I may be nuts, but...

R Dogg 56 · April 11, 2004

I like the looks of that Avalanche wanna-be from Ford: the Explorer Sport Trac.

They aren't too big, but not too small. A little problem with the roof racks and the tie-downs on the bed (too much plastic), but I guess they can be removed with few problems. The 4.0 V6 should be sufficient enough. The interior looks fine to me. Shift-on-the-fly 4x4 is cool. And the bed extender looks pretty handy, too.

I may need psychiatric help.

PewterC3 · April 12, 2004

I had a 98 Explorer(my one and only Ford) and it had the same underpinnings as the SportTrac. Although it did fine at low speeds they are very unstable at high speeds. Most vehicles I've owned felt safe at 85 and above...not the Explorer. And if you have some weight in it, it's even worse and drops the max speed to 80 or less. I was following a guy at in the 90-100 range on the highway once with white knuckles and both hands on the wheel. Replaced the tires with Michilens and still had the same problem. And I'm normally comfortable in most vehicles to 130+ if they are capable of it...with just one hand on the wheel.

rhilton · April 12, 2004

I know my 01 explorer sport is nice and comfortable up to the speed limiter at 98 mph. If you lower the torsion bars a tad, it lowers the center of gravity, and feels alot more stable. And the sport trac is a bigger version of my sport so I would think it handles the same. You'd be surprised with the 5 speed auto in them and that 4.0L engine. It shifts at just the right time and doesn't bog down in gears (I mean when you gun it, it stays in its powerband).

I'm likin mine alot.

TROYROBO · April 12, 2004

my ole lady has a 04-SportTrac -rides and runs great

rhilton · April 13, 2004

there's hella mods for it too, everytime I type in a mod search for explorer sport it always comes up with explorer sport trac, so I usually have to search explorer sport -trac.... but then there's people who don't know how to spell trac and type sport trak or track or trakc (don't laugh, I've seen trakc alot)

Plenty of mods. The 5 speed auto is almost bulletproof too, much better than the earlier explorers namely 91-00.

pacodiablo · April 13, 2004

'91 - '94 esp...the A4LD doesn't like to stick around after 150K or so. They are not the worst transmissions ever, just a weak point in otherwise reliable trucks.

rhilton · April 13, 2004

yep. I wouldn't be surprised if I converted a few people if they drove my x

It's not the explorer everyone else remembers that is top-heavy, has terrible braking, has a speed limiter at like 81 mph, and that you usually see "certain" people driving with platinum dubs and bags

But all those things are why most people don't want to mess with an explorer now. The new ones are awesome.

sirlan · April 13, 2004

I had an '01 Sport-trac. It handled ok at high speeds but I never wanted to go over 85 MPH in it. Never had a serious problem with it.

pacodiablo · April 14, 2004

yep. I wouldn't be surprised if I converted a few people if they drove my x

It's not the explorer everyone else remembers that is top-heavy, has terrible braking, has a speed limiter at like 81 mph, and that you usually see "certain" people driving with platinum dubs and bags

But all those things are why most people don't want to mess with an explorer now. The new ones are awesome.

If by new ones you mean the now out of production Sports that may still be at some dealers, yes they are good (aside from the IFS, but oh well). The '02 and newer four doors are not so good.

PewterC3 · April 14, 2004

I guess it was just mine then and not model specific. All I know is, it's the only vehicle I've owned that I was not comfortable in at high speed....and I have a tendancy to drive fast. As an example...for those in Texas....best run from 45 and south 610 loop in Houston to 75 and Park in Dallas...in a '78 Camaro.....2hrs 47 minutes.

Also, the Sport does have a shorter wheelbase then the Explorer or SportTrac.

rhilton · April 14, 2004

If by new ones you mean the now out of production Sports that may still be at some dealers, yes they are good (aside from the IFS, but oh well). The '02 and newer four doors are not so good.

I guess I should rephrase. The 01-03 sport was good, Ford messed up taking them off production. Or I think they did anyway. They need a version of the sport back out. Not a 4 door that ford calls a sport.

The sport trac I rode in was like riding in my sport now. Pretty comfy. And for the ultimate ride, edelbrock performer IAS shocks..