2003 Ford Expedition - I’ve ever taken a liking to bright, cerise wrapping paper. There’s a sensation of butterflies inward the stomach, coupled with anticipation that makes the entire experience worth it—it’s precisely curt of genuinely crapping inward the pants.
Of course, the contents of the ever-inviting wrapper may non ever alive upwards to expectations, equally experiences of the past times Christmas tin vouch for this. On the other hand, it could live the consummate opposite, where the contents may genuinely guide a teary-eyed experience—rainbow colored socks is a expert example.
With the bight, cerise outside pigment in addition to huge size, the all-new Ford Expedition is sure similar whatsoever Christmas dream come upwards true. With all of Ford’s techno-babble close improvements in addition to changes, this is sure 1 inviting slice of mechanism to drive—the anticipation heightened farther because of the still-present novel machine odour (less than 2,000 kilometers). Step into the the world of this novel manful mortal monarch of the SUV loma in addition to experience 1 of the biggest surprises inward the automotive industry.
Despite the nearly 1.5 million-peso cost tag, the 2003 model XLT is the best full-sized SUV coin tin buy. There are only no compromises inward here—everything has been good idea of in addition to executed, that Ford has brought their flagship model into some other dimension. Compared to its aging competition, the Expedition has come upwards in, non equally precisely the most muscular, but equally the most refined in addition to well-executed of the lot.
Beneath the brand-new canvas metal, the XLT is soundless powered past times the strong Triton V8 engine. This SOHC two-valve per cylinder engine soundless has the same 4.6-liter displacement—changing neither the overall powerfulness nor torque output. Nonetheless, the figures generated past times this venerable engine are null to live ashamed of: 232 bhp in addition to 395 Nm—figures soundless unmatched past times most of its rivals.
The surprise comes from the how this engine delivers the goods. Unlike rivals’ turbo diesels which are lethargic below the forced induction kick-in point, this high-displacement petrol’s powerfulness band is broad in addition to flat. Acceleration whether from a stand upwards soundless or moving at 75 km/h is brisk in addition to seemingly endless, despite the Ford’s 2288-kilogram curb weight. The exhaust annotation is fruity, with a hint of sports machine flair, in addition to paired with the revised four-speed electronically controlled automatic, it pushes this behemoth to speeds inward a higher house the legal limit inward absolutely no time. Close your eyes (not piece driving!) in addition to from the audio in addition to acceleration you lot powerfulness imagine you lot were inward a Mustang.
Accompanying the spirited acceleration is the highly improved handling, cheers to a heavily modified pause system. Though soundless employing a ladder-on-frame construction, the 2003 Expedition is the showtime inward its course of teaching to role fully independent double wishbone pause all around. Along with the wider track, this results inward a well-balanced in addition to sorted out driving experience.
If the previous model was synonymous to an uneducated brute, the novel Expedition has some years of etiquette schoolhouse nether its belt. The most obvious departure is that bigger model feels smaller in addition to nimbler than its outside dimensions suggest. Slicing through traffic isn’t precisely done with intimidation in addition to power; because of the Expedition’s novel institute stability, it’s starting to conduct similar a tall wagon.
Besides the novel pause system, the Expedition’s criterion 275 / threescore HR 17 Continental ContiTrac TR tires render precisely plenty route contact to ensure that this SUV is able to position its huge powerfulness in addition to torque figures downward properly. The rear-axle Limited Slip Differential organisation keeps tire squeal inward check, peculiarly during brisk accelerations.
Another astonishing improvement is the surefootedness of the brake system. The four-wheel vented disc organisation provides ample stopping power, farther enhanced past times the improve pedal experience in addition to modulation summation less fade. Nose dive is reduced cheers to Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.
The exclusively downside is that with all the improvements to the handling, the ride is somewhat stiffer in addition to firmer. Though soundless non equally Popsicle-harsh equally some of its rivals, it is noticeable, peculiarly if driven back-to-back with the previous Expedition.
Perhaps the most of import discipline for whatsoever potential Expedition possessor has to live the interior comfort in addition to accommodations. Can Ford justify the heightened pricing? If looked at inward careful detail, certainly. Though it doesn’t receive got the obvious ‘luxury features’ such equally plastic forest trim in addition to leather, this 1 at to the lowest degree improves on the former Barbie Doll plastic.
The dark in addition to beige interior scheme is certainly lively in addition to doesn’t endure from the same austere feeling of the previous model. Lined with high-grade plastics, chrome in addition to moquette fabric, it’s to a greater extent than Lincoln inward hither than Ford. In fact, stepping within would cook 1 forget close getting something that barely passes for moo-cow hide. Designed, past times surprise—a woman, the Expedition’s interior radiates to a greater extent than family-like, cuddly warmth compared to the older one’s tourist omnibus feel.
Like all full-sized SUVs inward the Philippines, seating is ten. However, dissimilar its rivals, the Expedition features 3 forward-facing rows, all of which are commendable inward comfort in addition to back upwards (there are adjustable headrests for 8 of the 10 passengers).
Ford added some IQ points for the Expedition’s instant row: the seatbelts directly allow a partitioning of infinite amongst 3 or iv passengers. If you’re less than four, you lot tin guide the wider setting, in addition to if you’re four, guide the narrower ones. The trial is vii seatbelt buckles, but the unused ones tin live pushed into compartments. The instant row also offers a split-fold business office inward xl / twenty / xl ratio, creating a large, apartment charge infinite without the ask to take whatsoever of the seats.
The tertiary row bench is a genuine three-seater with generous legroom, headroom in addition to a deep human foot well. There’s 3-point seatbelts for everyone here. Like the instant row, this 1 tin live easily collapsed apartment into the flooring inward a threescore / xl dissever for cargo. With the seats up, however, there’s soundless plenty room for pocket-sized pieces of luggage, but non for the airdrome run.
The driving position, though improved, soundless borders on the truck-like. Though the steering wheel, driver’s spot in addition to adjustable pedals practise render fine tuning in addition to adjustments, the overall spot is soundless a fleck likewise upright, peculiarly those accustomed to a machine or a soft-roader.
Exterior visibility, peculiarly from head-on front end in addition to dorsum are fairly express because of the Expedition’s bulk. However, Ford tries to remedy the work past times giving large, almost foot-wide side mirrors that considerably ease nipping roughly town. Backing upwards inward tight spaces isn’t likewise much of a work cheers to the criterion sonar parking sensors. Compared to conventional ones institute inward other vehicles, Ford’s tin uncovering fifty-fifty off-angle objects such equally poles, safety guards in addition to fifty-fifty stray dogs. It does receive got the vogue of existence overly sensitive.
With the novel Ford Expedition existence a commendable improvement on all possible fronts: performance, handling, comfort in addition to accommodations, where could it possibility become incorrect then? Certainly, pocket-sized gripes are unavoidable, but in that location are soundless 2 areas, which are, for me major concerns: mass in addition to consumption.
Though Ford has done everything to cook the novel Expedition grip in addition to perform 10 times improve than the model it replaces, null tin alter the fact that it’s soundless a province yacht. Though it may live perfectly alright for some, for most, the 5227 mm overall length classifies this equally the large kahuna of full-sized SUVs. Going biggie-size agency having less options of choosing a parking space, existence less zippy inward bumper-to-bumper traffic in addition to of course, non existence able to easily leave of absence of a tight situation, peculiarly on a Sabbatum eve inward route to watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on its opening weekend.
Confidence levels volition sure drib when you’d run across that mall vertical clearances are ordinarily 1.9 meters (the overall acme of the Expedition is 1.97 meters). Moreover, maneuvering within these parking lots volition assay to live a handful, peculiarly if you’re parked amongst an F-150. I’ve institute some other unorthodox solution to my parking problem: instead of having an Expedition possessor doing the maneuvering for me, I switched my Expedition for my brother’s Toyota out of sheer frustration for that evening.
Like before, the 4.6-liter V8 soundless has an astonishing appetite for petrol: metropolis driving merited exclusively 4.45 kilometers for every liter. Though a slight improvement over the version it replaces, this is soundless leagues off compared to the sort of mileage possible on its diesel-powered rivals. The Expedition soundless needs a personal fossil oil well, unless you’re willing to shoulder an estimated four-digit gasoline bills every week.
All inward all, I receive got to liken the 2003 Ford Expedition XLT to a novel high-tech toy given past times Santa Clause on Christmas Eve. Definitely, with the looks in addition to the badge, you’ll live the speak of the entire neighborhood. With the huge size in addition to imposing demeanor, you’ll inflict penis envy on many motorists—even owners of the previous Expedition. With the surprisingly agility in addition to powerful engine, you’ll live the terror of Zigen-ed Civics everywhere.
However, similar whatsoever other toy, driving the Expedition is different from owning one. The mass in addition to the mass may assay to live a handful on to a greater extent than than 1 occasion. However, if you’ve got a chauffer in addition to you lot tin afford the gasoline, in addition to therefore why become for those over-priced entry-level European saloons that are equally cramped equally a sardine can? With the huge leaps inward refinement, gracefulness in addition to size, this is the best affair your less than two-million pesos tin buy.
Car Review - 2003 Ford Expedition Features & Specifications
4/
5
Oleh
Lucy
