[rmc523]

I've always loved that generation of Navigators and Aviators - just a classy look that I still think looks great today.

 

[Andrew L]

It's crazy they ditched that look in retrospect. The 2007 Navigator redesign was just awful.

I agree 100% it helps having the painted upper and lower chrome bits around the grille but still not great exterior wise. Though the rear isn't horrible it's mostly the front end that is.

I don't understand why Ford didn't keep the body-on-frame Explorer platform going. That platform had plenty of life left in it along with having a lot of potential. They could even tow up to 7300 pounds.

I think it was cause sales were in the toilet. When the Explorer moved to D4 it took off like crazy sales wise. Do I agree with it from a utility perspective? Not really but from a business I guess it worked out.

 

[The Handler]

I think it was cause sales were in the toilet. When the Explorer moved to D4 it took off like crazy sales wise. Do I agree with it from a utility perspective? Not really but from a business I guess it worked out.

Everybody's SUV sales were in the toilet then - including the 4Runner's. I wonder if Ford had simply updated the body-on-frame Explorer with new powertrains and gave it that same elaborate marketing campaign would it have achieved similar success?

 

[1958carnut]

It looks really good, nice find . That one in the chair looks really good too.... .

 

[rmc523]

Everybody's SUV sales were in the toilet then - including the 4Runner's. I wonder if Ford had simply updated the body-on-frame Explorer with new powertrains and gave it that same elaborate marketing campaign would it have achieved similar success?

Remember too that that was coming out of the recession, and many projects were put on hold. Explorer was also on its own platform by that point, so it would've had to live on its own, with only the Sport Trac version as a platform mate. Aviator died in 2005, and Mountaineer (and Mercury itself) died after the 2010 model year.

Ford under Mulally was looking for ways to cut costs and platforms and pack/consolidate just about everything except F-series under the global One Ford plan, so they threw Explorer on the existing D3/4 platform (which had already had Taurus and Flex on it (as well as MKS and MKT, so you had much more volume on a shared platform already.

That said, and more directly answering your question - I think, along with the inefficient engines - that part of the '06-10 failure was because they retained the same overall shape (and many panels, just warmed over) as the '03-06 version. So could an updated version with a truly all new body and interior have done well? Probably. But it also would've still been on its own unique platform, which hurt the business case.

 

[The Handler]

Remember too that that was coming out of the recession, and many projects were put on hold. Explorer was also on its own platform by that point, so it would've had to live on its own, with only the Sport Trac version as a platform mate. Aviator died in 2005, and Mountaineer (and Mercury itself) died after the 2010 model year.

Ford under Mulally was looking for ways to cut costs and platforms and pack/consolidate just about everything except F-series under the global One Ford plan, so they threw Explorer on the existing D3/4 platform (which had already had Taurus and Flex on it (as well as MKS and MKT, so you had much more volume on a shared platform already.

That said, and more directly answering your question - I think, along with the inefficient engines - that part of the '06-10 failure was because they retained the same overall shape (and many panels, just warmed over) as the '03-06 version. So could an updated version with a truly all new body and interior have done well? Probably. But it also would've still been on its own unique platform, which hurt the business case.

Why couldn't they have moved it to the T6 platform?

 

[bmwboy2007]

Congratulations on a great find ! I'm delighted that's working out for you, the used car market is so fraught that it scares off most new car buyers these days.. Many many years ago, 10 year old cars were around $100.. Those days are long gone.

Great looking Weimaraner by the way.. Those are high energy dogs.. I have a white/yellow Labrador retreiver these days.. A curious pup that chases after anything of interest and goes insane at the sight of a laser beam dot.. If I take her with me on a ride, she immediately walks over the console from the rear seat to occupy the driver seat..

 

[rmc523]

Why couldn't they have moved it to the T6 platform?

Theoretically you're right. But there was also the group that at the time didn't want to bring the ROW Ranger here because it was too close to F-150 at the time.

 

[Andrew L]

Just got back from my mechanic. He said I got a good vehicle everything is pretty solid mechanical wise there are a few things that need to be addressed though and they are mostly on the easy side

1. Rear brakes are shot also need brake fluid flushed it's pretty old.
2. Rear HVAC blend door is clicking he said that it's very easy to get to and a quick job (I didn't have the rear air on till today so I didn't notice this till today)
3. Filters and other fluids need to be flushed he noted the oil filter is pretty bad and wants to get me in ASAP for an oil change to get that swapped out, at some point I am hoping to do my own on this car but for now I will have him do it
4. Injector cleaning he noted a slight vibration and said injector cleaning should resolve that since it just got all new spark plugs not too long ago.

Other than that everything else looks good on it. Side note I drove it at night for the first time because the battery died on it, turns out it was less than a year old but a cheap Wal Mart EverStart battery that had a 1 year warranty. I decided to swap it out for something a lot better instead of replacing it with the same thing under warranty and after it was done was surprised to see it has factory HID headlights. Also some night time interior shots for you guys. I kind of dig the soft white lighting. I also ordered replacement trim pieces for the center stack since they are worn pretty bad and the vents are cracked. They were all very cheap on eBay and look like new.

Next thing to look into is a nice double din head unit with a screen that can do android auto. I'd also like to keep the CD player if possible I saw Pioneer has a headunit that has both. I also want to get a backup camera too. One thing at a time though.

 

[The Handler]

^I didn't know the analog clock lit up. Nice.

 

[The Handler]

Theoretically you're right. But there was also the group that at the time didn't want to bring the ROW Ranger here because it was too close to F-150 at the time.

I'm looking at the dimensions of those two, and I'm not seeing why they thought the Ranger was too big. What was Mulally's stance?

 

[Andrew L]

I'm looking at the dimensions of those two, and I'm not seeing why they thought the Ranger was too big. What was Mulally's stance?

Good question... I don't recall them talking about it in the book "American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company" but I do remember Mullally making a huge list of platforms and what vehicles were on each one. I remember Ford fans at the time all beating their chest in unison saying the ROW Ranger was 9/10ths the size of a F150 and it wasn't worth bringing over. Personally I never bought that and felt that killing off the Ranger would leave a gap in the lineup and would surrender a market to Toyota that Ford used to compete in.

I joined a Ford Ranger group for a short while to help out my exs father with his 2002 Ranger and eventually his 2019 Ranger with mod ideas and after market support. Even now in that group most of the members don't like the current Ranger saying it's "way too big and almost an F150". I don't get that logic. Yes it's bigger than the old Ranger but it's no where close to being an F150 it's pretty tight inside and definitely smaller and drives smaller than an F150.

 

[Jesda]

I had an 05 Aviator. Outstanding acceleration, superbly comfortable interior, excellent build quality. I really, really liked driving it.

However, it had a brand new dealer installed transmission at 80k (before I got it) and the 5.4 has hazards of its own. It was sold off.

 

[Jesda]

That is a great looking dog!

 

[Andrew L]

I had an 05 Aviator. Outstanding acceleration, superbly comfortable interior, excellent build quality. I really, really liked driving it.

However, it had a brand new dealer installed transmission at 80k (before I got it) and the 5.4 has hazards of its own. It was sold off.

You mean 4.6? This has the 4.6 not the 5.4, the Navigator has the 5.4 InTech

 

[RedSkyBlackDream]

Super clean SUV - beautiful best friend you have there too.

Sidenote: I don’t know why I thought this entire time Aviator offered the 5.4 as an option. Now that I think about it, that was the Expedition that offered both the 4.6 and 5.4. I don’t remember the Aviator having a console in the middle of the second row with the captains chairs either. That’s nice!

 

[Andrew L]

Super clean SUV - beautiful best friend you have there too.

Sidenote: I don’t know why I thought this entire time Aviator offered the 5.4 as an option. Now that I think about it, that was the Expedition that offered both the 4.6 and 5.4. I don’t remember the Aviator having a console in the middle of the second row with the captains chairs either. That’s nice!

Yep the center console with captain chairs was an option. Since I am mostly using this for utility I wanted the bench seat but then I saw the center console can flip forward and make a flat load floor so it works out.

 

[CJH]

However, it had a brand new dealer installed transmission at 80k (before I got it) and the 5.4 has hazards of its own. It was sold off.

The first few years of the 5.4L they used to throw plugs like crazy. Lots of thread stripping as well, the newer ones had a stronger threads which remedied the problem.

 

[nota2]

The first few years of the 5.4L they used to throw plugs like crazy. Lots of thread stripping as well, the newer ones had a stronger threads which remedied the problem.

2002-on 5.4L SOHC Falcons often ‘froze’ their plugs onto the threads, frequently required head removal to rectify. But preventable by pre-applying a specific brass-impregnated thread grease. However our local 5.4 DOHC variant (Falcon GT) was not afflicted.

 

[Andrew L]

2002-on 5.4L SOHC Falcons often ‘froze’ their plugs onto the threads, frequently required head removal to rectify. But preventable by pre-applying a specific brass-impregnated thread grease. However our local 5.4 DOHC variant (Falcon GT) was not afflicted.

IIRC the SOHC 5.4 had this problem but not the DOHC version but could be wrong on that.