Test drive Ford Explorer 2001 - 2005 SUV

CONDUCTOR

Ford Explorer SUV from generation to generation is becoming larger and larger. Owners of previous models with longing look towards the more massive Ford Explorer V8 2003, the face of which has become a muzzle of a strong, but domestic animal. The problem is another: the 2006 Ford Explorer has already been declared, and it is even more powerful and even more animal, and now the owners of such a V8 as this one have to think about whether I spent money? Having decided to see what we part with, we took to test the V8 as an outgoing nature. To formulate at least a few thoughts on what we expect from the successor.
Autumn is exactly the same time trips on forest and field roads as summer, only complicated by rains and other bad weather. It was then that Explorer came in handy. We immediately threw an aluminum case into the body with a Toshiba laptop with Centrino technology and connected through the sky - Link - to the world network, so that, God forbid, do not stay in a dark forest without the Internet. The trunk from the key does not open, but opens, and, as in the classic Ford SUV, only the upper half of the trunk door moves. Ford Explorer has severe iron, and paint and plastic. Everything is done so that a person in the mountains and forests does not think too much, he scratches the plastic with a bottle of Coca-Cola or not. The American essence of the car also speaks of a completely cinematic lever for switching an automatic box on the steering column. You cannot get used to it, this can only be remembered.
Correct! A 4.6 -liter engine must shoot. Well, it does not shoot, but touching quite sedately. Actually, here no one promised you X5 in sheepskin skin. But what is happening by the car on the highway, it must be seen. It is enough to promote the engine, and at some point you can simply remove the leg from the gas: SUV rushes on his own and he doesn’t care, uphill or uphill. Speaking of under the mountain. The simple design of this SUV compared to complex modern devices, equipped with traffic control systems (LR D3, for example), evokes thoughts about the Kalashnikov machine. That is, we hope that his ingenuousness will turn into at least reliability. Despite the volume, fuel consumption is truly economical - 12 liters per 100 km on the highway. That is, a trip to the town of Tuchkovo from Moscow does not turn into a one -way trip, but vice versa - I want to go further and further. Just go like Telma and Louise.
Another cultural observation: if on an expensive sedan the frequency of the FM station of the Echo of Moscow falls silent immediately behind Nikolina Hoora, then on Explorer you hear the speech therapy problems of its leading almost to Sonino. And the whole thing is in a magical non-telescopic antenna, which copes even with small branches in the forest.
About the forest separately. It is thanks to Ford Explorer that we were able to go around more than once dug paths along the Moscow River. Residents of the surrounding villages from Tuchkovo, or rather, inhabitants of immodest cottages that lined up 10-20 meters from the water intake, regularly dig even the terrible roads that there are. They do not need extra eyes and ears. Oleg Mitvol - Buy Explorer and go to the people! The machine adequately overcomes the obstacles of wrestlers with the environment near Moscow. And all because when Off-Road lovers are trying to make lists of SUVs, Ford Explorer is absent by definition. A fairly ascetic appearance and comfortable riding are combined in it with an adult approach to an off -road life. And no compromises in the form of viscous
This machine has a stock of 7 pieces of passengers. It is enough to look into the trunk to understand that chairs are still put here as an option.
Here is such a leaving beauty.

Text Igor Maltsev, photo Dmitry Lebedev, b.

Ford Explorer V8
 
Gasoline engine V8
Working volume (cubic cub) 4601
Power (L.S. at about./Min.) 239 at 4750
The drive is complete
Gearbox 5-speed automatic
Maximum speed (km/h) 160
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 8.6
Expenses (07.22 - 22.08, mileage - 1000 km)
Moika - 600
Gasoline - 750 rubles (one gas station)
 

A source: "Autopilot"