn't like the arrangement of the instrument cluster, and my fears were realized. I'm sure that I would get used to the gauge on gauge design eventually, but it definitely put me off at the start. The seats feel wonderful. I'm a big guy and seats are very comfortable. I also tried on the second and third row seating. There was plenty of room for me(6'2'', 250) in the back, and I could ride in the rear for short trips. The seating arrangement provides everything I had hoped it would. I have four small children and two dogs that each weighs over 160lbs. I would like to transport all at once. The 60/40 rear seat with the fold flat option would provide that capability easily. The exterior styling didn't surprise me. If you've always liked the way the Expedition has looked, then you'll like this one. I think that the Suburban looks better, but that's the least of my concerns. Functionality trumps Form in my book. The chrome clad 20" wheels surprised me. I was expecting to see chrome mated to aluminum. Instead the chrome seems to reference a chrome colored plastic cover. I may be wrong, but that sure is what it seemed to be. Also, the 20" wheels that came on this limited were standard. There was no optional cost listed on the window sticker as I expected after being very familiar with the pricing guide. I was hoping to be able to find a Limited without 20" wheels. Maybe I'm out of luck there. I like paying for options that provide comfort and function, but I think the 20" wheels are a bit overboard. Can you imagine how much replacing those tires will set you back? Not to mention the stiffer ride and the extra weight. I decide to drive the XLT, since the Limited had Captains chairs and I wanted to see how the clan all fit in with a bench. The driving experience was impressive. The six speed transmission masks the underpowered engine well. The Expedition seems peppier than the Suburban to me. Shifting was very smooth. I immediately noticed how quite the ride was. Drivetrain noise is almost non-existent. I picked a test drive route that includes freeway driving as well as some local roads begging for repair. The Expedition accelerates well and brakes confidently. I pressed one S-curve on-ramp fairly aggressively. Never did I feel any tendency to roll. The rear suspension feels nice. I managed to run through some significant pot holes. The ride was nice enough that I wasn't sure that I even hit them. Overall I was very impressed with the test drive. So....... In summary Interior - somewhat disapointed with materials, wonderful seating arrangement, firm comfortable seats Exterior - just what I expected, it looks like an Expedition Drive - Wonderful, first in class Overall - Good first impression with build quality. Leading candidate for my $. Good job MTPers. BTW, the salesman was ready to sell me the Expedition. He didn't know anything about a quality hold.

I just noticed this morning that 2007 Expeditions are showing up in inventory at dealerships here in Indianapolis. I called one dealership that confirmed there were four on the lot ready for sale. I'm going to look at one tonight. Hopefully everyone else will be able to see one soon too. I've been waiting for quite some time to make a comparison with the new Suburbans.

Has anyone uncovered EPA mileage estimates for the 2007 Expedition yet?

It looks like the 2007 Expedition pricing is now available. http://www.blueovalnews.com/index.php?cate...p13_sectionid=2

Thanks for the update. I'll look forward to hearing more.

Hey MTPMAN, its good to hear some inside info from MTP. I've been waiting to pull the trigger on a 2007 Expedition EL myself, but I'd like to actually see one first. The last build date I saw was 7/26. Are things on schedule? How does the build date relate to the actual date a vehicle leaves the plant? Updates are appreciated. My wife is pressuring me towards the Yukon XL, but I think an Expedition will be worth the wait. I keep telling her that we should be able to see one by early Sept.