vinblastine
New member
One of the reasons for getting the 4Runner is that it isn't FWD.
Why all the Explorer/4Runner comparisons?
- Thread starter dekeman
- Start date
fxoffroad
New member
Guess I'm in the minority here - I think the new Explorer looks sweet - a hell of a lot better than the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Definitely another design step in the right direction for Ford. The lines are bold and they are clearly trying to regain their place in the industry. As someone already said, ultimately it benefits all consumers and forces others to up their game.
It's great to see Ford's strong renaissance/revival in their design departments - kinda reminds me of what Jobs did with Apple. Ford is definitely headed in the right direction. As an American, I'd really like to see Ford sitting on top (and before I get bashed - I understand Global Economy).
Whereas I love my 4Runner, I have yet to really "feel" the exterior. Though, the 4Runner interior blows the Explorer out of the water - in so far as design and quality.
I had a 2003 Super Duty: the build quality (for a truck) was excellent and I never had one issue with it - and I took it off-road a beat the crap of it. (Though there's no doubt a 4Runner more at home off-road.) I remember taking it out mudding the first month and Ford replaced some brake parts under warranty because of the mud. Overall, I had a great Ford experience.
It's great to see Ford's strong renaissance/revival in their design departments - kinda reminds me of what Jobs did with Apple. Ford is definitely headed in the right direction. As an American, I'd really like to see Ford sitting on top (and before I get bashed - I understand Global Economy).
Whereas I love my 4Runner, I have yet to really "feel" the exterior. Though, the 4Runner interior blows the Explorer out of the water - in so far as design and quality.
I had a 2003 Super Duty: the build quality (for a truck) was excellent and I never had one issue with it - and I took it off-road a beat the crap of it. (Though there's no doubt a 4Runner more at home off-road.) I remember taking it out mudding the first month and Ford replaced some brake parts under warranty because of the mud. Overall, I had a great Ford experience.
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dekeman
New member
I don't mind the look at all, either, though it's very similar to the Taurus, and I think the interior has some neat bits, too, especially the touch buttons.
And yes, good on Ford and Mulally for coming out of their massive hole, lifting the share price, and building what appears to be better vehicles overall. I don't doubt they will sell hundreds of thousands of Explorers. For better or worse, it might also affect 4Runner sales (though I would think 4Runner buyers are the type to see the wheat from the chaff).
Even though the market for such a vehicle is small, I would hope Ford continues to build a real off-road SUV. Maybe the Bronco will be revived.
And yes, good on Ford and Mulally for coming out of their massive hole, lifting the share price, and building what appears to be better vehicles overall. I don't doubt they will sell hundreds of thousands of Explorers. For better or worse, it might also affect 4Runner sales (though I would think 4Runner buyers are the type to see the wheat from the chaff).
Even though the market for such a vehicle is small, I would hope Ford continues to build a real off-road SUV. Maybe the Bronco will be revived.
I don't have a problem with it being unibody. After all, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is unibody and it does have reasonable performance off road.
The problem that I have with the new Explorer is that it is based on a front-wheel-drive platform, it has no available low range, and its AWD system is likely to be a "slip-first-then-engage" system. In other words, the new Explorer is now a very competent competitor of the Toyota Highlander.
That's too bad, because I like the interior and exterior styling of the new Explorer and hoped that it would be another alternative for me to consider when I need to replace my '03 4Runner. But I actually do take my 4Runner offroad, so the new Explorer won't cut it for me.
Ryan F.
New member
I don't know, the thing just kind of feels irrelevant. I don't care about it. I think the styling is just, eh. No real emotional reaction. You know, when I think about my 4 Runner buying experience, we considered the Highlander, and felt exactly the same way. Hence, my Limited 4R. M1911 has an excellent point about competition with the Highlander. In this context, it starts to make sense, I guess.
fxoffroad
New member
Many would probably say the same thing about the 4Runner.
I'm going to seriously consider the new Jeep. It's just as capable as the 4runner and I actually like the exterior better. Ford and Jeep seem to think it makes sense to put xenon lights as standard and Toyota likes to make us wait for the mid-cycle refresh eventhough they had it in the 4th gen. That said, I love my 4th gen 4runner and have driven Toyota tacoma, and two previous 4runners and the thought of leaving is a little weird. I'm just worried that Toyota is becoming arrogant and complacent with signs like lesser material inside the car, uncharacteristic poor quality for many cars lately...etc.
...just my opinions though.
I agree w/ fxoffroad and think it looks pretty cool as well although it's certainly not a 4Runner competitor with the change to unibody. I'm also glad to see Ford doing well under it's own steam without my taxpayer subsidy.
You're questioning Toyota build quality and considering a Jeep? We have a failed Chrysler bought by Mercedes, failed again, and purchased by Fiat. So Chrysler and Mercedes engineers started the design and Fiat finished up. Nothing in that history screams reliable to me.
I looked at a GC just before I bought the 4Runner. I think they look nice inside and out and liked its size. It's more like a car than a truck, IMO. At the end of the day, reliability concerns and my anti-bailout mentality scared me away. I decided not to waste my or the salesman's time with a test drive. Having said that, it would be great if it turns out to be the best-built vehicle in the world (and quite a surprise to many).
You can always upgrade the 4Runner's headlights, but can't upgrade a Jeep's build quality. YMMV.
You're questioning Toyota build quality and considering a Jeep? We have a failed Chrysler bought by Mercedes, failed again, and purchased by Fiat. So Chrysler and Mercedes engineers started the design and Fiat finished up. Nothing in that history screams reliable to me.
I looked at a GC just before I bought the 4Runner. I think they look nice inside and out and liked its size. It's more like a car than a truck, IMO. At the end of the day, reliability concerns and my anti-bailout mentality scared me away. I decided not to waste my or the salesman's time with a test drive. Having said that, it would be great if it turns out to be the best-built vehicle in the world (and quite a surprise to many).
You can always upgrade the 4Runner's headlights, but can't upgrade a Jeep's build quality. YMMV.
It is my impression that the previous Grand Cherokee had reliability issues. I hope that they have improved significantly with the new model, but I'll watch and wait a couple years before trying one.
fins
New member
Guess I'm in the minority here - I think the new Explorer looks sweet - a hell of a lot better than the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Definitely another design step in the right direction for Ford. The lines are bold and they are clearly trying to regain their place in the industry. As someone already said, ultimately it benefits all consumers and forces others to up their game.
It's great to see Ford's strong renaissance/revival in their design departments - kinda reminds me of what Jobs did with Apple. Ford is definitely headed in the right direction. As an American, I'd really like to see Ford sitting on top (and before I get bashed - I understand Global Economy).
Whereas I love my 4Runner, I have yet to really "feel" the exterior. Though, the 4Runner interior blows the Explorer out of the water - in so far as design and quality.
I had a 2003 Super Duty: the build quality (for a truck) was excellent and I never had one issue with it - and I took it off-road a beat the crap of it. (Though there's no doubt a 4Runner more at home off-road.) I remember taking it out mudding the first month and Ford replaced some brake parts under warranty because of the mud. Overall, I had a great Ford experience.
+1. Pretty well done, I think. Let's hope reliability is on par with the re-design.
What some of you guys obviously fail to realize is that a lot of people don't care if the new Explorer has "crossed over" or if it's front wheel drive based or has IRS. They simply see it as a mid-size SUV, just like the 4Runner. Therefore, it is comparable because a lot of people will cross-shop the Explorer and the 4Runner.
I do find it incredibly ironic that a 5th gen 4Runner owner would call the new Explorer ugly. Pot. Kettle. Black.:frog:
I do find it incredibly ironic that a 5th gen 4Runner owner would call the new Explorer ugly. Pot. Kettle. Black.:frog:
Don't confuse projector lenses with xenon lights. The mid-cycle upgrade of the 4Runner in 2006 only had projector headlights, no HID xenons.
I believe most of the new Grand Cherokees will be the same way. All will have projector headlights, but if I'm not mistaken, only the Limited models will have HIDs.
3x4runnerOwner
New member
Maybe I'm biased as an owner, but I really like the rugged look of the 5th gen trail edition. I've also received more compliments and questions about this truck than any vehicle I've owned before. The Explorer is disappointing to me because they went cross-over with it. They probably went the right route in terms of building what the market is demanding, but, as far as what an SUV should look like, the new Explorer looks like the 4Runner's gay cousin...not that there's anything wrong with that!
westwind77
New member
:lol::iagree:So Gay
