Test drive Ford Expedition 1996 - 2002 SUV

Plutled "elephants" in Russian snow

In the range of models, each manufacturer has the most-most leader, the flagship in which all the efforts of engineers, technologists, and designers were concentrated. This model is the face of the company. We called one of the monsters-dwegles because of the ocean, from Detroit, the second was invited from the east, from the Japanese islands. Connitivtiv, Expedition-San Hello, Mister Land Cruiser, the participants of the match exchanged greetings. We were given the modest role of seconds.
As usual, I wanted to gather in a bunch of more single-graders in a bunch. But it turned out, as always, two super-jips with a Novorussian bias. Enough still fresh, but already familiar Ford Expedition and Toyota Land Cruiser 100 monsters, not cars. Powerful, prestigious. American and Japanese who?
Both have even more sophisticated, luxury modifications Lincoln Navigator and Lexus 470 LX. But we decided not to chase prestige and take basic versions.
So, you are familiar with Ford? And are you ready to go on an expedition on it? At least in a remote, snow-blown, forgotten village to take a steam bath in the bathhouse, at least in the nearest supermarket, in order to load five to six to the dimensionless womb with the top of filled carts.
Probably, the dimensions of this SUV are amazing even to all of the usual Americans. You will not switch him with one look. At the same time, rounded friendly forms hint at the non -aggressive herbivore essence of this dinosaur.
Before us is the symbiosis of purely American gigantism and a rather balanced, rational design of the line of centuries. In addition, there is a lot of in common with the younger brother Explorer (especially in the back and in profile).
Toyota is also like its relatives. Obviously, the hundredth Kruzak grew out of the eightieth, its extremely successful predecessor, produced for eight years in a row. The appearance, as is now accepted, has become somewhat more peaceful. But many believe that the Land Cruiser 80, especially its most charged version of VX, was more stylish and perfect in design. Add here a clear roll call with the Prado model, located a step below the hierarchical staircase.
Both tested cars are loved in our country and are used by both business and crime representatives. Often you can notice them in the escort of the accompaniment of high -ranking persons, bankers and other powerful people. They are a symbol of power and influence, such as a satellite phone, a costume from Versace or a friend-Sumerodel.
In the internal space of Ford, an unconditional leader. Even a large -sized man is lost in the car of the car, as in a tram car. It is impossible to reach the passenger door from the driver’s place, and three citizens in the winter sheepskin coats on the second row of seats will not be rubbed against each other. There are also a couple of seats behind. It’s easy to get there only to throw off the section of the middle row, but the knees will have to be placed exactly at the ears level. However, the head will not reach the ceiling even when the bumps are passing.
This third, flawed (albeit sheathed with the same beige expensive skin as the entire salon) is removed. The row is very simple. It is enough to open up and down the double fifth door and pull the rope. The whole structure will immediately leave on wheels to your hands. True, before this it is advisable to work out in the gym: this building may well crush you if you take it out alone.
Everything is convenient ahead. Everything is at hand and the poker of the automatic switch, and a fairly concise beard with music and climate control. A huge glove compartment covered with an armrest is fraught with a CD changer. Soft, but elastic, sufficiently profiled seats reliably hold the body in a convenient position.
And numerous ocher and boxes on the central ceiling console, as well as two -layer anti -loner visors (one can be turned sideways and the other omitted), remind you that you fell into the bowels of the purebred Yankee. On the ceiling of the second and third row of seats, blowing with adjustment, and even the rear side glasses open out with the help of electric drives.
The review is unexpectedly good, even, oddly enough, compared with the smaller Ford Explorer, which we wrote about two months ago.
Perhaps the only inconvenience place for the legs on the right front chair. The legs do not stick under the torpedo, as is customary, but rests their feet on an invisible barrier, so you have to drive back more than what they want. Although it is not difficult to do this using servo drives.
The interior Land Cruiser makes a dual impression. On the one hand, comfort and luxury, on the other, tightness and stiffness, especially from behind. Of course, all this is relative: depending on what to compare with. But there is a feeling that the interior space is much less than it should be with such impressive external dimensions. This is partly compensated by the departing motor departing in each other and up the steering column. The range of its adjustment, as well as adjusting the front seats, even wider than it can be useful to people of any complexion.
The back row is not forward, as in Expedition, but to the side glasses.
It is not so easy to seize and install chairs for passengers No. 6 and No. 7.
What is the most interesting, sitting behind the wheel, you do not realize the dimensions of the car. And it is easier to maneuver on it than on an American.
True, Ford pleased. It is not unclear where the traditional overseas validity went. When you steer along a complex trajectory, in addition, on a snowy highway, the car goes like along the rails, showing neutral rotation. And without hesitation, he is gaining momentum, not forcing him to crash about a leisurely box.
Special sensations are moving along the left row. In order not to scare anyone, we deliberately avoided the aggressive driving manner. Nevertheless, any obstacle on our way was blown away by the wind, only our giant appeared in the rear -view mirrors in front of the driving cars.
Toyota, of course, also gives advantages on the road: after all, it is not lower than a competitor in coolness. But still, it is not to compare this with nothing to compare on Ford Expedition.
As expected, the Japanese behaves harder when passing pits and bumps. However, the difference is minimal. Both cars are perfectly extinguished by both large and small fluctuations.
If both cars left approximately the same impression on the dynamics quite vigorous, then in the braking of Land Cruiser seemed preferable. A long braking distance, at least a visually characteristic feature of both Ford Explorer and Ford Expedition.
Unfortunately, these SUVs rarely see real off-Road tracks. We also failed to find a worthy jeep of a swamp and dirt due to snow and frosts. But breaking through the snowdrifts left on the sides of the tracks of the tracks near Moscow, the cars not only did not get knitted, but almost did not slow down.
Since both have a hefty clearance, constant all -wheel drive and rough wide tires, the search for real virgin lands will have to be postponed until the summer. And our snow for these Makhin is just seeds.
But, I wonder how applicable these monsters are precisely to domestic, almost transcendental by foreign standards, conditions? Believe me, according to our impressions, this is exactly what is needed for the snowy and dotted with almost insurmountable obstacles of Russian roads. Much less! Ford is the same bus, in comparison with which my house is my fortress, that is, an apartment in Khrushobe, that a house is a house. And Toyota is one of the most massive and beloved SUVs, although it is close in comparison with the American, but also distinguishes its own dignity and allows you to talk with pedestrians from top to bottom.
And what is worth a light shudder of the Land Cruiser body when typing, when you stand still, and the eight -rush engine plays with muscles!
In fact, what do we buy for this considerable amount of sixty thousand? First of all, prestige, size, lack of headache when traveling tram tracks and open well hatches. At the same time, the philanthropists will be pleased to recall the non -child customs trips, which, perhaps, will reach the blue and wretched.
But seriously, these cars are not just good, but the best, and if anyone has accumulated extra money, you will not regret it!
If we summarize, I admit, we were initially somewhat prejudicized to the American and looked fascinated at the beauty Toyota. Not to say that our views have changed diametrically, but it turned out to be very difficult to decide what is better, more convenient, better. Nevertheless, the scales bowl are inclined in favor of the Ford Expedition. Not the last place here was played by a monstrous capacity and a slightly more affordable price. But at the helm of Toyota you feel more confident and clearly ...
P.S. Something we do not believe in the passport consumption of gasoline for Ford. It seems that we only did that he was refueling him all these days. We think, he eats liters 25, no less!
 
Vladimir Smirnov
Photo by Alexander Nozdrin
The specifics of the SUVs are such that the function determined in their appearance and evolution much more than in any other class of automotive equipment. They were created to perform quite definite tasks in well -defined conditions, i.e. These tasks and conditions were initially well adapted. Powerful spar frams, hard bridges, spring pendants, relatively simple and unpretentious units that could be repaired in the field ...
What has changed since then? Somewhere there were more roads and service centers, and people who are tired of civilization loved rest in nature. Somewhere, it’s not that it is not easy to pass on foot, and no one canceled the profession of a builder, forester and geologist, and you can put different meaning into the concept of rest in nature.
And the SUVs, as necessary, equipping with electronics and automation, patiently adapt to everything. Including the national characteristics and habits of citizens around the world.
Land Cruiser 100 Typical Internationalist and a serious rogue.
Traditional spar frame and a hard rear bridge on the springs, four jet rods and Panar's thrust. Depending on local conditions, it may have an independent two -legged torsion front suspension and river steering, and can a hard bridge on the springs and a steering wheel of a ball of a ball nut. Fans of comfort and good controllability (but not in Russia) can pay for hydropneumatic elements that allow you to change the body level (+/- 50 mm), and electronic shock absorbers.
There are three engines to choose from: gasoline V8 (4.7 liters, 235 hp), turbodiesel (4.2 l, 204 or 250 hp) and the same diesel, but without boost (4.2 l, 135 L.S.). Gearboxes 5-speed mechanics or 4-band machine gun. And always a permanent all -wheel drive with the possibility of forced blocking of the center differential. Rear bridge with a differential of high friction, but by order, mechanical locks of differentials of both bridges can be installed
Ford Expedition is a typical American for a large family. The same spar frame and a hard rear bridge, springs, reactive rods from behind. Independent two -leaf front suspension, and if you buy an incomplete option (in the States is a very blessed phenomenon), then instead of torsion there will be springs. By order, you will be installed by an adjustable pneumatic suspension, and the springs are changed behind the pneumorressors, and special shock absorbers with additional pneumatic elastic element are installed in front.
The engines are only gasoline, impressive V-shaped eights (4.6 liters, 243 hp and 5.4 liters, 264 hp). The transmission is only automatic, 4-band. A full-wheel drive version with a two-stage hand-out groove, known as Torque-on-Demand: the moment is transmitted to the front bridge through a multi-disc clutch controlled by a computer, but complete blocking is also possible. For the rear bridge, a differential of high friction is provided.
Dmitry Filonov
 

Source: Cars