diambo4life
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So, a wild hair got into my butt today and I decided to visit the local Ford dealership. Anytime I make these random visits to a car dealership, I always drive away with a new vehicle. Anyway, I thought about trading my truck in for something else (mostly smaller, more fuel economical, cheaper payment maybe, something different and not necessarily all of those attributes etc) and I was rather disgusted with the outcome. I test drove 2 vehicles and sat in another.
1. 2024 Ford Explorer ST Line
Thoughts? This one was agate black, black 21" wheels, RWD, 2.3 Ecoboost. I felt it rode rather smoothly, handled decently well and the 2.3L turbo engine actually had good pickup in a midsize SUV. I liked all that. Now, as soon as I sat in it, I hated it. The ergonomics, layout looked very rushed, incomplete and out of place. The seats didn't feel bolstered. Poor materials throughout. The dash screen looked like an Amazon tablet standing up; It was small, seemed glitchy, and the graphics were rather archaic looking (compared to what we are used in a 302A+ screen.) The trim, finish was of poor quality and had that gloss black plasticky inlay around the controls. It just felt like a cheap, cheap rental car and this is a mid trim Explorer that was mid to high $40s in price! My GF's 2022 Jeep Compass Red Edition' almost $10-$15k cheaper (at time of purchase, even though compact size) - the interior, felt like a freaking Maybach or high end BMW in comparison to this Ford. I was very, very disappointed in this car. Wow.
2. 2024 Explorer ST
Now, I just got to sit in this (and not drive it) and it was a world difference from the ST line. Better trim, sportier, awkwardly placed center screen was still there (but a little bigger in size). pano roof etc. I didn't get to power anything on since this was the only one they had on site and it was on display indoors. This one was also black. The price difference between the two was a staggering $12-$13k but keep in mind this one also comes with the sportier V6 Ecoboost. I was interested, but I didn't like the numbers they were giving me. I couldn't see myself getting out of my very nice truck and PAYING MORE a month to get this Police Interceptor lookalike lol. Over $60k MSRP for this guy? No, thanks.
3. 2024 F250 STX w/6.7 Diesel.
So, I just liked what it looked like and was curious to drive it. Never driven a Diesel. MSRP $72k (kinda crazy....considering it's the base model) but it was discounted to $67k and change as they were trying to "move it." I was angered by the rather humongous mirrors that you had to manually fold in (imagine trying to park in close quarters when it's raining or 0 degree temperature outside) and having to fold these in on BOTH sides, manually. As a base, you are really getting the basic of everything. Manually, moving your chair, no push start, no auto climate yada yada, probably, 4" center screen (well it felt like it compared to our 12" one) that was practically useless to reference with the fitted cameras when parking due to its size. Cloth interior. Just basic truck. Think of a 2002 truck and then imagine what a top of the line truck may have had in terms of options minus the tech, that is this F250. It seemed about the same size inside (driver side to passenger side) but felt much spacious in the north and south direction. Big cabin here and this had the jumper seat in the middle with the column gear shift. It had the powered window in the back glass (kinda odd option here, power my mirrors instead.) The truck sat much higher than my F150 on 33s and did not have any running boards. This is like a work truck and hopefully you're like 6 foot plus because I felt like I had to jump down to get out of lol. I am 5' 8". It was surprisingly very quiet, smooth engaging gears and rode rather comfortably. I was really expecting it to bounce up and down the highway, but it did not. It had great power delivery. Still, $72k truck? Not sure most of you would enjoy getting out of your loaded 302A+ for this bad boy unless all you want to do is make the truck work. Towing and hauling. It is a very plain jane, basic ride. I did love how it looked on the exterior though. They have grown on me. It was the Antimatter blue color. No LED lighting. $72k truck though?
I drove home with a smile on my face appreciating what I have. I will keep my truck for a few years.
1. 2024 Ford Explorer ST Line
Thoughts? This one was agate black, black 21" wheels, RWD, 2.3 Ecoboost. I felt it rode rather smoothly, handled decently well and the 2.3L turbo engine actually had good pickup in a midsize SUV. I liked all that. Now, as soon as I sat in it, I hated it. The ergonomics, layout looked very rushed, incomplete and out of place. The seats didn't feel bolstered. Poor materials throughout. The dash screen looked like an Amazon tablet standing up; It was small, seemed glitchy, and the graphics were rather archaic looking (compared to what we are used in a 302A+ screen.) The trim, finish was of poor quality and had that gloss black plasticky inlay around the controls. It just felt like a cheap, cheap rental car and this is a mid trim Explorer that was mid to high $40s in price! My GF's 2022 Jeep Compass Red Edition' almost $10-$15k cheaper (at time of purchase, even though compact size) - the interior, felt like a freaking Maybach or high end BMW in comparison to this Ford. I was very, very disappointed in this car. Wow.
2. 2024 Explorer ST
Now, I just got to sit in this (and not drive it) and it was a world difference from the ST line. Better trim, sportier, awkwardly placed center screen was still there (but a little bigger in size). pano roof etc. I didn't get to power anything on since this was the only one they had on site and it was on display indoors. This one was also black. The price difference between the two was a staggering $12-$13k but keep in mind this one also comes with the sportier V6 Ecoboost. I was interested, but I didn't like the numbers they were giving me. I couldn't see myself getting out of my very nice truck and PAYING MORE a month to get this Police Interceptor lookalike lol. Over $60k MSRP for this guy? No, thanks.
3. 2024 F250 STX w/6.7 Diesel.
So, I just liked what it looked like and was curious to drive it. Never driven a Diesel. MSRP $72k (kinda crazy....considering it's the base model) but it was discounted to $67k and change as they were trying to "move it." I was angered by the rather humongous mirrors that you had to manually fold in (imagine trying to park in close quarters when it's raining or 0 degree temperature outside) and having to fold these in on BOTH sides, manually. As a base, you are really getting the basic of everything. Manually, moving your chair, no push start, no auto climate yada yada, probably, 4" center screen (well it felt like it compared to our 12" one) that was practically useless to reference with the fitted cameras when parking due to its size. Cloth interior. Just basic truck. Think of a 2002 truck and then imagine what a top of the line truck may have had in terms of options minus the tech, that is this F250. It seemed about the same size inside (driver side to passenger side) but felt much spacious in the north and south direction. Big cabin here and this had the jumper seat in the middle with the column gear shift. It had the powered window in the back glass (kinda odd option here, power my mirrors instead.) The truck sat much higher than my F150 on 33s and did not have any running boards. This is like a work truck and hopefully you're like 6 foot plus because I felt like I had to jump down to get out of lol. I am 5' 8". It was surprisingly very quiet, smooth engaging gears and rode rather comfortably. I was really expecting it to bounce up and down the highway, but it did not. It had great power delivery. Still, $72k truck? Not sure most of you would enjoy getting out of your loaded 302A+ for this bad boy unless all you want to do is make the truck work. Towing and hauling. It is a very plain jane, basic ride. I did love how it looked on the exterior though. They have grown on me. It was the Antimatter blue color. No LED lighting. $72k truck though?
I drove home with a smile on my face appreciating what I have. I will keep my truck for a few years.
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