Edmunds' Full Test of 2007 Sport Trac

[TrainTrac]

Link to Edmunds' full test of '07 ST. Somewhat of a mixed review. I'm curious as to what some of the '07 owners here have to say about Edmunds' take on the '07 ST.

 

[Fred]

I don't like Mountain Dew or Toyotas. :lol:

 

[Gary L]

WOW... they slammed the 07 ST in perfromance ,price, interior, Handling, Gas, and the stablity control. I'm very disappointed but i'm not suprise. To think i just went to the dealer lastweek and put in for a 07 limited. Someone mention on here that the V8 would be close to a 7sec truck, now they're saying it is 8.1 sec . 14mpg Forget it i'm going to cancel my order and took my wife advice on getting a Nissan Frontier:lol:

 

[nancy parker]

The one thing I agree on is price. It is overpriced....plain and simple and Ford is only offering small incentives (like $1000 cash back). If my loaded ST had been $29K - then it would have been competitively priced....but instead it was almost $34K. *IF* Ford starts offering more incentives, then it will be in line with the competition and will do very well.



I've never had a ST before - so I can't compare to previous models. But I love the interior (you get used the awkward door handles after a week), it handles very well (and my husband who's always had trucks agrees), it's incredibly quiet (supposedly quieter than the Ridgeline), and IMO is better looking than the Ridgeline.



The one thing I'm having the hardest time adjusting to is the length (I've never driven anything bigger than the Escape). My problem is that I am feeling the extra 14" wheelbase length that they mention in the article. (But I'm sure it's not an issue to ANYONE who has driven a truck before).

 

[Rich Stern]

I loved this caption under one of the pictures:

We're not sure why Ford includes these bungee-cord tie-downs on the tonneau cover. Driving with it open hardly seems smart and gravity does a pretty good job of holding it open when the truck isn't moving.

I don't think I've ever read a more idiotic quote in a vehicle review. Clearly, these guys have no imagination, if they can't see that hauling a lawnmower, pressure washer, or any number of different types of items is greatly eased by having that simple bungee.

 

[P M]

Rich, I noticed the same thing. I just sent the editor a letter. It was this quote that got me started.



Also, I still don't understand how you review a truck or utility vehicle without actually loading it up and driving it and towing heavy loads. At a minimum, how about some runs to Home Depot to haul some stuff.

 

[Deleted deleted]

Edmunds does do hauling with their long-term trucks they keep. I agree, their reviews have a bias towards certain models, and I suspect tied to whoever gives them the largest advertising budget.

 

[Rich Stern]

Also, I still don't understand how you review a truck or utility vehicle without actually loading it up and driving it and towing heavy loads. At a minimum, how about some runs to Home Depot to haul some stuff.

That's what long term road tests are for.



But it seems that these guys are pure pencil pushers. The very idea that many of us offroad, boat, fish, hunt, landscape, camp, transport furniture and appliances, haul hobby vehicles like ATVs and show cars, motrcyles, bicycles, etc, seems to be somewhat alien. I mean, really, worrying about how fast the ST can get through a slalom? Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't come to mind when my rear wheels are in soft mud and I am trying to get a 2,500 pound boat up and out of a river with a stiff cross current. As I make my way up the ramp, I don't feel disappointed that no orange cones are in sight for me to zigzag through with a 22' trailer.



The writer who did the review is no more qualified to evaluate the ST than I am to evaluate handling on European sportscars. I might have an opinion, but to people who understand such things, I'd be ignorant on the matter. And so is the Edmunds writer in this case.

 

[2]

But it seems that these guys are pure pencil pushers. The very idea that many of us offroad, boat, fish, hunt, landscape, camp, transport furniture and appliances, haul hobby vehicles like ATVs and show cars, motrcyles, bicycles, etc, seems to be somewhat alien. I mean, really, worrying about how fast the ST can get through a slalom?

I agree, but don't forget that the majority of people with 4x4 never even leave the pavement (something over 80%) I would guess they are catering to those people. Personally, I feel the same way about it as you do.

 

[Rich Stern]

Just for the fun of it:

April 28, 2006







To the Editors of Edmunds:



Your review of the 2007 Sport Trac ("Full Test: 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac") lacks real world perspective.

In the review, the caption under the photo showing the tonneau cover tie downs, reads, "We're not sure why Ford includes these bungee-cord tie-downs on the tonneau cover. Driving with it open hardly seems smart and gravity does a pretty good job of holding it open when the truck isn't moving." This perfectly encapsulates that the reviewer doesn't understand the marketplace for the Sport Trac.

If you talk to even just a small number of owners, you would understand this simple device allows the truck to be safely driven with the rear half of the tonneau cover open, which dramatically eases the task of transporting tall, bulky cargo items without removing the tonneau cover. For example: Lawnmowers. Pressure washers. Bicycles. Barbeque grills. Washing machines. Real stuff transported by real owners. In combination with the bed extender, the tonneau-securing bungees provide great cargo versatility.



Fold down rear seating: The Sport Trac implementation is much more pet friendly than seats which fold up against the rear bulkhead. Ask owners if that's important. Many will say yes. Few owners need extra cargo height in the interior space. Far more often, Fido is back there, enjoying the ride with his owner. Having a flat space without seat anchoring hardware in the way is safer for the most frequent occupents of the folded rear seat space.



Huge upgrades in vehicle safety: This is perhaps the most serious inadequacy of the review. The only words on the subject are complaints about the safer door handle design. You should know well that the Explorer name has been dragged through the mud in rollover cases. Ford made a huge effort to address vehicle controlabilty and stability in the latest Sport Trac. The only wisdom the reviewer offers on the matter is that it reduces slalom speed. In the real world, I'd prefer Ford's perspective on this. When the family’s teenager gets behind the wheel of a Sport Trac, the higher slalom speed you seem to think is a good indicator of product worthiness is not something owners will miss. But the stability control algorithms, computer-monitored vehicle position and inertia sensors, the advanced air bag deployment schemes, these things will matter greatly, when that teenager with little driving experience makes a mistake. Frankly, it's shameful that you don't give a good accounting of the safety improvements in this vehicle.



The reviewer makes no mention of the six speed auto and how the shift quality reduces awareness of shifting in ordinary driving.



Performance: While a handful of enthusiasts will lower this truck and put performance tires on it, that's not the target for this vehicle. "Performance," for a vehicle in this class, means towing, hauling, and not getting stuck in the mud, while providing excellent passenger comfort and a quality driving experience. The Sport Trac is a nearly ideal balance of these attributes.



Bottom line, the 2007 Sport Trac is a big upgrade over the previous generation, in numerous, important ways. Your reviewer seems to go out of the way to nitpick the vehicle about things that aren't terribly important. Ending the review by saying the Tacoma and Frontier are better performing might make sense if you take a stopwatch and orange cones every time you go to the grocery store. The ways actual owners use these vehicles make your reviewer's comments about performance seem out of touch.



I am by no means a Ford apologist. I've owned several Hondas over the last 20 years, and respect the Honda brand greatly. The 2001 Sport Trac is the first Ford product I've owned. Despite the innovation of the configuration, the first generation Sport Trac showed it's age, owing to an

 

[Fred]

Excellent, AND fun.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Very nice Rich.





Tom

 

[Data Kruncher]

Well said Rich!



I've had my 2005 ST for less than a year, and in that short time it has:

* proctected me well in an accident,

* taken my family of four on summer vacation (and countless other outings),

* hauled 7' shrubs, hedge clippings, and other yard waste,

* hauled lumber and drywall sheets,

* with 4x4, handled fantastically in harsh snowy conditions,

* been an exceedingly comfortable daily commuter in the two hours total I spend driving to and from work every day.



I've had sporty cars. I wouldn't give up my ST for anything right now. Except maybe an '07!



Kruncher

 

[Thomas Rogers]

I thought those bungee cord tie-downs were to hold the opened half of the cover down, to keep it from flying back, or does the 2007 have something else?

 

[MARVIN McINTYRE 2]

Way to go Rich Stern! It had to be you who could clarify the reiewer's assumptions and mis-information as well as his bias to the Sport Trac. Thank you for all those who own the new 07 ST's. I only frequent Edmund's on ocassions, mostly for other info, but not to help me decide what to buy. I will say this; I don't care what the imports do, they just haven't made anything like the SPORT TRAC! PERIOD! If the ST was from Honda or Toyo or Nissan, they would make it SUV of the decade, hands down! BUT, since they are biased (especially against Ford!) as to this truck, I am not surprised that they think that way. If those others are so great, why do they have mechanics and specialists to fix what goes wrong. They should only have one mechanic at each dealership if they are so good. ALL cars and trucks are essentially built by humans, and we all are not perfect, so the things that we make are a reflection of that. JMO!

07 ST Limited! Dark Cherry! Loaded!

 

[Tom Schindler]

I thought those bungee cord tie-downs were to hold the opened half of the cover down, to keep it from flying back, or does the 2007 have something else?

Same thing as the '07's. The guys at Edmunds are too stupid to realize it...thats all.





Tom

 

[Deleted deleted]

The editor's note from Mr Edmunds definitely sets the tone for his reviews. He himself has driven nothing but imports for the past 20 years. It sounds like anything from this side of the pond is going to have to be nearly perfect to get his attention.



And give me a break. A Ferrari Maranello was one of their long-term testers? How many of us have ever seen one, let alone own one? Who the heck cares about reviews of a vehicle that only sells a few hundred each year.



And slalom tests? Who the heck drives a truck like that?



That said, the reviewers did make some valid points. The ergonomics of the dash layout suck... you shouldn't have to scan the entire dashboard just to see your current speed, rpm and how much gas you have left. With almost 100 hp more than the '05, this thing should really snap your head for acceleration, but it doesn't. Fuel economy is no better than the '05, with either the V6 or V8.



For a $34K truck, you expect alot more, and it appears the '07 doesn't give you a good value. I do agree with the editor that Ford is going to have to do alot more to impress customers.

 

[Rich Stern]

That said, the reviewers did make some valid points. The ergonomics of the dash layout suck... you shouldn't have to scan the entire dashboard just to see your current speed, rpm and how much gas you have left.

I feel this is a marginal issue. Regular drivers get used to looking where they have to look for info. Reviewers get annoyed because they don't have time to get used to a vehicle.

With almost 100 hp more than the '05, this thing should really snap your head for acceleration, but it doesn't. Fuel economy is no better than the '05, with either the V6 or V8.

With trucks, the issue is torque. The V6 was never lacking in that department. So the V8's torque improvement, while welcome, isn't head and shoulders above a V6. A 4500 lb vehicle is not gonna move stunningly off the line unless it has very big HP and torque numbers.

For a $34K truck, you expect alot more, and it appears the '07 doesn't give you a good value. I do agree with the editor that Ford is going to have to do alot more to impress customers.

Darin, my 2001 Premium 4x2 had a $32K sticker. For the same $32K, I can now get 4x4, V8, all kinds of safety upgrades, a better interior, better ride, better handling, a bigger cargo bed, and a bunch of other new features. All I have to do to keep the price the same is not check off options that didn't exist in 2001, like the electronic climate control.



How is that not a lot more for the same money?

 

[Tom Schindler]

With trucks, the issue is torque. The V6 was never lacking in that department. So the V8's torque improvement, while welcome, isn't head and shoulders above a V6. A 4500 lb vehicle is not gonna move stunningly off the line unless it has very big HP and torque numbers.

Actually, I think it is the assinine TBW (Throttle By Wire) system. The computer has the final control of your accelleration. If it feels you are taking off too fast, it can back off the throttle, even though you have it to the floor. I think it is a stupid move on Fords part.



The HP and torque is there, the computer just won't let you use it when you want.



I will take my "upgraded" TBC (Throtle By Cable) system over a V8 anyday.





Tom

 

[Gary L]

I do agree with Darin . The editor maybe bias, but look @ the big picture here...IMO for the cost of the 07 and the perfromance i dont think it worth the cost to get a V8.