Test Drive Ford Windstar 1998 - 2004 Minivan

Windy Star

Since the appearance of minivans as a class of boom on them in America does not weaken. On the contrary, the local population literally goes crazy. And so hard that traditional universal becomes closely and uncomfortable under the hot American sun. Large rear-wheel drive models were made at all dinosales and disappeared from the production programs of a large triple.
However, the class of minivans did not calm down on this, began to coar and dull his hegemony, successfully mastered the minds of Europeans and other people inhabiting the planet.
Looking at it, the autopilot decided to examine the typical American representative of the winning class - Ford Windstar.
Well, kill your suitcase!
Apparently, designers sought to create, as they usually write in advertising prospects, a solid image with fresh modern design. Probably it succeeded. Ford Windstar appearance is really modern. Yes, and the image also turned out to be solid. Most of all he reminds ... Suitcase. Also modern. Large such, plastic, on wheels, the whole rounded.
However, the suitcase turned out to be pretty smart - a hundred from the spot is recruited in 13.5 seconds. And this is with almost two-tons. And if it should be riveted as it should, runs 180 km / h. But then sample him then - he and with the usual ride gasoline eats buckets.
A good appetite is explained simply - under the hood, a three-liter V-shaped gear with a power of one and a half horses. With the impressive mass of the car and active ride, it becomes very voracious (we have something about 18 liters per hundred).
Camera
Why is the membership? After all, the Long Black Limousine Windstar seems to not look like. And because members are not only in the government, but even, oddly enough, and in the family. (As an option if the machine works in the firm, they can be searched in the team.) And what is the last worse than those from the government? Yes, in fact, nothing. Both those and others live at our expense, but family members (and sometimes colleagues) are still closer and even will not be afraid of this word, relatively.
And therefore, they are needed on their comfort (in moderation of modest forces, of course) in the way that the ambassador of the Cot Na'divane of Cot Na'divane is searched. Ford Windstar is suitable for this very much. In order to fully satisfy the modest pleasure of your home chelby, it provides not only soft leather chairs with armrests, but also numerous air conditioners, stoves and other blowers, as well as a stereo system and even the rear air suspension, preserving the road clearing unchanged, whatever passenger weight you Loaded into the car. Of course, it did not cost, as usual, without cupboards and ashtters with cigarette lighters - if necessary, the WinStar is easy to turn into a peteral institution on wheels or - scary to think - opium interior. And to Kumar did not block his eyes, the rear side windows, equipped with servo drives, can be opened directly from the driver's seat.
In the case of carriage of large cargo from the leather splendor of the seats, it is easy to get rid of the most radical way - simply removing them from the cabin. Now the reporting turns into a truck and will include a whistle that Teschin buffet, but also the mother-in-law.
But for the concerns about the neighbors should not forget about yourself, loved. How are things with all the amenities at a driver's seat? Any adjustments and electroplates are certainly, of course. This is no longer surprised by this. Cruise control, however, too. Although with an automatic box and power steering and so hardly it is unlikely to be overwhelmed, but it is still annoying to pedals with the pedals. The desire to include this very Cruis-Control appears and do ... Well, for example, search a cassette with your favorite music. To search was handy, the Windstar has a special compact box for cassettes and CDs built into the central console.
Listing frills - the occupation is tedious, therefore, we simply note: the main condition is to be no worse than those of people - here is observed.
DO NOT RUSH
The rate of changes in spatial coordinates from suitcase memberships, as already mentioned, quite decentive. As, however, acceleration. That is, the speed is absorbed quickly, but somehow imperceptibly. Even Kick-DowN does not break the smoothness of the process. In general, the real membership: fast, but solid and impulvet. In such behavior is to blame, in our opinion, the operation of the automatic box.
There is in the habits of the machine and other nice moments. First of all the steering is a character. Rudder not the American sharp and has good feedback. Maybe this is done specifically for the European modification? Pro suspension, too, we can say that she is not an American nationality - there is no notorious divanistost machine decent standing in the corners. To brakes do not complain. As they say, what else does a man need to meet your old age?
Windstar is perfect for a solid family fathers having not too hot-tempered. Indeed, why make a fuss, twitch of the series in a row? Well, you come to the country a quarter of an hour later.
Indeed, fennel on a bed of this does not wither.
The editors express their gratitude to U. S. Impex Inc., (095) 488-3102, to give the car to the test.
At the time of the test car was insured in the insurance company RESO-Garantia, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834, 254-2272.
MODEL / UPDATING Ford Windstar 3.0
The manufacturer Ford Motor Company, USA
BODY
type minivan
Number of doors / seats 4/7
ENGINE
Type gasoline with multipoint fuel injection
Location front cross
Displacement, cc. 2979.
Number / cylinder arrangement 6 / V-shaped
Bore x Stroke, mm 89h80
Compression ratio 9.3
Power, kW (hp) / rpm 109 (148) at 5000
Torque, Nm / rpm 231 at 3500
Number of valves / cylinder 2
TRANSMISSION
Front-wheel drive
Transmission four-speed automatic
SUSPENSION
Front independent, McPherson type
Rear independent, double wishbone
STEERING
Type Pinion with booster
Torkemose
front disc
rear disc
ABS standard equipment
WHEELS
The size of disk 6Jh15
Tire size 205/70 R15
DIMENSIONS / ON emy / WEIGHT
The length / width / height, mm 5126/1915/1789
Wheelbase 3066 mm
Track front / rear track mm 1638/1600
The minimum turn radius of 6.15 m
Dry weight, kg 1792
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed, km / h 180
Acceleration to 100 km / h, 13.5 sec
Economy
Fuel consumption, L / 100 km
at 90 km / h 7.3
at 120 km / h 10.5
urban 14.1

And what else
The minivans of American generation differ from their European and Japanese counterparts with more impressive sizes (though, the tables contain long-pass versions from Chrysler and GM, but Ford Windstar of this growth in the middle). Ford model is also different and traditional van layout - with a sliding door only in one board. Thanks to this, it is easier to place the climatic installation for the back of the cabin, and the control itself is just on the place of the missing door. The same solution is used, for example, in Mitsubishi Space Gear.
Unfortunately, even the classics of the genre begin to leave this scheme: the second generation of Chrysler minivans is already offered in two versions - both with one and two sliding doors. By the way, Chrysler's minivans are generally distinguished by the rich capabilities of the transformation of the cabin, which, along with the reputation conquered, makes their sales leaders in this sector of the American market.
Chevrolet Venture, one of the newborn triples (General Motors releases this car under the brands of Chevrolet, Pontiac and OldSmobile, another analogue, Opel Sintra, is produced in Europe), also differs in a variety of layout options. Rear side doors, as in the previous case, are made shifting, but they are installed solely on both sides.
Japanese shuttle although it is made in accordance with the American tastes (for more details, see the autopilot 12'96), it still has a sizer more compromising. With the permutations of furniture inside the cabin here, here is in the same in the same Voyager, but still better than Windows - the last row of seats are not necessary to dismantle, but you can simply be put in a special niche, getting a smooth floor in the trunk.
Those who ripped out
WinStar's prospects are so-so - we have become accustomed to other minivans, "said NFordovo Sellers spoke on last year's exhibition.
But they did not guess. Windstart exhibition not only excited in visitors by no means distracted interest, but was almost immediately purchased by the Yugoslav construction company.
Windstar, generally speaking, two types of buyers. First, rich people with a big family and a tendency to travel. And buy WindStar, as a rule, those who have already had to ride on some of the Fords. It is on such such and the company is calculated. Here is a characteristic example of which they told in U. S. IMPEX, the official Ford dealer. Nizhny Novgorod businessman came to them, recently traveled on the exploitor. I know whether the family grew up, "Nizhegorodet explained," and the two rows of seats are no longer felt, especially during long journeys. Nizhegorodets decided to stay true Ford and buy Windstar, especially since the vacation season is approaching.
The second group of buyers is the company. For them, Windstar is something average between the representative and delivering machine. And the people climbs a lot, and it's not ashamed to go to any meeting. Especially interesting (sellers love this word) to buy Windstar a travel agencies working with rich customers. Such that you have to meet at the airport - and not by bus, but they will come.
Yes, and not, of course, forget another faithful client - the American Embassy in Moscow. Oddly enough, it did not bring Windstars from America, but turned to local Forders. True, the embassy is good - gets machines almost duty free.
So, travel agencies and good family mans. A peculiar opinion about these clients was expressed by Sergey Poddubny, director of another official Ford dealer - New York Motors. Who will buy it, private traders or companies - do not understand anyway. You know, because it's like: private traders take on the name of the company, the company -n the name of a private person, here the damn leg will be broken.
It was interesting to find out the opinion of the customer about the famous elongated driver's door (the King Size door, as she was already dubbed in America), which Ford put on the Windstar at the end of last year to facilitate landing on the rear ranks of the seats of numerous American children. Americans innovation is not too inspired. Children will have to wait until their mom or dad will dismiss the belt and get out of the car. And if it rains on the yard? It was better to add a second door from the driver's side than how to tear up, "Chicago Tribune writes. The enlarged driver's door is not particularly long, but not particularly convenient, the CANADA FINANCIAL POST correspondent joins this concern.
And the Russians King Size does not shine at all. After all, each modification must be re-certified. We are not capable of such feats, "Fords said. And complained: the Russian audience is not used to to believe descriptions and pictures. While Windstars do not go to Moscow, it is not interested in any prospectuses. Here will appear in sufficient quantities in car dealerships - then let's see who we have a popular, and who is not.
 
Stanislav Eremin,
Stepan Fishermen (photo)

 

A source: "Autopilot"