Test Drive Ford Expedition since 2007 SUV

All photos of Ford Expedition since 2007

Power of instinct

Listen, John, and for what Americans love such cars?
What are these?
Well, here are huge.
Is this huge?

John specially comes out to evaluate the size of our Ford Expedition. By comparing it with the stuffed SsangYong Musso, John admits: really, huge thing. Next follows reasoning:
It seems to me that ordinary Americans are characterized by hard work and diligence on the way to the goal. This is the difference between Europeans. Therefore, they know how to appreciate the things practical, functional, that is, useful. And this car must be quite functional.

Yeah, more practical nowhere, I think about myself. Motor for five and a half liters, two meters wide and height, more than five in length. Scope, worthy of American farmers and Saudi princes! Common sense with the move marks the idea of \u200b\u200bbuying a similar monster. Where do you shoot like this? Bus dimensions will not allow parked in the center, to the limit complicate maneuvering on a close parking lot and will not leave the chance to squeeze through a narrow alley. All that was not covered with bumpers, the 30-centimeter mirrors will engage. Well, the consumption of gasoline twenty liters per day on the route House-House-House will be a real achievement. No less doubtful and permeability, I have repeatedly had to face the fact that large SUVs themselves create problems with their carcasses soil and driving quickly. Finally, the last straw in the bowl of insights becomes cheap internal finish of coarse skin and rigid plastic.

I suspected that everything would be so. If only because this is exactly what happens with American SUV. How do these mastodons survive in the modern world? Of course, if they are grown somewhere and, apparently, in decent quantities, then they buy them in quantities of equivalent. But who and why? In order to shed some light on this mystery, I persuaded to ride with me John Varolina, an American journalist working in Media Holding Bloomberg News. John lives in St. Petersburg not the first year, speaks good in Russian and sincerely trying to figure out the mysterious American soul.
Verify, John, where did you see the functionality here?
Look, the front will be adults, three children will spread behind them, and the mother-in-law will be settled. Suitable option for a large family.
Will it be wiser to stop the choice on the minivan? What is this screaming aggressiveness: high landing, big wheels, chrome muzzle?
You know, Americans strive to stand tightly on their feet. So be safe, feel confidence in tomorrow. In my opinion, such a car causes a feeling of security at the subconscious level.

Logical. But there is a territory on which the logic is content with the role of the second plan. This is a vanity, carefully masking under a politically correct term image. This is where Expedition sparkles in all its glory! Image it exploits at the level of instincts. How much as it was said about the men's thirst for the championship, about a difficult-acting desire to demonstrate their success, its strength and power. So, Fordovsky Giant is simply created to indulge these low-lying passions. It will bloom to incredible sizes even the most modest ego. Tested on personal experience! In general, from now on there is another effective way to show here everyone who is WHO.

John, it seems, Americans do not mind painting? Show friends and neighbors buying a big car?
It boasts one thing to your achievements, it's completely different to worry on a steep image, as often happens here in Russia. In America, they are so concerned about their image, probably, only in Hollywood.
But what about the paphos black culture with its luxury villas, expensive cars, furs and diamonds? It seems to be in demand, she has a lot of fans. Is this not a reflection of sentiment in society?
Black culture, what it is known on video clips on MTV, no more than a beautiful myth. Yes, it significantly affects fashion trends, but it does not mean that she has all the population. On the contrary, ordinary Americans are hurry to bring fashion to their lives, choosing the position of the observer. They respese themselves too much to throw on everything new.

That is, full-size SUVs are the usual way of considerable?
And what? Long-distance tracks are wide, empty, gasoline is cheap as much as in Russia. Impressional expanses give rise to giantia. And the popularity of such machines can be explained by the obese complex of residents of the provincial states. I remember how my friends with Pennsylvania and stopped in some kind of town. Then I, a resident of the New York suburbs, first drew attention to the number of complete people. Toosy men, fat women, thick children ... Some horror!
And in New York everything is different?
Oh, New York is another planet. By the way, here is the same: there is Moscow, there is the rest of Russia. In New York, such a car like this, nonsense. There, secured people often do not have cars at all, moving on the subway or taxi with a hunt. It is said that every third car in New York Yello Cab. Tariffs are almost the same as in Moscow. And how much is this Ford?
In America or in Russia?
And what the difference is big?
Sudi himself. In the US, this Expedition is exactly forty thousand, we have sixty-one.
Sixty one? Seriously? With this price tag in America there is nothing to do!

I do not know how in America, but we have such a price tag looks promising. It is necessary to pay tribute and the expedition himself he tries to be better. On the second generation models, electronic stabilization systems and to prevent overturning, fully independent suspension improved controllability. The car is in a passenger dignitarily responded to the steering wheel and on gas, it is perfectly accelerated, and on the brakes of sin. In short, you can ride with a breeze.

John, we say everything and talk about abstract Americans. How do you expedition yourself?
You know, I am most surprising for design surrounding the driver: appliances, a kocher on the steering column. I remember the old cars and I can not get rid of the feeling that nothing has changed in twenty years. And the materials are some second-time, or something.

John is feeling with interest the front panel and makes a verdict:
I still like more sophisticated things.
Do not you think that Expedition with their charisma will easily fit into the structure with the name of the type of FSB or FBI?
I agree. It is still wise to consider this option to look at this option as much as this technique cannot do without the possibilities.

Of course, I can easily do without a multi-seat salon and a bottomless trunk. I do not need V8 and four-wheel drive. I am ready to give up a powerful audio system and climate control. However, damn it is difficult to resist when on your primitive instincts playing with such rectilinear immediacy, as Expedition does.

Autography
Ford Expedition II.
Still known as Lincoln Navigator
Expedition Predecessor (1996)
Ford F-150 platform
Premiere January 2002.
Body Universal
Engines 4.6-5.4 L (235-264 l.)
US production
Expected replacement 2008.

The car provided CJSC Ford Motor Company.

Text: Leonid Klyuev