2001 Ford Explorer 4WD

Pros: High Style, Comfort, Fun!
Cons: Mediocre Gas Mileage

We just bought the new Ford Explorer Sport Trac just a little over a month ago. This is a FUN vehicle. I've never seen heads turn so much and I usually buy vehicles when they're just released. It's a head turner! • We bought it, because we need a ...

Pros: Everything
Cons: Nothing

We purchased a 2001 Ford Explorer Limited no more than 6 months ago. WE LOVE IT!! its a wonderful car for yourself or for a family! It rides great, and it appears it will forever. On the scale of SUV's the Ford Explorer Limited is in the upper half on...

Pros: Good towing package, nice handling, and good stereo.
Cons: Dont get a flat, not enough cargo area.

When I set out to purchase a new auto, I did not really give the Explorer that much consideration. But, now, after owning it for just over a year, I can say that I am truly pleased with it. I was impressed with how much you can tow, the pulling power of ...

Pros: Good for transporting and off-road driving
Cons: Tight and spendy

Even though it is not the best car on the market, it is a nice car for those who like taking an adventure. Having the same characteristics as other sports utility vehicles, the '01 Ford Explorer comes with almost everything you need for a decent price,...

Pros: Roomy, feels solid, decent power, cargo room
Cons: terrible stereo (XLS), funny brake pedal feel, 1991 handling

That 2001 Ford Explorer you may be considering is not as new as you think. Sure, it smells new, it's shiny, and it looks modern, but the mechanicals underneath are anything but new.

The explorer started out life in 1990. It was at the time,...

Pros: Excellent headlights, keyless entry, large gas tank, retains resale value well
Cons: Handling (not bad but worse than competition), computer not as good as Jeep, stereo not as good as Pathfinder

Okay, I'm not totally anti-Ford Explorer. They're decent cars. And I think the Firestone tire thing is not a major concern. But the 2000 and 2001 Explorer doesn't handle as well as other cars in its class, namely the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Nissan...

Pros: Nice looking and the 4WD works great
Cons: Gas milage and the front end went at 40K miles.

I leased this 2001 Ford Exploder at Jerome Duncan Ford in Sterling Heights, MI. It was a nightmare from the start. The only positive thing I can say is that the truck waxed up nice and the 4WD worked great. I almost became a statistic when I...

Pros: Nice Colors
Cons: Poor workmanship,ride,customer support

I just purchased a 2001 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer. The price was high($35,000 with tax) but I really liked the color (spruce green).

My first drive was a great disappointment. The seat was hard and uncomfortable. The ride was just like a...

Pros: Cargo room, driver room, rear seat room, height.
Cons: Annoying parts that wear out too soon. Bad design in many cases.

My 2001 Explorer XLS was my third and will be my last. I bought it used with 19,000 kms on it and for the first year it behaved like a new car but by the time we got to 50,000 kms the dealer was proposing $1,500 in brake work. Then I had to replace a thermostat - my wife almost fried the engine trying to get it home. After than it's been one $500 job after another - the latest was the coil spring switch in the steering column. My impression is that Ford designs for 60,000 kms. If you get anything beyond that you're very lucky.

The engine pings mercilessly unless you use injection cleaner or burn premium gas. Acceleration is very poor but then the Explorer has only 3/4 the horsepower of a Blazer. Ford provided a trailer electrical link hookup that looked nice but actually traps water. Guess what I get to replace this weekend?

Ford has turned the Explorer into a big lazy Taurus with about the same reliability and none of the responsiveness. If you're looking for a full size SUV then you can do much better.