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
Sporting a glass cockpit with programmable touch screens, the Ford Edge offers space-age theatricality to the driving experience. But it may face some stiff internal competition when the Explorer is relaunched.
As CEO of Ford since 2006, aeronautical engineer Alan Mulally has adapted some airplane design ideas for automobiles. One of his first was standardizing the placement of controls on all Ford vehicles. You can find the windshield wiper switch in the MORE
Dec 28, 2010 3:01 PM ET
.
