The only bad point is the topspeed limiter, which is set for the export-model at 170 km/h (110 MPH) and no cruise control working over 160 km/h. As a result, the power loss occuring when pushing the gas pedal too much at these speeds get very anoying! Since I drive often in Germany, these speeds are kind of low and within the range of small diesel vans.
Otherwise the car has been very reliable and comfortable. Value for money is very good for this car not very common in Europe.
My wife and kids love this car. It is loaded with DVD, 6 CD radio, GPS systems, TMC traffic announcing with re-routing, Xenon lights, Satelite TV that works perfect at all speeds, Blue Tooth mobile phone system, Roof mounted screens and all the other standard features that Ford offers.
If you want to drive >170 km/h on the German highway it is advisable to do that with a car less heavy and with a lower center of gravity. The limit has obviously been set for safety reasons and rightly so.
Anyone who would drive an Explorer that fast needs a kick in the ass, there are kids in other cars.
I think there's a culture difference at play here. In Europe 170kph is not considered that fast. Even in countries where there is a highway speed limit you get pressured by 200kph plus BMWs and Mercs all the time. Little Fiat Puntos and Renault Clios are going 170kph! I'm not saying it's right or smart, but you have to bear in mind that what is considered "plenty fast enough" in the USA is considered funeral procession pace by many drivers in large parts of Europe.
As for the type of vehicle, I personally blame the car manufacturers as much as the fools who buy these "cars". They're not cars. They were never originally intended to be, but the manufacturers after a quick buck realised people wanted these behemoths and so now we all have to put up with them guzzling precious oil and taking up precious tarmac space.
Take Land Rover for example. In the 1970s their famous Range Rover was a superb utilitarian vehicle for farmers - they did a plastic seat model so you could literally hose down the interior. They weren't very fast, but they could climb out of anything with their big V8 engines and their decent ground clearance made them very useful in rocky terrain.
These days Land Rover have stopped selling these monsters to farmers and have started selling them to city bankers and wealthy business types. They've fitted tinted windows, leather seats, air con and 8 speaker stereos. Farmers can't afford them any more! Not only that, but the idiots buying these cars are using them for commuting across city centres. And of course, Land Rover now make the Range Rover so comfortable and quiet at 170kph (approx. 105mph) that people think nothing of driving them that fast. The people are stupid, but then they always have been - the company that sells them these 200kph wrecking balls is cynically raking in the money.
I blame the "Nimrods" who drive these heavy SUV's as if they were sports cars.
Nobody should be driving an Explorer at 100+ ph, whether it's in the USA, Europe, the moon or Uranus.
People who drive these vehicles too fast or expect sports car handling usually realize their mistake just before, during or after they roll one of these SUV's over.
It happens all the time around here.
Nice to know the USA does not have the monopoly on nimrods in overpriced/oversized/overblown SUVs.
As for me, I plan to stay as far away from Uranus as possible!
Well at least someone got the joke!
Although most SUV's will go over 100mph easily, it's only advisable if you are on an airport runway or the Bonneville Salt Flats. Cornering is NOT their strong point!!
Hi: I have owned five Explorers now, (my older ones all with over 160K) the new one is a 2005 and it is far ahead of the old Explorers and any other trucks on the market, it is a great move forward by Ford.
With the new V-8 it is very quick and can pull a load with little effort. With the new independent suspension it is not like the older units being unstable on gravel roads, etc. The anti skid and roll is hard to figure, but it works in sand, snow and on wet pavement. You can try it within reason, go around a corner fast in snow, wet pavement or dry pavement and fish tail, but it will stop the fish tail or skid as you call it.
The key to getting long life out of any car or truck is this: Change your oil and filter every 3K, change your transmission/transaxle fluid and filter every 30K, change your plugs every 50K even if they say 100K, change your rear differential fluid if a rear wheel drive every 30K, every time you change your oil put in a can of injector cleaner in a full tank of gas, change your gas filter every 18K, in Super Charged cars only burn Premium gas of 92 octane and higher. If you do these things you will be able to get lots of miles out of your cars. I have done this on all my cars (40 years now) and I sell my vehicles by 160K and people who bought them drive them for over 200K.
As far as driving over 100MPH with an Explorer I would not recommend that you do that as per there high center of gravity. I sure would not want to do that with any Explorer year 2004 older as they were very unstable at high speeds. We here in the USA don’t have speeds over 70-MPH, but we have tracks for racing fun if you want to.
If I was to drive at those speeds (120+ mph) I would be in a sports car with a lower center of gravity and built for those speeds. The Explore does not have a tire rated for the high speeds you are talking about. Keep in mind that your tires must be rated for high end speed because if they are not they will lose there shape during high speed and heat up and explode if you will.
My sports car a bit rare is a 1997 Grand Prix (GTX) GTP built for track racing and for higher speeds. This type of vehicle has the equipment to handle this type of task not an Explorer. Feel free to visit my garage under the name: “Redman” mnclubgp.com.
Have fun driving, be safe and know your equipments limitations, -Redman.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site