Pilot Vs. Explorer

[JFHughesNJ]

I just had my sister-in-law visit for the week and she drive her newly purchased (used - 47K miles) Explorer out. The first thing she asked me to do was replace a molded running board the previous owner gave them. After the repalcement (noticed a LOT of rust underneath), I took it for a test drive to make sure nothing would fall off. This is when I realized how much of a truck this vehicle is. I would equate it to driving a pick-up with a cab over the bed. loud, harsh ride, loose suspension, and generally a piece of junk.

This was the Eddie Bauer version witih leather seats and all the inside goodies. It reminded me that no matter what kind of dress you put on her, a pig is still a pig.

Glad I drive a REAL SUV (refined where it needs to be but still rough enough to with stand the challenges of living in the country) and not some overly commercialized rat trap.

Ford - Found On Road Dead
Ford - Fix Or Repair Daily

[waynerd]

What year was the Exploder in question? I know the 1st generation '92-'01 WERE trucks underneath. The '02-'04 are still trucks, but with independent rear suspension, which helps a little. My mother-in-law's '03 XLT Sport was much better than my '97 XLT, but nothing like my Pilot!

[JFHughesNJ]

Don't know they year, probably mid-late 90's. Still a piece of sh$%.
I think they paid 10K for the beast with 47K miles. I wouldn't have paid 3K

[pjb3]

Originally posted by JFHughesNJ



Glad I drive a REAL SUV (refined where it needs to be but still rough enough to with stand the challenges of living in the country) and not some overly commercialized rat trap.

You have got to be kidding. I am happy with our Pilot but it is more of an all wheel drive minivan than a "REAL SUV".

[RikiShah]

Ford backwards
Driver returns on foot....haha

[JFHughesNJ]

Like I said, real SUV in that is's tough enough for my needs. MiniVans have lower ground clearance and higher center of gravity thus they would tip over faster. Since most (over 90%) of SUV's never see a dirt road, I don't need something ready to take on the Outback. I would put our Pilot's up against a 4WD minivan anytime.

Let's face it, seldom does a SUV see a dirt road. Most of us (not me) are too scared to subject our precious babies to the tough stuff.

Now if I was gonna race the Baja, I would go another way but for me needs, the Pilot is plenty enough SUV.

[pjb3]

Originally posted by JFHughesNJ
Like I said, real SUV in that is's tough enough for my needs. MiniVans have lower ground clearance and higher center of gravity thus they would tip over faster. Since most (over 90%) of SUV's never see a dirt road, I don't need something ready to take on the Outback. I would put our Pilot's up against a 4WD minivan anytime.

Let's face it, seldom does a SUV see a dirt road. Most of us (not me) are too scared to subject our precious babies to the tough stuff.

Now if I was gonna race the Baja, I would go another way but for me needs, the Pilot is plenty enough SUV.

You have it backwards, minivans have a lower ground clearance and therefore a lower center of gravity and are less likely to roll over.

[JFHughesNJ]

ground clearance and center of gravity do not need to be, and in this case, are not inter-related. I belive the Pilot has a HIGHER ground clearance but a lower center of gravity. If you are suggesting the the Pilot represents a greater tip-over risk due to it's ground clearance, I believe otherwise.

Center or gravity as it relates to tip-over risk is determined by the relationship between the distribution of vehicle weight both veritcally (gravity center) and horizontally (wheel position).

Think of a Baja race car. Very high ground clearance but stable due to the wheel placement being at the outer edges.

[pjb3]

Originally posted by JFHughesNJ
ground clearance and center of gravity do not need to be, and in this case, are not inter-related. I belive the Pilot has a HIGHER ground clearance but a lower center of gravity. If you are suggesting the the Pilot represents a greater tip-over risk due to it's ground clearance, I believe otherwise.

Center or gravity as it relates to tip-over risk is determined by the relationship between the distribution of vehicle weight both veritcally (gravity center) and horizontally (wheel position).

Think of a Baja race car. Very high ground clearance but stable due to the wheel placement being at the outer edges.

You are correct that ground clearance and CG do not have to be related but in most vehicles they are. On what do you base your belief that the Pilot has a "HIGHER ground clearance but a lower center of gravity"? I would be interested if you could tell me where the CG is for the Pilot, I have never seen a published value.
And while I never suggested that the Pilot represents a greater tip-over risk due to it's ground clearance, it does. If you where to shorten the springs and reduce the ground clearance by 2" it would be less likely to roll, it's simple physics.

You seem to have missed my original point. I was simply pointing out that if you think you drive a "REAL SUV" you are mistaken, your sister-in-law's older Explorer is much better off-road, the Pilot is much better on-road.

[JFHughesNJ]

Opinions vary

[tracy]

I just read a post on another board from a woman who "loves" her 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer. And she hasn't had any problems with it - the window broke ($200 switch) and the cell phone charger isn't working right now, but other than that, no real problems.

You know, if my 2002 CR-V had those problems, I'd be pissed! I guess people who buy Fords just have lower expectations.

[pjb3]

Originally posted by tracy
I just read a post on another board from a woman who "loves" her 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer. And she hasn't had any problems with it - the window broke ($200 switch) and the cell phone charger isn't working right now, but other than that, no real problems.

You know, if my 2002 CR-V had those problems, I'd be pissed! I guess people who buy Fords just have lower expectations.

According to your logic what does that say about Pilot owners with the "scrunch" problem, the brake thunk, the vibrations, the timing belt pulley recall, the transmission recall, etc. ? All vehicles have problems, it's just a matter of if you like the vehicle enough to overlook them.

[tracy]

Originally posted by pjb3
According to your logic what does that say about Pilot owners with the "scrunch" problem, the brake thunk, the vibrations, the timing belt pulley recall, the transmission recall, etc. ? All vehicles have problems, it's just a matter of if you like the vehicle enough to overlook them.

If I had those problems with my Honda, I'd be pissed. And in case you haven't noticed, many of the owners who have those problems *are* pissed. The difference is that they are almost universally surprised to have these problems in their Hondas, whereas this Ford owner considered her incidents "no real problems."

[JFHughesNJ]

Scrunch? What is that?
Brake Thunk? What is that? Although my 04 EXL doesn't have it.
Timing Belt Pulley? on the 04?
Vibrations? Haven't had a one
Transmission recall - not on all models

[pjb3]

Originally posted by tracy

If I had those problems with my Honda, I'd be pissed. And in case you haven't noticed, many of the owners who have those problems *are* pissed. The difference is that they are almost universally surprised to have these problems in their Hondas, whereas this Ford owner considered her incidents "no real problems."

You might be right but then again maybe not. The Ford owner might have come from an Acura that had 3 transmissions installed and in her mind a power window switch is "no real problem". My point is you are making assumptions just as I just did and we are both probably wrong.