Never enjoyed a vehicle like this...
Written: Mar 07 '01
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Pros: I love it, my husband and 2 sons love it.
Cons: My daughter is not so impressed.
The Bottom Line: The first vehicle I have ever loved!
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| candlelite's Full Review: 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac |
I always thought of a vehicle in utilitarian terms. A car is a car, if it got me from point A to point B safely and without incident, it did it's job. My Chevy conversion van did this without any trouble for the 8 years I owned it. So why is it that this vehicle has changed my mind.
I chose this vehicle mainly because it was different from the other cars on the road. At first glance, I thought it was weird looking. Then I looked again and thought, I can see me in one of those. SUV's are so overdone now. I don't want a truck, (they ride like a truck). I can't go back to a car, they are so short. A station wagon, no way! And I was just so tired of the big van.
Yes the SportTrac fits the bill perfectly. Not a "mom" car at all. Enough room for all 5 if need be, (but with a 17, 15 and 11 year old, not a common occurance these days). The interior is comfy, the ride is smooth and quiet. With the tonneau cover it is just like a car (trunk), yet I can fold out the cage and use it for hauling, tho' nothing 'dirty', those things are for my husbands truck. With the cage in regular position, I have a place to put my groceries, and they don't slide around in the bed. (I was EVER so tired of groceries falling out the door of my van, and mini-van before that).
The v-6 engine has the "pulling out" power that I need. (Like a shot). I find it extremely easy, and fun to drive, and imagine my surprise at turning up a snowy hill, beginning a fishtail, turning that little switch, and sailing up the hill around the other vehicles. (I've never before appreciated the value of 4 wheel drive, this is my first.) In the past I washed my van perhaps once a year, this one I wash once a week, sometimes more often. Can you see where I'm going with this?
The leather interior warms up quick, the heat is top-notch. The dealer replaced the Firestone tires for free (I think because they screwed up my order and I had to wait 5 months for my SportTrac). I got it in December, 2000. It has gone through a snowy and messy northeast winter with no complaints so far. I am no longer nervous about driving in the snow, tho' I still don't trust other drivers. I don't hear the whistle that I have heard others complain about.
I find that I park in places that maximize the visibility of my SportTrac, (is that so wrong?) It certainly turns heads. I let my husband take it to work once so he could show it off to his co-workers, they were all very impressed, or so I'm told. I enjoy picking up my daughter at school, but I am careful to look non-chalant about driving this cool vehicle. Perhaps in a year or two, I'll let my son borrow it, he keeps bugging me to let him.
There is a drawback tho', I have to call it a vehicle, it's not a truck you know. Also, I got the best color, the island blue, which is really teal. You must have mud flaps in the snow, or you get snow sludge on the rails. They are not included, or an option when I got mine. I got all the options except the moon roof, (it makes the interior roof lower, and I am tall), and the 6 CD player (I have CD's at home, but I enjoy the radio, and I have 12 programmed stations to choose from.) There is a single CD player and cassette player in it. (Do people still use cassettes?)
While I realize that this is a new vehicle and it should be just as I wanted, (after all I chose it), I have never had such an interest in a car, um, I mean vehicle. I hope that my joy in this vehicle is long-lived, and only time will tell, but for now...
...as you can see, I cannot say enough about my SportTrac. And while I highly recommend it, don't buy one, or mine won't be so unique any more.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 20,000+trade
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: Leather and sport package, 4 wheel drive
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Epinions.com ID:
candlelite
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Member: Diane
Location: Olyphant, PA
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Mom of 2 college kids, and a junior high. Love the great outdoors.
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