It’s hard to overstate how influential these were back in the 90s. They were everywhere, and practically launched an entire movement toward mainstream SUVs. But appreciating the “aggressive Firestone tires” - yikes, did not age well.
If I could go back in time, I'd do something to make sure these weren't made. I hate how EVERYTHING has to be a stinking crossover. The Mustang, Eclipse, Manta, Puma and soon the Corvette and Skyline.
@@jakobholgersson4400Except that these Explorers were not crossovers since they were body on frame. And the Mustang is not now nor has it ever been a crossover (the Mach e is NOT a Mustang).
@@tedschmitt178 Who cares? It popularized the idea of using an unnecesserily tall and heavy vehicle as a daily driver. I get that some people need rugged off-roaders for work and that a very niche group of people buy them for their off-roading hobby. But that's all they should be for. It's called a Mustang Mach E and is thus a Mustang.
Remember how Ford and GM Laughed Out Loud almost on camera at the Second Generation Ram?? They said no one'd buy a truck that looked like a semi tractor. Well, Lee Iacocca and the U.A.W. got the last laugh on that one, too. Btw, between the Ram, the LH cab forward cars, And the Grand Cherokee, how the HELL did Chrysler almost go broke AGAIN!?!?!?!?!
Had a 95 XLT at 2 years old. Drove and handled great. Had an 01 Limited until just recently. Had 200k when I sold it to the guy at work. It now has near 300k with original engine, 5.0L and transmission.
The 90's were the pinnacle of automotive design. You can find almost every feature from todays vehicles in vehicles from the 90s. The 90s vehicles were not bloated, and blind spots were small. Safety was getting really good, with some vehicles having side curtain air bags. Engines were less complicated, and powerful enough. 500hp was an ungodly amount of hp, and 1000hp on the street was basically unbelievable, untouchable, and unbeatable. Vehicles were easier to park, and they fit in your garage. Most of all, they were easier to work on and upgrade.
I had a 99 Explorer XLS I bought from a coworker because a friend of mine was looking for a small relatively cheap suv without all the crazy modern screens and modules that implode after 5 years. He still has it and it runs perfect despite being 25 years old with 154k miles on the clock. Solid little suv if maintained
The transmission in my 2000 went out last May after 318,000 miles. It still shifted fine but was leaking in several places and repairing it would cost half the price of a reman transmission. I got a new Jasper transmission and I'm still driving it with the original 4.0
My friends dad owned one of these and put over 1 million miles on it. He was a livestock vet and drove around the country a lot. He also had an early 2000s ford ranger that he drove over 1 million miles as well. Both had the 4.0 v6.
We had quite a few ford explorer's over the year's in a few different generation's. I never seen a explorer with a standard lock rear differential. Btw my mom still daily drives her 1998 explorer eddie bauer it has 225k miles on it.
I loved this model and year. In High School we visited our uncle in Colorado and he had a brand new one, headed into the mountains with style. We are buying a 2024 Honda HRV, based on the Civic and considered a compact crossover. The Honda is about the same length and width. Amazing what a family SUV size was a few years ago.
I see this review is before the whole Firestone debacle. My dad’s friend had an accident in one of this before they where recall. He said he heard a loud bang and the thing slide and rolled over.
I am a GM guy all the way, but I did own a 1996 Explorer. I absolutely LOVED my Explorer. I still own GM's and I have not owned another Ford since, but I have to say, Ford hit a homerun with the 1995+ updated Explorer. The only downside to the 95/96 was it was underpowered.
said " The only downside to the 95/96 was it was underpowered. " Car makers always need to have something better for people to trade up to. Think about the genesis of the first Chrysler mini van. Short wheel base / 2.2 4 cyl Short wheelbase / 2.6 4 cyl Long wheel base / 3.0 V6 Gen 2 with a 3.3 V6 and so on
@@AGreedyTree Nope, product improvement. The short wheelbase / small was just for for a group of people. Just because in improved version comes out doe not mean the original version suddenly stops working.
Had 1996 Explorer XLT 4wd and it was very dependable. If I had a complaint it would have been that the 4.0L ohv six was not a powerhouse. It got better when Ford put in the SOHC 4.0L and had the 5.0L option. Replaced it with a 2001 Ford Expedition XLT Sport. I have been very pleased with Fords from the 1990's and 2000's can't really speak about the new Ford Explorer and Expedition because they switched to twin turbo sixes and I am not sold that they will be as reliable
I guess you don’t realized how much has time passed until you remember seeing these new and plentiful on the road in good condition to being barely able to find a good example with most nearly gone from the junkyards.
...wait, what? they bought a car in two pieces and had it put together? Damn, that's some stupid buyers! Why not just buy a whole SUV instead of getting it in two states?
I like how Motorweek always takes mall cruisers like this off-road and drives them way too fast, resulting in the whole vehicle flopping around like a small boat in rough seas. It makes the vehicles look completely incapable off-road (which probably isn’t totally inaccurate)
Still see these on the road today. Fairly good vehicles for the time just as my Ranger from that time is. Though they would have avoided a blemish on their reputation if it wasn't for the Ford Explorer and Firestone tire Fiasco. The factory 26 psi was way too low for that vehicle and in combination with what the tires load carrying compacity is at said tire psi. Those models that recommended 26 psi I believe was only for the models with the 15 inch rims. P235/75r15 size tires to be exact.
My mother had a 2004 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 V6 that she bought new in November 2004. It has a fair share of mechanical problems including the transmission until the engine was overheating while my sister was driving it. The visor hinges were flimsy and snapped off right after she drove it off the dealer lot. Plus, the exterior hatch trim broke off where the Ford emblem was located.
Yeah the 3rd gen Explorers SOHC 4.0 and 5 speed trans were problematic in their own right. The generation before it, with the OHC 4.0 was more reliable.
esp that SOHC engine with the front and back chains... dumb design and took a few years for Ford to figure out the 55Re. The the rear valance panel below the rear window on all three cracked by sitting (Aviator, Explorer, and Mountaineer) @@elonsus9747
I looked at buying one second hand in 1998 took it for a test drive from the local ford dealer. During the drive I pulled over to look thru the owner's manual/service history and low and behold there was a piece of A4 paper in the back of the service book it was a pre delivery inspection sheet from when it was new and being sold to the original owner there was no less than 27 faults from the factory. Needless to say, I didn't buy it and bought a Toyota Foruner instead.
Dad, 1992: "I want a Ranger 4x4." Mom,1992: "Yeah, but we need a minivan or a wagon." Ford, 1992: "What if a Ranger and a station wagon....had a baby?"
It is SO FREAKING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to locate an autumn orange 4-door Eddie Bauer V8 AWD/4WD for sale!! Esp one in rather pristine condition that would not need very much help past maybe a coat of wax! It DOES exist because I test drove one in '97 brand new, and it is featured in the beginning of this video lol I ended up getting the new '98 LX470 back then with the trade-in of my '96 LX450 that I got in '96 for HS graduation. I'll never be 18 again 😅
I remember the first time I road in one of the new Explorer’s - a girl I worked with my first job out of college drove her parent’s brand new one to work one day and everyone was out in the parking lot “oohing and aahing” over it! Their’s was a ‘90 or ‘91 and I think it MSRP’d for around $24k and I remember wondering how anyone could ever afford such an expensive vehicle……😂 Ford must have been making money hand-over-fist in this era with the recently-introduced Taurus, the perennially hot-selling F-150, and then the game-changing Explorer following right behind…….😮
Reshaping the front totally changed the game when it came to SUVs. My mom bought the 94 and when the 95 came out, I remember that it instantly looked dated.
2:35 "but appreciate the aggressive Firestone Tires on our chrome 16" wheels." Ahh, the tire that ruined this generation Explorer and almost bankrupted Firestone but was saved through conspiracy with Ford. "Tread Separation" my left foot!
That statement in the video perked my ears up too.😂 I worked for Good Year and Firestone as a technician when this recall was going on. The tires were Firestone but designed by Ford. American automakers do it all the time. The “TPC Spec” number on the sidewall means the car brand designed the tire. Ford had Firestone remove two plies from the radial structure of the tire and set the pressures way too low. That’s what caused the separation.
My mom had one. Hydroplaned hit a light pole and rolled it. Area where my little sister was sitting an hour prior was completely crushed inwards but my mom was fine.
Impressive that aside from mpg these are good stats TODAY, especially around cargo capacity and just general ease of use. I think ford really made a mistake moving explorer to the D-platform unibody.
My friend had one of these, and it was pretty much the perfect vehicle, except eventually the transmission let go. They used it on the farm, stuck in whatever gear it was stuck in for a few more months before finally letting it go. Great truck though.
These were peak Eddie Bauer Ford’s. Definitely a special time in automotive history. 90s cars had personality and uniqueness, now sadly, most cars are carbon copies of each other.
It’s really sad that the Clash for Clunkers program killed so many of these. I spent about a decade of my childhood riding in a 95 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer.
So many of this generation of Explorers were lost to Cash for Clunkers. A ground-breaking effort in its day, a much better family hauler than the Grand Cherokee. However, if you wanted real off-road capability, the Jeep was the way to go.
This was the last generation of high quality Ford vehicles. By the early 2000's their transmissions, power steering, and engines became cheaper quality because they used Mexico to build their parts along with General Motors
Firestone tires.. for us Gen Xers who read and remember. www.autosafety.org/firestone-500-steel-belted-radials/ Not a stretch to think the rubbers were at fault
Great riding vehicles but the 4.0 V6 was completely, insanely, unbelievably underpowered for this application. The 5.0 was just fine but the V6 would make you fear for your life merging onto and interstate
Anyone still think that old cars are cheaper and new ones are " overpriced " ? Standard base $ 20,870 in 1995 is $ 42,103 in 2023 Eddie Bauer base $ 29,515 in 1995 is $ 59,544 in 2023 Eddie Bauer full $ 32,945 in 1995 is $ 66,463 in 2023
@@Butchcub75 My point is, too many people think that stuff was cheaper in the day. Wages for particular type of job in 1995 would have more or less risen with the cost of the vehicle in my example above. Tell someone that a mid level Explorer is 60,000 in 2024 and they will scream that it was half of that in 1995 when in reality it is the same price.
This makes me miss Fords of the '90s. I'm not a fan of what the brand has become in the USA. A bunch of unreliable, overpriced 4cyl turbo CUVs and fussy trucks.
@@dave_riots I'm fine with CUVs. In fact I've grown to like them. They're practical and have better visibility. What I don't like is the trend of more electronics, more computer intervention, and unreliable tiny turbo engines. I also think the prices are getting out of hand. Ford's cheapest CUV starts at $29k, which is insane.
I had a 98 2 door Sport model. Great vehicle and not too large. Ford sure doesn't make decent vehicles like these anymore. Ford makes junk nowadays. Hence I own a Mazda CX-30 now.
In Australia we got a few of these and they gained the name ford EXPLODER absolute shit Box with no steering feel rubbish build quality rusted away and the 6 cylinder was a total hand grenade.
It’s hard to overstate how influential these were back in the 90s. They were everywhere, and practically launched an entire movement toward mainstream SUVs. But appreciating the “aggressive Firestone tires” - yikes, did not age well.
If I could go back in time, I'd do something to make sure these weren't made. I hate how EVERYTHING has to be a stinking crossover. The Mustang, Eclipse, Manta, Puma and soon the Corvette and Skyline.
The tires were underinflated. Ford called for low pressure. Firestone is fine.
There was never a problem with the Firestone tires though. They often ejected tread because Ford insisted the tires be (under) inflated to 26 psi.
@@jakobholgersson4400Except that these Explorers were not crossovers since they were body on frame. And the Mustang is not now nor has it ever been a crossover (the Mach e is NOT a Mustang).
@@tedschmitt178 Who cares? It popularized the idea of using an unnecesserily tall and heavy vehicle as a daily driver. I get that some people need rugged off-roaders for work and that a very niche group of people buy them for their off-roading hobby. But that's all they should be for.
It's called a Mustang Mach E and is thus a Mustang.
I still see this generation of explorer on the roads, goes to show these were reliable
This gen explorer also had 2 reliable engine options the 5.0L V8 and the 4.0L ohv V6
@@JackVegetables18 The 4.0 liter sohc V6(205hp) was a pretty good engine as well. Especially with the five-speed automatic.
These were best sellers nationwide and i saw 'em everywhere in Austin.
Though really cant say that i see them very often if at all.
Over a million sold? Should still see few. Hell, I want one after seeing this
i see 90s tahoes much more
I had a 2000 explorer xlt with the 5.0 v8, loved that thing!
This and the 90s rams were some of the most successful designs. The were truly trendsetters
That's so cool that you say that! I have a 97 Dodge Ram 4x4 5.9L, and a 98 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0L SOHC. 😁
Remember how Ford and GM Laughed Out Loud almost on camera at the Second Generation Ram?? They said no one'd buy a truck that looked like a semi tractor. Well, Lee Iacocca and the U.A.W. got the last laugh on that one, too. Btw, between the Ram, the LH cab forward cars, And the Grand Cherokee, how the HELL did Chrysler almost go broke AGAIN!?!?!?!?!
@@U.S.S.SOUTHSIDEJurgen Schrempp and Daimler-Benz AG.
Had a 95 XLT at 2 years old. Drove and handled great.
Had an 01 Limited until just recently. Had 200k when I sold it to the guy at work. It now has near 300k with original engine, 5.0L and transmission.
So let me get this straight you was driving at the age of 2?
@@JackVegetables18
LOL 😂. The Explorer was 2 years old in 97.
@@dodgeguyz lol ok i was about to say you should've been in the Guinness book of World records if you was 2 years old driving 🤣🤣
@@dodgeguyz 7.
I just love the exterior body design and the 2 tone paint combanation of this explorer the interior quality too
The 90's were the pinnacle of automotive design. You can find almost every feature from todays vehicles in vehicles from the 90s. The 90s vehicles were not bloated, and blind spots were small. Safety was getting really good, with some vehicles having side curtain air bags. Engines were less complicated, and powerful enough. 500hp was an ungodly amount of hp, and 1000hp on the street was basically unbelievable, untouchable, and unbeatable. Vehicles were easier to park, and they fit in your garage. Most of all, they were easier to work on and upgrade.
Unfortunately people now need to feed their ego with giant suvs and trucks.
I had a 99 Explorer XLS I bought from a coworker because a friend of mine was looking for a small relatively cheap suv without all the crazy modern screens and modules that implode after 5 years. He still has it and it runs perfect despite being 25 years old with 154k miles on the clock. Solid little suv if maintained
This generation was probably one of the best. Transmissions could be weak but see so many high mileage examples. 2 door looked the best.
The transmission in my 2000 went out last May after 318,000 miles. It still shifted fine but was leaking in several places and repairing it would cost half the price of a reman transmission. I got a new Jasper transmission and I'm still driving it with the original 4.0
My friends dad owned one of these and put over 1 million miles on it. He was a livestock vet and drove around the country a lot. He also had an early 2000s ford ranger that he drove over 1 million miles as well. Both had the 4.0 v6.
Did he have a routine as far as changing gaskets?
We had quite a few ford explorer's over the year's in a few different generation's. I never seen a explorer with a standard lock rear differential. Btw my mom still daily drives her 1998 explorer eddie bauer it has 225k miles on it.
I loved this model and year. In High School we visited our uncle in Colorado and he had a brand new one, headed into the mountains with style. We are buying a 2024 Honda HRV, based on the Civic and considered a compact crossover. The Honda is about the same length and width. Amazing what a family SUV size was a few years ago.
Loved all 3 of my Explorers.
This generation of midsize SUVs is what they should be. Other than power, this is more compelling than new ones to me.
I see this review is before the whole Firestone debacle.
My dad’s friend had an accident in one of this before they where recall. He said he heard a loud bang and the thing slide and rolled over.
The aggressive nature of the fender flares is hilarious 😂
Bring back that dual mode tailgate!!!!!!
Still standard on current Expedition and Navigator….
🎉 Mr. Davis Happy new year 2024.
Bought one for 350 dollars and loved it for 3 years
I am a GM guy all the way, but I did own a 1996 Explorer. I absolutely LOVED my Explorer. I still own GM's and I have not owned another Ford since, but I have to say, Ford hit a homerun with the 1995+ updated Explorer. The only downside to the 95/96 was it was underpowered.
said " The only downside to the 95/96 was it was underpowered. "
Car makers always need to have something better for people to trade up to. Think about the genesis of the first Chrysler mini van.
Short wheel base / 2.2 4 cyl
Short wheelbase / 2.6 4 cyl
Long wheel base / 3.0 V6
Gen 2 with a 3.3 V6
and so on
@@bobroberts2371Planned obsolescence
@@AGreedyTree Nope, product improvement. The short wheelbase / small was just for for a group of people. Just because in improved version comes out doe not mean the original version suddenly stops working.
These were so incredibly popular but also good reliable vehicles.
Still daily driving my 1996 XLT 4x4 with 255,000KM. Great truck
This was the best gen of explorer they ever made , best looking as well
3:56 John: THE SHARP NEW GAUGES ARE CLEAR AND COMPLETE! LOL
Haha the 4x4 dial looks like the one in my 2023 Frontier Pro 4x 😂😂
Had 1996 Explorer XLT 4wd and it was very dependable. If I had a complaint it would have been that the 4.0L ohv six was not a powerhouse. It got better when Ford put in the SOHC 4.0L and had the 5.0L option. Replaced it with a 2001 Ford Expedition XLT Sport. I have been very pleased with Fords from the 1990's and 2000's can't really speak about the new Ford Explorer and Expedition because they switched to twin turbo sixes and I am not sold that they will be as reliable
I guess you don’t realized how much has time passed until you remember seeing these new and plentiful on the road in good condition to being barely able to find a good example with most nearly gone from the junkyards.
I love my 96, it is a manual too so it just drives so well and so smooth
My parents brought 1997 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 in Virginia and North Carolina.
...wait, what? they bought a car in two pieces and had it put together? Damn, that's some stupid buyers! Why not just buy a whole SUV instead of getting it in two states?
I like how Motorweek always takes mall cruisers like this off-road and drives them way too fast, resulting in the whole vehicle flopping around like a small boat in rough seas. It makes the vehicles look completely incapable off-road (which probably isn’t totally inaccurate)
The 2nd gen Explorer is my favorite Explorer when it comes to exterior design and ruggedness
Still see these on the road today. Fairly good vehicles for the time just as my Ranger from that time is. Though they would have avoided a blemish on their reputation if it wasn't for the Ford Explorer and Firestone tire Fiasco. The factory 26 psi was way too low for that vehicle and in combination with what the tires load carrying compacity is at said tire psi. Those models that recommended 26 psi I believe was only for the models with the 15 inch rims. P235/75r15 size tires to be exact.
My mother had a 2004 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 V6 that she bought new in November 2004. It has a fair share of mechanical problems including the transmission until the engine was overheating while my sister was driving it. The visor hinges were flimsy and snapped off right after she drove it off the dealer lot. Plus, the exterior hatch trim broke off where the Ford emblem was located.
Yeah the 3rd gen Explorers SOHC 4.0 and 5 speed trans were problematic in their own right. The generation before it, with the OHC 4.0 was more reliable.
esp that SOHC engine with the front and back chains... dumb design and took a few years for Ford to figure out the 55Re. The the rear valance panel below the rear window on all three cracked by sitting (Aviator, Explorer, and Mountaineer) @@elonsus9747
The 2001 Explorer was also the last Ford vehicle with the bulletproof 5.0 302 Windsor V8
my 99 with a 302 still going strong at 275,000 miles
I have a 1996 Eddie Bauer 5.0 266000 miles runs great.
I looked at buying one second hand in 1998 took it for a test drive from the local ford dealer. During the drive I pulled over to look thru the owner's manual/service history and low and behold there was a piece of A4 paper in the back of the service book it was a pre delivery inspection sheet from when it was new and being sold to the original owner there was no less than 27 faults from the factory. Needless to say, I didn't buy it and bought a Toyota Foruner instead.
You know that 4 runner is probably still running somewhere. The Explorer was parted out about 10 years after release.
Comes with a cassette stereo-I love it.
$32,945 is the equivalent of almost $66,000 today! A fully loaded 2024 Explorer Platinum costs about $62,000.
My dad had a ‘95 Eddie Bauer edition with a green interior.
MY GRANDFATHER'S FIRST SUV WAS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER XLT❤
Dad, 1992: "I want a Ranger 4x4."
Mom,1992: "Yeah, but we need a minivan or a wagon."
Ford, 1992: "What if a Ranger and a station wagon....had a baby?"
It is SO FREAKING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to locate an autumn orange 4-door Eddie Bauer V8 AWD/4WD for sale!! Esp one in rather pristine condition that would not need very much help past maybe a coat of wax! It DOES exist because I test drove one in '97 brand new, and it is featured in the beginning of this video lol I ended up getting the new '98 LX470 back then with the trade-in of my '96 LX450 that I got in '96 for HS graduation. I'll never be 18 again 😅
You weren't a real 90s kid until you rode to school/sports practice/your friend's house in one of these Explorers.
I remember the first time I road in one of the new Explorer’s - a girl I worked with my first job out of college drove her parent’s brand new one to work one day and everyone was out in the parking lot “oohing and aahing” over it! Their’s was a ‘90 or ‘91 and I think it MSRP’d for around $24k and I remember wondering how anyone could ever afford such an expensive vehicle……😂
Ford must have been making money hand-over-fist in this era with the recently-introduced Taurus, the perennially hot-selling F-150, and then the game-changing Explorer following right behind…….😮
...And Chrysler was Still riding high on the First Generation EVER minivans. Meanwhile GM was getting left behind!!
bought a '96 from a family friend and it was my first truck... 4Ls are bulletproof
We had one of these my dad put wider tires on it and made it a bit lighter weight had no issues with roll overs.
I love the Exploder
Reshaping the front totally changed the game when it came to SUVs. My mom bought the 94 and when the 95 came out, I remember that it instantly looked dated.
2:35 "but appreciate the aggressive Firestone Tires on our chrome 16" wheels." Ahh, the tire that ruined this generation Explorer and almost bankrupted Firestone but was saved through conspiracy with Ford. "Tread Separation" my left foot!
That statement in the video perked my ears up too.😂 I worked for Good Year and Firestone as a technician when this recall was going on. The tires were Firestone but designed by Ford. American automakers do it all the time. The “TPC Spec” number on the sidewall means the car brand designed the tire. Ford had Firestone remove two plies from the radial structure of the tire and set the pressures way too low. That’s what caused the separation.
Firestone 500 tires. ;)
My mom had one.
Hydroplaned hit a light pole and rolled it.
Area where my little sister was sitting an hour prior was completely crushed inwards but my mom was fine.
I have a 2000 xlt with 155,000 runs like a top 80/90 mph no problem
My parents had this when i was a baby hahaa i want to buy one now
Impressive that aside from mpg these are good stats TODAY, especially around cargo capacity and just general ease of use.
I think ford really made a mistake moving explorer to the D-platform unibody.
My friend had one of these, and it was pretty much the perfect vehicle, except eventually the transmission let go. They used it on the farm, stuck in whatever gear it was stuck in for a few more months before finally letting it go. Great truck though.
Still see a couple of these here in Upstate NY occasionally
I just bought my 8th explorer and my 3rd 96. Great cars
Im trying to figure out what orange dash light is on at 1:32
I see these everyday
The ones I know about says they love it but sadly the transmissions fails more than they would like
These were peak Eddie Bauer Ford’s. Definitely a special time in automotive history. 90s cars had personality and uniqueness, now sadly, most cars are carbon copies of each other.
...and Character!!!!!😎😎😎
still have mine a 99 eddie bauer with a 5.0 v8
I still see these generation of Explorers on street going strong.
I had a 96 Eddie Bauer edition V8 engine, I had replace the transfer case in it had 142000 miles on it when I had it replaced.
It’s really sad that the Clash for Clunkers program killed so many of these. I spent about a decade of my childhood riding in a 95 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer.
I really want one of these with the 5.0l. They’re hard to get though now
I see a ton of them in places like Seattle and Portland for sale. They dont get a lot of salt. Im still looking for one as well
My favorite Explorer!
So many of this generation of Explorers were lost to Cash for Clunkers.
A ground-breaking effort in its day, a much better family hauler than the Grand Cherokee. However, if you wanted real off-road capability, the Jeep was the way to go.
This was the SUV to have during that time!
I guess the plastic moldings replaced the two tone paint jobs.
YEAH. Nobody does two tone paint anymore!! WTF IS UP WITH THAT!!!!!
always loved this generation saleen explorers..
why did they do away with the pop out glass on the hatch?
probably a safety thing or no one ordered it. Escorts and Bronco IIs used to have pop out and opening rear windows. Or cheaper to build with out them.
This was the last generation of high quality Ford vehicles. By the early 2000's their transmissions, power steering, and engines became cheaper quality because they used Mexico to build their parts along with General Motors
Crazy nose dive under hard braking
Firestone tires.. for us Gen Xers who read and remember. www.autosafety.org/firestone-500-steel-belted-radials/ Not a stretch to think the rubbers were at fault
Back then, Firestone still had a partnership with Ford
Great riding vehicles but the 4.0 V6 was completely, insanely, unbelievably underpowered for this application. The 5.0 was just fine but the V6 would make you fear for your life merging onto and interstate
Anyone still think that old cars are cheaper and new ones are " overpriced " ?
Standard base $ 20,870 in 1995 is $ 42,103 in 2023
Eddie Bauer base $ 29,515 in 1995 is $ 59,544 in 2023
Eddie Bauer full $ 32,945 in 1995 is $ 66,463 in 2023
inflation sucks.
@@Butchcub75 My point is, too many people think that stuff was cheaper in the day.
Wages for particular type of job in 1995 would have more or less risen with the cost of the vehicle in my example above.
Tell someone that a mid level Explorer is 60,000 in 2024 and they will scream that it was half of that in 1995 when in reality it is the same price.
@@bobroberts2371 oh I totally get it. Not disagreeing with you.
OLD SCHOOL
This makes me miss Fords of the '90s. I'm not a fan of what the brand has become in the USA. A bunch of unreliable, overpriced 4cyl turbo CUVs and fussy trucks.
The success of this led to the creation of the unnecessary trend of everyone owning crossovers
@@dave_riots I'm fine with CUVs. In fact I've grown to like them. They're practical and have better visibility. What I don't like is the trend of more electronics, more computer intervention, and unreliable tiny turbo engines. I also think the prices are getting out of hand. Ford's cheapest CUV starts at $29k, which is insane.
@@palebeachbumThe only old school NA V6 body on frame suv left is the 4Runner, but those are expensive
Tough, beautiful Ford.
Step by Step brought me back here
Wow 6.7 “ ground clearance, crossovers have more than that now days
Where's the oil and volt gauges?
The same year they made the 5 L V8 a option
These were good, nit great vehicles that were very popular.
My uncle had one with a V8, Maybe it was a later one though
A very common sight at the junkyard these days.
I swear they sold so many of these its not even funny everyone and their mom had one
I had a 98 2 door Sport model. Great vehicle and not too large. Ford sure doesn't make decent vehicles like these anymore. Ford makes junk nowadays. Hence I own a Mazda CX-30 now.
I recall those models being price oriented for folks like me who couldn't afford a decently loaded Explorer.😎😎
02:40.. awkward.
LOL Firestone tires on a Ford Explorer ... Wow
These were too rugged, too reliable, & too easy to work on. When the next generation came out Ford made sure they didn't make that mistake again.
Funny, sad, AND TRUE!!!!!
20k for a new SUV?!?
I don't remember it being THAT expensive. After all me & my friends could only afford the base model. You know, the one minus air conditioning??
Durangos were way better
😂 My old explorer is better than any junk Durango ever was
Durangos are junk.
I miss its predecessor the RamCharger, but that was a completely different class of truck.
In Australia we got a few of these and they gained the name ford EXPLODER absolute shit Box with no steering feel rubbish build quality rusted away and the 6 cylinder was a total hand grenade.