NYTHAWK

My wife has been using our 04' TL and I've been driving my 01' Mountaineer which I bought new and is starting to rust pretty good.

I figured it's about time I upgrade to a new vehicle, so I went out for some test drives and chose a 2015 Ford Explorer Sport. The dealer about 8 miles from my house had the exact optioned one that I wanted, black with black/ sienna 2-tone interior, loaded with the 401A option group, dual-panel moonroof, and all weather floor mats.

I'm really enjoying the power of the 3.5L direct injected twin turbo ecoboost engine. Here's a few pics.

NBP04TL4ME

Not a fan of Ford cars, but the trucks are nice. Congrats and best of luck with your new ride
Probably just a few differences / upgrades in 14 years, huh?

SlowLane

Congratulations. I like the color combo. Especially the interior.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Very nice! Ford has come a long way and the Explorers are pretty sweet. Enjoy it

RPhilMan1

Love how aggressive the new Explorers can look. Especially without the chrome grille.

Very nice choice!

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Wow I'm still learning what the new Explorers look like. Haven't seen many. A huge improvement on what they used to be. Looks great! Smart color choices, too. All the best luck with it.

NYTHAWK

Thanks guys! Yeah, I'm really liking it the more I drive.

I'm thinking about tuning it after breaking it in. A 93 octane performance tune would bring the stock 5.9 sec 0-60 time down to about 4.6 sec. There's a lot of room for improvement on these.

2012wagon

Looks great. A local friend of mine got this body style when it first came out. Even the 3rd row had decent space. He recently traded it in a GX460.

Yours with being all black and black wheels, reminds me of the Highway Patrols.

Watch people get out of your way

NYTHAWK

Thanks!

They already are. LOL

2012wagon

Haha that is awesome!

My friend didn't have the pano roof on his. HOw do you like that option?

NYTHAWK

I think I'll enjoy it more when it's not single digit temperatures here.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Very very nice! That's how I would option mine Congrats!

2012wagon

I have a 1993 Mr2 Turbo. It was my DD in 4 years in Boston. The t-top (poor mans pano), was best enjoyed in the winters (for me anyways).

I loved watching the rain drops and the snow as I drove the I-95 with it.

Here on the west coast, the t-top brings in too much sun, so I have the covers on, when I drive it. Otherwise winter cool nights are the only times I can take it off on the west coast.

My coworker in Boston had a 911 Targa (glass roof 993), and it was excellent in the NE (useable when cold)


Enjoy your ride, am jealous

NBP04TL4ME

Wow - didn't think it was that quick stock.

Didn't even think of that but probably very true. My old boss had a dark blue Crown Vic and I rode with him to one of our other sites. It was hysterical to see everyone slow down and get out of our way.

2012wagon

Yup years ago, 4 of us friends pitched in $650 a pop and bought a Crown Vic. We each drove it for a while (totall a year or so). It was ex cop car. Amazing how many people would get out of your way.

These days, its the Explorer.

NYTHAWK

Thanks Guy!

I believe the Explorer Police Interceptor uses the drivetrain, sport tuned suspension, and larger brakes of the Explorer Sport model.

Now I just need some black high strength steel wheels for the winter months.

NYTHAWK

And with a bit of mods/ tuning...

2012wagon

At that speed, you can whip on the Range Rover Supercharged that are all over the Garbage State, I mean Garden State

NBP04TL4ME

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

Love the new Explorers. I got a chance to do a ride a long with CHP.. Very quick for an SUV.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Congrats!

350

iTrader: (4)

Nice, I used to always be a Chevy guy but the only domestics I'd consider new these days are Ford, either that or a Taurus SHO. Can't lie I kinda like the Flex too.

NYTHAWK

Thanks again. I would highly suggest going to the Ford dealer and test driving one.

2012wagon

I live few miles away from I htink the largest Ford Dealer in the US. They have tons of them. They even have them modified, and they look fantastic.

However, on the roads I NEVER see them (unless they are highway patrol) these days. Everyone here has a Cayenne, G Class, or RX/LX, or MDX.

I think the Explorer locally is rarer than a Bentley Arnage Red Label.

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

Looks awesome. Love that they did away with the chrome door handles on the 2015s.

NYTHAWK

Thanks.

I've been checking out some of these "accessories".

Ford - 2013+ Explorer Sport EcoBoost - Livernois Motorsports

Found this comparison between stock and Livernios tuned.




Drove my brothers new ride this weekend.

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

How'd the Evoque drive? I've heard mixed things about them. The styling is nice.

2012wagon

Evoque is gorgeous. There is a lime green on here in the parking lot.

mrmako

Nice pick up OP. And I had no idea those things could pull up some tarmac.

1StGenCL

Nice pickup and Ford has stepped it up, big time! My wife has a 2013 Edge Limited with the same interior and it has been great. I have a company issued 2014 Escape that is pretty impressive too, good luck with it.

NYTHAWK

The Evoque is about a 1000 pounds lighter than mine, built with aluminum. It's more luxury, quick (0-60 in about 7 sec.), suspension is very firm and the steering is tight/ sporty. It is a bit small and narrow for what I like, but is fun to drive. Also, for everyday driving it's too firm, meaning you can feel every seam in the pavement.

batman

I rented an Explorer recently. V6 rental version. Overall i though it was nice except one glaring problem. High speed instability. Maybe it was the fact that my daily in a Golf but I regularly drive our CX-9. The Ford was a little alarming when passing on the freeway.

NYTHAWK

Not a problem in the sport model. It's lower, with a sport tuned suspension, and doesn't take much throttle to pass.

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

I don't put much faith into driving impressions from rental cars. People beat the piss out of them. Could've had suspension issues, bent rims, etc.

CLpower

I really like these a lot, i really wanted the wife to like it too, sadly she did not

NYTHAWK

I got some tint. Can't wait to do some performance mods.

NBP04TL4ME

I like what you have done so far!!

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

Stealthy.

NYTHAWK

Thanks. I was thinking maybe adding a Rhino pushbar like the police intercepter suv. lol

I spoke to Livernois Motorsports about their tuner. Some other parts to go along with tuning that I have my eyes on:

CAI
Thermostat
cooler plugs
3Bar MAP sensor
Downpipes with Hi-Flow Cats


Later on:
Meth Injection
Corsa Catback

NBP04TL4ME

Do it! Add some lights to it and you will surely be mistaken for the local LEO.