rmc523

Funny, when I've driven a relative's TrailBlazer, I was appalled at how horribly it drove and how cheap it felt.

That is a good point. Around me, diesel fuel is about 10 cents (I think it was) more than premium fuel per gallon.

I don't know much about any future product info, except for what I read on here, but I'm not sure if a diesel option come down the pipeline eventually, but IMO, I think it might be a good idea. With a diesel most likely coming to the Expedition from the F-150 as well and Ford leveraging it's global resources, it'd only make sense that a diesel would/could become available on an Explorer in the near future.

I'm not sure why it's changed. Sometimes there are stupid option 'rules' like that. My advice would be to go talk to your dealer and see if you're able to order one option with the other or not. I'd think that might be the best way to get the answer to your question. If you're not able to get both, I would think it'd be easier to get the Cold Climate Package (or whatever it's called) to get the heated mirrors/windshield, I'm sure you can get the Chrome Package items as aftermarket items. I hope that helps.

Congradulations! I hope you enjoy it.

It'd be nice if Ford was able to get the 3.5L V6 in there to replace the 4.0L (I believe it is), that would help fuel economy problems somewhat, IMO.

There's the Explorer's 20" wheels according to the Ford website: http://www.fordvehicles.com/util/uad/index...274&nType=1 I couldn't find a 20" wheel on the Mountaineer site, largest I could find was the 18" wheel, heres a link to the website if anybody else would like to look for it if I missed it somehow: http://www.mercuryvehicles.com/mountaineer/

You didn't hear that the F-150 is switching over to the D3 platform for the 09 model year?

Was it done w/ the 04 introduction? I didn't realize that. I know the Harley took a year off.

Haha

Thanks. I wish more people would visit the Photoshops section though, not that I don't value your opinion, I think it'd be nice to have a mulit-person thread.

That is true, but nobody (but Chevy) offers a truly large SUV, not even Chrysler, so rental companies really only have 2 choices. I know when I go to rental places at airports there are always several Expeditions in there, there are also Tahoes and Suburbans of course. Would it be better for Ford to leave the large SUV rental market to Chevy? maybe....maybe not, but at the same time when somebody drives a rental Expediition, they may decide they like it and buy one. I suppose the same could be said about any vehicle though.

I agree, well said.

The chop at the top of this thread --- the GT-UV.

IIRC, Alan Mulally said a while back that he wanted to simplify option packages in the future.

I did as well.

I've been thinking the same thing too. I guess we'll just have to suffer through driving the imports while renting a vehicle, either that or you can continue to rent a Dodge/Chrysler product. I was thinking....the import makers don't offer large (Expedition EL size) SUVs or good trucks, so there, you're likely to still get a domestic vehicle.

That's a good point as well.

I'm just guessing here, but I would assume you would NOT be able to get a SYNC system put in because of the complexity of the system. I think the system is connected to the car's computer, etc. w/ tons of wiring and stuff, so Ford may not want to mess with all that. But, as I said, I'm just making a logical guess, and I could be wrong.

Interesting.

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They're similar, but not exactly the same.

sorry, double post.

I'm surprised as a dealer, he hasn't been able to see that. In today's auto market, there are so many different offerings from so many companies, as suv_guy said, the market is fragmented. Back in Explorer's heyday, there weren't too many options to choose from, and Explorer was the best of those options, thus, producing the sales it did. With all sorts of options now, not everybody is going to flock to one product, unless there's a very good reason to. It seems that each option today has it's own good things, which makes the decision even tougher for a customer.

I believe the CTS was MT's choice for car of the year. My point was that the Super Duty should've been picked easily over the ridiculous Tundra.