2015 XSport

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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 07:17 AM
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2015 XSport

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.

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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 07:44 AM
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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?
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 07:46 AM
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Congratulations. I like the color combo. Especially the interior.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 08:31 AM
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Very nice! Ford has come a long way and the Explorers are pretty sweet. Enjoy it
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 08:35 AM
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Love how aggressive the new Explorers can look. Especially without the chrome grille.

Very nice choice!
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 10:11 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 11:30 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 11:36 AM
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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
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by 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
Thanks!

They already are. LOL
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 11:49 AM
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Haha that is awesome!

My friend didn't have the pano roof on his. HOw do you like that option?
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 12:27 PM
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I think I'll enjoy it more when it's not single digit temperatures here.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 12:39 PM
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Very very nice! That's how I would option mine Congrats!
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by NYTHAWK
I think I'll enjoy it more when it's not single digit temperatures here.
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
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 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.
Wow - didn't think it was that quick stock.

Originally Posted by 2012wagon
Watch people get out of your way
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.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by 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.
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.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 01:26 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by NBP04TL4ME
Wow - didn't think it was that quick stock
And with a bit of mods/ tuning...

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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 01:49 PM
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At that speed, you can whip on the Range Rover Supercharged that are all over the Garbage State, I mean Garden State
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 02:05 PM
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 08:14 PM
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Love the new Explorers. I got a chance to do a ride a long with CHP.. Very quick for an SUV.
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Old Jan 8, 2015 | 09:00 PM
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Congrats!
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Old Jan 9, 2015 | 10:28 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 9, 2015 | 01:44 PM
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Thanks again. I would highly suggest going to the Ford dealer and test driving one.
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Old Jan 9, 2015 | 01:55 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 10, 2015 | 12:13 PM
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Looks awesome. Love that they did away with the chrome door handles on the 2015s.
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Old Jan 12, 2015 | 06:45 AM
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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.

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Old Jan 12, 2015 | 10:27 PM
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How'd the Evoque drive? I've heard mixed things about them. The styling is nice.
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Old Jan 12, 2015 | 11:31 PM
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Evoque is gorgeous. There is a lime green on here in the parking lot.
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 12:13 PM
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Nice pick up OP. And I had no idea those things could pull up some tarmac.
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 01:14 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 16, 2015 | 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by cjTL
How'd the Evoque drive? I've heard mixed things about them. The styling is nice.

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.
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Old Jan 19, 2015 | 12:18 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 20, 2015 | 06:24 AM
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Not a problem in the sport model. It's lower, with a sport tuned suspension, and doesn't take much throttle to pass.
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Old Jan 20, 2015 | 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 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.
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.
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 04:34 PM
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I really like these a lot, i really wanted the wife to like it too, sadly she did not
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Old Feb 3, 2015 | 07:38 PM
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I got some tint. Can't wait to do some performance mods.

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Old Feb 3, 2015 | 07:42 PM
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I like what you have done so far!!
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Old Feb 3, 2015 | 08:02 PM
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Stealthy.
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Old Feb 3, 2015 | 08:41 PM
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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
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Old Feb 3, 2015 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by NYTHAWK
Thanks. I was thinking maybe adding a Rhino pushbar like the police intercepter suv. lol
Do it! Add some lights to it and you will surely be mistaken for the local LEO.
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