Ford's latest Explorer leaves behind its predecessor's somewhat unsteady platform and delivers superior handling . But is the top-of-the-line LTD model really worth its $50K price tag?

The rise of online car shopping has thankfully given customers the ability to investigate exactly what vehicles a local dealer has in stock along with the window stickers for each offering.

That reduces the opportunity for the ancient bait-and-switch scam of a dealer who advertises a deal that's simply too-good-to-be-true. When you show up to claim this bargain, you are told it has just been sold but a similar model is available -- though at a much higher price.

While investigating the local availability of the 2011 Explorer one month after the start of production at Ford's (F) Chicago plant, I found several mid-level XLTs available with sticker prices of $37, 585. More